My barking dog is driving us crazy! Bark collar advice?

[Maxie1101]

I have an almost 3 year old Golden Retriever, Sophie, and she is driving us crazy with her barking. If the neighbor's dog(s) go in their back yard, barkfest, if the neighbor's gardeners are working in their yard, barkfest, If someone walks by our house, barkfest, If someone comes to the door, cujo barkfest. She went into such a cujo barkfest when the pool guy came one day, I was afraid she would bite him.

She is extremely friendly on walks and never barks at anyone, but has become sooooo possessive of the house. We just moved into our own house a year ago. We are tired of the barking and now have a 4 month old puppy, so keeping Sophie in the house with the door closed does not work anymore...the puppy needs to keep up the good work of going out to potty by herself, and we don't want her picking up the barking behavior from Sophie either.

Another thing about Sophie, she is the most stubborn dog I have ever met. We even put her in professional training at a kennel for 5 weeks and the trainer basically told us that she was the most stubborn dog she has ever dealt with and good luck. We had used this trainer for two other dogs and she worked miracles on them.

So...has anyone tried a bark collar? I've researched all the training methods, bark collars, and talked to my vet (he also consults with my trainer). I think I would like to try the citronella bark collar. I've researched quite a few of them and think the Innotek Spray Collar would be the best.

Has anyone used these? What brand and did it work? Pros and cons of what you tried to stop barking? (Remember, she is a 75 lb. stubborn dog). Any input would be very much appreciated!! TIA!

[cspigner28]

We have 100 pound lab, that sounds EXACTLY like this, stubborn as a mule, pretty much the Marley and Me lab:whistle67: The only bark collar we tried was one we found on ebay, it made a high pitch noise when they barked, well, it lasted all of 5 mins, after about 5 mins, he was back at barking again, he all of a sudden gave up the barking after a month or 2, now he just barks at other dogs:rolleyes24: But we have a neighborhood FULL of barkers, so we had to get used to it too.

Good Luck!! Maybe I'll get some ideas from this thread too.

[Lurkergirl]

My dog does a bark fest too.Barks at neighbours,bike riders ,joggers,dogs .I don't mind sometimes when a stranger is at the door .I use a water spray bottle just a little squirt because she hates water.

[momof2inohio]

Both of my dogs do this too! They are so protective of the house and our kids. They usually dont bark at people or dogs they know pretty well such as the neighbors. Well, my doberman doesnt like one of our neighbors at all since she sprayed him with a hose the day after we brought him home from the shelter so he still holds a grudge lol. We have tried everything for the dogs. So we just dont leave them outside for long. We let them out to go to the bathroom and to play but as soon as they start barking they come inside.

[alyssa0119]

we have a doberman mix pup. she was a barker until my GENIOUS DD decided to put beads in an empty water bottle and shake it like a maracca. she didnt intend on it being a tool for the dog, but she did hush when DD was going at it with the "maracca". all i have to do now is pick it up and she (the dog) doesn't say a peep.

[krazykate]

A trick one of my friends used and it worked was fill a squirt gun with water & vinegar. Whenever her dog started barking, squirt them, and tell them No!. It worked for her. About 20 years ago we had an irish setter who would bark as soon as we put her out. My boss told me to get some tobassco sauce and drop it in her mouth and tell her NO. It worked the first time, but every time after that it was a wrestling match w/her. I think I ended up w/more on me. I gave up on that idea right away.

I now have a choc lab that would steal food/stuff off counters, tables, pantries. A vet told me to put an old fashion mouse trap out on the counter. After about a week, it cured her from stealing stuff. Yes, first night she must have snapped one, because it was on the floor the next morning. We even put one under the pantry door. She use to open it up (bifold) and eat instant potatoes, pasta, etc. I would come home from work and find stuff sprinkled all over the house from her pushing the bags around tryng to get the stuff out.

Kate

[cspigner28]

I use a water spray bottle just a little squirt because she hates water.

