Do these work? Are they cruel.....??

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Riz

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Hi Guys

I wonder if you can help??

My next door neighbour has a German Shepherd - she clearly isn't exercised very much and is pretty much left out in the garden to do as she pleases. We don't have very big gardens (or houses for that matter....) and theres doesn't have any shelter.

The problem is that they leave the dog outside at night when they go out - and the dog barks constantly until they return. Now, I know the best course of action would be for me to talk to the neighbours BUT they are really not the approachable type if you know what I mean.....I live on my own and I just can't cope with the idea of confrontation with them.

RSPCA, police, env health don't want to know.

So......this finally brings me to my question! Has anyone come aross these:
http://www.maplin.co.uk/module.aspx?TabI...O&U=Strat15
Now, I don't want to be evil to the poor thing, but I NEED SLEEP!!!!
Has anyone used one?
Any feedback?

Thanks in advance for any info/advice
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I don't have any experience of that type of bark control I'm afraid but have you tried the local council? It is classed as antisocial behaviour and noise pollution. I'm sure its the council I have heard of intervening in these matters.
 
We were considering one for our very shouty GSD bitch but it was pointed out that her bro, who lives in the next pen, would get unfairly penalised - he only barks when someone comes on the yard or when he gets excited about cars coming or going.
If there are any other dogs within the radius of the device they will get a zap too.
 
This situ happened with the family across the road with us - several neighbours next and across the back to them complained to the council and they were issued with a notice of the complaint (kept the neighbours who complained annonymous) and the noise was monitored for two weeks - problem now solved it was enough to sort them out.
 
Thanks for your reply! I did call them and they sent me a diary sheet to fill in detailing all of the occasions the dog is left out and makes a racket, but this worried me because its going to come back on me if any complaints are made.....also when I come to selling the house, aparently you have to declare any disputes you have had with neighbours....I'll never sell the place if someone knows about the noise problem - I certainly wouldn't have brought the place if I'd known.....
 
Steal her and send her to me - I'll walk the legs off her
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Seriously, if it is shut up all day it is a welfare issue - no wonder it is barking, poor thing is probably bored stupid - would a complaint in that direction come back to you, also?
 
I'm sure you would love her - she is a very attractive doggy - just has quite a gob on her! She clearly can't be trusted in the house on her own, but surely if she were walked enough she wouldn't wreck because she'd be tired and happy??!
I think they are in with her all day but it comes to pub time in the evening and they just turf her out. I called the RSPCA and suprise suprise they didn't want to know.....that was done confidentially but nothing came from it
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Hmm, is one gobby cowbag enough I wonder?
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Yay, RSPCA strikes again...if you can prove she isn't getting walked during the day (or even post-pub
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) and doesn't have an outdoor shelter, then they should at least pay a visit.
 
If you already have 1 surely another 1 wouldn't hurt....? I'll steal her and pop her in the post to you shall i?!
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Yes, I had thought that they would at least send someone round - they said they woud keep me posted and I never heard from them again. I can see that she has no shelter, and I'm pretty sure there is no water left out - not a problem I spose when it is peeing it down and the poor dog has puddles to drink from.....and I've seen her walked twice in the 2 years I've lived here (but to be fair I'm not here all day everyday....).
 
I bought one of those from Wilkinsons to stop my dogs barking at my neighbours dogs...... It was pants.

The dogs didnt even notice that it was there
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I took it inside (it says dont use it inside) and they just looked at it and then carried on when the door bell went
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Dont bother wasting your money in my opinion.

Or buy it from somewhere that you can re pack it and get your money back if it doesnt work for you either
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I called the RSPCA and suprise suprise they didn't want to know.....that was done confidentially but nothing came from it
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This is barking dog issue not a cruelty issue??? Therefore it is not within the rspca's remit. If there are issues regarding the health or the animal then it would be different. Your getting at the wrong people! You wouldn't go to an optician and complain that they wouldn't treat your bad back??!! Barking dogs are an antisocial problem unless there are health/duty of care/abuse issues causing it. It is not part of the Animal welfare Act that a dog must be walked, as long as the owner meets its needs of a) a suitable environment, b) a suitable diet, c) to be able to exhibit normal behaviour d) to be housed with or apart from other animals e) to be protected from suffering, pain, injury and diesease. It is therefore a noise pollution issue which only the council can deal with.
 
