Aboistop anti bark collars

[Sprinkles]

Can anyone recommend this or something similar (not the electric shock ones!)? Brody is 11 months old and such a pest barking at birds in the garden. I think the neighbours may complain soon! I'm seeing a dog trainer and he is getting more under control if he see's a bird when on the lead. But in the garden it turns into a game, I go out to bring him in but I can't possibly catch him. He in the meantime is barking all the while looking straight through me at the bird whilst enjoying being chased by me  its all the more annoying if I'm unable to get straight to him if I'm upstairs or even on the loo    the back door is open alot at the moment as the weather is so nice. I don't want to keep the doors shut and let him out on a lead which was suggested to me.

Thanks

[Karma]

I absolutely can't recommend anything like that... sorry....
 

Read this thread, by Top Barks, about why things like this can cause far more problems than they solve....
http://www.cockersonline.co.uk/discuss/index.php?topic=47409.0
The air-collars etc all work on the same principle as shock collars - something unpleasant to interrupt behaviour - and all have the same potential for causing long term problems... 

Put him on a long line... then he can go out as he pleases, but you have the means to get him in when he is barking

[Sprinkles]

Put him on a long line... then he can go out as he pleases, but you have the means to get him in when he is barking

Thanks
I tried that, he bit through it. He had a lovely time! 

[Karma]

Sorry, but how long did he take to chew through a long-line?  The one we have is pretty solid and would take some chewing (not impossible, but it's not going to be a 5 min job...)

I know others have used horse lunge lines as long-lines, which I imagine would stand up to more chewing....
 

Otherwise I would revert to what has been suggested - not letting him out unsupervised.... you could always use baby gates so that a door could be left open for fresh air in this hot weather...

How would you propose using an anti-bark collar??
How would you know what he was barking at...?  What would you do when he discovered that barking was in and of itself more rewarding than the air-release noise was upsetting...?
Someone on another forum was recently asking for advice on puppy biting, and reported back that things were progressing well, apart from the previous night when the pup was going absolutely ballistic and nothing would calm it down... they put it down to his OTT puppy behaviour, but it turned out someone had broken into their back garden and stolen their bikes.... unless you can see what he is barking at, how will you know it's appropriate to punish him for it?
And do you really think that using an aversive collar to interrupt is going to encourage him to want to come to you?

Another option is to find something irresistable so you can call him in from barking with that.... (when Honey decided to start barking at horses and cows on our walks, we used a squeaky toy to divert her attention back on to us...) - the danger with this is that they learn the barking achieves a reward, so it needs to be done alongside other training...

I really do understand how frustrating a barking dog is - especially one who has learned that his barking is a great way to get a game of chase from its owner.... but I passionately believe that aversive training has no place in modern dog training (there may be some occassions where life was at stake where I can understand why people go down that route, but I still don't agree with it...)
Obviously, just my opinion... 

[Mel]

I completely agree. Keli was prescribed an Aboistop from Roger Mugford's because he barked at all dogs. He ended up just barking to empty the cannister and thus the barking was not averted. Dogs bark it's what they do.

[Bluebell]

Dogs bark it's what they do.

Absolutley

[Ralu A]

I absolutely agree with Karma and the others. I personally would never use an anti bark collar. I once read in a book that teaching the "speak" command along with the "quiet" command helps. Be careful not to teach the dog that if he starts barking for no reason, he gets a reward.

[Sarah.H]

I would reccomend doing what Karma said and try the long line again, a cheap option would be to buy a some rope from a hardware store  . You could put a bitter tasting spray on it to stop him chewing and provide toys that he can chew instead. i know its hot and would be a pain but perhaps for a few weeks only let him out when your there to supervise and reward when he's being good?

If you do go down the route of using an air collar anyway then you should get a remote control one, at least then he won't accidently be punished when you don't want him to.

[Sprinkles]

Thanks everyone. Off to the local hardware store for a rope or equivalent tomorrow. The anti chew spray is a great idea too. Steering clear of the "friendly" bark collars also you'll be relieved know. X

[bracken]

My Bailey was a dreadful barker as a pup  I taught her 'Quiet' with reward at the first instance of silence it took a few weeks to  perfect she is now 5 yrs old and rarely barks. I taught my other 4 the same way and thankfully life is without barking dogs, unless of course its required.

good luck hope all goes well and life gets quieter for you both

[Sprinkles]

My Bailey was a dreadful barker as a pup  I taught her 'Quiet' with reward at the first instance of silence it took a few weeks to  perfect she is now 5 yrs old and rarely barks. I taught my other 4 the same way and thankfully life is without barking dogs, unless of course its required.

good luck hope all goes well and life gets quieter for you both

Thankyou. Is "quiet" literally saying the word when they bark with immediate reward??

[kerrie]

My Bailey was a dreadful barker as a pup  I taught her 'Quiet' with reward at the first instance of silence it took a few weeks to  perfect she is now 5 yrs old and rarely barks. I taught my other 4 the same way and thankfully life is without barking dogs, unless of course its required.

can i ask at what age this was taught? would you say it was too late to try this with a 3yr old prominent barker?
we tried the friendly anti bark collars and they do not work. Poppy quickly learnt that if she barked solid for a minute then the canister was empty and she could run round and bark to her hearts content then.

[Top Barks]

My Bailey was a dreadful barker as a pup  I taught her 'Quiet' with reward at the first instance of silence it took a few weeks to  perfect she is now 5 yrs old and rarely barks. I taught my other 4 the same way and thankfully life is without barking dogs, unless of course its required.

good luck hope all goes well and life gets quieter for you both

Thankyou. Is "quiet" literally saying the word when they bark with immediate reward??

No you want to associate the word quiet with a period of quiet, not with barking.
When you teach a dog a certain word, you must make an association with that word and what the dog is doing which takes a while before you can use it up front.

[Sprinkles]

Thanks again TB. He was just in the kitchen sitting quietly watching me prep and I said quiet and rewarded. I'll keep doing that. Can I please ask your advice re a few other things.

What is your advice for

1."leave" (as you recommended in my other post)
2."off" (furniture and our bed)
3. He is getting a little aggressive  (He was neutered 2 weeks ago fyi) When he is getting a little unruley I have been going back to puppy days and putting him in the kitchen. But he's really starting to mouth hard if not actually bite me. (not breaking the skin thank goodness) What am i doing wrong?? I know this is all teenage stage but it's SO hard! 

[Sprinkles]

Top Barks I Just checked out your web site. FANTASTIC! Wish you were closer  ! Do you think the cheese thing would work with the birds?