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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To not want to use an Anti-barking collar on my 10 month old pup ?

135 replies

Elmofan · 25/09/2015 13:06

A neighbour from the back of us has just knocked in to threaten to report my pup for barking ...
I'm home all day with my pups ( i have two cockers) they are mostly kept indoors with me but whenever i let them out to play in the back garden one of them goes nuts barking at everything . He is a very anxious dog , very nervous . I have tried the quick spray of water whenever he barks but this does nothing he carries on running and barking like its a game
Its only for 10 minutes at a time, she says her husband works nights . I was very apologetic
my dogs sleep indoors and are put in bed at 9pm each night .
I'm upset and i rang my local vet & pet store for advice .. option one is very expensive training which we just can not afford right now and the other is an anti barking collar also expensive and cruel IMO :(
Any other ideas ?

OP posts:

herderofcats · 25/09/2015 13:09

Take them for walks instead?

Original poster

Elmofan · 25/09/2015 13:12

They get walked twice a day ... once by me in mornings then again in the evenings by dh ... thanks for replying though :)

OP posts:

tabulahrasa · 25/09/2015 13:13

Anti bark collars are horrible...and they make anxious dogs bark more because they scare them.

Training is really the only longterm solution.

As a quick fix though - stop letting him play in the garden, dogs don't need gardens if they're sufficiently exercised, yes they're nice to have, but they manage fine without them.

Floralnomad · 25/09/2015 13:14

anti bark collars are cruel and very often just make things worse . The easy answer to this is don't let your dogs out to make noise - if they need to go out for a wee/poo take them out on a lead if that's what it takes to keep them quiet .

Original poster

Elmofan · 25/09/2015 13:19

I agree Tabulahrasa .. those dog barking collars sound terrible and its the last thing i want to do, but the petshop owner suggested i only use it on him when he goes into the garden to go pee etc .. it apparently sprays water into his face if he starts to bark but seeing as he seems to love it when i try spray water at him i can not see that working .. he then suggested a shock collar but no way am i putting that on him . My dog could be put to sleep by the dog warden if she reports me though if i can not stop him barking .

OP posts:

SurlyCue · 25/09/2015 13:20

i agree, dont use a bark collar. horrible things.

But, you have to train him out of this. it doesn't have to be expensive trainers, you could self help with online tutorials and books and websites but you cant just ignore this.

one thing to try in the meantime is as soon as he barks you bring him (and only him) in to the house. let him calm and when he is calm bring him back out to play. as soon as he barks again(and he will, this is not a quick fix process) bring him straight back in. this will require you being either in the garden or pretty darn close so that you can react immediately as soon as he barks. don't shout at him when he barks, don't say no or stop. make no comment just take him straight in and let him calm down. it will take lots of repetition and consistency but it should produce results. however I also urge you to investigate proper training methods for this issue as well. you really have to break the habit.

ReallyTired · 25/09/2015 13:22

Is this any different to grumpy gits who don't like kids playing outside? Provided the dogs are not out at an uncivilised time or left out for the whole day, I feel that your neighbours need to learn to be a little bit more tolerant. Her husband working nights is frankly not your problem. If her husband is such a delicate sleeper then prehaps he should invest in ear plugs.

However with neighbours there is a little bit of give and take. I think that training is the only long term solution. If you cannot afford expensive training then it might be an idea to look online for ideas how to train your dog yourself.

To be honest I don't have a dog, but I hope that someone else can you good advice on how to encourage your dog not to bark at the wrong times.

tabulahrasa · 25/09/2015 13:25

He won't be PTS by the dog warden...you'll get a nippy letter, then they'd come see you and tell you off in person.

Then it'd become a noise pollution issue and the neighbour would have to keep a noise diary and eventually get recording equipment to see if it is in fact a noise nuisance.

That's if they take it seriously, often people complain and they do nothing.

But honestly, just stop letting him run about out there, take him for a pee either on a walk or on a lead in the garden and play inside with him instead until you can sort out training.

Scentwork absolutely shatters them, or some clicker training. He won't even miss the garden because he'll be tired, lol.

Original poster

Elmofan · 25/09/2015 13:29

Thank you all for replying

Yes i will try taking him indoors each time he starts ... tbh we have 6 stray cats that hang around the back gardens which seems to always set him off .
his barking does nothing to the cats they sit on the garden walls ignoring him .
i end up chasing him around the garden telling him to "stop" while he runs away barking . The other dog is very quiet normally but when i take the loud one indoors leaving her out then she kicks off because she is separated from him

OP posts:

ReallyTired · 25/09/2015 13:32

"My dog could be put to sleep by the dog warden if she reports me though if i can not stop him barking ."

I find that hard to believe. Are you in the UK? A barking puppy is hardly a dangerous dog. I have to admit that I have no experience of this, but my impression looking on the internet is that a dog warden would not want to put a healthy puppy to sleep just for excessive barking. I hope that a dog warden would offer you advice and strageries. You can even contact the dog warden for advice rather than wait to be reported.

www.exeter.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=8297&listid=8292

I am sure what is true in exeter is true in the rest of the UK.

tabulahrasa · 25/09/2015 13:33

I'm sorry, I really am, but I actually laughed there...

