Curious...what people think of bark collars...

[Joann Valerio]

Had never heard of this...are they effective when you have to leave your Doodle in the
Crate and need to keep the barking down because you live in a Condo? Any negatives for
The Doodle? I know at some point the Doodle will become accustomed to the crate...

[AndySharon BoomerShaynaMariner]

There have been many discussions - these are 2 of them.

http://www.doodlekisses.com/forum/topics/bark-collar
http://www.doodlekisses.com/forum/topics/no-bark-collars

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

I would not use a bark collar on a puppy, however we finally got bark collars to use mostly when we go in our RV and leave the guys alone. What was happening is one dog would bark at another camper, then the others would join in, getting each other more and more excited.  The bark collars stopped this totally. 

[Leslie J]

There are lots of discussions in the Puppy Madness group about dogs barking in their crates. Here's one:

http://www.doodlekisses.com/group/puppymadness/forum/topics/new-pup...

[Linda, Charlie Brown and Beau]

IMO - it is not an option for a puppy in a crate and never an option for a young puppy!  If a person has more than one dog and they are feeding off the excitement of the moment, then possibly if I could not get it under control using other training methods.

[Elizabeth, Bailey & Bruin]

Never leave any dog unattended with a collar on... especially in a crate.  There have been tragic accidents that have happen to doodles being choked to death by their own collar...

Mine bark and it drives me crazy for sure. 

[Linda, Charlie Brown and Beau]

Elizabeth - I am glad you mentioned this.  So many people (especially new puppy owners) may not know this.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

I understand your concerns and reasons, but I disagree about never leaving a dog unattended with a collar on.  In a crate perhaps, but my anxiety won't let me leave my dogs without wearing their collars with identification, if for some reason they got out while I was gone.

[Adina P]

I feel the same way.  For me the whole purpose of a collar is identification, otherwise mine would be naked all the time.  I want that collar on when I'm NOT with them.

[Trina Martinez]

I second this..I lost a st bernard male to leaving his collar on him. He hung himself on my deck. If he would not have had a collar on he would still be here with his sister. Which I still have her she is 11 years old now her brother died on me at 1 1/2 years old..

All my dogs have microchip and tattoo all collars are taken off them when they are in my fence. My deck also has been altered those one by one sticks they use around a deck. I kicked them all off when i found my dog hung by one of those things falling loose. Screw them on or do like me change out to thicker wood and screw them on well.

[Adina P]

I agree that it is not an appropriate tool for a puppy.  From my reading it is best for adult dogs who are not barking out of anxiety, but simply feel they need to bark at everything they see/hear.  Also they are meant to prevent prolonged barking when owners aren't home.  If you are home, you need to learn methods to correct/stop/address the behavior.  For what it's worth, my 9 year old doodle, Rosco, barked a lot in the crate as a puppy, but he grew out of it.  He doesn't bark and bark and bark creating a nuisance.  He just barks if he sees something and although it is that FIRST alarming bark that makes my head want to explode, I can stop it from continuing.