Bark Collars UPDATE and UPDATE TO THE UPDATE.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

In light of the two recent discussions about bark collars, we went to the store to get one for each of our doodles. Sadly, one dog triggers the others so even our non-barking Springer will do some barking now.  We let the salesman talk us into an e-collar (static?) rather than citronella because he said that the citronella one can be triggered by the other dog's bark so......  The PetSafe Static Correction collars we got have 6 levels of correction that are not controlled by us but by the barking.  The static strength increases for each bark w/in 30 seconds up to the 6th level.  It automatically turns off after 3 minutes.

Now, after reading the directions, we are still unsure if either this collar, or the citronella one can meet our needs.   

Christine and Gina, did you deny access to the outdoors unless you put the collar on?  Have you used it when you were not home?  Did you have your dog wear it for hours at first so that you could catch them when barking? 

When we are home our dogs go in and out as they please through our dog door.  They run outside and  bark when a neighbor moves trash cans, or enters their yard or house from the sidewalk; when a cat or ? runs through our yard or hill. They don't continue to bark forever, but it can go on while the incident is happening.  When we are home, we call to them and they almost always stop barking and come in. They bark when someone comes to our door.  In our RV they might bark (Ned growls too)  as people walk by but once we stop them the first time on a trip, it happens only when people actually come to our door or when we return from being out. For this we shake a can of coins and a command.  The real problem is when we leave them alone in the RV.  They bark at passersby.  They bark at other campers in the sites next to us.  Three dogs barking is LOUD and annoying and occasionally complaints have been made (depends upon the campground).  Personally I HATE barking, and if my dogs never barked - ever in this lifetime - I would be extremely happy.  My goal with the collars though, is to have them NOT bark when left alone in the RV. (Can you imagine what our RV will smell like with citronella collars spraying????) 

One complication that I see to these collars is that Ned chortles when he greets us, Clancy moans and groans when he plays with his toys.  Will these noises set off the aversives?

Should we be going for total non-barking and have them wear the collars most of the days - at home and in the RV to train them not to bark? Should we take the 'static' buzz collars back and get citronella ones?

Just so you know, we have tried white noise, blocking them seeing outside, those devices that emit a high pitched noise when triggered by barking.

I would appreciate feedback.  We have to try something because we are starting NOT to go in the RV or not to leave the RV to sight see and this is not okay.

UPDATE

It only has been a couple of days but last night both Ned and Clancy had their SHOCKING epiphany moment. My dh knocked on the wall while sitting on the couch and the dogs barked and ran for the door.   Clancy had a burst of 3 barks and at the end of the 3rd one he got shocked enough that he gave a cry (not like he was hurt just surprised) and ran over to Mom for some support - crawling up on the couch and onto my lap.  Even though Ned continued to bark. Clancy just stayed on the couch with no interest in the barking.  Ned kept running back in to see why the other dogs weren't following his lead.  My dh and I wondered why he wasn't responding until I checked and found that it had fallen off in the other room.  Well, we put it back on nice and snug and........ knock knock and Ned took off for the front door barking and got his epiphany moment!  After a girlie foo foo squawk, he kept silent also.  We left for camping today, put the collars on and so far - no barking.  The real test will be when we 'pretend' to leave and see what happens.  Hopefully one bark will do it!

SECOND UPDATE ON THE E-COLLAR FOR BARKING:WE HAVE HAD THE COLLARS FOR A WHILE NOW AND THEY HAVE MADE MAGIC FOR OUR CAMPING TRIPS. THE DOGS WILLINGLY COME TO GET THEIR COLLARS ON.  I DON'T KNOW IF THEY ASSOCIATE THE COLLAR WITH THE CORRECTION, BUT I DON'T ACTUALLY CARE AS LONG AS IT WORKS. WE HAVE USED THEM ALL SUMMER IN OUR RV AND THE BARKING, IF THERE IS ANY AT ALL, STOPS AT ONE BARK - EVEN GORDIE WHO DOESN'T HAVE A COLLAR ON CALMS BY THE NON-BARKING OF THE DOODLES.  IT IS AMAZING.  THE UPSIDE IS THAT THE DOGS ARE ALSO CALMER. THEY DON'T GET IN SUCH A TIZZY WHEN PEOPLE WALK NEAR OR THROUGH THE CAMPSITES.  WE HAVE USED IT AT HOME IN THE LATE AFTERNOON AND EVENING IF THE DOGS DECIDE TO BARK AT STUFF -LIKE THE TRASH CANS BEING MOVED NEXT DOOR, THE GARDENERS NEXT DOOR, THE DOGS ON THE HILL BEHIND US.  THE COLLAR FITS CLANCY MUCH BETTER THAN NED AND HE RARELY EVEN GIVES ONE BARK WHEN HE IS WEARING IT. I DON'T KNOW IF IT IS BECAUSE NED IS SMALLER YET HAS THE SAME SIZE COLLAR (ADJUSTED) OR WHETHER IT IS BECAUSE NED HAS MORE OF A POODLE BUILD WHILE CLANCY HAS  THE STURDIER RETRIEVER BUILD. I WOULD RECOMMEND ANY OF YOU WHO ARE HAVING BARKING PROBLEMS GIVING IT A TRY.

