Ruger needs a bark collar -- help! - YorkieTalk.com Forums

ziggy925 · 03-26-2011, 02:09 PM

Ruger has a bad habbit of barking in the morning at just about anything around the outside of the house, and when I bring him over my girlfriend's he barks at her Westie, and when the two of them get going her neighbors complain.

I don't scold him for barking and reward him for being quiet to no avail. Yelling "ENOUGH" seems to work for a few seconds, but that's it. He's mostly quiet if I keep him home all day except for a couple of walks. Sometimes he will go to the door and bark, then come back to me and I reward him for being a good guard dog. If I go out, and he's at home, he will not be wearing the collar as I have a beware of dog sign on the door. :-) If they only knew.

We have tried two different, highly recommended ultrasonic devices, neither of which did a thing, and we gave them plenty of time. I think it's time for a bark collar.

My gilrfriend will not let me use a Citronella collar in her house, and I've been looking at the new vibrating collars, but I'm tired of experimenting with devices that don't work -- even more tired of spending money on them.

We like to leave the dogs together when we go out, so whatever I get has to be automatic without me or her having to push a button. Any sugestions for a good bark collar for Ruger -- he's 10 lbs. And please, no lectures on how cruel a bark collar is. I need some positive help here. If you hate bark collars give me some positive ideas that work. If you don't hate bark collars, how about some suggestions for a small, Yorkie size bark collar.

Thank you very much.

ziggy925 · 03-26-2011, 02:22 PM

PS Ruger is about two years old.

Yorkiedaze · 03-26-2011, 02:45 PM

We to have tried many things, including a trainer on one of mine and not a thing helped, not even a tiny bit. She even barks non stop before I can finish making their breakfast and dinner. She barks non stop when I'm trying to give another one some attention, she barks non stop at any knock or doorbell, she barks non stop if she hears the slightest little sound when we are in the coach or a motel. That last time we were in the Marriott was in January and she was barking so much while we went out to eat that one of the maids came into the room to see what was going on. (I reported her to corporate) Anyway, I know exactly how you feel, especially when you have exhausted all avenues of training. I just got a little magazine in the mail called Whatever Works. WhateverWorks.com and found a little collar that stops annoying barking by the use of a ultrasonic signal that only dogs can hear. It doesn't shock them, and it's only $12.99. I ordered one for my girl and I don't give a hoot what anyone says. If they had my girl they would do the same I'm sure. I hope this helps you out.

ziggy925 · 03-26-2011, 03:27 PM

Well, after trying two ultrasonic devices with no change whatsoever I'm not enclined to try another one, but thanks anyway. Right now Ruger is quietly sitting behind my head on the sofa, and he's usually very quiet.

After posting this I started doing a lot of research on collars, and most places say all collars are safe, and I would put the collar on myself before putting it on Ruger. However, there are stories of dogs getting shock collars and actually getting hurt, and some being so frightened it took a long time to get over it. That's why I'm asking other Yorkie owners what they think. There has to be a small, safe Yorkie-size bark collar that works. I've been looking at PetSafe collars.

Static - PetSafe Brand Official Website

Yorkiedaze · 03-26-2011, 06:01 PM

Well if it doesn't work on my girl I won't be trying any other collar. I don't want to scare her.

ziggy925 · 03-26-2011, 06:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yorkiedaze

Well if it doesn't work on my girl I won't be trying any other collar. I don't want to scare her.

I'm still researching. Apparently, the dog feels the same thing you feel when you shuffle your feet on the carpet and touch a doorknob. The "burns" I've been reading about are from leaving the collar on too long and making it too tight. It's the contacts rubbing on the dogs neck and not the shock burning the dog. As I said, if I get one I'll try it on myself before I put it on the dog.

Bennett5 · 03-26-2011, 08:33 PM

I was having trouble with Bennett barking at night and waking the neighbors, I tried the ultrasonic one also and it did nothing, i bought a muzzle to try also. Bennett doesnt mind it, it allows him to eat drink and even chew a bone (not sure how he does it but he does...) i know it sounds a little mean but he acts completely different, he doesnt bark, even when it is off he barks less. I would try that every dog is different but its worth a try. Good Luck

kalina82 · 03-26-2011, 09:04 PM

I've only use a citronella collar in the past with success. If your GF doesn't want the collar used in her house because of the smell you can find non-scented sprays to fill it with.

ziggy925 · 03-30-2011, 08:15 PM

Okay. I went ahead and ordered a collar from Petco. It had to be small, and had to work only when he barked -- certainly can't have other dogs setting it off. Petco said I could return it no problem if it didn't work to any retail store. I would have bought it at the store but they didn't have the model I wanted -- they were all for big dogs.

Anyway, I'll post back here when I get it and let you know what happens. I pretty much went with the best customer reviews and the size.

BellaDonna · 03-31-2011, 07:58 AM

Let me know how it works for you and what model. I have actually tried a bark collar on a chihuahua a couple of times and I did try it on myself first. We used the lowest of 3 settings.
It did feel like a static shock but what happens is that it surprises them and they don't like it. It really did work for the barking at the time but they acted timid and scared and that drove me nuts too.
I quit using them but for a while all I had to do to shut them up was show them the collar!

