Best humane anti-bark collar for 4 y.o. Lab?
Hi,
I need a quick solution to my dog’s barking. We just got her and we love her. We’re afraid our neighbor will complain because every time she hears a movement from across the hall, she incessantly barks.
I know training is the best way around it but I need a quick solution. We walk her throughout the day and i am also trying to get her to sit and other commands.
I will absolutely NOT use any shocking collars, sorry. If anyone has any suggestions, please help me out.
Thank you
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Tags: neighbor, quick solution
July 5th, 2010 at 8:12 am
An electronic anti bark training collar is humane and effective when used properly. There are big differences between good anti bark collars and the cheap ones. A good one works like this. The collar senses vibrations when the dog barks. The collar gives a static shock, then the collar automatically shuts off for a few seconds. It shuts off in case the dog yelps in reaction to the shock. If the collar shocked the dog for reacting to the first shock, that would be inhumane. After the rest time, the collar resets itself. To use an anti bark collar set the correction at the lowest level. Watch the dog for a reaction when he barks. If you do not notice a reaction, set the correction at the next level. No reaction means the dog doesn’t feel the shock through his fur. When the dog reacts in any way the setting is right. It won’t take long for most dogs to associate the shock with the barking. A tiny percentage of dogs will overreact to the correction and yelp and vocalize longer than the collar’s resting period. It would be inhumane to continue to use an electronic collar on these dogs. The best electronic collars are made by Tri Tronics. They are a bit pricey, about $100 each. Some reasons to avoid cheap collars are not consistently shocking when the dog barks, shocking when the dog isn’t barking, short battery life and lousy durability. An electronic collar is a training tool, not something to use continuously. Like any tool it’s only useful when it’s used properly. I have tried citronella collars and collars that use a sound that is supposed to annoy the dog. They were only effective for a few days then the dogs ignored them.
July 5th, 2010 at 8:12 am
there really isn’t a quick solution. you can use a muzzle,but i wouldn’t recommend that.
You just need to start training.
July 5th, 2010 at 8:12 am
Citronella?
July 5th, 2010 at 8:12 am
for collars short of shock, try a choke collar. My lab and golden both have one. Its the metal pokey ones with a chain pinch in the back. When a leash is on it, it tightens the chain, and pokes the dog (it doesn’t hurt them) but she needs to be on the leash for that to work. There is also a cloth version of collar with the part the leash hooks to, tightening a bit when you pull on it.
Try a squirt bottle, but she’s a lab, she might like it instead of take it as a punishment
Or try a "Gentle Leader". It sits over their muzzle and under their chin and back up around their neck. It’s very humane and tends to be very effective.
July 5th, 2010 at 8:12 am
There is no quick solution in training a dog.
Take the time and energy to train her properly, that’s far more humane.
July 5th, 2010 at 8:12 am
Shocking collars are the most effective and they’re not as inhumane as you would think, if used properly. You can just use it on vibrate, if I am correct.
Other ways would be a spray bottle filled with water. Spray her when she barks and tell her NO, NO BARK, or HUSH firmly.
Keep a lead on her and give it a jerk every time she barks and say NO etc..
Or buy a citronella collar:
http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2751019
It sprays a nasty mist in their face whenever they bark.
Never used one, but have heard semi-good things about them.
ADDED: I forgot one.
Buy some compressed air and blow it in their face whenever they bark and say NO, etc..
July 5th, 2010 at 8:12 am
Quick and humane solution would be to schedule your dog for a bark softening procedure.
It is a quick procedure, takes about 15 minutes.
Your dog will have a bark it will just be a quiet bark.
I know at least 20 dogs who have had this procedure, all are happy and healthy and no neighbors are complaining.
————–
Debarking (Bark Softening) – Myths and Facts
Animal rights groups attack life-saving debarking procedure
By Charlotte McGowan
There is a move around the country by animal rights interests to outlaw the practice of debarking dogs. So much misinformation about this procedure abounds that it is truly time to set the record straight. As a dog breeder since the late 50’s, I can tell you that debarking in the hands of a well trained veterinarian is a very useful tool for breeders and owners and it saves lives. I have had many dogs debarked over the years and the usefulness of this procedure should not be ignored. I know friends who have used debarking for decades with no ill effects on the dogs. Rescue groups for noisy breeds have used this procedure to save the lives of dogs that might otherwise be euthanized.
