Dog Obedience Training

5 Responses to “Using A Dog Bark Collar For Controlling Dog Behavior Problems”

1. ♥ Kodi ♥ ◦◕◡◕◦ Says:
   May 17th, 2010 at 2:04 pm

   Using bark control collar on a 5 month old puppy?
   Sorry. My questions all tend to be lengthy! I like to add details.

   I have a 6 year old female Siberian Husky who is outside during the day. That’s the way she likes it. She comes inside at night, and when we are home.
   I also have a 5 month old male Kelpie, who is inside at the moment since he is a puppy.
   This is where the fun begins.
   My husband and I walk/run both of them for an hour every day, in the evening, and they both get loads of attention.
   However, my puppy still gets bored during the day while we’re at work (8 hours). I leave him plenty of toys to play with, things to chew. I scatter vegetables on the floor for him to scavenge. He has puppy bones to gnaw on.
   Yet he still chews up my dining chair legs. And my coffee table. And he’s started at my TV cabinet. I’m surprised he hasn’t torn the stuffing out of the couch.
   Now, I don’t blame him for getting bored, it’s not his fault.
   He is not crate-trained, and I have no intention of doing so. Different strokes for different folks.

   So we’re going to put him outside while we’re at work, so he can play with our Husky while we’re gone, and keep each other company.
   Problem is, he barks. A lot. We trialled him about a week ago for a few hours, so see how he’d go outside without us “being at home” (we just stayed in the living room where he couldn’t see us), and it was terrible. Non stop barking.

   So we bought a PetSafe shock-collar on the weekend, which I really didn’t want to do (
   I really wanted to use the citronella spray collar, but the cost is ridiculous. $400 for something that will last 80 sprays per refill? My kelpie barks 80 times in 30 minutes. The refills are $70.
   We eased him into it, leaving it “uncharged” on him for the weekend, and yesterday (took it off during the nights). He had it on, switched on, last night while he was inside, but didn’t bark much at all, and he didn’t react in the slightest.

   This morning before work, I put the shock collar on him and put him outside, and kept an eye on him for a few minutes.
   Lo and behold, he started barking. And the shock collar kicked in, starting off with a tingle at the first bark, and working its way up to ‘level 6’. By the third time he barked, he was yelping and dashing around frantically, trying to find out what was happening.

   I was mortified. That’s not what the manual said would happen. I quote: “Most dogs will understand very quickly that the Bark Control Collar is disrupting their urge to bark and will relax and stop barking. Because the Static Correction from the Bark Control Collar may be surprising or startling at first, some dogs may bark more at the initial correction.”
   He was anything but relaxed. I brought him inside, soothed him gently until he was calm, and decided to leave him inside for the day. Better than having him yelping all day in pain.

   I’m pretty damn sure I fitted the collar to him correctly, it’s not exactly rocket science. I read the manual, and did as it said.

   So my question:
   Are they supposed to respond to bark control collars like this?
   Have you used a shock collar for your dog? If so, which brand and how did it work out?

   Obviously I can’t use a remote control one, since I won’t be at home.

   I do not want to harm my dog. I want to correct him for his barking behaviour, however unfortunately, I don’t have the leave-time from work to positive-reinforce him all day while he’s outside.

   And before you say anything, yes, both my dogs are fixed.

   And also, none of that “try it on yourself, stupid!” Dogs skin is MUCH tougher than human flesh. And the fur also deadens the shock.
   I never said crate training is bad – It’s good. It’s just something I choose not to do.

   The same way that clicker training can be good, it’s just something I choose not to do.

2. Corn is not dog food! No wheat! Says:
   May 17th, 2010 at 7:06 pm

   Wait…

   You won’t crate your dog, but you’ll shock him with electricity?

   LOL!!!

   Well, like you said, different strokes.

   Different dogs are going to react to the situation differently. Remember, he’s young. A 5 month old dog is sort of like a 2 year old kid. How do you think a 2 year old would react to being slapped for singing a song?

   Your dog doesn’t know what he’s doing is wrong. He doesn’t understand why "talking" is getting him shocked.

   If you’re committed to the collar, let him get used to it. Depending on how bright he is, he’ll get it eventually.

   EDIT TO ADD:
   You choose NOT to do something passive and relatively harmless as put the dog in the crate, but you’re perfectly willing to shock the dog into submission?
   References :

3. crazy_monkey94 Says:
   May 17th, 2010 at 7:08 pm

   Well, first of all, I don’t believe in shock collars. But as you said, different people have different opinions. On my side of the question, I think you should take the collar off. Every dog should have its’ right to bark. That’s how they communicate. Maybe, a little bit of time everyday, you could try to train him. When he gets all crazy on you and starts barking non-stop, turn around and give him no attention. When he stops barking, give him love or a treat.

   You could watch "It’s Me or The Dog" Animal Planet
   References :

4. Maggie Says:
   May 17th, 2010 at 7:10 pm

   Soothing an upset dog trains him to be upset. You need to watch the Dog Whisperer and learn how to reinforce proper behavior and become a leader for your dog. Unfortunately, if you have a pupply and leave it home most of the time, you will never get it trained well. Certainly you should take him to puppy obedience class and get yourself aware of proper training methods. Put at least some of the hour each night into training. Exercise is great, but it does not set boundaries or establish you as the leader of the pack, and he desperately needs that.

   Shock collars may work, but they are a lazy shortcut for proper training, and they cannot fill the gaping hole in your pack for a real leader. Your dog is suffering from the collar. You can tell from his behavior, but you don’t want to believe your eyes.

   If you truly love the dog, find the time to take him to a class and above all, learn how to lead your dog with calm assertiveness, not pain. Because no matter what the person who took your money said, a shock collar delivers SHOCKS. The pain is the negative reinforcement for the behavior. How would you like a shock every time you cuss, smoke or do something others think unacceptable? He doesn’t even understand why, and it will make him neurotic if you don’t stop this cycle. And neurotic dogs can be really destructive…
   References :

5. J'sHuSkY Says:
   May 17th, 2010 at 7:12 pm

   How DARE you use a shock collar on a 5 month old puppy.

   You should NOT own a siberian husky let alone 2 of them.

   Dogs can NOT communicate with humans by speaking so they bark. It’s a natural thing for them to do. Especially when they need something. To shock them for doing something so natural to them is purely cruel.

   Your siberian NEEDS to be crated while away. So many siberians (and other breeds) have died from eating something they shouldn’t have while left alone. It is for HIS safety.

   The siberian rescue I work for DOES NOT place dogs in homes that leave dogs outside unattended all day or loose in homes FOR THEIR SAFETY.

   The majority of Siberian Huskies are known to have Separation Anxiety. Again how cruel for shocking a Puppy for being scared.

   The only thing you and your husband have going for you and this breed is you are active.

   My Advice would be to surrender your dogs to a rescue or to someone who will take care for them properly and get a poodle.

   http://www.adoptahusky.com/education/AAHI-education.html
   References :

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