Anti-barking Collars....anyone tried them and do they work?

[WonderBarbara]

Hi, we have a one year old dog, shih-tzu/pom cross, and he has recently taken up barking to the extreme. He started a few months ago, and it was only at things like the door bell when strangers came or when he was out behind his gate etc, now he barks and jowls at the door bell even when he can see its one of us, or barks when someone uses they key! He barks when the phone rings, when he hears the slightest noise in the garden, we brought the guinea pig in for the winter, and unless we keep the conservatory door shut, he just stands by their hutch barking at her.

Usually, when all is calm and when it's just the family around (no guests) he is perfect and we love him very much so getting rid of him really is no option at all. He is very friendly and has never ever gone to bite. He is very very good with the DC. However, I am getting so fed up of not being able to have guests, or if i do have guests he just makes them feel uncomfortable really. We really want to entertain this new year, (promised friends and family last year that next year will be our turn) and our friends and family are just assuming they are coming around ours. I just don't know what we can do about our dog.

We have tried ignoring and then praising and giving a treat when he stops, but it is just not working. I was looking at those anti-bark collars that give the dog a vibration or spray when he barks? Reviews online are quite good, but think I need a bit more opinions.

Anyone?

*howls not jowls

I've never used one (and wouldn't) but one thing stands out for me as a big risk with them and that is they connect the vibration or spray with what is happening rather than their barking.
If your dog learns that when visitors arrive he gets a spray he could start reacting very badly to visitors for example and then you have an even worse issue than you started with.

Ah Jemima I didn't think of that. What about if we start using it in the home before guests?

Not a good idea. Dogs bark because it's what they do. If you don't like it you need to train something different rather than looking for quick, unkind fixes. It's a bit late to be worrying about Christmas guests given you made the offer last year

Collars are a big risk. If there is any element of anxiety to the barking (there very often is) a dog will be made worse by the use of aversive stimuli. Collars which release unpleasant smells like citronella are completely pointless when used in a species whose sense of smell is many thousand times more sensitive than our own. Frightening stimuli will often be associated with the thing the dog is already anxious about, eg visitors, leading to a deterioration in the situation.

There are ways to fix this but they won't work overnight and you'll need to be committed.

You will be wasting your money

Either your dog will be terrified and this will make more problems, like weeing and poohing as well as barking

Your dog will get used to it and after a few days carry on barking

Some dogs learn to bark in a certain pitch that means they still make a noise but it does not set off the bark collar .

You need to train an alternative behaviour to barking when your dog hears the doorbell. I would start with just the key in the door, Get someone to do this whilst you are inside and treat your dog whilst they are in their bed. Do this regularly and when the dog hears the key in the lock they will run to their bed waiting for a treat. You can then do the same for the doorbell.

If done frequently dogs will pick this up really quickly

I've seen a spray one being used - it was really upsetting.

It was a neighbour's dog... The poor thing barked, hot sprayed, didn't like the spray, so barked at it, got sprayed, got upset, barked more.

It didn't have a clue why the spray was happening and just got more and more distressed.

You need to teach the dog to bark on command and that way you can teach him to stop . Victoria Stillwell covered this issue in one of her American programmes which may be worth watching.

My neighbour has completely cured a serial barker by taking him out for decent walks every day that's all.

Please don't use things like spray collars, they are so cruel and as others have said will just create other problems for your dog, if not for you.

My dog is a breed that is known to have the potential to be very yappy - small and fluffy - and if left to her own devices would be very barky. Training her to give a few barks when the doorbell goes took time and patience - there are no quick fixes - and it's ongoing, you can't just give a few commands and a few treats and expect your dog to learn the new behaviour and keep doing what you want.

I agree, the spray collars are nonsense and don't actually work. It can be a bit scary buying the vibration ones but they can actually work, just test it on yourself first (yes I'm serious). There are also collars which beep when dogs bark which seem quite effective. Stay clear of anything which gives out electric shocks, totally unnecessary, the RSPCA has a good page about it

kb.rspca.org.au/knowledge-base/should-i-use-an-anti-barking-collar-to-treat-my-dogs-barking-problem/

you-well.co.uk/the-best-anti-barking-collars-you-can-buy-in-the-uk/

www.dog-training-excellence.com/dog-barking-collar.html

Rewarding desirable behaviour and more exercise. He sounds like he has too much energy so burn off the energy and you will probably see an improvement.

Christ, hope you don't have neighbours. I can't use my garden because of fucking barking dogs

No absolutely not. They’re cruel and won’t make the dog understand what you want him to do. Poms are known for barking and shih tzus were bred to bark outside temples to warn monks of anyone approaching so he’s just doing what his instincts tell him! You need to be consistent with training and do it every day, building up the stimuli and showing him what you want him to do instead with rewards - e.g get someone to put key in door. Reward him if he’s quiet. Repeat every day til you can build up to the doorbell. Join the Facebook group Dog Training Advice and Support, there’s loads of really concise guides on there

Zombie post

Thread is NINE years old. I'm pretty sure the OP has resolved the problem as I doubt the animal is still with us...

My dog gets loads of exercise,an hour in the morning and 45 mins late afternoon, has the run of a large garden most of the day, and I'm home all day. However, he goes ballistic when one of 2 gamekeepers living nearby set off with their dogs. Anytime they are near! Also, same with the postman.
He's a neutered Fox terrier/Patterdale Cross. Terrier Plus! He's pretty good at everything else, including recall (off the lead too). Nothing but nothing stops him zoning, zooming & barking at his nemesis.
Any advice?