Anti bark collars and anti bark devices

[splashgirl45]

I live in a terraced cottage and my dogs have been barking during the night. Neighbours are not happy , dogs sleep downstairs so not close enough for me to stop them and I also need sleep…. I have seen something that says it emits a sound that we can’t hear but dogs do and it stops them barking. Anyone used anything like that and does it work? Also does it seem to make dogs scared as I don’t want them frightened but I don’t know what else to try. It all started when someone moved in next door but one and he has a cat which is allowed to free roam 24/7 , he won’t keep the cat in at night.. I have asked nicely but no joy.. one of my terriers is a barker if she sees dogs she doesn’t know so thinking maybe a collar for her on walks ?

 

[Jenko109]

A friend used one many years ago and it was ineffective and unreliable.

Sometimes it went off. Sometimes it didnt. No consistency.

I would never use one.

Can you not crate the dogs in a different part of the house where they are unlikely to see/hear anything going on outside? Also a good walk before bed to help tire them out?

 

[CorvusCorax]

I don't know anything about the devices, I have known a couple of people who use the collars for travelling but I don't really rate them.
I believe someone over the fence from me uses one, the dog has a nonsense barking habit but sometimes it barks really weirdly which makes me think it has a collar on.

You'd be better to change the sleeping arrangements. My young female silly barks in the house sometimes, I just clap my hands sharply or roar at her to quit it.
If the males bark at night, there is genuinely something amiss outside.

 

[Bellasophia]

Anti bark collars? Awful contraptions…let the dogs sleep upstairs with you.If you don’t want them on your bed set up an area where they have their beds nearby,can see you and put up a divider..
It would be helpful to know,how may dogs do you have?

 

[AmyMay]

Can you crate, and cover with a blanket?

 

[Bellaboo18]

Horrible things that imo cause far more problems than barking.
I'd let them sleep near you (maybe in a crate if they're crate trained) and if it's a new problem due to the cat, give it time.

 

[Clodagh]

We’ve got one. I’ll take a pic in a minute. It was for Scout as he started whingeing when he felt it was breakfast time. He is kennelled and neighbours didn’t appreciate it. Me neither tbh.
It vibrates. He stands there and wags when you put it on but it completely works.He very rarely wears it now, (once this summer) as it was a question of breaking the habit.
Have you tried closed windows and heavy curtains if a cat walking past is a trigger?

 

[Clodagh]

I don’t think I’d use one in walks as you are close enough to deal with the reactions yourself.

 

[CorvusCorax]

It's also really important when introducing any new device, including muzzle, head collar etc, to condition it properly/make a positive association, don't just slap it on and go.
On, feed, off, for a few days before use etc

Oh and don't use the spray ones, they are awful. As Clodagh says, if you really must, a vibrating one is probably best.

 

[Clodagh]

I’m sure Scout would rather have come to sleep in our bedroom but that wasn’t going to happen.

 

[splashgirl45]

In answer to the suggestions, I live in a tiny cottage with one bedroom. Yes they are all crate trained but that doesn’t stop them barking if there is something outside, I have one small bedroom and really don’t want 3 crates in it and there isn’t room anyway. there is no part of the cottage away from the outside, I have tried closing all windows, the cat has been there for over a year and it roams more in the summer , in winter it’s not a problem, been worse this summer . I have 2 terriers and a lurcher and for those of you who have terriers can you wear them out? I can’t wear mine out and as we have no lights in our village and I am 77 I do not fancy walking them for a couple of hours before bedtime . While I appreciate all the options given, I have tried most of them already and am looking at the things I haven’t tried to see if they are likely to work. I am not likely to use a collar as I would want control of when it goes off but was interested to hear if they worked

 

[Quoth]

It’s not an anti bark collar but I know a couple of people who use a white noise machine to help their lgds get through the night without barking, they recon it works though I’ve not tried it myself.

 

[Roxylola]

I used a spray one - no scents just water to cure a 4am barking habit when the dogs slept downstairs. She didn't properly bark, she'd just do a woof, wait for any response then another wait and repeat. She soon stopped it.

