bark collar

The advantage and disadvantage of bark collar

2008-08-13T00:59:00.000-07:00

My next door owners when first brought a bulldog, was a very quite dog which rarely barks unless there is someone waiting at the door steps which the dog is unfamilar. When the dog reached three years old an incident happen at the house of the dog house owner neighbors. Two person break into the house which make the dog to bark the whole night thats alert and wake up all the neighbors. We chase the thief in a short distance and handed him to the police. Everyone pad the dog for its good works. Since then every night the dog will bark until every neighbors will complained to the dog owner to do somethings to stop the dog from barking.

A bark collar was later wear around the dog collar to prevent the dog from barking. Whenever the dog bark, the bark collar will give a kind of shock to stop unnecessary barking. The good of the bark collar is the dog will stop barking when its feel the pain that will not disturb the neighbors from sleeping. The disadvantage of bark collar is the dog will not bark for long if a thief enter the owners house.

Bark collar an effective ways of training your dog not to bark

2008-05-23T00:28:00.000-07:00

Most pet owners would not like to place a bark collar on their dog until their find that dog became nuisance and cannot be trained due to constant barking and chasing people when they walk pass by their house. Some owner even try others methods and ways like putting their dog in the house but still the dog barks when their feel a shadow passing. If this is the case then using a dog bark collar is the best choice rather then hearing complain from the neighbors. It is most effective ways of training your dog not to bark.

Dog bark collars comes in two difference forms. One uses an electrical stimulus and the other uses a scent. Both types are very effective in one way of the other as both types helps you to train your dog to stop barking. For the electrical stimulus types it give a shock when the dog bark. For the scent types when the dog bark it will spray a scent smell on the dog nose which the dog hates very much. Slowly the dog will learn that the scent is directly related to the barking.

Problems to the cause of dog barking.

2008-03-25T02:27:00.000-07:00

There are problems to the cause of dog barking. Many dogs do bark when their have visitors, Some dogs barks to get the attention of the owners as their water container is run out of water or somethings is wrong with the foods. For outdoors dogs it needs shady place when the sun is very hot or needs a warm place during winter. I come a across an incident when the dog keeps barking for a few days because there is a snake visitor inside the house compounds. The owner try to control the dog from barking but is only a while. Then its start to bark again until the dog takes the owner to the snake hide holes. Only when the snake is catch the barking stop.

If the barking is still going on because somebody might had scared the dog in the beginning, then a bark collar is to be used. A bark collar is to control the dog from barking, it is safe and effective. Most owners do not want to hurts their dog , they used a citronella anti bark collar on their dogs. The bark collar will spray a light mist on the dog nose when the dog start to barks. As dog don't like the hissing noise, it will stop barking.

Train your dog when its young, forget about bark collar

2007-12-12T00:31:00.000-08:00

Bark collar is used to control your dog from barking unnessarary. Peoples used them to train hunting or used for traning. If your dog won't stop barking, bark collar helps to control the dog from barking. Most of the bark collar are electronic which gives vibration in a dog throats when the dog bark and this helps will prevent the dog from barking.

Sometimes I find wearing a bark collars around your dog neck is not the best ideals as your dog would not like to bark if a thief enter your house or somebody unfamilar. The best ways is to trained your dog when to bark and when not to bark and the best ways is when the dog is very young and easily to guild. If the dog did the right thing just give the dog a pad.

The advantage and disadvantage of having a bark collar

2007-09-25T02:10:00.000-07:00

The advantage and disadvantage of having a bark collar around your dog neck. Throught my experience I find that putting a bark collar around your dog neck is not necessary if your dog had a proper training when your dog is small or get the dog to a dog trainers who can readly teach your dog when to bark and when not to barks. Dog don't usually bark unless their sence somethings unfamillar to the them or their owner arrived home.

The advantage of having a bark collar around your dog neck is that, you dog will not bark when unfamillar person passed by your house, paper work or the postman. Secondly will not disturb the neighbour during night time. The disadvantage is that if the dog sense something like a thief enter thehouse or a snake in the house which happen to my neighbour house, the dog will not bark, if the dog bark they will feel pain in the neck but luckly the owner did'nt put a bark collar on the dog.The dog bark until the owner arrived at the spots. It was twenty five meters python.

Using bark collar the last resorts on the dog

2007-07-27T21:01:00.000-07:00

Most dog owners sometimes would get lost for not knowing what to do when their dog won't stopped barking. This might cause the neighbours from complaining. A bark collar is one of the solution to make the dog stop barking or another solution is to get the dog inside the house. Most dog owners will only used bark collars on their dog only at the last resorts if others methods used to control the dog from barking is not workable.