Both at the cats winding him up and that you chasing him probably makes it more exciting for him.

Do you have a longline? That'd help loads, you can literally just reel him in and take him inside then.

Original poster

Elmofan · 25/09/2015 13:34

Sorry i should have mentioned i am in Ireland . The petstore owner told me that the dog warden would put my dog down if i don't stop him barking .

OP posts:

Original poster

Elmofan · 25/09/2015 13:36

I know tabulahrasa it must look like a carry on movie LOL

OP posts:

GloGirl · 25/09/2015 13:37

Did you get 2 puppies the same age? That's not a good idea. Neither is chasing them around yelling commands that the ignore. Only give them a command when you have a great chance of it working or you just ruin the power you once gave it when you got it to work.

I suggest you get a positive behaviourist in asap and read some books on dog training.

NOT Cesar Milan! His methods are dangerous.

Try Gwent Bailey's 'Perfect Puppy' book. And Victoria Stillwell 'It's me or the Dog'

SurlyCue · 25/09/2015 13:39

The other dog is very quiet normally but when i take the loud one indoors leaving her out then she kicks off because she is separated from him blush

so she needs to come in too then when the barking starts. you just need to wash rinse repeat with this one. they do get it. some take longer than others but consistency should get you some results.

I also laughed at you chasing him round the garden saying 'stop' he doesn't speak human. he has no idea what you are saying. to him you are barking as well. you might as well be cheering him on for all he knows.

hellsbellsmelons · 25/09/2015 13:40

The only anti-bark collars I have seen on Amazon either beep or vibrate.
Not sure how that is cruel but I'm sure someone can enlighten me.

My friend used a plastic bottle with rice in it.
Every time her dog barked it got shaken at her and she would stop.
As it's free it might be worth a try?

tabulahrasa · 25/09/2015 13:42

I've just had a quick google - your neighbour can put in a complaint to court, they can issue a control order if it's deemed to be a nuisance meaning you have to stop the noise or I assume face some sort of court order breach charges if you didn't.

Nothing about having them PTS unless they were unwanted or removed if it was multiple dogs...but I don't think it means 2 in that situation.

Original poster

Elmofan · 25/09/2015 13:43

yes we got them both within 3 weeks of each other ... the are very close & adorable together . The female is so quiet compared to the male though . She is happy to sleep at your feet and is lovely and calm but the male is hyper and needs a lot of exercise
He is sitting at the back door now whimpering to be let out into the garden :(

OP posts:

JapaneseSlipper · 25/09/2015 13:43

Agree that a collar is a bad idea. Training as mentioned above will be better, but will take time. Also not a fan of the spray water approach. It's all about positive reinforcement for an anxious dog.

If it's possible (ie. if your neighbour is approachable) I would go round and talk to her. Ask her what hours her husband sleeps. And arrange your puppy's outside time around that.

It's not good enough for your neighbour to say "the puppy can never make noise at any hour of the day". At least in the short term, that's the reality of the situation - he will be making noise until he can be trained out of it. But there are 12 hours between, say, 8am and 8pm, and her husband won't be sleeping for all of them. There will be windows in which it's less inconvenient for them, so ask her what they are, and do your best to accommodate them. I'm not saying bend over backwards changing your lifestyle, but if it's all the same to you, you could send the puppy out when everyone's awake, and it shows to your neighbour that you are trying to help. That should go a long way.

I'd also call your council and see what the actual rules are, rather than relying on what the pet shop owner says. They have an interest in convincing you to buy that collar from them.

Hope it works out x

Dbsparkles · 25/09/2015 13:44

Just put him on a lead and take him in the garden on a lead. Chasing him round the garden is clearly ridiculous!

MelanieCheeks · 25/09/2015 13:44

I have a barky cocker too (ooh er missus!) so I do sympathise!

Squirty water bottle is what I've found most effective. I agree that chasing her round the garden is just a big game. I've used a puff-of-air anti-bark collar on another dog, and I'm not a big fan.

Outcomesthebunnyofdeath · 25/09/2015 13:48

Google "Sprinkles" for dogs. It will give him something to concentrate on in the garden and keep him busy and quiet. Chasing him round the garden is rewarding the behaviour - he must think it's a great game :)

Idefix · 25/09/2015 13:49

I think the pet shop man wanted to make a sale op, no one will put a dog to sleep for barking.

Training needn't be expensive and can be done by you but will need a consistent approach and time. You can find info online.

I live in Europe and here dogs have the right to bark for thirty minutes in total a day before it becomes a public nuisance . This actually works out to be quite a lot of barking should you decide to measure it.

Your dog is young and should be able with training stop barking. Good luck!

Outcomesthebunnyofdeath · 25/09/2015 13:51

Also the rice in a bottle thing will not help an already anxious dog, it works in much the same way as an anti bark collar would. Positive reinforcement is the best route to follow.

SunshineAndShadows · 25/09/2015 13:51

It dies sound as if your make dog is bit bored. Try putting his dry food in a kong wobbler, laying some scent trails in the garden, or spending time doing obedience and clicker training.

The more you fill his time with positive quiet activities the more focussed he'll be on responding to you and the less time or energy for barking.

Anti bark collars are not supported by any decent trainers or veterinary bodies as they create more problems than they solve

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