My 13 month old GSD is a barker. He barks for attention, when the doorbell rings, etc. I want to curb that barking but not eliminate it since he is going to be a SAR dog, i might want to have him bark as an indicator. I was considering purchacing a bark collar but am worried this will stop him from barking all the time. Can anyone suggest how i can use the bark collar to elimate only the unwanted barking or am i dreaming?

Thanks.

If this were my dog I would teach him a bark command and only use it when we were on the field or training. I would verbally correct him at home when he barked and if that didn't deter it I would then use the bark collar but only when he was in the house. He should then learn when it is and is not appropriate to bark. Always start with the lowest setting and remember to always have it on when at home and as soon as you get ready to train or search, take it off.

My Malinois is in training for SAR. Her indication is to bark at me when she makes her find.

I have a bark collar on her in the house when I'm not at home. If not, she will bark all day and my neighbour (I'm in a semi-detached) complains.

The collar has NOT deterred her from barking when it's not on her in the least. If you only use it for certain situations they will become collar wise. Believe me...there are days when I wonder why I decided on a bark indication... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Natalie
http://alikamalinois.tripod.com

My GSD is SAR and Schutzhund. I don't use the bark collar. Instead, I have the Dogtra 1100, which I have control of. Because of the neighborhood I'm in, I don't want to stop his "Somebody's out there" bark. Just his pain in the a$$, "I'm gonna bark cause all the other dogs in the hood are". There's a big difference between the two. It has had no affect on his SAR alert bark, or his B&H.

OK I KNOW this is an old thread but it addresses a current situation.

Now that I am doing water training with my dog, the natural alert that we are grooming to a trained indication is a deep staccato bark.

Now, I have HAD IT with her barking in the crate as other dogs get near the car. We have tried desensitization, corrections, etc. But as soon as I am out of sight and another dog gets near she goes off, and I mean she is ballistic. It is not just barking, I think trying to tear the crate open may have been how she broke her tooth.

She is fine around other dogs outside of the car, but is very protecitve of her car. I KNOW a bark collar works in the car and she will just lay there calmly if another dog approaches while she is wearing it and does not seem at all distressed about either the collar or the other dog. The minute it comes off, the behavior begins again.

If I use the bark collar while at water training but clearly take it off before she gets out of the car, do you think I will have an issue with the bark alert on the boat?

It sure hasn't hurt my dog. In fact, he's become very collar wise. When the collar is off, he will quickly revert back to his "pain in the a$$ barking". Even if the battery needs charging, he keeps quiet with the collar on. I don't have a problem with him being collar wise because I don't use the collar for his SAR or schutzhund training. We have a dog at the schutzhund club that will bark his head off in his car. His owner uses a remote to control this barking while he waits his turn on the field. This dog has an awesome H&B on the field, so I don't think it would cause any problems. I think the two situations are easily separated by the dogs.

Thanks, Bob -- I have not used it for SAR training either.

I have used it for chasing game and for proofing the recall and am going to do some obedience with it (long down and drop on recall with the assistance of a team member who has attended some Lou Castle seminars and is good with it)

I have found that I STILL have a reliable recall and good behavior around farm animals (though I do need a little touch up on that as I can see her thinking about testing the limits on that one.....and correct her verbally right now). We used those techniques a year and a half ago and have not used the collar since. IOW she IS collar wise about barking but apparently not about the recall and chasing animals.

The crate barking has just gotten worse over time and I really could not handle it anymore. She is very social with any people who approach the car.