Bark collars are not very useful nowadays as most dog owners love their pets and wouldn't want to see their dog suffered from the pain that the bark collars device gives to their dog. They prefer to take the dog to some proffectionals trainers to train their dogs or to understand why their dog bark keep on barking this few days.

Last two months my neighbour house dog keeping on barking everynight until every neighbours had to on their lights to see what is happening. The owners came down and took the dog inside the house. The next day the dog keeping on barking non stop until we complianed to the owner to do somethings about it. To understand why the dog is barking all the time we decided to go to his place and let the dog free while we enjoy a few glass of beers and watching TV. The dog ran to the same location and keep on barking. To our surprise there was a big python hiding under the bush. We call the fireman. From that day, the dog stop barking.

Bark collar unneccessary for dogs

2007-06-27T01:46:00.000-07:00

Bark collar is very useful if your dog won't stop barking as this will bother your neighbors and yourself. Bark collar is place around the dog neck and when the dog barks is sprays a light mist of scent in front of the dog nose which the dog dislike and makes the dog quickly and stop barking.

Sometimes to make sure the dog don't bark unneccessary and also avoiling using bark collar for your dog is too make sure that your dog is being fed properly and that the water is always there and make sure the dog has shelter during raining time and hot weather. You can sent your dog to a dog trainer. If your dog is treaten by your neighbors kids or passes by, get your dog aways from the fence or inside the house.

Disadvantage of having bark collar

2007-06-06T19:42:00.000-07:00

Having a bark collar aroung your dogs neck to keep the dog from barking unneccessary might be very useful if its disturd your neighboors as this devices gives a painful shock to the dog if the dog continused barking. With the present times bark collars is not a very useful items to dog owners as most dog owner will trained their dog when to bark.

Other disadvantage of having bark collar on your dogs is, it will spoil quite easily and you have to change batteries when the batteries is con out. If some uninvited guest enter your house the dog might not bark if the bark collar is around the dog neck as the dog would not want to experience again the painful shock.

Benefits of using a bark collar

2007-04-19T22:26:00.000-07:00

Bark Collars are used to keep dogs from barking excessively. The citronella contains a spray can of citronella and a microphone to track the length of barking. When a threshold has been reached, a small amount of citronella is emitted. Dogs learn to associate the foul smell with their behavior and stop barking.

The Spray Control Anti-Bark Collar is simple to operate. Place the battery in the receiver collar and attach it around your dog’s neck.When your dog barks, a burst of all-natural citrus spray is emitted, which dogs find bothersome to their highly developed sense of smell. While not harmful, it is a sufficient deterrent to excessive barking. The benefits of using a bark collar are unique in that you can control your dogs behavior when you are away and aren't able use conventional training methods.

Bark collar controlling the dog bark

2007-03-13T21:32:00.000-07:00

My next door neighboor brought a dog home a year ago. The dog was very cute and seldom bark. Last month a thief broke into his house and it give a good barking to scare away the thief. After the incident the dog start to bark whenever a person passed by his house, newspaper man, postman and even the neighboor and will keep on barking for a very long time until the dog fell satisfied. The worse parts is the dog keeping on barking at night until all the neightboor have to wake up and see what it is or the owner has to bring him inside the house.

All the neightboor are complaiming to the owners to do something to control the dog from barking unnesserary. The owners brought a bark collar for the dog to control the dog from barking. Whenever the dog bark it gives a shock and the dog will stop barking. The devices that give a painful shock might be too much for your poor dog but I find the bark collar got it advantages and it disadvantages. The advantage its control the dog from barking very long and the disadvantage is it will not bark when someone or a thief enter your house.

Proper Tree Pruning

2007-02-12T00:59:00.000-08:00

Trees should be pruned before they break their winter dormancy. For those whose trees have been damaged by storms, doing the job correctly can help ensure the survival of landscape trees.

For best results, pruning should be done a little at a time throughout the life of the tree. By doing this you can create desirable shapes and maintain strong trunks and branches to prolong the life of the tree. Drastic pruning can be detrimental. Never remove more than one-third of the branches at one time. Remove dead or broken branches first. This must be done carefully to avoid causing more injury.

Torn bark is the most common kind of damage that occurs during pruning. When a branch is cut on its upper surface and breaks before the saw cuts all the way through, the limb falls and pulls downward on the remaining bark, tearing into the limb of trunk below.