03-26-2011, 02:09 PM	#1
ziggy925 YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Aspen, CO, US Posts: 544	Ruger needs a bark collar -- help! Ruger has a bad habbit of barking in the morning at just about anything around the outside of the house, and when I bring him over my girlfriend's he barks at her Westie, and when the two of them get going her neighbors complain. I don't scold him for barking and reward him for being quiet to no avail. Yelling "ENOUGH" seems to work for a few seconds, but that's it. He's mostly quiet if I keep him home all day except for a couple of walks. Sometimes he will go to the door and bark, then come back to me and I reward him for being a good guard dog. If I go out, and he's at home, he will not be wearing the collar as I have a beware of dog sign on the door. :-) If they only knew. We have tried two different, highly recommended ultrasonic devices, neither of which did a thing, and we gave them plenty of time. I think it's time for a bark collar. My gilrfriend will not let me use a Citronella collar in her house, and I've been looking at the new vibrating collars, but I'm tired of experimenting with devices that don't work -- even more tired of spending money on them. We like to leave the dogs together when we go out, so whatever I get has to be automatic without me or her having to push a button. Any sugestions for a good bark collar for Ruger -- he's 10 lbs. And please, no lectures on how cruel a bark collar is. I need some positive help here. If you hate bark collars give me some positive ideas that work. If you don't hate bark collars, how about some suggestions for a small, Yorkie size bark collar. Thank you very much.

03-26-2011, 02:45 PM	#3
Yorkiedaze My hairy-legged girls Donating Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: lompoc, ca. Posts: 12,228	We to have tried many things, including a trainer on one of mine and not a thing helped, not even a tiny bit. She even barks non stop before I can finish making their breakfast and dinner. She barks non stop when I'm trying to give another one some attention, she barks non stop at any knock or doorbell, she barks non stop if she hears the slightest little sound when we are in the coach or a motel. That last time we were in the Marriott was in January and she was barking so much while we went out to eat that one of the maids came into the room to see what was going on. (I reported her to corporate) Anyway, I know exactly how you feel, especially when you have exhausted all avenues of training. I just got a little magazine in the mail called Whatever Works. WhateverWorks.com and found a little collar that stops annoying barking by the use of a ultrasonic signal that only dogs can hear. It doesn't shock them, and it's only $12.99. I ordered one for my girl and I don't give a hoot what anyone says. If they had my girl they would do the same I'm sure. I hope this helps you out. __________________ AZRAEL RAZAEL JILLI ANN

03-26-2011, 06:01 PM	#5
Yorkiedaze My hairy-legged girls Donating Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: lompoc, ca. Posts: 12,228	Well if it doesn't work on my girl I won't be trying any other collar. I don't want to scare her. __________________ AZRAEL RAZAEL JILLI ANN

03-26-2011, 09:04 PM	#8
kalina82 Phantom Queen Morrigan Donating Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: with my yorkie baby Posts: 10,141 Blog Entries: 1	I've only use a citronella collar in the past with success. If your GF doesn't want the collar used in her house because of the smell you can find non-scented sprays to fill it with. __________________ Kellie and Morgan

03-31-2011, 07:58 AM	#10
BellaDonna YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Texas Posts: 594	Let me know how it works for you and what model. I have actually tried a bark collar on a chihuahua a couple of times and I did try it on myself first. We used the lowest of 3 settings. It did feel like a static shock but what happens is that it surprises them and they don't like it. It really did work for the barking at the time but they acted timid and scared and that drove me nuts too. I quit using them but for a while all I had to do to shut them up was show them the collar! __________________ Donna *Mom to 6 Chihuahuas 1 Yorkie* *and 5 Cats!* Ok...maybe I am a little twisted!

03-26-2011, 02:22 PM	#2
ziggy925 YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Aspen, CO, US Posts: 544	PS Ruger is about two years old.

03-26-2011, 03:27 PM	#4
ziggy925 YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Aspen, CO, US Posts: 544	Well, after trying two ultrasonic devices with no change whatsoever I'm not enclined to try another one, but thanks anyway. Right now Ruger is quietly sitting behind my head on the sofa, and he's usually very quiet. After posting this I started doing a lot of research on collars, and most places say all collars are safe, and I would put the collar on myself before putting it on Ruger. However, there are stories of dogs getting shock collars and actually getting hurt, and some being so frightened it took a long time to get over it. That's why I'm asking other Yorkie owners what they think. There has to be a small, safe Yorkie-size bark collar that works. I've been looking at PetSafe collars. Static - PetSafe Brand Official Website

03-26-2011, 08:33 PM	#7
Bennett5 Yorkie Talker Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Chippewa Falls, WI Posts: 22	I was having trouble with Bennett barking at night and waking the neighbors, I tried the ultrasonic one also and it did nothing, i bought a muzzle to try also. Bennett doesnt mind it, it allows him to eat drink and even chew a bone (not sure how he does it but he does...) i know it sounds a little mean but he acts completely different, he doesnt bark, even when it is off he barks less. I would try that every dog is different but its worth a try. Good Luck

03-30-2011, 08:15 PM	#9
ziggy925 YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Aspen, CO, US Posts: 544	Okay. I went ahead and ordered a collar from Petco. It had to be small, and had to work only when he barked -- certainly can't have other dogs setting it off. Petco said I could return it no problem if it didn't work to any retail store. I would have bought it at the store but they didn't have the model I wanted -- they were all for big dogs. Anyway, I'll post back here when I get it and let you know what happens. I pretty much went with the best customer reviews and the size.