Anti Bark Collars - Which one?

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Sheri

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My grandparents own a Jack Russel Terrier who is 2 yrs old and due to my grampy being retired he rarely spends time alone in the house, however when he does he barks non-stop for however long they are out (neighbours have said he doesn't stop after a while he just keeps going!)

He also barks when he sees his lead, when the postman comes

Their house is a fair size so trying an ultrasound bark contol unit that sat by the front door didn't stop him (although i was a bit poopy to be honest)

Its got so bad that we can't go out for a meal or even go shopping without someone to sit with him and being retired they are not out enough to simply make him get used to it and realise that when he barks people are not going to come running back.

He even does it when my two dogs are down with him for company.

So we are going to buy my gramp an anti bark collar for his birthday for the dog and wondered which ones are best - WE WILL NOT USE THE SHOCK COLLARS

Thanks for any help :)
 
Well your options are air-spray and citroella spray. The other types are battery-operated or remote controlled and give a small shock or buzz but as you say they don't want to use them.

If he is that high-energy then I don't know if a collar will work - could you help them crate train him? Or just teach him that barking doesn't equal getting taken for a walk (that's what he will be believing!)
They need to start ignoring him when they go away and come back for a short period and he needs not to be able to see them coming and going.

Barking at the postman is totally normal, and why not? Every day the same man in the same vehicle comes onto the property. Every day the dog barks. Every time the man leaves. Every day this behaviour is reinforced - see?
 
I've never thought of it like that with the postman! That makes total sence. :)

They do let him see them going trying the old' going to work now' trick (which clearly the dog doesn't understand!)

I've suggested that they leave him in the kitchen when they go out (its quite a big kitchen) rather than let him have the run of the house. that way they could pretend togo out and just sit int he front room as listen. I'm sure just ignoring him would work but my nan has students as neighbours and it drives them nuts when he barks so sadly we need a quick fix! :(

Don't think my grampy would go for a crate unfortunatly the dog is totally spoint which you and Iknow is the reason hes like it!!
 
I bet if you explain that he will come to think of the crate as a really fun, cool, safe place to go, they might change their minds?
But I know how hard it is to talk to relatives about dogs, and when there are neighbours to think about.

When that postman thing was explained to me, it was a real eureka moment - my last female was the softest, most even tempered dog we ever had, but when the postman arrived she would turn herself inside out and sounded like a thing possessed!
 
I find the airspray collars very effective-instant stop on a dog that is yapping when being walked (chasing big dogs-terrier thing!)
I would have no hesitation in using it as it is literally a blast of cold air as soon as they bark.
 
He gets alot of exercise my grampy takes him for two walks a day plus the park once a day, he really good in the house just chills out or snoozes on my gramp's lap

Its just when they go out and leave him that really is a problem

+ Thanks SusieT I'll have a look at them now :)
 
I hate the spray collars because they caused quite a big injury to my dog.

It serperation anxiety which he has so i really can't see how him getting a spray when people are away from him is going to help.

Being anxious and barking because of being anxious and then being sprayed is only going to enforce in his head that being away from humans is a bad thing.
 
Yes-this addresses the problem rather than the cause. This also saves the neighbous from the hassle of listening to a yappy dog all the time and the owners the stress of knowing that the dog is barking.
If dog is well exercised and stimulated, and attempts have been made to get him used to the problem, I am of the view that it is becoming an engrained 'habit; and with terriers in particular, yapping is a very hard habit to get rid of. He has to learn somehow not to bark. A crate does not deter from barking, and imo is not much nicer (restricted space v. access to room with deterrant only when bad behaviour so to speak).
 
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And you don't think a safe secure small space will help aleviate the anxiety the dog is feeling?

And i don't think much has been done to help the problem and honestly i think its cruel to use it on a dog that is already exremely stressed.
 
no-I'm anti-crate however for anything other than to house train or stop chewing. I see it as a cage, and don't buy into the secure space arguement I'm afraid.
The collar does not produce pain (I could see your arguement there regarding shock collars).
The op says they have tried leaving the dog for longer and longer. I suspect this was not done correctly as a pup hence the dog has the habit to bark. I cannot see how it is cruel, but can see how a crate is cruel, but, at least this has brought up two different methods for the op to consider and apply to her particular situation as she sees best, no?
 
She actually says they are not out enough to help the dog get use to it.

We will have to agree to disagree but i am afraid i can't see how scaring an already scared dog will help the situation at all.
 
citronella spray - works wonders!

we were borderline council getting involved/getting our dog taken off us. I used this spray collar which does NOT hurt them etc - and voila - problem solved and i get to keep my dog :)
 
Sorry to go OT, the crate is not cruel, it is only cruel if the dog is shut in it all day and only when people go out. Proper use of the crate means the dog is encouraged to be in it when the owners are in too, so that it is a 'den' or 'cave'.

How many times do you hear, if the dog is stressed by something like fireworks or a thunderstorm, to take it to a small, dark, room, like the bathroom or cloakroom, where it can calm down?
How often do dogs go to the toilet near the small, particular place that they sleep? How many dogs 'nest' in their beds?

Dogs don't see things the way we do, we see a 'cage', they see somewhere small and dark and comfy to be.

I did try a buzz collar with a barky female and as an already anxious dog, it made her worse. She would actually bark more and run around in smaller circles. We crated her in the house with us during the day. She just lay down and snoozed!

JMO of course :)
 
Again sorry to go OT, but Henry has taken himself off to his crate even now - he frequently goes and snuggles up in there of his own accord:)

I would not do anything cruel to my dog.
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Crates can be useful. I'm currently keeping our newly spayed bitch in one in order to stop her leaping about and wrecking her stitches. She's young and enthusiastic. Shes does get out regularly though for breaks (on a lead).

Is the dog getting enough exercise or is the barking his only outlet?

No experience of anti bark collars though.
 
CaveCanem said:
Here's Hells Bells, the wee stressyhead (who may or may not be a JRT in disguise) !

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Click to expand...



thats one seriously stressed out dog ;-)

im all for using acrate - my dog had one.... it got to the point when playing zoomies she kept bugging our other 2 (elder) dogs so i used to say "time out" and she ran into her cage and calmed down lol!

when used properly crates are brilliant.
 
Thanks for all your suggestions - my gramp has totally spoilt the dog and he wasn't left alone when he was a pup as my gramp was unwell so now I thnk hes just like 'what do mean I'm staying here and your going out'!

If he was my dog I may try a crete but I know my gramp won't go for it - hes really stubborn! and the dog can do no wrong in his eyes its my nan that wants to kill him lol

My dogs used to bark when I left them in the garden on a nice day so when my neighbours brought it to my attention I got a ultrasound bark unit and it shut them up they dont even need it anymore :) but we tried that with the terrier and he didn't care!
 
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