bark collar went haywire/won't use again

[axel_2078]

Our mini dachshund, Mocha (not the pup in my avatar), sometimes has a barking problem. This usually occurs when she is outside and sees strangers in the area. We have an electronic bark control collar that we use on her in exteme situations. Well, the other day, she was barking at some children on the playground well off in the distance. We kept telling her to stop but she completely ignored us. My wife put the bark collar on her and she instantly shut up. She knows what that collar does. She didn't utter a sound. She just sat down and looked at us like "can I come in now?" Well, we let her inside and as soon as she got inside, she let out the loudest cry we've ever heard. Since the collar emits a stronger shock each time a cry/bark is heard, it kept shocking her over and over again and she was flopping all over the floor. She lost control of her bladder and peed everywhere. My wife picked her up immediately while I desperately tried to unbuckle that collar. She told me she could feel her hands tingling while she was holding her.

Poor Mocha...that scared her so bad. We felt so awful, we both cried. Everything happened in a matter of seconds, but it seemed like slow motion. We still don't know why it happened since neither of us heard her make a sound when she went inside. I guess the collar just went haywire. Mocha calmed down after a few minutes of petting and kissing her, but we promised her that we'll never make her wear that collar again. I think we'll try the citronella bark collar and see how it goes. It doesn't use pain as a deterrent, it just shoots a mist of citronella out whenever the dog barks.

[Carrie]

That's a shame what happened to your dog. This is one reason I don't like those things. They do go haywire sometimes. The other reason is that the dog has an unpleasant time learning rather than a pleasant and rewarding time....which creates a dog who loves to learn and who learns better HOW to learn. They're so much more ready and willing to learn new skills when it's rewarding than dragging them down with negatives.

How about teaching the "enough" command. I have two Chihuahuas and they can be persistant barkers. They were, but they have learned to stop barking when I say "enough."

Instead of having a negative consequence happen for excessive barking, try having a positive consequence happen for ceasing the barking when you ask. If you get your whole mind set on this concept....for all kinds of training, you'll find that it works better....much better.

Always have some treats close at hand, ready to grab and I mean extra special ones, something the dog goes ape over. There will be a second or two in the dog's barking where he'll stop, even to catch his breath or look around. Be ready. When he stops for a second or two, say firmly, "enough." Then quickly, before he starts again, praise him and give him a treat. Don't give the treat while he's barking. Don't say, "enough" while he's barking....at first because he won't know this word and you won't be able to enforce it. If you do say it and can't enforce it, he won't learn the meaning. Start teaching him what it is associated with.....that is....his being quiet after barking. That's when he hears the word, "enough" and when he gets a treat. Soon he'll learn what that word means. With mine, I would say, "enough!" And right away say, "gooooooood enough." (very cheerful voice) and give a treat. And then you'll be able to use it while he's barking later on. You can do this after he's stopped his bark session too. It may take a while for this to sink in. But if you're consistant and very rewarding for his stopping, he'll learn to respect your "enough" command.

[oc_spirit]

I agree with Carrie, i do't like no-bark collars at all. Was yours a sound wave one or a vocal cord vibrate sensor one? What could've happend if it was the first is that someone said something facing just the right angle that the collar picked it up, if it's the second she might've burped or emitted a soft whine for w/e reason which it picked up.

The thing I hate about these collars is that it simply teaches the dog not to bark, it doesn't find the REASON why the dog is barking and fix that. What if the dog was barking because someone was tryng to break in? Then she gets punished not for barking, but for trying to protect your home. What if she's barking because she sees you coming home and got excited? She's not getting punished for barking, she just got punished for being happy to see you. These collars are very good at making dogs fearful of a lot of things which could ruin a once-was, happy even-tempered dog.

I highly recommend trying out Carrie's method of teaching the enough command, it really does work wonders!

[flyndog]

I agree. Another thing you could do that is less harmful and more effecgtive than a shock collar is to just simply remove the dog from whatever is making her bark. You can close the curtain. Or, if she won't listen to you or you can't lead her away, she's a little dachsund. You can pick her up and carry her away! Then you can get her attention on something else, maybe ask her to Sit, then reward her for that.

[axel_2078]

I think the collar is a vocal-chord vibrate thing. Anyway, I've packed it away. It won't be used again. We intend to keep our promise to Mocha.