is an anti-bark ring cruel?

Question

Our neighbour's dog barks continuesly if we make a move in our kitchen or come out onto our little yard. (the dog has a very large yard to himself, and kids who play with him cheerfully) Would it be cruel to ask the pet owner to use an anti bark ring for a while? (if not clear; I mean a kind of ring that gives a little sting when the dog barks, innocent and temporary and only when he is outside)

Answer 1

You could ask, but I can tell you as a dog owner I would tell you to take a flying leap! It is called an anti-bark collar and it is not innocent for the dog. They are cruel.

Answer 2

it is awful, totally cruel and not effective. You do realize that when it is just a little sting it won't stop the dog from barking. Usually it is a strong painful electric shock. It is absolutely cruel and can cause damage to the dog. Would you try it on yourself? I don't think so! So you can't expect the dog to feel OK with it!
I do understand your problem and I understand that the dog owner must do something so that he doesn't disturb you, like keeping the dog inside at hours when you sleep, relax, etc, but the shock collar is no solution! There are some "sonic"collars emitting an ultrasound when the dog barks, not electric shock, but I've heard controversial things about them too.

Answer 3

Hello..I'd say worse is having your neighbor complaining all the time or worse is having to lose your dog because of the Anti Nuisance laws where the annoyed neighbors call the police & too many complaints mean you lose your dog, have to give them up .. sorry I love animals & they learn quickly not too bark..so there are worse cruelty's & consequences for LOUD dogs that never quit barking, disturbing the neighborhood, even we don't like it & we have 4 dogs ..but the collar I'd say is a "Last Resort" if all else fails.. no matter what, dogs & owners always get the blame & sometimes pay the worst price..like the nutty neighbors who sometimes end up killing the dog & you'll play hell proving it !!! Take Care & Peace :)

Answer 4

I'm not a big lover of dogs. I don't like the bigger ones because they're just not kept properly and in most cases are left to fend for themselves. Other times they become very ill tempered around people or kids.

Remember one thing. Depending on where you live, the barking of a dog can save a life. Fires, break in's. These have all been noted to be a positive thing at one time or another.

I like the little cuddly ones. As a small child I had a very bad experience with a huge dog that I can never get over. I guess I just don't trust them.

Good Luck!

Answer 5

I think the shock collars are cruel, they're pretty controversial because of it. You can get collars that spray smelly stuff on the animal when it barks - still not pleasant, but nowhere near as cruel.

Be very careful how you approach this with the owner, if they take offense you'll end up with a neighbour feud! Don't just say 'can you put a bark collar on your dog please', try being all friendly and saying 'can I just talk to you for a sec about....' and 'have you thought about maybe.....?' That sort of thing!

Chalice

Answer 6

I would talk to your neighbor and tell them how the dog's barking is annoying to you. If you are on good terms with your neighbor, they should want to be accomodating to you. Does their dog stay outdoors all the time or does it come indoors too? If it's outdoors all the time, I'm not sure what can be done for your problem. It sounds like he may be bored and just barking for something to do. I don't like the anti-bark collars because it doesn't seem humane to me to punish the dog for something that the owners can easily correct if they just spend some time with the dog.

Answer 7

Have you ever been shocked by electricity. It doesn't hurt, it usually scares the hell out of you, and you make sure you don't come in contact with it again.
I have worked with 110Volt to 220Volt. It is not painful unless electricity is in contact with metal, then the metal gets hot and can burn.
I don't like the feeling of electricity. I have touched electric fences with more of a jolt than house current.
The collar is DC voltage jacked up enough to not harm the animal, but it scares the hell out of it. You are familiar with the touch of electricity and thats why you wouldn't touch it yourself.
There are fanatics that think so much about things, and in truth, know very little.
The dog will learn. I have neighbors with dogs that don't bark when they are home. As soon as they pull out of their drive the dogs will not even let me mess around in my own yard. They will bark for hours. The owner is not home to train it to back off. So, some of you that bark over a harmless shock, "GET OVER IT!" We are not talking about an abortion clinic....

Answer 8

Have a large, good natured but excitable dog..
Had to get a trainer to help out.
She got us a training collar that uses a citronella spray unstead of electric zap when the dog misbehaves.
Vet approved as a more humane substitute for a shock collar.
Might go over better w. neighbor
About same $ as shock collar.
Good luck

Answer 9

I thnik it would be a responsible thing to use if used only outside and only until the dog gets the message.. Problem is that dogs bark. If you are only talking about at night that may be a different story.

Answer 10

It is definitely cruel and can cause the dog to develop aggression problems. Also, if you only use it temporarily it will only work temporarily. They aren't "innocent". I've tried them on myself and they're quite painful.

A more humane solution is to get a motion detector that makes a high pitched noise. You can get it and put it outside your house so that if the dog barks it makes the noise. Most dogs stop barking after a short time. Here's a link to one version:
http://www.bird-x.com/products/barkspecs.html
Leave it in place even after the barking is reduced.

If you can convince your neighbors to do it that is another option.

It sounds like the neighbors need to bring their dog inside and spend more time with him in the house so that he isn't outside barking!