Trying a spray collar on Ringo
 

After moving to our new home; with a smaller yard and neighbors closer together; I have to get a handle on Ringo's barking. I don't mind him barking when he sees the neighbor dogs, etc . . but he has no 'shut off' valve; he can bark for hours. My 89 year old father is here alone with him during the day - with doorman duties- and I know he has no idea that Ringo is out there half the day barking his fool head off.

I finally bought a spray collar at Pet Supplies Plus last evening; it's not citronella, but a lemon scent mist that they are supposed to find displeasing.

I'm not sure what to think yet. He's been outside most of the morning (by choice) and has been fairly quiet. But, he still engaged in some 'fence fighting and barking' with the big dogs next door . . . and that collar did not seem to have any affect on that at all. If it sprayed anything; I couldn't tell by the look on his face or any sudden stop in barking. He later barked at some squirrels when he felt like it.

Since then, he's been quiet, so I don't know. My thought is to use the collar only when he's outdoors in the early am and when my Dad is here alone with him in the afternoon and lets him out.

My friend said that they soon figure out that they should not bark if the collar is on. If it's off - then it's barking as usual.

I have to agree with your friend. I used the spray collar on one of my males and it did nothing...but...he smelled good :)

Now I have heard good reviews on another forum I belong to. It seems mainly to have big dog owners though.

But the girl on there tried the citronella collar on her dog - for use to control early am and late pm barking only ~ and she was quite pleased with the results.

Hmm. Maybe the lemon scent doesn't work as well as the citronella?

My understanding is the citronella collars are extremely unpleasant. That would be my last resort. Have you tried good old pennies in a can?

Also, what about keeping him indoors unless he can be supervised?

I would say the citronella collar works like a charm. Ringo has already figured it out; classic conditioning I would say.

When the collar is on - he doesn't bark. When the collar is off - he does.

It's only on him twice a day - early in the mornings so he does not wake my neighbors and late of an evening and only when he is outside. During the afternoon, he can bark his fool head off while everyone is at work.

I think it's a good compromise. I don't mind a few barks but he goes off on a barkfest tangent for hours without coming up for a breath. And then, he wants to play 'catch me if you can' when I try to get him in during one of his barkfests. Some dogs are just huge barkers and he is one of them.

Everybody wins! Ringo's figured out how to not get sprayed (be quiet); my neighbors are happy; I'm relieved; and Ringo can bark to his heart's content during normal business hours.