I completely forgot about this, we used it on our lab, and now that I think about it, and that's why he quit barking, he absolutely hated the water!! We took him to a pond once when he was a puppy trying to get him used to the water, and what does he do?? Run the other way!!

We even put one under the pantry door. She use to open it up (bifold) and eat instant potatoes, pasta, etc. I would come home from work and find stuff sprinkled all over the house from her pushing the bags around tryng to get the stuff out.

This made me laugh, luckily my lab is not smart enough to get anything open. He is a chewer though, and every night before we go to sleep, we have to look the entire house over, and make sure NOTHING is in his reach, otherwise, he would grab it and chew it up. I left the satellite remote laying on the couch one night when I was up late watching a movie that was on, and of course the next morning, I wake up to find the remote chewed to pieces in the floor!!

[Penelope06]

If you've ever watched "It's Me or the Dog" on Animal Planet, Victoria Stillwell does this thing where she gives one deep, authoritative "Thank You!" and 9 out of 10 times the dog will stop. I use this trick at work (an animal hospital) and you'd be amazed how often it works. Once you use the "Thank you!," if her attention turns to you, you can give her a treat. It lets the dogs know you're acknowledging their work guarding the house while still letting them "warn" strangers.

If that doesn't work, I would still consult a different trainer. Different dogs need different methods. My vet really doesn't like bark collars and prefers the training route.

[AuntieJan]

Before you put a shock collar on your dog, ask yourself: "Would I be willing to put this on myself?" Shock collars are not necessary, and they can actually hurt your dog.

When your dog went to a trainer for 5 weeks... did you go with her or just drop her off? Usually it is the human that needs to be trained, not the dog. This is true 90% of the time.

The diversionary methods such as the "Thank You" are effective, but must be performed properly or you can actually do more harm than good. A clicker is a great tool, or a bicycle horn blown BESIDE the dog, not AT her. Please don't squirt water on your poor dog! They very quickly learn to avoid the water bottle and bark anyway. Then you have a wet barking dog.

Prepare to work every day for at least two weeks on the technique, try 15-30 minute sessions a couple times a day. Ask friends to come over to help. Assign her a place to be when a guest arrives, have one person answer the door, another person practices the training method. Then alternate until every family member is skilled with the technique.

You have to understand WHY she is barking. What reward does she get from it? Attention, and control of the door. You have to be the one that takes control of the door. We have two Shelties that are known to be one of the more vocal breeds, and the diversion technique works well with them. Once they know they will not be allowed to crowd the door when visitors enter, and that sitting in their assigned place and being quiet earns them a treat or praise, they picked up on that very quickly.

You say your dog is stubborn, but I think she is intelligent and perhaps in need of more activities and exercise. Hopefully she's getting at least two nice walks with you every day, and I don't mean letting her out in the back yard alone... walks where she can explore and work off some of that energy.

You also say you now have added a puppy to the home. Well, Sophie is really still a puppy at three, she won't gain her full maturity for another year or so. Golden Retrievers are wonderful dogs but they do have a puppy-like energy.

I have been training humans to work with their dogs for about ten years, and I recommend any of the DVDs, websites or books by Cesar Milan, Karen Pryor, and Ian Dunbar.

The clicker training method can also be great for the younger puppy. Good luck and give Sophie a hug from me!

[olla86]

I have an almost 3 year old Golden Retriever, Sophie, and she is driving us crazy with her barking. If the neighbor's dog(s) go in their back yard, barkfest, if the neighbor's gardeners are working in their yard, barkfest, If someone walks by our house, barkfest, If someone comes to the door, cujo barkfest. She went into such a cujo barkfest when the pool guy came one day, I was afraid she would bite him.

She is extremely friendly on walks and never barks at anyone, but has become sooooo possessive of the house. We just moved into our own house a year ago. We are tired of the barking and now have a 4 month old puppy, so keeping Sophie in the house with the door closed does not work anymore...the puppy needs to keep up the good work of going out to potty by herself, and we don't want her picking up the barking behavior from Sophie either.

