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BEHAVIOR & TRAINING TOPICS
DOGS:
Bark Collars
Coprophagia
in the Canine
Parmacologic Treatment of Separation
Anxiety
Behavior Modification: Departures
Behavior Modification: Relaxation
Behavior Modificaition: Uncouple
Departures and Departure Cues
CATS:
Kitten
behavior and training
Toilet Training your Cat
Feline Agression
Inappropriate Elimination
GENERAL:
Fears
and Phobias
Destructive Behavior
Compulsive Behavior
OUTSIDE LINKS
www.greatpets.com
www.gentleleader.com
Pet Partners Program
Canines Unlimited
Capital Kennel Club
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RECOMMENDING
BARK CONTROL DEVICES
Author Gary M. Landsberg, D.V.M.
Subject Animal Behavior
Day 2/13/01
Time 12:20:00
Western Veterinary Conference
 Barking
is one of the most common complaints of dog owners. It has been reported
that from 13% to 35% of dog owners have problems with their pets' barking.
Barking represents 5% or
more of cases seen at behavioral referral practices. Vocalizations are
used in conjunction with visual displays as
a means of communication during social interactions (eg, fears, status
challenges, play, care soliciting); as a territorial signal; and at times
of indecision, anxiety, or arousal. Occasionally, barking may become stereotypic
or compulsive; and geriatric onset barking may be due to
underlying medical conditions, including sensory decline or cognitive
dysfunction.
Behavior products, designed to aid in the prevention and correction of
undesirable vocalization, can be a useful adjunct to behavioral retraining.
Therefore, before suggesting or demonstrating these products, veterinarians
should first help the pet owner understand why his/her dog is barking,
and then explain an appropriate program for modifying the dog’s behavior.
Discussion
Training
the Dog to Settle on Command
Although most dogs can be trained to settle or quiet down with
lures or commands, there is a variety of products that can be
useful at disrupting barking. Devices, such as an ultrasonic
or audible alarm, can be used to interrupt the barking, so
that the appropriate response, quiet behavior, can then be
rewarded. One of the most useful training aids for
communicating a quiet command is the use of a leash and head
halter. A pull on the leash serves not only to interrupt the
behavior, but because the head halter encircles the muzzle, it
can also stop any oral behavior problem (eg, barking, nipping,
garbage raiding, food stealing). If the dog remains quiet,
positive reinforcement should be given (eg, praise, stroking,
clicker, toy, food reward); but, if the barking recurs, the
leash can be pulled and released as often as needed till the
quiet response is achieved. The key to success with head
halters is to pull to achieve success (not tug or jerk),
release a small amount of slack, and reward for success or
repeat the pull if barking recurs.
Bark-Activated Products
Owner-activated products are most useful for disrupting the
dog and getting its attention during quiet command training
(eg, ultrasonic and audible deterrents, water sprayers,
citronella sprayers, or a shake can. Bark-activated products
are the most practical means of deterring inappropriate
barking when it occurs in the owner’s absence. Even if the
owner is present, bark-activated products may also be a better
choice than owner-activated devices, as they ensure immediate
and accurate timing. Off-collar devices (Super Barker Breaker,
K-9 Bark Stopper) are useful for training the dog to cease
barking in selected areas, such as near doorways or windows
(or for dogs that bark in their crate or pen).
Bark-activated
collars are more practical when barking does
not occur in a predictable location. Collars that emit an
audible or ultrasonic tone with each bark are occasionally
effective, but they are neither noxious nor consistent enough
to be a reliable deterrent. The most critical factors for
effectiveness are the collar’s reliability and consistency.
Collars that are activated by any stimuli other than barking
and those that do not activate consistently each time the dog
barks make it impossible for the dog to make the association
between the disruptive or aversive signal and barking.
The A.B.S. or Aboistop collar emits a spray of citronella each
time the dog barks and is sufficiently unpleasant to deter
most dogs. In a study at Cornell University, there was 89%
satisfaction with the results of the ABS collar compared to
about 44% satisfaction with the shock collar. Another study
reports an 80% success rate at disruption of undesirable
behavior. To ensure that the arousal and barking does not
recur once barking has been successfully disrupted, the owner
should intervene by playing with, feeding, or petting the dog.
One study of dogs barking when alone in the yard found that,
with punishment alone (a garden hose spraying water), most
dogs stopped barking by the 7th day but by the 90th day 86%
had relapsed. Using a citronella spray collar to disrupt the
barking and a play session to redirect the behavior after the
barking ceased, it took about 21 days to successfully inhibit
barking in most dogs, but the recurrence rate was only 3.6% on
day 90.
Citronella
spray collars were tested as to their effectiveness
in controlling barking in dogs in two veterinary hospitals.
