Citronella collars - at my wit's end..*update*

[Alysser]

I am currently conditioning Mikey for regular trails and hiking. I have been taking him to the local reservoir ALOT and he's been doing pretty well as far as pulling on the leash. He can deal with well over 2 miles of walking and he is STILL rearing to go. My biggest problem is the barking at wildlife, cars, and other dogs. He doesn't even bark at people or bikes, just those things listed. I have TRIED positive reinforcement using distractions (treats and play time), I have tried a stern "NO", it doesn't work. The positive reinforcement works when he wants it too and lately it just has stopped completely. When there's another dog he barks and wags his tail and it just disturbs the whole place. I KNOW the wildlife is gonna be HARD to distract him from 'cause he's part beagle but this really needs to stop before I take him on a long hike. I LOVE Mikey, and I really want to start taking him out on real mountain hikes and all that but until I can find some solution it's just gonna have to wait.

I ordered a book on hiking with dogs and it just came today...it said Anti-bark collars are a good tool, but it mentioned Citronella collars, basically when the dog barks it emits and unpleasant spray under their nose and stops the bark. Anyone use this?? Does it work? I am seriously thinking about it. It sounds like a good idea to me and I don't want to use a shock collar (again), I made that mistake once and I regret it but it was a desperate situation..Anyway, thoughts please?

I feel like I am avoiding the issue with this problem and using it as a temporary fix it but I am seriously desperate.

They're like $70 and before I go out and buy it I just want to ask opinions on it.

[Roxyluvsme13]

A lot of people will disagree with me for saying this, but you could try a prong collar on him. They don't pinch as hard as people think they do, and they've worked wonders for Brennan. Mikey will associate the tug and tightening of his collar with bad, and maybe he'll figure it out .

I've never heard of citronella collars, but $70? WOW.

[Alysser]

It's not the pulling that drives me crazy, he doesn't pull nearly as much as he used to thanks to the harness I have and will always use, but the BARKING. He just BARKS and doesn't stop. It's just really embarrassing for me to. He isn't a nuisance dog, he's excited, I know, but the BARKING needs to stop.

I can probably find it cheaper online somewhere LOL. I wouldn't pay $70 for that.

[Roxyluvsme13]

It's not the pulling that drives me crazy, he doesn't pull nearly as much as he used to thanks to the harness I have and will always use, but the BARKING. He just BARKS and doesn't stop. It's just really embarrassing for me to. He isn't a nuisance dog, he's excited, I know, but the BARKING needs to stop.

Well, I meant you would use it for barking. Just give him a little snap when he barks to let him know that's an unwanted behavior. Brennan's is mainly for pulling, but I use it in situations where he tries to go after something too, or if he barked it could be used that way.

[Alysser]

Well, I meant you would use it for barking. Just give him a little snap when he barks to let him know that's an unwanted behavior. Brennan's is mainly for pulling, but I use it in situations where he tries to go after something too, or if he barked it could be used that way.

Ah, okay. Maybe for regular walks, but I would never use a prong collar on a trail. I'll never use anything but a harness, it prevents escape much easier. Plus I tried that with a british training lead, which acts like a prong collar, tightens if they pull but doesn't pinch. He literally choked himself...

[Karen]

Ah, okay. Maybe for regular walks, but I would never use a prong collar on a trail. I'll never use anything but a harness, it prevents escape much easier. Plus I tried that with a british training lead, which acts like a prong collar, tightens if they pull but doesn't pinch. He literally choked himself...

Yes, some dogs just don't get that pulling is causing that horrible choking feeling ... it's like there's a disconnect there in their brains. The sheltie I used to walk would literally choke himself on his collar once he knew we were heading back to office, unless I said "Heel" every 30 seconds or so to remind him not to. It must have amused passersby, but I didn't want him damaging his trachea. He was not my own dog, by the way,so any training I did with him all disappeared as soon as his actual mom or dad got back and took back over his care, they just were not consistent with him.

Alysser, have you tried a clicker or even make some clicking noise yourself to get him to stop barking?

[beeniesmom]

I've never heard of a citronella coller either.

[snakemama]

Jasper's extremely long nose gave him an advantage with a citronella collar. He was able to just turn his head and bark off to the side while the spray went forward. I don't think that would be a problem for Mikey though!

[Alysser]

I've been doing some research, and I want to buy the remote controlled one so I can control it. I don't want him thinking that barking at all is bad. I just want him to be corrected when he barks at something on the trails or at a car.

Haha Mikey has a pug snout for sure Eh, I guess it's pretty long but it should work. I read that some dogs don't even care but I know for sure Mikey would!

[Freedom]

What if . . . before you buy a citronella (I know, you said not at $70), can you carry a water squirt bottle with you and squirt his head? You'd have to be able to control him on leash with one hand, as the other hand will be using the bottle, and it will be a nuisance. Just a thought as I was reading.

I loved that Jasper outsmarted the collar! Ha ha haaaaa

[Alysser]

What if . . . before you buy a citronella (I know, you said not at $70), can you carry a water squirt bottle with you and squirt his head? You'd have to be able to control him on leash with one hand, as the other hand will be using the bottle, and it will be a nuisance. Just a thought as I was reading.

I loved that Jasper outsmarted the collar! Ha ha haaaaa

Freedom, I was thinking this. I was also thinking I would look like a dufus, but if anyone asks at least I look like I am attempting to train him out of this. It will be a nuisance but I am going to a park tomorrow so I will try this. If it works great if not, then Citronella collar and $70 it is.

[cloverfdx]

The citronella collars do work with most dogs, i'd go that over the static shock ones and it will be easier than carrying a spray bottle around. What about the sonic anti bark collars, that might be another cheaper option. Shop around for the citronella collars, i know the price has dropped atleast $100 here in the last year or so.

[lizbud]

Have a question. When Mikey starts barking, do you stop & correct him, or just keep walking on ?

[Alysser]

WOW, am I relieved the squirt bottle worked. I took him for about 2 hours today and we went 2 miles in and 2 miles back, so he can handle 4 miles. We took 2 long breaks and he got some water. We saw plenty of dogs, at first he was BAD, barking his head off, straight through the water in his face. I thought it was gonna be a disaster. On the 3rd dog, I sat him down held his collar and said "NO" over and over again with the water bottle visible. He whined but no barking!! He did it again and again everytime I sat him down and said "NO". Ever bark, he'd get a squirt but he stopped completely. He may have barked a total of 6 or 7 times after the third dog He usually just goes on and on. We saw a couple of American Coots and he didn't bark AT ALL for them and he saw them!! I am such a proud mommy.

Clover, I am had a similar device for the house but it stopped working with him. He would ignore it. I changed the batteries to make sure it wasn't that but he would still FREAK.

Liz, I would stop him and sit him down and hold treats and everything. He just wouldn't stop, but at least this seems to be working.

[wolf_Q]

Pet edge has a citronella collar for a bit cheaper if you still want to try it http://www.petedge.com/product/intel...llar/51760.uts I've never personally used one so no experience there. You can also try this product http://www.petco.com/product/109946/...sultRedirect=1 a customer told me about it and I got some for my mom for her schnauzers and it worked awesome with them. You don't actually spray the dog with it you just spray the air and the sound distracts them from barking. My mom's schnauzers are really bad barkers too, of course it doesn't work if they are across the yard and barking but it works good for barking where you are close by.