 

[splashgirl45]

We’ve got one. I’ll take a pic in a minute. It was for Scout as he started whingeing when he felt it was breakfast time. He is kennelled and neighbours didn’t appreciate it. Me neither tbh.
It vibrates. He stands there and wags when you put it on but it completely works.He very rarely wears it now, (once this summer) as it was a question of breaking the habit.
Have you tried closed windows and heavy curtains if a cat walking past is a trigger?

Thankyou, that was the sort of answer I was looking for regarding the collar, and yes I have tried the curtains pulled, windows closed but that doesn’t stop them heating it, one of my terriers is very alert and a good watch dog but it’s getting very difficult with my neighbours and I don’t want to upset them as they are lovely people

 

[gunnergundog]

During the day time when you are with your dogs and they start barking are you able to cue them to stop? If so, get one of those two way listening in devices that people use for babies....you can then hear if the dog start to bark and cue the dog to shut up from the comfort of your bed!

 

[splashgirl45]

It’s not an anti bark collar but I know a couple of people who use a white noise machine to help their lgds get through the night without barking, they recon it works though I’ve not tried it myself.

That’s the sort of thing I was looking at,

 

[CorvusCorax]

The more expensive/better quality remote training aids, you can operate a noise or vibrate function from the handset and marry the two and also add in a command if so, but I can appreciate this is not ideal for three dogs.

 

[CorvusCorax]

During the day time when you are with your dogs and they start barking are you able to cue them to stop? If so, get one of those two way listening in devices that people use for babies....you can then hear if the dog start to bark and cue the dog to shut up from the comfort of your bed!

If the cottage is that small, is that even necessary? I can certainly hear and make my voice heard between my bedroom and kitchen in the fungalow.

 

[CanteringCarrot]

I know someone that uses one for similar reasons and it works. It gives a warning noise, and if that's ignored then it vibrates. I think it has a few different settings IIRC. Seems to have worked. He did say after a while he could leave the collar off. Once in a great while the dog may start up again so then he wears the collar for a few days as a reminder. Not saying I agree or disagree, but seems to work for his intended purpose.

 

[splashgirl45]

During the day time when you are with your dogs and they start barking are you able to cue them to stop? If so, get one of those two way listening in devices that people use for babies....you can then hear if the dog start to bark and cue the dog to shut up from the comfort of your bed!

My place is so small I just shout out and they shut up but the damage has been done as they have barked already, it’s not a problem during the day as I can tell them quiet and they stop, I just need to stop the nighttime barking and if the bloomin cat was kept in it would almost solve the problem. My oldest terrier who is 6 was never a problem at night until last year when the cat arrived. I have got a white noise thing for my flat roof at the back as the cat even woke me when he ran across the roof. I seem to have kept him off the flat roof which is why I thought that type of thing might work to stop them barking

 

[Clodagh]

If nothing else you have my utmost sympathy, it’s so bloody annoying!

 

[splashgirl45]

Thanks for the replies , I think I will try a white noise machine in the living room and will update once I have tried it . I have been here for over 20 years and have had dogs all of that time and it’s just this summer that I’m having problems, i class my neighbours as friends and went out socially with them last night and I just feel really bad that my dogs are keeping them awake , they didn’t approach me, I asked them if they could hear the dogs and I apologised when they said they could… I feel I need to put as much effort in as I can so they can sleep . We all accept that there can be the occasional night that something might disturb the dogs but it’s virtually every night now

 

[Clodagh]

When we had the beagle pups we considered putting them in my car cage and parking it at the bottom of the paddock.
We’ve not had neighbours before now (and these ones have 6 dogs that bark and howl a lot) but didn’t want to get into tit for tat.
We sent the beagles back early and collared Scout. (Seperate times).

 

[Aperchristmas]

Fingers crossed the white noise machine will help, it's a very frustrating situation for you.