Dogs that were in the hospital kennels for grooming or
boarding (ie, the collars were not used on ill or postsurgical
patients) were fitted with a citronella spray collar if they
were deemed to be barking persistently or frequently enough to
disturb or “arouse” other patients or hospital staff. Of 62
dogs, barking was eliminated in 40 dogs (65%) and reduced in
another 17 dogs (27%). Five of the dogs (8%) showed no
improvement. In most cases where the collar was effective,
barking ceased or was controlled within the first 5 barks.
Hospital staff were extremely pleased with the improvement in
the kennel environment and in the Toronto location, citronella
spray collars have become a routine aspect of hospital noise
control.
When a more
noxious deterrent is required, products that use
electronic stimulation (shock collars) may be successful.
However, even shock may not deter a dog that is highly
motivated to bark. Because of the discomfort that they cause
the pet, shock devices are considered inhumane (and are not
permitted) in many countries.
To determine
whether shock collars might be effective in cases
were citronella spray collars have proven ineffective, 11 dogs
that had failed to respond to citronella spray collars were
enrolled in a trial where an electronic shock collar with a
warning beep was utilized. In 9 of the 11 dogs, the citronella
spray collar had initially been effective but the collar
(although still functioning properly) would no longer deter
barking (within a few days to a few weeks). In the 11 dogs, 10
ceased within the first few barks when they were wearing the
collar; but 3 of these dogs had recurrence (ie, barked despite
the collar) within a few weeks. Of the 8 remaining cases, 5
were completely controlled with the electronic collar while
the other 3 dogs were somewhat improved while wearing the
collar. Overall, 5 of the 11 owners (45%) had satisfactory
results with electronic stimulation. This is consistent with
the findings of the Cornell study in which 44% of owners were
satisfied with the results of the electronic stimulation
collar.
Unless the
collars emit predictable and consistent
stimulation, failure is likely regardless of the device used.
This was the case where two of the electronic collars and one
of the citronella collars failed because of collar
inconsistency, and two citronella collars were no longer
effective when the canister was empty (even after it was
replaced).
Summary
Bark-activated
devices may be useful, especially in
conjunction with behavior therapy for reducing barking
problems.
References
Juarbe-Diaz
S. Assessment and treatment of excessive barking
in the domestic dog. Vet Clin North Am Sm Anim
Pract.1997;27:515-532.
Key Principles
Citronella
spray collars may be useful at controlling barking
in a veterinary hospital or boarding kennel environment.
Citronella
spray collars are preferable to shock collars but
are more likely to be effective when the owners are present to
retrain the dog so that the desirable response can be
rewarded.
Shock collars
may be effective in some cases where citronella
spray collars have failed.
Sources For Unusual Drugs and Supplies
Barker
Breaker (sonic): Amtek Pet Behavior Products, 11025
Sorrento Valley Court, San Diego, CA, 92121; 800-762-7618,
619-597-6681.
Interrupt/Direct
Stop Repellent, (citronella spray), US: ABS
Inc, 5910-G. Breckenridge Pkwy, Tampa FL, 33610-4253;
800-627-9447. CANADA: Multivet, PO Box 651, St-Hyacinthe, QC,
J2S7P5; 800-303-0244, 888-456-2626.
Easy Trainer
(ultrasonic)/Ultrasonic Pet Trainer: Radio
Systems Incorporated, 5008 National Drive, Knoxville, TN,
37914; 800-732-2677, 423-637-8205.
K-9 Bark
Stopper/Sonic Pet Trainer (sonic): Innotek Pet
Products Inc., 1000 Fuller Drive, Garrett, Indiana, 46738;
800-826-5527, 219-357-3148.
Pet Agree/Dazzer
(ultrasonic): KII Enterprises, PO 306,
Camillus, NY 13031, USA; 800-262-3963, 315-468-3596.
Gentle Leader:
(head collar): Premier Pet Products, 527
Branchway Road, Richmond, VA, 23236; 800-933-5595. CANADA:
Professional Animal Behaviour Associates Inc., PO Box 25111,
London, ON, N6C 6A8; 519-685-4756.
Halti: Coastal
Pet Products, 911 Leadway Avenue, Alliance,
Ohio, 44601; 800-367-7387, 330-821-7363.
Snoot Loop:
Peter Borchelt, PhD, Animal Behavior Consultants
Inc., 2465 Stuart Street, Brooklyn, NY, 11229; 718-891-4200,
800-339-9505.
A.B.S (US)/Aboistop
(CANADA) (citronella spray collar), US:
ABS Inc. (see above), CANADA: Multivet (see above).
K-9 Bark
Stopper (audible bark activated), Innotek Inc. (see
above)
Silencer
Bark Activated Collar, (ultrasonic bark activated
collar), Radio Systems Incorporated (see above)
Super Barker
Breaker, (audible bark activated) Amtek Pet
Behavior Products, see above
Electronic
(shock) bark collars: available from Radio Systems,
Innotek, and Tritronics - see above
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