do anti barking devices work?

Elena says:

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Electronic training devices such as electronic fences and anti-barking collars rely on painful punishment and negative reinforcement, causing dogs to live in fear of being electrocuted for normal behaviors like crossing invisible lines, barking, and jumping onto surfaces within their own homes. Positive training methods, in which dogs are rewarded for what they do right, are kinder and more effective.

Dogs wearing shock collars can suffer from physical pain and injury (ranging from burns to cardiac fibrillation) and psychological stress, including severe anxiety and displaced aggression. Individual animals vary in their temperaments and pain thresholds; a shock that seems mild to one dog may be severe to another. The anxiety and confusion caused by repeated shocks can lead to changes in the heart and respiration rate or gastrointestinal disorders. Electronic collars can also malfunction, either administering nonstop shocks or delivering no shocks at all.

Dogs bark for a variety of reasons but mainly because of boredom, distress, separation anxiety, and defense of their territory. Young dogs, small or active breeds, and dogs who are chained up or left outside most of the time are more likely to bark. For humane and safety reasons, as well as to maintain good relations with your neighbors, it is best to keep your dog indoors when you are not at home. Dogs are less likely to bark indoors, and any barking that they do indoors is less likely to be loud enough to disturb the neighbors.

Take your dog for two or three walks per day; family members, trusted neighbors, or professional dogwalkers can help during the workday. Allow your dog least five opportunities to relieve him- or herself during a day. Provide plenty of chew toys; rotate them and provide new ones. Give your dog a toy that can be filled with treats; working to get the treats out will provide mental and physical stimulation. Agility and flyball courses are fun and a great outlet for a dog’s energy. Barking at intruders or frightening noises is a natural behavior for dogs and should not be totally forbidden.

Take your dog out daily to interact and socialize with other people. Praise him or her for friendliness. When people visit your house, give your dog a treat or toy so that he or she associates guests with something positive. When something frightens your dog, encourage him or her to sit, lie down, or play with a toy.

A humane dog trainer or certified behaviorist will be able to provide more tips on desensitizing your dog to frightening sounds. If your dog’s situation is severe, the behaviorist may suggest that you consider consulting your veterinarian about anti-anxiety medications that can help calm your dog.

You and your dogs speak different languages. Humane, interactive training gives dogs greater freedom and a better understanding of our world. Untrained dogs are often punished for their “improper” behavior. Be the one to train your dog—you are the one who will need to know how to communicate with him or her—but get help from a humane dog trainer if you run into problems.

Adalwolf says:

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Hell yeah they work. I got one on my son as we speak. I haven’t heard a peep out of him since.

chad_leafsfan says:

Create a video blog…instantly.

I wouldn’t recommend getting an anti barking unit. They cause pain to the animals. There are many other ways to stop a dog barking, but they take practice. With my dog, we stand in front of him, and give him a firm tap on the side of the neck. Nothing to cause pain, just enough to stop him.

Ellen says:

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None of them will learn anything.

Devices like this don’t teach the dogs not to bark. They have the potential to make them more nervous and likely to overreact (that is, bark more).

ETA — not a PETA supporter, and I did know that it is a sound-making device. I stand by my answer, which I wrote in your best interest.

rags2lace says:

anti bark

My friend had a pug that would bark and she got her that collar well it actually burned her neck where fur will not grow back till this day, that was two years ago. Dogs bark to protect there property you are not really saying when they bark and why. Dogs usually bark for a reason, and I’m actually happy my dogs bark. There was break-ins up the street a couple weeks ago up our street our house was safe! I’m not a peta person and no they use shock plus sound. They shock discourages them and the sound is suppose to get them use to the shock. A sound will not distract your dog from barking the shock is what is suppose to distract them and they are suppose to relate the sound to the shock!!!!!!! What that site says is useless. It might be harmless but useless!