I agree the barking isn't an RSPCA issue, but surely being left outside without shelter is? Doesn't that come under a suitable environment, and I would have thought a dog couldn't exhibit normal behaviour if it isn't exercised, and is possibly even suffering. Thats 3 of the 5 "freedoms".
 
I quite agree that the noise isn't the RSPCA's problem - I never said it was.....I called them because she is left out in all weathers with no shelter or water, and to be honest she sounds very distressed - I would say that a dog that barks constantly for 5 hours when shut in the garden is not a happy dog.....wouldn't you?!
 
MQ - thanks for the info. I think I'll give it a go, and like you say send it back if its no good. Or sell it on ebay!
 
Certainly no shelter or water is a welfare issue, I couldn't work out from your original post if the dog was out all night or just for a couple of hours whilst they were out? If the dog is out all night without shelter then yes that is against the need for a suitable environment. Also the water if the dog is left for long periods without water then it is against its' needs. As far as the walking is concerned it is not classed as part of the normal behaviour 'umbrella'. If the dog was left in the garden 24/7 with no human contact and if an animal behviourist could prove beyond reasonable doubt that the behaviour of the animal was altered sufficiently because of lack of exercise, stimulation or company, this could be evidence of mental suffering (i.e collies kept locked in cages walk in circles constantly) in which case there would be an offence.

If you have these concerns then please call the rspca back but point out these concerns rather than pushing the fact that the dog is barking, to ensure it is a welfare concern rather than a noise pollution issue.
 
Like I said I did call them as a welfare issue - not a noise one....i didn't "push" that fact at all...!!
 
I can sympathise with you completely. We had a neighbour with a GSD who used to bark 24/7. He was kept outside with access to the garage but never walked and would bark simply out of boredom. We went down the route with the council filling in diaries etc and they came out a couple of times to witness it. Frustratingly enough the dog never barked when the official visited and we became convinced she had some contact tipping her off in the council! We tried everything, my hubby is a police officer and I lost track of the times he went round in the middle of the night and woke the owner up to tell her to shut the dog up.
We bought anti-bark collars and devices and gave them her to use but they didn't work. We used to chuck raw hide chewies over the fence to give the dog something to do as we were so desperate.
In the end we part exchanged our house for a new one and moved out as it was driving me insane. The council were useless and she clearly didn't give a damn about the dog.
I really hope you find a solution as I know how awful the constant lack of peace is, especially at night.
Good luck!
 
Poor dog, all he has for company is his own woof and you want to zap him! Only kidding, kind of
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I can't believe the environmental health dept., which includes noise pollution, aren't interested. It's all over the news that people can't inflict unpleasant noise on their neighbours anymore. Obviously that only applies if you actually want to avail yourself of their services
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I'd get on to the council and point out that it's your council tax that pays for these departments and you want something done, then phone and shout, then write to or visit your MP
 
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but this worried me because its going to come back on me if any complaints are made.....also when I come to selling the house, aparently you have to declare any disputes you have had with neighbours.....

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Just read this after I posted. Yeah it's a tricky one and I've been in the same situation but with a gang of local teenagers. I wanted to make it official with the police but like you say, you then have to declare it when you sell. Think the phrase is 'caught between a rock and a hard place'
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Could you not bring yourself to have a really polite word with them? Practice what you want to say first and try it out on friends.
 
Oh god Claire that sounds like an absolute nightmare - I can't believe you ended up moving. Although at the moment I can see that happening with me to be honest.....
I have to say, if a police office was coming round to tell me to shut my dog up I would certainly do as I was told!!

She's been out now since 8.30 ish and hasn't stopped - I was really hoping for an early night but thats been impossible.....hopefully they're not out for the entire night :-(
 
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I'd get on to the council and point out that it's your council tax that pays for these departments and you want something done, then phone and shout, then write to or visit your MP

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Yeah good point - it would be quite nice to think I had some support from them on something like this.....
A friend had the police go round to tell them to turn some music down at about 10.30 ish, but my neighbours and I have to put up with this until 12.00/1.00 sometimes - how is that fair?!
 
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Think the phrase is 'caught between a rock and a hard place'
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Could you not bring yourself to have a really polite word with them? Practice what you want to say first and try it out on friends.

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I'm going to have to.....i'm just a bit scared! BUT, I do really need some sleep
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Thanks for all your help and advice everyone
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