 

[splashgirl45]

Thanks A, yes I feel very guilty (and tired) and hope it works…

 

[FinnishLapphund]

I hope the white noise machine helps, but if it doesn't, I know you've said you've tried closing your windows, and closing your curtains, but how thick are the curtains? Heavy drapes, or curtains specifically made to be noise reducing are probably what you need if you really need them to help absorb sounds coming from outdoors.

Is it possible that it's mainly one dog that starts the barking, making one or both of the other two to start barking, which makes the first dog continue barking because now the other dog/dogs are also saying there's something to bark at? If so, could you try letting only that dog sleep somewhere else?

However, if your cottage comes with a garden/backyard, and the "new" neighbour's cat can't use your roof as an autostrada from point A to point B anymore, because you heard it, and scared it, perhaps the cat have now, after over a year living there, worked up the courage to use your garden/backyard at night?
If so, perhaps a motion activated sprinkler could deter the cat from its nighttime rummaging outside your cottage? There's even such sprinklers available now that are hose free https://motionsensorsprinkler.com/m...lite-ii-hose-free-motion-activated-sprinkler/

If you think that mixing 1 part white vinegar with 1 part water to make yourself a cat repellant spray, and then spray it along the outer edges of your garden/backyard, might also make your dogs unhappy, perhaps use something else that the dogs might also not like, but still dislike a little less than the smell of vinegar. Maybe use the juice from lemons mixed with water in a spray bottle. Or hang up peels of lemons/oranges, or pour out coffee grinds along your fenceline...


If nothing else works, then try the anti-bark collar route. But fingers crossed for that the white noise machine helps.

 

[skinnydipper]

I have got a white noise thing for my flat roof

Is it a white noise machine on your roof or an ultrasonic cat deterrent?

 

[splashgirl45]

Not sure what it is, may be a cat repellant, I got it last summer and can’t remember exactly what it was , seems to work though

 

[JBM]

They can be annoying when you have multiple dogs
If any dog barks it can set them off even if the one wearing the collar didn’t bark.
Doesn’t happen all the time but It can
And sometimes they don’t go off at all
Don’t work at all on fluffy dogs
I eventually got mine to know that inside was not a barking zone (so at night)
He barks outside as much as he wants but I live in the middle of nowhere!

 

[splashgirl45]

I hope the white noise machine helps, but if it doesn't, I know you've said you've tried closing your windows, and closing your curtains, but how thick are the curtains? Heavy drapes, or curtains specifically made to be noise reducing are probably what you need if you really need them to help absorb sounds coming from outdoors.

Is it possible that it's mainly one dog that starts the barking, making one or both of the other two to start barking, which makes the first dog continue barking because now the other dog/dogs are also saying there's something to bark at? If so, could you try letting only that dog sleep somewhere else?

However, if your cottage comes with a garden/backyard, and the "new" neighbour's cat can't use your roof as an autostrada from point A to point B anymore, because you heard it, and scared it, perhaps the cat have now, after over a year living there, worked up the courage to use your garden/backyard at night?
If so, perhaps a motion activated sprinkler could deter the cat from its nighttime rummaging outside your cottage? There's even such sprinklers available now that are hose free https://motionsensorsprinkler.com/m...lite-ii-hose-free-motion-activated-sprinkler/

If you think that mixing 1 part white vinegar with 1 part water to make yourself a cat repellant spray, and then spray it along the outer edges of your garden/backyard, might also make your dogs unhappy, perhaps use something else that the dogs might also not like, but still dislike a little less than the smell of vinegar. Maybe use the juice from lemons mixed with water in a spray bottle. Or hang up peels of lemons/oranges, or pour out coffee grinds along your fenceline...


If nothing else works, then try the anti-bark collar route. But fingers crossed for that the white noise machine helps.

they are normal curtains with blackout linings but my windows are double glazed anyway so should keep noise out, door is also composite and thick. I keep the dogs shut in the living room so they are not close to the back of the cottage as I assumed the cat was more likely to be in the garden but a few nights ago I was just going to bed and the dogs started and I looked out of the window to see cat sauntering past my cottage. So I know it was def the cat that set them off… I’m not a fan of using the collar to be honest and that would be a last resort..