More and more
people keep dogs in built-up areas, work all day and consequently have
to leave their dogs alone for long periods of time. This is
modern society, and where once most dogs either roamed free to do as
they pleased when their owners were not about, this is quite rightly no
longer an acceptable option.
Whilst many dogs learn to adapt to the human routine by sleeping away
the boredom of home alone days, some just never come to terms with the
feeling of abandonment, lonliness or feelings of incensed "how dare
they leave me out!"
However, this is not the issue I'm addressing in this weeks missive but
rather the use of anti-bark collars and what, if any, damage these
supposed problem solvers can cause.
Electric Shock
There are two types of anti-bark collars on sale today, and in the UK
there are both electric shock and citronella spray devices available on
the open market.
It should be obvious to all but the most unimaginative person that the
use of a collar which delivers an electric shock to a barking dog is
something to be considered only as a very last resort.
In my opinion, such a collar should never be used on any dog under 12
months of age, and then only on dogs which are sufficiently inteligent
to understand the link between bark and shock.
I must admit to having used one of these collars on an extremely
annoying terrier which sets up a volley of ear-splitting barks, a din
which upsets my other dogs and causes tension amongst them.
I need my dogs to be calm, sensible and as quiet as possible as I live
in a built up area, and whilst the lurchers seldom make much noise
unless someone comes to the gate, this terrier is prone to demanding
her daily exercise in no uncertain terms when she thinkls it is time to
go out.
A well directed bowl of water sends her scuttling into her kennel,
which is just outside my back door, but the moment my back is turned
she starts barking again. In desperation I tried a shock collar
on the infuriating brute, and after only one tingle from the device she
understood the consequences of barking in her kennel.
I hasten to add that I would never leave a shock collar on a dog for
any length of time. I remove the collar the moment I've loaded my
other dogs into the van, and "Silver" is quiet when I'm out.
It's just for those few moments preceding exercise that she sets up an
incessant barking of the sort which drills right through your
brain. Even when it's her turn to go out she does that mindless
terrier bouncing thing for the length of the time it takes me to get to
her run and let her out, all the time accompanied by that horrible
yapping.
It's her only fault and one I have been forced to address in a way I
wouldn't normally. I can't change this dog's mindset but I can
keep her quiet for the few minutes it takes to get other dogs out of
the gate
I must say that not all dogs are of a temperament to understand
anti-bark collars, and I once read of someone who had left such a
collar on a screaming traumatised dog for over an hour. Each time
the dog barked it was shocked. It screamed in reaction to the
pain and got shocked again and so on.
How anyone could leave a dog in that state for the length of time this
person supposedly did is beyond me! In my oppinion that owner
must have been so insensitive and so lacking in imagination or empathy
that they didn't deserve a dog in the first place.
Some dogs just don't get it - the correlation between bark and shock -
and I'd say that this is a question of both unstable temperament and
lack of intelligence in the dog. If a shock collar doesn't work
after the first couple of barks then don't use it. All you'll do
is traumatise the dog and turn it into a nervous wreck.
Citronella Spray
Then there's the citronella spray anti-bark collar, which delivers a
jetted spray from the tiny container affixed to the collar. Some
people report really good results from this type of collar and I've
seen it work at first hand on a hyped-up collie which was far too
neurotic to cope with a shock collar.
Other dog owners have concerns about the effect such a strong smelling
spray could have on a dog's delicate nasal receptors, of which they
have over 200 million as opposed to the human's five million.
I've been unable to find any reports of an adverse reaction to this
device, or subsequent damage to a dog's scenting abilities, but I
wouldn't like to use such a strong-smelling chemical near a dog's face.
I've also read that dogs react to citronella in the same way we react
to to the smell of something decomposing or of raw sewage.
Needless to say, dogs rather like the smell of decomposing carcases to
the extent that many can't resist anoiting themselves with such choice
perfume when they come across dead fish, rotting carcases and the like.
I wouldn't fancy being blasted in the face by dead fish smell every
time I opened my mouth, but I doubt that it would do me any permanent
damage, and as I haven't actually used a citronella collar I can't make
any truly objective judgements on it.
Why we should need to use such harsh measures to stop a dog barking is
another question altogether, and one which could make us assess our
ability and capacity as dog owners/trainers.
A contented dog doesn't feel the need to bark incessantly and puppies
which have just been removed from a litter shouldn't be put in a
situation where they feel lonely, cold, and bored, a state pretty well
guaranteed to cause barking or howling.
In my oppinion there is only one place for a puppy if you have no
reliable @auntie@ dog to keep it warm and content in a kennel.
That is in your house, preferably at the hub of the home where the
youngster can learn to be part of its new human pack.
reprinted with kind permission from
Alastair Balmain
Deputy Editor:Shooting Times
& Country Magazine
Blue Fin Building, 110 Southwark Street SE1 0SU
Tel: 020 3148 4750
The above information is simply
informational. It's intent is not to replace the advice of a
veterinarian nor to assist you in making a diagnosis of your pet.
Please consult with your own veterinarian for confirmation of
any diagnosis. Your pets life may depend on it.
