Persistant Barking

[CathyBogart]

You should never use a bark collar on your dog if his barking is due to separation anxiety or fears or phobias because punishment always makes fear and anxiety behaviors worse.

I have to respectfully disagree on making this a blanket statement. Jasper makes himself more agitated when he barks. When he wears his bark collar, he is more apt to settle down and just wait for me to return.

I realize this isn't always the case and in many cases of anxiety a bark collar would be a bad idea, I just didn't want to let that stand as a blanket statement.

To the OP: I think you've got some great advice here. I'd love to hear the answers to Giselle's questions so that we can help you a little better, and I think we need a picture, because Kelpies are undeniably adorable!

[MyPetTherapyDogs]

Hi Kathy:
That's find to disagree with the statement. You are correct, it is a "Blank" statement. I personally think each dog is an individual and each case can be treated differently. Honestly, personally I am not against using bark collars if they work. I believe you should use them with behavior modification techniques and eventually wean the dog off of them completely. Many people don't do this and use it forever. That I don't believe in.
However, I will add this , Within the past year, I have gotten 2 calls from people needing assistance with with their dogs behavior. The main reason they called me was "Barking"
Obviously each case was different and in two of the particular cases, the dogs never ceased to stop barking. One of the owners was particularly frightened that his landlord would make him get rid of the dog so he was on a quick mission to fix his dogs problems. The dog ended up having classic seperation anxiety.
He was crating the dog (which only made it worse) and also using an electric bark collar to stop her barking (which honestly did help a lot)
She was also mutilating her paws badly.
Finally, I suggested that he take her to a vet behaviorist for a consult and help. I had tried every book up my sleeve.
He did and paid a high fee to get the consult ($250.00) an hour.
The vet behaviorist gave him some behavior modification techniques to use (which were similar to the ones he had already been doing with me) But also said that he should immediately stop using the bark collar as it was intensifying her fears. This was the one thing I did not tell him because I did not think it would be a problem. He stopped the bark collar &
The dog ended up on Prozac therapy and utilizing that along with the behavior modification techniques. The owner was able to stop all of her issues including her barking. He still keeps in touch with me and the dog is doing great.

The other case I was involved with was a dog that never ever stopped barking. The owners tried everything they could think of. When they finally decided to purchase a bark collar, he got zapped (not bad at all) He became so fearful of the collar he was taking two steps back instead of forward. The bark collar made him very very skiddish.
Then she purchased a spray bark collar and he had 0 reaction to that.
I suggested they try cueing the dog to the quiet times instead of using bark collar therapy and rewarding. That did work. It honestly worked perfect. The only problem with it was that they worked a lot and he barked all the time. So when they were not there to cue him he still barked. Finally, I told them that maybe they might try doggie day care a few times a week because he was obviously bored and he always wanted to be with people and was barking to get people to pay attention to him.(Non stop) I also suggested they begin using NILIF at home and combine the few days at daycare to get social time and not becoming bored, along with the owners taking charge of their household alongside the cueing for quiet time when they were home, They did! It worked! I saw them a few months ago and he is doing marvelous.

So, I guess the bottom line is that every dog is an indivudial and you should try to get to the root of the dog's specific problem and go from there.

If the bark collar works than great if not, you need to explore further and go from there.

Well, I am signing off the board now and am off to the store for some cat food and treats now.

Have a great morning.
Susan

[flipgirl]

The barking collar is a good idea but you have to do training concurrently to make it permanent. If you don't then the barking will continue once the collar is off. I have one for my dog but I'm still working with her to control her barking (more for when I leave the house). But the key is to not reward unwanted behaviours. If you know what causes her to bark, expose her to it and let her rip. Show him the treat and once she stops,. wait 5 seconds and then give her a treat. If she continues to bark before the 5 seconds is up, then don't treat her. If you give her a treat right when she stops, you are actually rewarding her barking. She has to associate the treat with her calm behavoiur. ONce you've successfully gotten to 5 seconds of peace, gradually increase the time. This will probably be a lot of work but it will be worth it. There is also a product which you put in a room and when the dog barks, it emits a high pitched sound which dogs can hear. Bit the dog may eventually learn to bark louder. I think the collar is the best idea.