Well, I've had it. I ADORE my sweet Bella, but her barking is driving me nuts. Not so much when it's just me, but when we have company it's miserable. She is very nervous and that causes her to want to be very controlling which in turn makes her bark! So, my question is this. Does anyone have any advice about methods. My choices are....scent control, "static" control, ie shock collar, or a table top device that emits high pitched sounds.

Any advice???

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Melissa

I don't have any dogs but I do watch Victoria Stilwell on "It's me or the dog" and she has some good advice and training. She's on Animal Planet.

I think the bark controls are cruel. I'd never put one on my little guy. Go to Cesear, the Dog Whisperer's website and see what he says to do. He's good at just about everything having to do with dogs.

My vet told me to put coins in an empty coke can and tape it shut. When the dog barks to throw it near the dog and say No Bark. I didn't throw it because I was afraid of hitting her. I would shake the can and say No Bark. It worked great. After training her so long all I would have to say do you want the can and she would stop barking. Good luck.

My vet told me about the Coke can filled with coins, too, but recommended shaking it when my cute little kitty comes up to give me little "love bites". I haven't done it yet....

As far as barking, that would drive me insane, too, and I would do what I needed to do to make sure we (my family and my pets) could all live comfortably and happily together. Best of luck with the barking!

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Kim

I have done the coke can thing. It works to a small degree, but if she is set on having a fit, forget it. I think, after some research, I'm gonna try the static collar. I really have to do something...lol The collar is small and just discharges a static charge.

Speaking of love bites....I've been cold this morning so I put on some fuzzy warm socks. She would NOT leave them alone. It was hysterical. She would sit and stare at them on my feet, and try to nibble them, and I couldn't walk without her chasing them. I finally had to take them off! She is such a good,sweet dog...just a little quirky. Makes her interesting though!! lol

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Melissa

Don't bother with the table top device. I tried it and it didn't work. I let 2 different friends try it and it didn't work for them either.
My dog was funny. He would listen for where it was, find it and then bark at it to set it off.
Judy

When you get it, try it on and "bark." Let us know if you still think it "just discharges a static charge."

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If this is going to be a Christian nation that doesn't help the poor, either we have to pretend that Jesus was just as selfish as we are, or we've got to acknowledge that He commanded us to love the poor and serve the needy without condition, and then admit that we just don't want to do it.

- Stephen Colbert.

I absolutely will try it out on myself first. Why wouldn't I? Have you tried it? lol Let me know your experience.

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Melissa

I may have to try this. Our new kitten has started biting a lot and it really hurts like heck. She's drawn blood a few times. She's got these little tiny fangs that are like razors

Try a water spray bottle and say 'no bark'. Also, our dog can't bark when he's sitting so we have him sit when people come or go.

my sister asked me this question just the other day. She has poodles. One thing I do know if you have more than one dog a shock collar will NOT work. My sister's vet told her that. If she bought a shock collar for her one poodle who barks, and he is wearing his collar and one of her other poodles barks, the one wearing the collar will be shocked, even if he isn't the one that barked. It's just the sound of the bark that makes the collar go off.

I say go for the scent collar~ completly works~!! And no harm to the dog! We have a rottweiler/boxer who started jumping up at our block fence in the back yard and his head would get over it~~ so we got concerened that he might one day get over and get our neighbors dog...so we got the scent collar and it does work! The one we got is remote controlled which lets you control when you spray him where as the bark control one will go off everytime he barks. But we give it 2 thumbs up~!

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Allie

I changed to a spray bottle today, but the little stinker is fast! She does NOT like it though, so it might have some effect. The coke bottle just is not working though, and its more annoying than her barking after a while!! lol

If the bottle doesn't work, maybe I will try the scent collar after a bit more research...we'll see...

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Melissa

I muzzle our shepherd mix and it calms her down and she'll stop barking. She can bark with it on, but usually will not. I leave it on a few minutes and then take it off. If she starts barking again, then the muzzle goes back on. I'm pretty sure she knows what "no barking" means so I say that when I put the muzzle on her. It has not totally changed her behavior, but certainly has helped a lot.

The scent collar sounds like a good option as well. Anything that distracts them from what they are barking at should help.