[Nancy1999]

I don't know if you have the same kind as I got, but mine says hold no closer than 6 feet away, that's the closest! This is a training aid, and it emits a loud noise, if the noise is too aversive, you dogs will bark more. Also, many people hold it down for too long, it should be no more than 2 seconds, and I hold it less than a second. After every bark, you should press it once, and I find hand signals to be more effective, and I put my fingers to my lips in a shushing fashion. When using an aid such as this, it is so important to following directions carefully or you will increase barking instead of reducing it.

I also think occasionally adding a small treat and praising the dog after being quiet is a good idea. Treats don't have to be bad things they can be healthy food, in fact that's all we use.

Also, you will not eliminate barking, that's not the goal, the goal is to stop barking after a short amount of time.