My experience as a digital nomad living in Asia has taught me that few people use neutering, animal adoption programs, or animal control to reduce the number of stray animals on the streets. As a result, you are surrounded by a chorus of howling dogs and cats at all hours of the day and night. It can practically eliminate the ability to sleep, focus, or work.
Solution? a canine whistle Or more particularly, a free MP3 or MP4 file with a 15,000 Hz–20,000 Hz tone will almost immediately stop dogs from barking. Alternatively, you may install a stand-alone gadget outside your house that, when it spots a stray animal, will automatically turn on.
Both options are highly successful, but a separate device is my recommendation because it is entirely automatic and less bothersome to use.
Does a certain frequency cause dogs to quit barking?
INDIANAPOLIS (WTHR)
Although Diana Calkins adores her two dogs, she readily admits that they occasionally give her the willies.
JuJu is a feisty Shichon who barks at the first hint of guests. JuJu is short for Junie B. Jones, the young, spirited girl who serves as the heroine of a children’s book series.
Vicki, a “mainly Chihuahua rescue mutt,” barks at the first sign of, well, pretty much anything, according to her owner. Vicki, who was given her name in honor of Victor Oladipo, an all-star guard for the Indiana Pacers, is vivacious and active all the time. Although she is smaller than the other dogs, Calkins said that she is brave and has a 4-foot vertical leap.
Although the dogs are little, Calkins’ south side Indianapolis home can become rather boisterous when they are both awake.
“They bark whenever someone enters the room. Shaking her head, Calkins said that whenever the neighbors do something unusual, they go crazy. “The neighbor’s lawn is being cut while dogs bark nonstop. They yell at the dogs of the neighbors. And it’s a very, very high pitch with these tiny dogs. Your ears are in pain.
Because of this, Calkins has been considering purchasing Outdoor Bark Control, a gadget that says it uses ultrasonic sound to prevent dog barking. The object contains a microphone inside and resembles a tiny plastic house. The Outdoor Bark Control unit, according to its user manual, makes a high-pitched noise that “may be heard by dogs but is silent to humans” when it detects the sound of barking. That obnoxious, jarring sound is intended to irritate your dog and get it to quit yapping. The ultrasonic sound ends when the barking does.
Good first impression
Setup was simple. Calkins installed the little, plastic device in just a minute using a 9-volt battery that is not included. The Outdoor Bark Control unit was successfully detecting the sound of barking after she followed the product’s instructions to test its audio sensors.
The test’s initial few days didn’t yield any insightful information. Vicki and JuJu spent the majority of their time indoors, away from the Outdoor Bark Control equipment, due to the extreme heat. Calkins was forced to bring the device indoors by their persistent indoor barking—something the manufacturer does not advise. (Neither the user’s handbook nor the internet materials included information describing reasons why using the product inside is not recommended.) She felt the effect right away.
13 Investigators watched the dogs’ behavior as a visitor rang the doorbell and pounded on the front door, two triggers that typically cause the dogs to bark for a long time. JuJu and Vicki hurried toward the front door, each barking once in reaction to the disturbance at the door, the bark control device operating a few feet away on its lowest level.
“Unquestionably a difference. They would have barked maniacally. Calkins exclaimed gleefully, “It obviously worked.” ” There isn’t usually much that can divert them, but this seems to.
Unexpected turn
JuJu and Vicki left the amazing indoor test and headed outside to play. Calkins moved the Outdoor Bark Control device back to her patio table in the rear and dialed up the sensitivity dial.
The Outdoor Bark Control Unit is meant to stop Vicki and JuJu from barking up to 50 feet away (Ready to Emit ultrasonic sound)
Within a short while, the dogs of a neighbor also made the decision to go outside. Things suddenly became extremely raucous, with dogs on both sides of the backyard fence barking nonstop for many minutes. According to the Outdoor Bark Control, barking may be efficiently silenced up to 50 feet away. Evidently, Vicki and JuJu were not informed.