[F, Calla & Luca]

This sounds like a tough problem Nancy and all I can do is follow the discussion. I certainly have avoided taking my dogs to a hotel or that sort of thing because you can always take them with you and they might bark at noises when you are gone.

[GBK]

Darn, I'm sorry they set each other off when any dog barks....  I thought I had read that somewhere, that's why I encouraged you to ask that question.

I only use the collar on Kona for inappropriate barking at people/children (she rarely does it anymore), never all day, never when I am not there.  When we are at home and they both are barking in the back yard, they will come when called.  I guess I would have to get one for Buddy too if I did try to leave them alone in a hotel, they will bark.  I try to plan vacations at cooler times so I can leave them in the car, they are fine there.  After a couple of woofs, they settle. 

I do think their little noises will set off the collars if they node is right at the voice box.  Can you take the collars back if you don't like them?  If you can it is worth a try.....  I'll help in anyway I can next week.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Totally money-back guarantee.  Its just that when we got home, this collar and read the directions, I am just not sure about it.  I really do not want them to bark and annoy people in campgrounds though....  Before we lost our old lab mix, this did not happen.  He really kept them in line and I never realized what a great leader he really was.

[Adina P]

I think that as long as they will not bark when you want them to not bark (with collars) it doesn't matter if they know they can bark with the collar off.  Does it?  If quiet in the RV is what matters most, then just train them to it at home and then try it out at the RV and just use it then...or keep them on all the time and see.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Thank you for clarifying.  This makes perfect sense.

[Christine & Camus]

Nancy, Camus is not allowed outside without his collar on and he knows it!   And, no I did not have him wear it for hours before letting him go outside.  All I did was put it o him and then open the dog door, he barked got misted with the citronella, woofed, again citronella mist, and now no more barking.  It was so easy.  I realize you have a triple threat and it may be more complicated, but I thought the collar had to sense the vibration from barking in order to spray.  What I do know is that as long as Camus wears his collar he does not bark and he was a crazy, non-discriminating barker when outside.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Your experience with Camus is what finally triggered us to try something.  I like the idea of the Citronella better than the ones we got, and the store clerk might be wrong that another dog's bark can trigger it. He has successfully used the ones we got, but I guess we will try these and if we just don't like them, I will return them.

[Christine & Camus]

Nancy,  Check this link  http://www.dogbarkcollar.com/citronella

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

This was really helpful, Christine.  It really explained the pros and cons of the different types of collars and their quality. Now, I need to decide whether the collar we got is the one we want to use or if another one would be better in our situation.  You always find the most useful reviews.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

I think I would try the collars you have and see how they work when the dogs are alone in the RV.  It seems as if you don't have much of a problem in other situations.  Try putting the collars on and leaving them alone, but "hide" so you can see what happens.  Have you felt them to see the intensity of the "static" at the sixth level?  That would be my only concern, especially if it can go on for three minutes.  I assume these are the ones that are triggered by the movement of the dog's vocal cords versus sound?

We live in a condo so barking has always been an issue for us.  I know that it is instinctual for them to bark, and I allow them a quick bark if there's someone in the yard or at the door....they're so funny because now they come running to me to put them in their down/stays.  When we're not home we gate off the front door and close the back door blinds.  That seems to work for them...they don't bark if they can't see anyone, and the door seems to be the trigger.  They don't even bark when we come home and open the garage door. 

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Jane, you remain my dog training hero. Barking in a campground is the same as barking in a condo.  I love that your guys  come to you for their down/stays.  Your dogs know you mean business and rely on you to help them follow the rules and stay safe. We haven't felt the full intensity of the 'static' because of the way this collar works for testing.  After reading Christine's review link, I want to discuss possibly exchanging these collars for another one.  My concern now is getting the best collar that is NOT triggered by the other dogs or by outside things - like the other dogs barking and the RV movement when coming up the steps and inside.

[Diane and Alma]

I am not a big fan of the e-collar.  We borrowed one briefly from a friend to try on Alma. 

She barks when she hears the neighbor dog and when people are pulling their garbage cans in and out and if there's a squirrel in the yard.  I can't blame her but we also don't want our neighbors to complain.

We tried the e-collar on the lowest setting.  Alma responded immediately.  One day as I was walking with it in my hand it shocked me accidently.  I could not drop the thing fast enough.  I vowed never to put it back on Alma.

We now use a citronella collar.  It works great for our purpose.  I've been sprayed  - on purpose -  as I blow into it to make sure the battery life and liquid level is still good.  It doesn't hurt like the e-collar did.  It just gives off a smell. 

Also it doesn't seem like another dog could set it off.  There is a small indicator on the neck side that "senses" the bark.  When I blow into it, it will spray.  Alma has learned she can growl with it on but when she barks it will spray her.

My suggestion is, try them out yourself.