Please can you give me your opinion on this.....

My terriers are barkers (as all terriers are I expect) but my dog is a nightmare, my bitch barks when necessary e.g. someone at the door, sometimes if she hears a dog in the distance but not always, if she hears a strange noise from outside etc etc.
My dog however barks at absolutely ANYTHING, as soon as he is let outside, ANY animal he notices on the TV (even cartoon versions). Basically anything that moves that aren't family members (even then a belch can set him off <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />It seems to be getting worse and worse even flies and spiders don't go unnoticed. It's also worse when I'm training with one of my other dogs and he's in his crate, he goes mad! And to top that when I have my pup out the pair of them start and nothing will stop them (they even hear his footsteps with the radio on top notch). I can ignore it to a point but have to consider other members of my family and neighbours.
I thought I'd try a spray collar (typical British thinking) but after reading Ed's thoughts on them decided against and bought an 'Innotek BC-50B', not an expensive one by any means (about $50) which is an automatic version that starts on the lowest setting (1) and will move up a level if the dog continues barking (highest 7)
OH MY GOD!!!!! I put it on with the short contacts first ensuring it fitted snuggly. He then went to bark at a dog on TV and it was like he'd been hit by a cattle prod!!! I didn't hear a bark, he was screaming high pitch, flew at me and jumped in my arms and was shaking for about 10 minutes. I suppose he is very soft as he yelps when he has a jab at the vets.
It made me feel so sick I removed it immediately.
Do you think my dog was just really shocked to feel something or should I stop this altogether and find him an even lower stim (as in spray or tone)?
I tried it on myself (had to put it round my neck) and it was very unpleasant and made me jump.
I know I could work with him using a corrective collar but the main problem is when he's in his crate and that would stop my progress with training/GW etc.
My last thought is could it be because it is an inexpensive collar?

Your opinions will be greatly received.

To get a better idea of how it affected your dog, put the collar on your barker, but leave it turned OFF. Some dogs only need to be stimulated once by a no-bark collar to learn not to bark.

Thanks Anne, great idea! he was quieter for the rest of the morning and early afternoon but was back on form after dinner when I started to train again. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

The first reaction to a no-bark collar can be dramatic. It does sound like the collar was set too high. I would give it 2 or 3 more tries to see if that reaction was just from the surprise of the initial stimulation.

If the collar does not have a lower setting, loosen it slightly (but so the prongs are still in contact with the dog's neck) or rotate it so the prongs are touching a less sensitive area of your dog's neck.

Maybe you only need to use the collar ON during your training sessions with your other 2 dogs? And try using it OFF in the morning?

The collar automatically starts at the lowest level, but I'm wondering would his screaming have triggered it to stim at the next level as the dvd says if the dog ignores the correction it automatically moves up to the next setting?

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loosen it slightly (but so the prongs are still in contact with the dog's neck) or rotate it so the prongs are touching a less sensitive area of your dog's neck

I will try that but first try it in the morning without it turned on. Thanks

I don't think the collar will work if you turn it. I think it works off the vibrations of your dog's vocal cords. The collar is supposed to shock and then pause to give the dog a few seconds to comply before reshocking at a higher level. So since your dog didn't immediately comply, I think it went to the next level. That's how I understand they are supposed to work. My dogs had the same reaction the first time, it didn't take them long to figure out barking is what caused the shock.
Sue

The first time a dog gets a "shock" is always a bit tramatizing for them. They are used to barking whenever they like so it's a shock to get shocked! Leave the collar on (not more than 8 hrs. at a time or whatever the collar instructions specify). The dog will soon learn that its barking is causing the shock. This is the easiest solution to barking.

You can't let the barking continue if it is a problem letting it continue would just do more harm than good. try maybe refocusing his attention on you like a example his name and then a "no" with a bit of collar pressure. If you don't want to use a shock collar. but if you do want to use it just leave it on and do your normal day routine ignoring the dog when it gets shocked so you don't feel bad. but the training has to be constant the dog must learn it is not ok to bark when he does.

Anne,
Did what you said and he was quiet for an hour and then back to normal!!! Suppose I will have to turn it back on <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

Sue,
Yes you're right it doesn't work unless on the vocal cords. I tried all ways to get it to stim on me and ended up with it on my throat-Eeekkk!

Sue and Sam,
I'm glad others have reacted in the same way, as at least I know it's not something I've done wrong. Will just have to grin and bear it until he realises!!

Zachary,
As the main problem is when he's in his crate I'll have to resort to the collar and maybe try the voice and lead correction when he's out.

Thanks to you all for your advice, I'm not so worried now!!