Bark collars

[FreeFallingFrog]

Is there any way to use these ethically, just for at night? We are on our knees because of night-time problems in the family, so please be gentle. Because of situations we never could have anticipated, we're at a point of thinking either something like a bark collar or having to look to potentially rehome/look for a temporary fosterer. DDog is extremely attached to us, and us to her, so this is a devastating prospect.
Any thoughts? TIA

Just to say, for reasons I can't say, we need a quick solution. Longer term training solutions are underway but things are very difficult.

Why is the dog barking? It’s really hard to advise without knowing. Depending on the reason it could genuinely be a terrible idea that severely damages the dog…

I'm ashamed to say in desperation I bought one (a vibrating one) from amazon. But I felt SO guilty as ddog was absolutely terrified of it. She did stop barking, but would shake in fear for ages after it went off. I only used it for 1 day before I binned it.

What is triggering the barking? Without understanding that, it’s hard to say what to do.

But no, it’s aversive training.

My friend used a vibrating one for her dog that used to run out of the drive at every opportunity. It saved it from being run over

Worked well only needed to use ot a few times

There isn’t an ethical way to use one, no. I can see you’re at the end of your tether but for me personally, I’d rehome or foster rather than use one.
Is it a situation where the adults in the house could take it in turns to sleep elsewhere so at least exhaustion would be lessened?

No there isn’t.

Thanks all.

She is over reactive to sounds (people walking past the house talking, etc). That's why she's barking. She is otherwise happy, well adjusted and very, very loved.

So is it genuinely more ethical to find an alternative family for her than consider this?

Well no, because the noise reactivity would still be there. It’s just that terrifying a dog into not doing something isn’t any kind of solution. So if I couldn’t do anything but terrify my dog into obedience I would consider they’d be better off elsewhere.
Are you having behaviourist input? It can take time, but it should work if done consistently and properly.

No but there are perhaps some steps you can take before reaching for the collar. Can she have a radio or white noise on to dampen the noise from outside? Have you spoken with a vet? Have you tried training her out of reacting to the trigger (takes time and circumstances may not allow it right now?). Could she stay in a different part of the house or somewhere else if this is a temporary problem?

Yes just as it more ethical to put a child in a foster home than it is to allow their parents to physically abuse it as a form of discipline for challenging behaviour.

Would you like to be shocked in the throat every time you spoke? Doesn't matter if its a vibrating one, it still hurts! No there is no ethical way of using them, they're cruel contraptions and anyone considering them should have to use it on themselves first.

She needs training, that is all. Dogs bark. Teach her to bark on command and a signal to stop. It's very easy, should take you about 20 minutes. Then use the stop signal on its own when she barks at people. Most dogs get this quite quickly.

They vibrate and beep, they don’t shock. I tried one on myself and it wasn’t painful, just a little weird!

I used one my gobby dog who liked nothing better than charging off down our massive garden shouting his head off, he’s a happy, well adjusted and obedient dog who just happens to very much like the sound of his own voice. Teaching quiet in the house is simple, in the garden it’s a challenge! The collar worked like a dream, he didn’t seem upset by it at all and carried on his business but it did stop the barking
and it only took a few uses.

Shock collars are, of course, dreadful things but the vibration collars, while a little strange, are not, and no-where near as awful for the dog as being re homed, banned from the garden or shouted at.

Does your dog sleep upstairs? If not can she or can you take turns sleeping where she is? What are the issues? Is there lots of noise where you are so you’re all being woken up throughout the night? Shock collars aren’t something I’d consider.

The rehoming isn’t going to help your dog feel safe or stop barking, she’ll just be doing it elsewhere. Without wanting to sound too dramatic, will that solve your issues with sleep because I’d be up all night worrying?

Couldn’t have said it better myself.

The damage these types of things do can take years to undo - if ever. No one who loves their pet would use one, IMO.

Bark collars are brilliant. Saved our sanity and our relationship with our neighbours.

Highly recommend.

I could not disagree with this more.

We used a vibrating bark collar on our dog and it worked instantly. He's not remotely traumatised by it and now knows he can't bark when it's on (but he carries on being his usual cheeky self).

To THINK this poster would say he'd be better off rehomed! All our friends remark on what an obviously happy dog he is!

Classic MN overreaction.

Jesus Christ.

Sorry OP, sounds exhausting.
Is it possible to have her sleep in another room, a quieter one? Is there a reason why she can't sleep with you in the bedroom? I know that some people feel funny about it, but maybe it's worth trying?

Maybe also a white noise machine (or just a smart speaker playing white noise) would work. But at this stage, I'd say she might just bark because she's used to, so I would try to break the pattern altogether and to have her sleep in another room, maybe with the addition of white noise.

We used one which sprayed a tiny bit of lemony smelling stuff out infront of her when she barked. Worked in 2 days. I only used it for an hour each day when I knew guests would be coming or neighbour was in the garden. She barks when we're out of the house when she wants her ball thrown but is quiet at home. If she does have a crazy day I get it out and put it on, not even switched on, for an hour and she remembers she doesn't like what it does when she barks.

Can you control access to rooms where she commonly likes to bark? For example, use baby gates to restrict access to the front room if you have a situation where she can see people walking past the house.

What about trying a Thunder Shirt/Coat?

I have absolutely no idea if it is legal or ethical, but many years ago my friend used a collar that sprayed citronella when the dog barked. She had to use a button on a remote controller. The dog was unhappy and barked every time someone went past. It worked quite quickly and the dog was much happier

Back atcha.
I wouldn’t rehome my dog for barking unless the only alternative I could see was to cause it pain and fear to correct the barking.
Luckily, I know how to stick with training so I don’t have to consider that choice. Hence the “for me personally” bit, which you seemed to have missed.