The canines did not appear to be aware of the anti-barking gadget while they were face-to-face with their neighbors next door. The device seemed to be emitting ultrasonic noise. While JuJu and Vicki were yapping, we could not hear it, but we could see a red light blinking, suggesting that the device was making a sound in reaction to barking.
“Calkins paused for nearly 20 seconds while her dogs continued to growl at the dogs next door before declaring, “I don’t think it worked very well. “When those dogs emerged, they started barking maniacally. We were within 10 or 15 feet of the box and there seemed to be no effect at all, so obviously it didn’t work on the neighbor’s dogs either.
Is it safe?
Many of the gadgets that claim to stop barking can be found using ultrasonic sound if you search online or in your neighborhood pet store.
When dogs bark close, the bark control device’s red light turns on to show that it is releasing ultrasonic sound (RedLight)
Above 20,000 hertz, the highest frequency of sound that is typically perceptible to the human ear, is referred to as ultrasonic. Anti-barking solutions use sounds in the higher-frequency region since dogs have significantly more sensitive hearing (up to 45,000 hertz).
“Dogs won’t suffer any harm, and their eardrums won’t be damaged, according to Denise Katz, a veterinarian and director of professional development at Noah’s Animal Hospitals.
“They are safe? According to Meredith Engerski, practice manager at Allisonville Animal Hospital and Cottage Animal Clinic in Hamilton County, I think they are, within reason. Since there are few published research demonstrating the long-term effects of ultrasonic sound on animals’ hearing, she advises using these types of training tools just briefly.
“There isn’t much evidence in the literature to support the idea that it causes hearing loss or neurological issues in dogs, but I’d say there aren’t enough studies, according to Amanda Rigterink, a veterinarian in Lebanon who focuses on animal behavior. “I am more concerned that it will annoy dogs and make them more anxious because dogs are far more sensitive to noise than humans are.
How can you stop a dog from barking?
It will take time, effort, practice, and consistency to train your dog to bark less. While development won’t be visible right away, it can be seen with the right methods and patience.
Here are some pointers to keep in mind as you begin your efforts to stop your dog from barking.
- Your dog will bark more as a result of your shouting because they believe you are participating. Therefore, the first requirement is to communicate clearly and gently without shouting.
- When you yell at a dog to quiet up, the majority of dogs have no idea what you want. Therefore, teach your dog the meaning of the word quiet!
These are two approaches:
When your dog starts barking, calmly and firmly command Quiet. When they finally stop barking, even if it’s simply to breathe, give them some praise and a treat. Just be careful not to encourage them to bark while doing so. They will eventually learn that they get a treat if they cease barking when they hear the word silent (and make it a delicious treat, such as chicken, to make it worth more than the barking.)
As an alternative, you can teach your dog to talk. Once they can do so consistently, use a different command, like hush, while holding your finger to your lips to tell them to cease barking (dogs often pick up body signals faster than voice commands.) They should eventually learn to stop barking at your instruction, even when they want to bark at something, if you practice these commands with them when they are quiet.
- Dogs that are sleepy are more quiet. Tire out your dog before you leave if it barks when left alone. Before departing, go for a long walk or run, play some ball, or visit the dog park.
- Don’t allow issues to persist. A dog’s behavior becomes increasingly established with time. Dogs who bark may experience an adrenaline rush, which makes the barking enjoyable. Additionally, allowing a dog to bark in particular circumstances, like when the mailman arrives, may gradually train the dog to become hostile in those circumstances. What if your dog escapes one day just as the mailman is bringing it in? Solve your barking issues as soon as you can.
- Bee stings, brain damage, and chronic discomfort are a few medical conditions that can lead to excessive barking. An advanced form of canine senility that results in excessive vocalizations can occur in older animals. To ensure that an issue is not caused by a medical condition, it is always a good idea to have a veterinarian examine your pet.
Knowing the cause of your dog’s barking will help you find solutions to reduce the bothersome behavior:
Territorial/Protective/Alarm/Fear: This sort of barking can be decreased by restricting what your dog sees because it is frequently prompted by fear or a perceived threat to their territory or people. Use solid wood fencing rather than chain fencing if they are in a fenced-in area. Limit access to windows and doors inside, or seal them with an opaque covering.
