Citronella Collar

[dutchman]

I just thought I would let you know I took the big plunge and ordered a citronella anti-bark collar. I found a decent (still hight to me) price online and place my order yesterday. I found out today it is back ordered should be available by July 1. I'll let you know how well it works. I now have two big time barkers Tanner and Dexter who feed off of each other. When out walking Frank sometimes joins in and then it's hopeless.

I did find out a local feed supply store has some available for rental at $25 per week. I figure with at lesst two dogs that will need some time with it and I suspect the ocassional refresher it may end up cheaper to own my own in the long run.

Over the weekend I talked to several more people who have had excellent results with these collars. A couple of the people have used them with dachshunds.

Wish me luck and look for an updated mid to late July.

Tom and the boys (Frank, Tanner, and Dexter)

[Augie Dog]

Tom,


How do you walk THREE doxies at once?

[Heidismom]

I can't speak for Tom, but I do it with 3 leashes - my oldster is s-l-o-w, since her back surgery 9/99, my middle girl is in front slightly - where I prefer her to be, and the puppy - almost 1 year old, runs back and forth, to see how they are doing! When I had Heidi-Angel, and pre-Gretl's surgery, they and Siglen would all walk slightly in front, and pace together. It was sooooo cute! Brekke (the pup) is still learning how to follow directions - sigh!:book:

[dutchman]

Most of the time all three walk shoulder to shoulder in front of me taking up pretty much the whole sidewalk. They like to give a dirty look to anyone who dares to approach on their sidewalk. I use three four foot leashes. Most of the time Frank and Tanner's leashes in my right Hand and Dexter's in the left. OF course if I have to do any clean up duty (almost every time out with Frank) I have to move all the leashes to one hand so that the oter is free to do the old baggie pickup.

Tom

[crock]

:circle: Tom,

It sure sounds like Dexter is fitting in really great. I know 3 are a hnadful, but that is 3X love.

Char

[Rusty's mom]

When we take our three guys for a walk people will actually slow down or even stop to watch. It just look so cute. The other night we took them for a walk down to the Dairy Queen and on our way there this older couple were smiling and waving to the boys. On the way back, they were waiting with the camera to take pictures. It sure can be hard to walk them all at once but the smiles from people sure make it fun.

Kathy - mom to Rusty, Duffer and Hobbs

[dutchman]

After fighting with UPS all week (the driver couldn't find my house number):mad: our collar finally arrived yesterday afternoon. Tanner was the first one to give it a test. I soon learned why they recommended removing all other collars. The jingle of his tages set off the first of several false alarms. He tried to scrape it off on the parch and that set off another false alarm. The times he did set it off barking there was jsut one bark then quitet. Tanner was a little shook up by the whole episode and demanded extra lap time last night. The collar got moved to Dester who wore it to bed since neighbor behid us dog generally sets off a barking fit with my boys when he goes out at 5:30 and lets out a couple of barks. OF course this morning he was not there or was quiet. Since Dexter mainly barks when he is outside I think he started to associate the bad smell and sound the collar makes as it sprays the sent with being outdorrs. He was becoming reluctant to going out. Mid morning today Frank got his first turn with the collar. We turned on the animal planet for K-9 to 5 and the animal funny video show. Either show is generally greeted by non stop barking and jumping up against the TV from Frank. Today there was on jump on the initial bark and perhaps 5-6 barks clost together early then just the ocassions one perhaps every fifteen minutes or so. The rest of the time Frank was in a cuddler bed still watching the TV most of the time.

MY initial impression is this collar may work. I will ahve to leave it on constantly for a couple of days on each boy to give them time to lear. The question is will they learn to associate the bad smell and sound with barking or not. Tanner and Dexter may also require a little extra work to let them know they are still loved and can continue all other activities without a negative feedback.

I know my trainer uses these collars and they are very much positive feedback people so I feel comfortable using them. I also know many other good kind dog people who would never consider using a shock collar who recommen these collars.

Tom and the boys (Frank, Tanner and Dexter)

[Rusty's mom]

We manage a couple of apt. buildings and had a tenant whose dog was barking and we were getting complaints. She tried that collar and it worked really well for her. She had a Jack Russell who quit barking quite quickly. She would never have used a shock collar but found this type to be very effective. So far, we've been lucky with our boys. When we give the 'no bark' command they really do listen - unfortunately it's about the only command they listen to:devil:

Kathy - mom to Rusty, Duffer and Hobbs

[doxie_newbie]

Here is a link to a Cornell veterinary study on this topic:
FYI

http://www.news.cornell.edu/releases/May96/bark.hrs.html

Not good at hyper liinks but just copy and paste this link into your web browser.
An interesting read.

[dutchman]

That looks like a good link. The false triggers are the biggest problem I've found. If you don't remove your dogs regular collar first the jingle of tags can also set the spray off. My biggest negative so far is that Dexter doesn't even want to venture outside if he has the collar on and if it's put on when he is already outside he runs for the front door after his first bark sets it off. Frank seems unaware of the collar when watching the Animal Planet. He continues to bard despite steady streams of spray from the collar causing Dester and Tanner to seek sshelter in my lap away from Frank. The one weekend I tried to work with Frank and his TV barking I had to refill the collar 4-5 times in one half hour. For Dexter and Tanner the collar is working to some extent. It's kind of like the water bottle if I show it to them they stop barking but despite having it on as long as two days at a time they seem to know they won't get sprayed when not wearing the collar.

Tom