Q: What is debarking?
A:This is a minor surgical procedure to reduce tissue in the vocal chords. Some vets use a biopsy punch to remove a small amount of tissue. . Other surgeons use a laser for the same purpose. The vocal chords are not removed! The goal of the surgery is to lower the volume of the dog’s bark and the ability of the bark to carry over a wide area. This procedure is sometimes referred to as devocalization but it does not remove the dog’s voice. It is more accurately called bark-softening. The actual procedure is quick and recovery is also quick.
Q: Does debarking remove the dog’s ability to bark?
A:No. Debarked dogs continue to bark. What debarking does is to lower the volume of the bark so that it does not carry for miles around.
Q. Is it true debarked dogs cannot communicate any longer?
A. No. This is a prominent myth. Debarked dogs continue to bark, whine and vocalize in all the ways dogs do.
Q: Is the surgery always successful?
A: Sometimes scar tissue forms and heavy barkers will become louder than when first debarked. The skill of the veterinarian is also a factor. Some vets do not know how to perform the surgery so it is necessary to find a vet who knows how to do the procedure.
Q: Is this a "cruel and barbaric procedure?"
A: No. People with little or no experience raising naturally noisy and talkative breeds may tell you this. People with breeds like Shetland Sheepdogs (Shelties) can tell you that this procedure is simple and that it saves lives of dogs that might otherwise be dumped in the pound for their barking. Debarking is a more simple procedure than removing the uterus in spaying or removing testicles in neutering. Many dogs that are herding dogs, working dogs or small dogs can bark a lot. Many mixed breed dogs can also be heavy barkers. In modern society with heavily built up neighborhoods sometimes any barking can cause problems between neighbors.
Q: Do dogs suffer emotionally from debarking?
A:It is a huge myth to suggest dogs are emotionally disturbed by debarking. Debarked dogs can bark. Even if reduced sound comes out of their mouths, they don’t seem to notice that their bark is softer. Debarked dogs that are not being constantly disciplined for barking, in fact, tend to be much happier dogs!
Q: Is it true that only criminals and drug dealers debark dogs?
A:This is the biggest myth about debarking! The majority of people who debark dogs are responsible dog owners at the end of their rope with dogs whose bark is so piercing that they can be heard for miles around. To be breed specific, Sheltie, Collie and other herding breed owners are the people most apt to do this. Herding breeds, by nature can be very vocal in their work. They also are joyful in their barking. They bark at squirrels, strangers, in play. They bark just to bark. Sheltie and Collie breeders are not criminals and drug dealers!
Q: Is it true you can train any dog not to bark?
A:I defy some of the so-called new wave of dog behaviorists to train a group of Shelties not to bark! Shelties in numbers larger than one love to do group barking. It is part of who they are. This can be true of any group of dogs.
Q: Isn’t debarking a hazardous procedure?
A: Any procedure that requires anesthesia, whether it is a dental cleaning, spay, or debarking has intrinsic risks. The key to success is good veterinary skill in all these procedures.
Q: Animal rights activists have said that dogs can be debarked by shoving a pipe down their throats. Is that possible?
A. This is an oversized myth. If someone shoves a pipe down a dog’s throat they might kill the dog. This urban legend has continued in the media.
Q: Do people debark just to avoid training their dogs?
A: The majority of people who debark have run out of options and are trying to be good neighbors. We are not talking about people who are irresponsible and leave their dogs out all night or ignore chronic barking. We are talking about people who are faced with having to move or having to give up the dog. It is a procedure of last resort. A piercing bark, even on limited occasions, can be enough to cause a war in built up residential neighborhoods. Animal rights interests have painted debarking as a cruel quick fix when in fact it is something no owner does lightly.
Q: Is excessive barking due to bad breeding?
A: Here’s another myth. Shelties kept birds of prey away from lambs on remote Shetland. They also kept livestock out of the crofters meager gardens and protected fish drying on the beach from eagles and other raptors. Barking is a useful tool for this work. It also helps let the owner know where the dog is. Unfortunately, in modern life, neighbors are not impressed when dogs bark.
Q: Do breeders debark dogs to hide them so they don’t have to license them?
A: No. Many breeders own more than one dog and good breeders who want to be good neighbors sometimes debark a really loud dog. Being a good neighbor is part of being responsible.
Q: Anti debarking legislation is being put forth around the country as part of anti dog fighting bills. Isn’t this a good idea?