Another thing about Sophie, she is the most stubborn dog I have ever met. We even put her in professional training at a kennel for 5 weeks and the trainer basically told us that she was the most stubborn dog she has ever dealt with and good luck. We had used this trainer for two other dogs and she worked miracles on them.

So...has anyone tried a bark collar? I've researched all the training methods, bark collars, and talked to my vet (he also consults with my trainer). I think I would like to try the citronella bark collar. I've researched quite a few of them and think the Innotek Spray Collar would be the best.

Has anyone used these? What brand and did it work? Pros and cons of what you tried to stop barking? (Remember, she is a 75 lb. stubborn dog). Any input would be very much appreciated!! TIA!

We use such collar for walking and it is realy working! Try it!

[kcek]

Your talking about a lab and they are the most stubborn animal out there. I to have a Golden he's not much of a barker but he likes to jump on people. I use a bike horn and that works really well. Good luck to you.

[Weinergirl]

We have the citronella collar for one of our dogs (border collie mix). It works while she is wearing it, but it didn't really "train" her not to bark, because when the collar comes off, the barking starts again.

[Maxie1101]

Thanks for all your comments. The barking that annoys us the most is at the neighbors' dogs at the backyard (6 ft) fence. Since both neighbors are pretty regular about when they let their dogs out, we just make sure to keep Sophie in during those times. It doesn't train her, but it solves the problem for now.

Weinergirl, I've heard the same problem as yours about both the citronella and shock collars. What I've hear a lot of people do that seems to work, is take the citronella cartridge (or the battery for the shock) out of the collar and keep having the dog wear it, and the dog remains on good behavior. However, I've hear some great success stories as well, so you never know.

To respond to AuntieJan, yes, Sophie is that 10% dog. I know how to obedience train dogs and have trained two of my previous dogs without a problem as well as the current puppy. The trainer we took her to is a Ceasar Milan type, she used to train celebrity's dogs in LA before she moved to NorCal. And, yes, I have read most of Ceasar Milan's books. Of course I did training with the trainer and Sophie during her 5 week stint at the kennel. The last two weeks of her training included me going to the kennel (it's a ranch, actually) and doing hour long private lessons with the trainer and Sophie three times a week and then group lessons for 8 weeks after.

She is a very active dog and goes for an hour long walk near the beach everyday which includes a hike up a steep hill, so she does get plenty of exercise. I do appreciate the comments you made, so please don't take my reply wrong, but I'm not a bad dog owner looking for a quick fix. I was looking for a last resort and some advice. In response to your first concern, if I did decide to use a shock collar, I would absolutely try it out on myself first. My dogs are my babies and I would never do anything to hurt them.

Again, thanks to all that have replied and shared the different methods that have worked or not worked for them!

[meems]

Similar to the beads in a can...we used pennies in a can & shook it to distract from negative behavior. My golden was stubborn right up to age of 14...my springer, man, if I had her first I would have sent the golden back!

[irishsaver]

Maxie1101
I hear you loud and clear with a 115-125lb lab myself. We went throught a similar experience in our old home. Every morning 5-6 am and night and I have two dogs but once the big one started the two would go off like a siren. I did have a dog trainer who came every week for a few weeks and worked wonders with the lab dog excellent behavior and command. But I lived on a corner house and back then a lot of action plus living up on a height he got to see everything.

I used the bark collar and he hated going out and would have to race after him to put it on and push him out the door as he was afraid. It was a little cruel and I am not cruel to my animals but my neighbors called one sunday morning and that was it...

They went into a kennel for a month when we had our home on the market and since then I think he got all barked out as he dosent bark anymore like he used to...
I would encourage you to try it but not all the time. it does really work.

Good luck.

