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?