Question:
We live on a narrow, one-block street of seven houses, two facing west and five facing east. The houses looking east face the backyards of the people on the parallel street.
There are four dogs, three in the backyards facing us, and one on our side of the street. At times, the barking continues for almost an hour and, of course, the dogs echo one another. These neighbors unfortunately do not walk their dogs and don't seem to interact with them, at least not when the animals are outside. The dogs bark at anything and everything when they are in their yards.
I want to know if you approve of the bark collar referred to in the enclosed article.
E.C.S., Monmouth Beach, NJ Apr 10, 2011
Answer:
I approve of bark collars that give a buzzing vibration rather than an actual electrical shock whenever a dog barks. I also approve of the citronella spray that is triggered on the collar when the dog barks. These devices generally work well when the dogs are outdoors and tend to bark and disturb neighbors. Indoors, anti-bark sensors that emit a high-frequency sound can also be effective. But with most of these devices, loud sounds other than the dog's bark can trigger them, which can be stressful to the poor dog. There is no substitute for appropriate human attention and training dogs not to bark on command. Most municipalities have ordinances that limit dogs' barking outdoors -- you should inquire about this in your community.
Far too many people think it's OK to let their dogs out into their yards unsupervised. When their dogs bark and disturb their neighbors, the owners should be informed; otherwise, they'll continue to think there isn't a problem.
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