Does anyone have any experience with bark control devices? -Not bark collars. The kind that emit ultrasonic frequency noise. The device is placed in a central location. We live in a neighborhood and I have 4 dogs (2 males, 2 females) that are rotated in and out. Although the pack is never left at home alone when they are outdoors, I'd like to keep the noise down to a minimum.
My question is are they effective?

Effective maybe... humane no. My sister had a neighbor who put up one of these devices in a suburban neighborhood. It completely altered her dog's personality and turned what was a pretty laid back family dog into a frantic pacing nervous wreck. It took weeks to figure out what the problem was but if you can imagine a dog being randomly corrected and startled even while indoors you can see the problem.

It is unfair to your dogs and your neighbor's dogs to use one of these devices. It punishes all the dogs for the behavior of one, can be triggered by yelling kids and loud cars, and I personally wish they'd ban these products as you cannot guarantee the range on these devices. Dogs often can hear the noise inside of their homes, it will disturb their sleep, and can seriously scare your dog. Be fair, get bark collars.

Thank you, Melissa - that's just the kind of information I was looking for. I had not considered the very good point you make - ie. random corrections because of noise in the neighborhood. I will save for the bark collars.

Hmm, Melissa...totally different experience. Mine completely ignore it with no ill effects whatsoever, and it works on the neighbor's dogs. I guess it depends on the temperament/nerves of the dog.

I guess I like to think of it this way. It's not my neighbor's job to correct my dog. It's not my job to correct my neighbor's dog.

Just as I shouldn't put down poison that would harm my neighbor's pets or kids, they should have the same respect to do that for me. Since you can't put a boundry on this device because it's ultrasonic I personally think for me to put one of these devices down in an suburban neighborhood is about the same as a kid dragging a stick along the chain link fence, or throwing soap soaked meat over the fence. It may not kill my dog but it will certainly alter their behavior and health. My neighbors very simply do not have the right to do this or I do this to them.

Any device which randomly corrects a dog if the animal is doing the desired behavior or not is a bad unfair device. Because the noise triggered devices cannot tell which dog is doing what behavior it corrects every dog within that noise cone. Because it's ultra sonic it can be heard often times through the walls of stick built homes. I won't get into the ultra sonic devices that exist on the market that simply play the noise all the time.

Maybe my sisters dog was more affected because of nerves. Who cares. Her dog has as much a right to be content and happy within the confines of her home as my neighbors dog with strong nerves. If this device by nature cannot be kept in your own yard imo it should not be used.

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Any device which randomly corrects a dog if the animal is doing the desired behavior or not is a bad unfair device. Because the noise triggered devices cannot tell which dog is doing what behavior it corrects every dog within that noise cone

That is just not right.

Most of them only go about 75 feet.

 Quote: Betty Waldron

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Any device which randomly corrects a dog if the animal is doing the desired behavior or not is a bad unfair device. Because the noise triggered devices cannot tell which dog is doing what behavior it corrects every dog within that noise cone

That is just not right.

It sure isn't. Random corrections from out of the sky done to dogs who are doing nothing at all ... How is it even legal?

Just for reference, depending on where it was placed,75' would reach 3 of my neighbors yards.

 Quote: steve strom

Just for reference, depending on where it was placed,75' would reach 3 of my neighbors yards.

I just stood at the window too, before I posted, to see that if it was coming from my house (on a corner), it could easily reach 5 houses. I have never even known anyone who had one, and I still started to get angry just thinking about it.