Boredom/Loneliness: If your dog barks a lot while you’re away, you should give them more activities or company to prevent boredom or loneliness.
It will be less noisy inside if you bring your outdoor dog, and it will also add security to your house. Additionally, it is safer because dogs left outside alone may be subject to theft, escapes, poisoning, harassment, and other risks.
However, bored dogs can still bark inside. Get someone to walk or play with your dog for at least an hour each day if your dog barks while you’re at work.
Giving your dog something to do during the day can also be helpful. Consider setting out a few of the variously sized and shaped food-dispensing toys. These can keep them occupied for several hours after which they will likely slumber.
All-night barkers should be brought inside. Dogs are an added layer of security for your family and rapidly pick up on quiet indoor sleeping.
You can enroll your dog in doggie daycare two or three days per week, or you can start training your dog in agility, obedience, or another sport.
Greeting/Play: You’ll need to teach your dog alternative behaviors to prevent them from getting into a barking frenzy every time you get home or the doorbell rings. You can teach your dog to go to a specific location and remain there whenever the door opens. The door should be visible to them, but they should not be too close to it. Choose a location, then practice teaching your dog to go there and stay there without opening the door just yet. Make it a game and provide lots of praise and treats.
Start opening the door while your pet is seated after they can do this consistently.
Have someone actually enter the door once you can open it and your dog remains in its place. Initially, it’s inevitable that your dog will stray from its location, but with time and repetition, it will become second nature for them to remain there when the door opens and visitors enter.
Never give your dog a treat if it barks at you when you get home. Once your dog has stopped barking and is sitting quietly, do not pet them or even look them in the eye. Then thank them and give them praise.
Never encourage barking by rewarding it. If you fill the dish after your dog begs for water, you’ve taught them to bark to get what they want. The same applies if they bark to go outside. So, show them how to exit by ringing the bell you attached to the door handle. Before filling the water dish, bang it. If you don’t, they can start pushing it with their nose and making the same noise. Identify non-barking methods for your dog to communicate.
If they start to bark and you notice that their dish is empty, wait a little, do something else, and then fill it so that they won’t realize that their barking was successful.
Do not chastise your animal. That still counts as attention to a dog. The secret is to ignore your dog’s requests until they cease barking.
Separation anxiety/compulsive barking: Both separation anxiety and compulsive barking require the assistance of a veterinary behaviorist or a licensed applied animal behaviorist in order to be effectively treated. Drug therapy is frequently required for dogs with these issues in order to help them cope while learning new, more acceptable behaviors.
There are many products on the market that claim to instantly halt barking. Canines who wear collars can receive audio or ultrasonic corrections, but not all dogs respond well to them. Although citronella-spraying collars frequently work, some dogs discover how to bypass them and bark whenever they like.
Shock collars, which give your pet an unpleasant shock, can injure animals and make them aggressive, particularly if canines link the pain they are experiencing with the object or animal they are barking at.
If your dog barks in a specific location, other off-collar gadgets may be effective. When they detect barking, bark-activated water sprayers or noisemakers turn on and start spraying water at your pet or making a loud noise. These can occasionally stop a dog from barking in a specific area, but they are most effective when you are home to praise your pet when they stop. That supports teaching your dog the behavior you want.
What to avoid:
- Don’t encourage your dog to bark at some noises (a door slamming, passing people), and don’t tell them not to bark at other ones. Be dependable.
- Never use a muzzle or other form of restraint to keep a dog under control or quiet for an extended amount of time. Your pet could be at danger from it.
*Debarking is highly contentious and is viewed as cruel by many. The root cause of the barking is not addressed. The tissue folds on either side of a dog’s larynx, or voice box, are surgically removed, resulting in a raspy bark rather than a full bark. Complications including breathing problems, an increased risk of choking, and persistent pain are frequent and can be fatal. After the procedure, dogs have also occasionally been reported to restore their voices. The treatment merely modifies the barking; it does not stop it.
