Vibrating Bark Collars?

[SisMorphine]

Does anyone know if there are any electric bark collars that have a vibration option (like how a lot of remote e-collars do)?

One of my clients got in trouble with her ACO because of her dog's barking. Her ACO told her that she has to go out and purchase specifically an electric dog collar and NOT a citronella collar. The woman is upset and doesn't want to put an electric bark collar on her dog, so I was brain storming and wondering if there were any vibrating bark collars out there.

Also any articles that you guys have about separation anxiety training would be great as well. I'd like to give her a whole packet of stuff tomorrow when she brings the dog in.

The dog is 2 years old and is absolutely one of those pushy out of control dogs who has been allowed to get away with far too much, so I'm hoping if I can give her a packet of training stuff we can work together on the WHOLE dog. BUT in the meantime she has to spend money on a collar that she doesn't want to get.

Ahhhhhh lovely situation. She's one of those dogs that makes me wish I was set up to do board and trains at my house because she would absolutely benefit from it. She is smart, she needs rules, and the owners need to know that yes she CAN be trained (they told me today that she is untrainable).

Either way . . . vibrating bark collars anyone? LOL!

 

[Lizmo]

I saw one at Jeffer's Saturday.

ETA: This was the one we saw: PetSafe™ Little and Big Dog Bark Control Collar - Bark Control

 

[lizzybeth727]

I can't imagine that a vibrating collar would work to stop the barking when the owners aren't home, especially not if the dog has SA. I'd suggest debarking before I'd get an electronic collar for SA.

 

[Lizmo]

For real Lizzybeth? Why?

 

[smeagle]

I have no problems with e-collars themselves, but I wouldn't use any kind of punishment on a dog who is barking from SA either.

 

[stafinois]

I agree with Lizzybeth. A dog with SA is already terrified and anxious. Let's just compound that by punishing the dog for being frightened!

Debarking won't stop the fear and anxiety, but at least the dog can vocalize all it needs to without physical punishment.

 

[Saeleofu]

How about one that beeps? It's technically electric, and it's not citronella.

 

[SisMorphine]

I'll make all suggestions when I see her next. I would prefer to go through SA training with the woman. Sucks that she needs a quick fix since she lives in an apartment. What's weird to me is that the dog is just now a problem and yet they've had her for 2 years. Must've gotten a new neighbor . . .

 

[lizzybeth727]

I can't imagine that a vibrating collar would work to stop the barking when the owners aren't home, especially not if the dog has SA. I'd suggest debarking before I'd get an electronic collar for SA.

For real Lizzybeth? Why?

Sorry, I just noticed this. It was answered, but I'll give just a little more detail.

First of all, in order for bark collars to work - or any punishment methods, for that matter - the consequence has to be much worse than the behavior. Barking is 'fun' for dogs - it's a release of adrenaline and pent-up energy, it's a way for them to show their emotions, etc. - so it's actually a self-reinforcing behavior. So for punishment to work to stop the barking, the punishment must outweigh the reinforcement... the pain of the shock must be worse than the pleasure of the bark. This is why I highly doubt that a vibration is going to be aversive enough to make the dog not want to start barking.

When you're talking about a dog with SA, it's even worse. There are so many strong emotions behind SA, and the emotions are what is driving the dog to bark. It's like when humans cry.... we cry because we're feeling a strong emotion, not because we just want to cry. If someone's crying and you tell them to quit it, they won't be able to just stop just because you said to. The easiest way to get them to stop crying is to change their emotion - distract them onto something else, make them feel better, etc. Same thing with SA - you can't just tell the dog to stop barking and expect him to, you have to change the emotions surrounding the SA before expecting him to stop barking. And with a dog who is extremely upset over having been left alone, shocking him for showing his emotion is not going to make the emotion change.