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.

[Enid Ferner]

I think that the e collar would work well to deter your dog from chasing chickens. It's a very hard habit to break, the prey drive just kicks in and there's no stopping them! Jasper just gets in to a "red zone" when he chases my ponies and there's absolutely no calling him back... That collar was a godsend!!
I got mine from amazon, just search under electronic collars or training collars. If you have trouble let me know and I'll send you the info on the one I got. Mine is rechargeable which is great, you just plug it in every so often, no buying batteries.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

The collar we use would not work for chickens because it automatically gives the reminder when the bark is detected, however there are other types of e-collars that work in a different way.