[motherofmolly]

i have a lab that barks at everything too...

went to petco and bought a bark collar...you can get different ones but you need to pick one that suits your dog....my stubborn mule (he is smart but likes to push your buttons alot) got the bark collar....i got one that shocks. it has a battery in the collar and does it automatically. it starts out with a low shock and then if the barking continues it slowly gets stronger until it gets to the highest and it starts over....this actually works.....
the only problem is, the dog knows when the collar is on and when it isnt. if it isnt on, he barks...the dog knows the difference.

but if your dog is inside and outside, you will need to make a decision...do i want the collar on him at all times? if you do, then fine, leave it on him all the time....but remember the collar has to be pretty secure around his neck for it to work... if you only want it on him when he is outside, then leave it at the door...turn it on and then put it around his neck.

most people want a dog so they will bark inside for intruders. my mangy mutt would bark at all sorts of stuff (people walking across the street, the neighbors dog, the squirrel that would drop nuts on his head) but with the collar he wouldnt bark at all....UNLESS someone actually walked towards the back door...he would still bark and take that shock to let me know someone was coming

now, you can work out another plan after using the collar for a while...the bait and switch...once your dog gets use to the collar and stops barking (you can test this out by not actually turning the collar on and see if wearing the collar stops the barking), switch too a similar collar but not the bark collar (something that sits high on his neck without strangling him and something he can wear all the time)....the dog will think the collar is on and this will curb his behavior....
once the dog knows the collar will shock him and his behavior his curbed, start switching the collar when he goes outside (bark collar, non bark collar) and see how he behaves....what will happen is he will not know when you put the real one on vs the false collar...do this for at least 2 weeks

next, start using the false collar more...maybe 1 day use the false, the next day the real, then the real, and then the false, then the false....switch it up and dont make a set pattern...dogs are smart and learn patterns...

start using the regular collar more until that is all you are using....then if he starts to act up again, toss the real one on and remind him .

seems like alot, but if done right and sternly this will work and probably within a month you will be using mostly the fake collar

if this doesnt make sense, pm me and ill try to clarify it....the most important thing is KEEP TO THE PLAN DONT STRAY EVEN FOR A DAY!

[motherofmolly]

Before you put a shock collar on your dog, ask yourself: "Would I be willing to put this on myself?" Shock collars are not necessary, and they can actually hurt your dog.

When your dog went to a trainer for 5 weeks... did you go with her or just drop her off? Usually it is the human that needs to be trained, not the dog. This is true 90% of the time.

The diversionary methods such as the "Thank You" are effective, but must be performed properly or you can actually do more harm than good. A clicker is a great tool, or a bicycle horn blown BESIDE the dog, not AT her. Please don't squirt water on your poor dog! They very quickly learn to avoid the water bottle and bark anyway. Then you have a wet barking dog.

Prepare to work every day for at least two weeks on the technique, try 15-30 minute sessions a couple times a day. Ask friends to come over to help. Assign her a place to be when a guest arrives, have one person answer the door, another person practices the training method. Then alternate until every family member is skilled with the technique.

You have to understand WHY she is barking. What reward does she get from it? Attention, and control of the door. You have to be the one that takes control of the door. We have two Shelties that are known to be one of the more vocal breeds, and the diversion technique works well with them. Once they know they will not be allowed to crowd the door when visitors enter, and that sitting in their assigned place and being quiet earns them a treat or praise, they picked up on that very quickly.

You say your dog is stubborn, but I think she is intelligent and perhaps in need of more activities and exercise. Hopefully she's getting at least two nice walks with you every day, and I don't mean letting her out in the back yard alone... walks where she can explore and work off some of that energy.

You also say you now have added a puppy to the home. Well, Sophie is really still a puppy at three, she won't gain her full maturity for another year or so. Golden Retrievers are wonderful dogs but they do have a puppy-like energy.

I have been training humans to work with their dogs for about ten years, and I recommend any of the DVDs, websites or books by Cesar Milan, Karen Pryor, and Ian Dunbar.

