True Confessions! I ZAP My Dog, Barney!
Written: Jan 12 '02 (Updated Nov 27 '02)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: It works
Cons: Expensive
The Bottom Line: If you have a problem with your dog barking for no reason, try this product. You are not being mean, just responsible.
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| sweetsue_98's Full Review: Innotek Bark Control System Bc 100 |
Update: We no longer are living in an apartment, and Barney has no need for this collar. However, we have some new neighbors who have a very large dog that barks all the time when they leave to go to work. I recommended them getting a bark collar. They did, it works, and now the neighborhood is quiet again. They are not cruel products, but a dog that barks constantly is a real annoyance.
Barking dogs are more than annoying, as we used to live next to some people that had FIVE barking dogs. It was so exasperating that we really did sell our house!
Obviously you want your dog to bark, sometimes. However, unnecessary barking is another situation, and one that we found ourselves in just this past month. We moved from Montana (remember the neighbors’ dogs) and decided to rent an apartment in the Twin Cities until the summer. The last time we lived in an apartment was over 32 years ago and frankly we were not prepared for communal living!
The neighbors upstairs have three children that like to run and dive off of their furniture. No, we did not get this collar for them, but it was because of that upstairs situation that we had do something to deter the barking in our apartment. We complained to the management about the noise and how we had to re-adjust our artwork on the walls every day. Needless to say we felt totally justified in complaining because the lease said we were entitled to peace and quiet!
Okay, so where is this story going? No doubt you are beginning to wonder. Well, Barney is our dog and is a very smart Bassett/Beagle cross that we got at the pound about 14 years ago. Yes, he is that old, and the vet says he had many good years left. Anyway, while we lived in Montana, Barney started howling when we lived out there. He would only do it when we were gone, and you could hear him when you pulled back in the driveway. Because it didn’t seem to bother anyone but us, we told him “no” when we came home and of course he wouldn’t do it again, until we left! Obviously he has a separation anxiety, or is just plain mad that we didn’t take him with us.
After moving into the apartment, the noise from Barney appeared to go away. Maybe he forgot about that bad habit. However, one day, just after we had complained about the neighbors, we pulled in the garage and he was carrying on full force. Well, we had to do something, because now we were creating a nuisance, and that is not being a good tenant or a responsible pet owner.
I called the local pet store to inquire about the anti bark collars. I remembered a neighbor a long time ago that had one on his Bassett because apparently the dog would never be quiet. The manager and I talked about the concept of these collars and we decided that it was not cruel, but important to use it properly.
Frankly I felt a little guilty, and received a couple of “looks” from the staff at the store when I ask were I could find these collars. Someone helped me, and I took it home and read the instructions.
It was very important, but not terribly complicated to understand how these work. Some work with sprays, but this one actually works with a small vibration sent through two metal probes that only go off when the dog barks. So, if the dog barks he gets a little zap, nothing much, but more to get their attention. If the dog barks again, the impulse gets a little stronger. After 6 levels of vibrations, it shuts off.
I set the collar up by putting the battery that was included in the box that had the probes, which went under his neck. I was advised to adjust it somewhat tightly, which I did. Then I removed his regular collar, put the new one on. The next thing I did was to turn on the tape recorder, and leave.
We were gone for several hours, and frankly I expected to have a fried Bass-Eagle as we call him. I came in the garage door, and there was no sound. Oh my, I knew he was dead! Actually he was fine and wagged his tail as usual, and there was no indication that he was upset.
At first I thought it didn’t work, so I turned on the tape recorder and started to listen. It was QUIET! With just one time using this product, it solved our problem with an annoying dog’s noise. I removed the collar, and put the regular one back on. I use it ONLY when we are both out of the apartment, and it does work, and my dog is suffering no ill effects.
Unfortunately, I cannot say the same about the upstairs children that think their house is the playground. However, at least I can be responsible for my beloved pet!
Recommended:
Yes
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sweetsue_98
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"Still More George W. Bushisms: 'Neither in French Nor in English Nor in Mexican'"
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