A: Criminals pay not attention to laws. They are not going to license their dogs in the first place, let alone report any that may be debarked. The people impacted by anti debarking laws are responsible owners, especially people with talkative dogs. Animal rights interests want to outlaw any procedures they deem unnecessary. Responsible and compassionate veterinarians should understand that debarking can save lives by keeping dogs out of shelters and in homes. While some dogs, especially when they are the only dog in a home, can be trained to reduce their barking, others cannot be trained to the point where neighbors will not be annoyed.
Q: Do you debark ALL your dogs?
A: No. Some dogs are less noisy than others. I last debarked a dog ten years ago. This was a dedicated squirrel chaser with a high pitched voice. The squirrels are always going to be out there. I wish I could train the squirrels to move to another neighborhood but that’s just about as hard as training a sheltie not to bark.
Charlotte McGowan is the author of The Shetland Sheepdog in America and is an honorary Life Member of the American Shetland Sheepdog Association. She has bred dogs for over 50 years. She has been an AKC dog show judge for over 30 years.
July 5th, 2010 at 8:12 am
I have a yellow lab and he used to bark a lot, for no reason. So i went online and they have this collar that the dog wears and it squirts out water into their face. We used it and in a few weeks he stopped barking. Shock collars can give your dog heart problems and such. Also choke collars really don’t work for a barking dog, but for a dog that pulls. Its called anti bark spray collar. I suggest you try that. I hope this helps
July 5th, 2010 at 8:12 am
Like you said, training is what your dog needs. I absolutely do not agree with any of these shock collars, or even the anti-bark collars. A dog just needs to be trained to stop barking after a couple barks, and/or to stop barking when you tell them to. For a dog to be punished in some way, even if it’s humane, any time it barks, is confusing to the dog, and IMHO just wrong, period.
My husband and I trained our 3 APBTs to stop barking when we tell them "enough". Now, obviously our dogs are not perfect, and there are some times where they don’t stop barking right when we tell them to, and for those times we used a can with come coins in it. We just took an empty soda can, rinsed and dried it out, put several coins in it, and taped the top so the coins wouldn’t come out. If they don’t stop barking when we tell them "enough", we give the can a good shake or two, and they stop almost every time after that. After a while they learned that the thing that made that horrible noise was called a "shake can" or a "can", so most of the time, all we have to do is say, "you want me to go get the can?" or something like that, and they stop! lol!
Anyway, all that being said, again, I do not like any device, or whatever you want to call it, that does something that effects a dog negatively every time they bark, even if it is humane. Dogs need to know that it’s okay to bark, barking is not a bad thing, we just don’t want barking all the time or non-stop. They just have to know that you’re the "pack leader", and when you tell them to do something, they need to do it. IMHO, it’s a very good thing for a dog to bark if they hear someone walking up to your door, or something like that, but they need to know that they do not need to bark non-stop. When our dogs bark when they hear someone in our yard, I tell them "enough" so they will stop, but then I also tell them they are a good boy or girl as well. They are just looking out for the "pack", and alerting the "pack leader".
I completely understand being concerned about the neighbors, but I’d strongly suggest you start working on some training for the barking asap. You already know that though. Until you have your dog trained, I guess I’d suggest either a muzzle or one of those collars that spray citronella, or whatever it is, when they bark. I don’t like muzzles really, but when I think about keeping your dog from barking when your not home, a muzzle seems like it would be my first choice. With a muzzle on, the dog can still breathe, drink water, throw up of it needed to, etc, but it won’t be able to really bark. As much as I really do not like the idea of muzzling my dog like that, I feel like at least that way my dog won’t be being punished for barking, which should be considered a good thing, or at least an okay or normal thing. As long as they stop when they are told, or after a few barks, that is. At the same time though, just the idea of muzzling my dog while I’m not home makes me a little nervous. But so would those collars that spray stuff. The collars that spray something when the dog barks are something that I guess I might consider as well. That won’t hurt the dog, but I guess that keeps them from barking constantly.
Anyway, that’s really all I can think of to suggest. I am very glad to hear that you know that this is something that can be helped with training, and you will be working on training your dog. Too many people just look for the "quick fix" as a permanent fix, and that really upsets me. So yeah, I hope this helps. Good luck, and enjoy every single second you have with your dog, they truly are a blessing! : )