Bark-Off

[Liz]

I bought this $10 "As Seen On TV" gadget at a local Dollar Store to see if it would curb Roe's barking in the RV every time I leave him. I couldn't tell if it was working because the sound it is supposed to emit is not on human frequency.

But yesterday and today, I brought it inside Carol's house. Both dogs have been barking their heads off every afternoon when the neighbors let their dogs loose across the road. When I turned on the "Bark-Off," Maggie barked a couple of times then ran right to Carol & got on her lap. Roe quit barking too. So, while the jury's still out on when I leave him in the RV, maybe it's working?

Posted this because someone asked about these devices.

[Nasoosie]

THAT'S the gadget I want to order, Liz, and I am going to do it right now! I will try it in the car, first, as that's where I KNOW Molly barks her head off when I leave her to go into a store! Glad to hear it seems to work, at least when you two are there! From where did you order yours?

[mitch5252]

I'm going to try and find one, too! Oh, I will be indebted to you forever if it works on my Little Barking Beast...

[Forestgal]

Just a comment in defense of "e-collars" ...

My first dog, Brandy, was a rescue. She had terrible separation anxiety issues and I took her to a nationally known behaviorist (works with the rich and famous) at the urging of my vet.

He said that many, many times what happens is that when dogs experience something that produces anxiety their behavior escalates to the point that they either do damage to themself or their environment. The whole idea behind e-collars is to break that escalation cycle so everyone remains safe and happy. For Brandy it was a combination of e-collar and doggy Prozac -- Clomicalm, I believe. I had to be able to leave her at home without her driving the neighbors crazy. The e-collar gave her a shock, but NEVER did damage, and she only tried to bark through it 4-5 times before she figured out that the collar wasn't fun.

When I got Jed he began to bark in the morning -- 5:00 -- and his barking got progressively earlier. Again, because of my townhouse being so close to my neighbors I knew that it had to stop. So out came Brandy's e-collar. It took him THREE BARKS and he got the message. Never barked again in his kennel.

The problem with e-collars is that people abuse them. They're not meant to correct the owner's poor training and left on the dog all the time. You have to choose your battles and target the behavior you want stopped. Jed barks in the house when he hears something he thinks I need to know about, but it's usually one "whoof" and he's done. And it's inside the house, not in the yard.

So, if the ultrasonic thingy works, great. But please remember that if you've got other animals in the house it could affect them too. I wouldn't chance it with Jed at home because I've got 2 cats and don't want them bothered because of it. But don't rule out an e-collar just because you think they're cruel. It's all in how you look at the bigger picture.



Laura -- and Jed

[mitch5252]

..

So, I went on a hunt...the reviews of this product are not good. If I can find one in a store for ten bucks, I'd try it. But buy from the website, and you have to pay for one ($10) and they send you two, and charge shipping ($7) for EACH of the two, for a total of $24.

I was reading the reviews on Amazon, and had to chuckle at this one: THE UNIT EMITS AN INAUDIBLE HIGH FREQUENCY SOUND, WHICH ACTIVATES A CASH REGISTER SOMEWHERE IN CHINA.

I'll look forward to further reports, Liz!

..

[Liz]

From where did you order yours?

I found it at a Dollar General.

[Liz]

..

So, I went on a hunt...the reviews of this product are not good. If I can find one in a store for ten bucks, I'd try it. But buy from the website, and you have to pay for one ($10) and they send you two, and charge shipping ($7) for EACH of the two, for a total of $24.

I was reading the reviews on Amazon, and had to chuckle at this one: THE UNIT EMITS AN INAUDIBLE HIGH FREQUENCY SOUND, WHICH ACTIVATES A CASH REGISTER SOMEWHERE IN CHINA.

I'll look forward to further reports, Liz!

..

Ha! That's about what I thought after I bought it on whim and only paid $10. There's no way to tell if it's emitting any sound or not since you can't hear it. But did notice definite change in behavior in Maggie & Roe today.

Good point about the cat, Laura, I hadn't thought of that. The E-collar was my next choice if this doesn't work. Bandit (cat) has one that' keeps him from going out the dog door at home...it works very well for that.

As I said, the jury's still out on Roe in the RV. Haven't had much chance to test it yet.

[mitch5252]

I guess to make sure it's not going off continuously, and driving the beasts nuts, I'd take the battery out. I'll look at Dollar General next time I'm in town.