The clicker training method can also be great for the younger puppy. Good luck and give Sophie a hug from me!


you are correct that the stubborn dogs are the most intelligent dogs...

(i am not saying you are wrong, just adding a fact) some techniques do not work on all dogs...i was trained 12 years ago to train my dog using only a discipline behavior (do wrong and we go from a "no" to the next step is a hit with the leash)....but i went to a different trainer for a class with my dog . this was a one week class to show off dogs and their talents and help work out any problems....i learned there that you have award and discipline.....some dogs do better on a sit/reward where as others need a combo of sit/reward and sit/leash....my dog needed a combo of the two

the op needs to take suggestions, and find what works best for her...

oh and i have been shocked by my shock collar before....yeah it hurts, but it does not cause permanent damage

[Maxie1101]

you are correct that the stubborn dogs are the most intelligent dogs...

(i am not saying you are wrong, just adding a fact) some techniques do not work on all dogs...i was trained 12 years ago to train my dog using only a discipline behavior (do wrong and we go from a "no" to the next step is a hit with the leash)....but i went to a different trainer for a class with my dog . this was a one week class to show off dogs and their talents and help work out any problems....i learned there that you have award and discipline.....some dogs do better on a sit/reward where as others need a combo of sit/reward and sit/leash....my dog needed a combo of the two

the op needs to take suggestions, and find what works best for her...

oh and i have been shocked by my shock collar before....yeah it hurts, but it does not cause permanent damage

I'm the OP, and I agree with you. I've brought home all of my dogs at 8 weeks old. I always start with behavior/reward training while they are puppies to get them used to the behavior. As they get older, and understand the behavior, I will give treats on a random basis to enforce the behavior without treats every time. Eventually we will wean off treats to leash correction, if necessary. It absolutely depends on the dog.

I've had two extremely sensitive, eager to please dogs that were trained with practically treats alone. One who needed a combination. And then there was Sophie who needed a full-time trainer. Dogs are like humans and come in all personalities, sensitivities, eagerness, and stubbornness. You need to figure out what works for each one.

[motherofmolly]

I'm the OP, and I agree with you. I've brought home all of my dogs at 8 weeks old. I always start with behavior/reward training while they are puppies to get them used to the behavior. As they get older, and understand the behavior, I will give treats on a random basis to enforce the behavior without treats every time. Eventually we will wean off treats to leash correction, if necessary. It absolutely depends on the dog.

I've had two extremely sensitive, eager to please dogs that were trained with practically treats alone. One who needed a combination. And then there was Sophie who needed a full-time trainer. Dogs are like humans and come in all personalities, sensitivities, eagerness, and stubbornness. You need to figure out what works for each one.

exactly! i always compare dogs to kids...you have to mold them into upstanding citizens/dogs but at the same time you have to use discipline/rewards based on their behavior/demeanor....you cant be mean to them all the time, but yet you have to show them you love them...both trainers i learned under used "3 times and reward"....do the task three times in a row and most of the time the 3rd time they get it right and then you reward (ball toss or treat) and then you go onto something else...
i trained my stubborn but intelligent lab this way and in a week he had all the commands down....he is a good dog, he just barks at everything

[loaslaen]

exactly! i always compare dogs to kids...you have to mold them into upstanding citizens/dogs but at the same time you have to use discipline/rewards based on their behavior/demeanor...

Do they have a "cry collar" for kids?

I had never seen one of these , but was watching AFV the other day and there's a video where a guy tried one of these to see how humane they are. Sorry, but I wouldn't use that on a dog. Dogs bark. If you don't like barking, don't own a dog.

Here's the video. YouTube - Guy tests out dog shock collar (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sAXTQW94Gig)

[couponsmakecents]

we have a doberman mix pup. she was a barker until my GENIOUS DD decided to put beads in an empty water bottle and shake it like a maracca. she didnt intend on it being a tool for the dog, but she did hush when DD was going at it with the "maracca". all i have to do now is pick it up and she (the dog) doesn't say a peep.


will have to try this.