Anti-bark collar - yes or no? Recommendations?

[Wordsmith]

My 2 year old terrier has become a real 'teenager' and runs up to random people out walking, following them closely and barking loudly at them. She sits on the window shelf and barks at people, dogs, anyone walking by. She barks at the postman and anyone who knocks the door. Otherwise she's lovely - she doesn't bite, generally behaves well and is a real softie. I'm wondering whether an anti-bark collar would be a good idea? Do they work? And if so, which are the best? Ta.

Thanks - I will! No I don't like the idea of the electric shock collars.

good luck OP, this sounds like a good recommendation, let us know how you get on.

No no no no. Oh did I mention no

If it does work you will have a dog that stills feel excitement, fear etc but does not bark BUT they will find an alternative behaviour to show this emotion which could be worse, weeing, marking indoors, being destructive etc

Or it will stress out your dog big time and make them more anxious and even more likely to bark

Or your dog will still bark or find a way to bark that does not set off the collar and you waste your money.

I would also stay away from Barkbusters they are a franchise and sell their business to anyone so they often have no qualifications at all.

Terriers can be barkers but I would look at the reason for the barking...is it anxiety excitement etc. I would also be looking at teaching the dog alternative behaviours in the situations you know will set off barking. eg encouraing the dog to come to you when they see an approaching person, teaching the dog to run to their beds when the doorbell rings.

Off out now but can give more detailed things to try later if interested

Please don't for all the above reasons.

I have a small dog that is considered a barky breed, although she never ever barks when we're out.

She doesn't bark when the postman comes, she's allowed a bit of a bark when someone knocks on the door and when another dog passes the house, oh and when we're about to leave for a walk but she knows to stop after one or two and come for a treat.

The only time she barks a lot is if she runs into the back garden and something spooks her like another dog barking or a sudden noise.

Barking is trainable but it should be done with patience and lots of treats.

Using methods that sock the dog in some way is unkind and doesn't actual train the dog to understand what you want from it, i.e. controlled barking.

Please don't :(
Cheerful Mary has summed it up, there are other ways which will actually work long term.

Thanks all. I did wonder if it would just displace rather than cure! I don't like the idea instinctively. I was talking to someone in the park this morning about the citronella collar and she said that the other dogs quickly got the idea that if they just went up to the offending, collar-wearing dog and barked, then the poor dog would be continually sprayed with horrible liquid .

Yes Cheefulmary, any other suggestions welcome when you have time

Have you spoke to a behaviourist?
My mum's terrier barks madly at some dogs. Mum keeps her on a lead around other dogs. She tells her to be quiet, gets the dog to focus on her and offers a treat when the dog does as she asks.
No idea if this is a good or bad idea but it worked for mum. BTW her dog was flattened by big dogs a few times as a pup and probably has some fear issues. One of those collars would freak her out!