To avoid this, make three cuts, the first being a few inches into the damaged branch's bottom surface a foot or two from its junction with the main branch. This stops the bark from tearing. The second cut should be made a few inches above the first one, severing most of the limb and thereby taking its weight off the remaining stump. Just above the raised ridge of bark known as the collar, make the final cut. This cut should leave the bark collar intact. The collar will eventually produce bark to cover the wound.

Using A Dog Bark Collar For Controlling Dog Behavior Problems

2007-02-04T22:24:00.000-08:00

Luckily, dog bark collars have been created to address this canine behavioral problem. Dog bark collars are exceptionally designed dog collars to provide an aversive every time your dog tries to bark aloud.

Dog bark collars are available in different types, with various ways of stopping your dog's barking. Here's the list:

1. Shock collars

This is the most expensive type of dog bark collars. However, in spite of its high-priced attribute, this collar is nothing more than that. According to various researches, shock collars are the least effective dog bark collars available in the market today.

Shock collars run an electric current that creates shock, thereby, hurting your dog. At some point, the pain may not effectively stop the barking because there are some dogs that can endure the pain and will still continue the said behavior.

The worst scenario would be on how your dog will try to divert his attention to other pets or to people who are within close proximity.

2. Aversive sound collar

Although considered a little better than shock collars, aversive sound collars do not pose high effective results as far as dog barking control is concerned.

Aversive sound collars try to produce a “high-frequency” sound whenever your dog barks. Usually, the sound is set off by the sound of the barking itself. The others are turned on manually.

3. Citronella dog bark collar

This is considered as the most effective of all types of dog bark collars. According to some research, citronella dog bark collars are twice as effective as the other types of dog bark collars particularly shock collars. The efficiency is well attributed to the citronella solution present in the collar.

This type of dog bark collar produces a gentle mist of citronella scent that is directed on your dog's face, particularly to the nose whenever he barks. Dogs do not like the scent of citronella and will automatically stop barking whenever he smells this.

bark collar a check on your dog barking

2007-02-04T21:44:00.000-08:00

Some dogs keep on barking when ever a person passed by his house or even a everyday familar person such as milkman or newspaperman the dog will bark non stop until they are gone and its became a very nuisance to the neighbour. With anti bark collar putting around your dog collar its allow you to know how many times your dog bark.

Get your friends to help you or noticing it how many times it bark when a person passed by. So whenever the dog bark give the dog some corrective training or a quick correction that barking at people is bad. If this doesn’t work, try hiring a professional trainer as this people are expert in handing and understanding dogs.

Training Your Dog

2007-01-15T23:59:00.000-08:00

Are there dog training collars available for larger dogs?

Strong dogs with thick necks sometimes drag their owners around. A good collar for this type of dog is the pronged collar. The pronged collar has two protruding fingers that apply pressure to the neck when pulled. They are far less likely to cause damage to the windpipe than the traditional choke chain. While many trainers think these collars are not necessary for effective training they do come in handy for small people who tend to be dragged along by their dog.

Electronic collars are dog training collars that transfer a small shock on cue. Since the trainer cues the collar it is paramount that they know what they are doing. Inconsistent and poor training with painful methods is both cruel and ineffective. Shock collars have their place and that is with professional dog trainers. The rest of us need to stick to the basics.

Another collar that employs the use of electricity is the no bark collar. Again this collar is effective, but before you use it you should determine the cause of the dogs barking. Make sure you haven’t taught him to bark and ask yourself if you really want him to punish him for it.

There seems to be a collar for just about every training area and some have proven to be quite effective. However, it is crucial in dog training you only use equipment that you are experienced with. If you have a specific training issue, it may be beneficial to seek help. Learn how to use dog training collars under the guidance of a professional. This will make your dog training more positive and productive.

How the PetSafe Anti Bark Collar Works

2007-01-11T00:52:00.000-08:00

2006-12-11T00:12:00.000-08:00

Our patented Perfect Bark Technology simultaneously senses both sound and vibration, and only a combination of sound and vibration will trigger the electronic correction.

The Deluxe Anti Bark Collar accurately detects a dog's bark every time. Some bark collars detect barking with a microphone and activate on sound, these can be set off by other noises or by another dog's bark. Some bark collars use only vibration, these can be set off by motion or jostling. Only Perfect Bark Technology ensures fool-proof bark detection.

2006-11-30T21:33:00.000-08:00

What (the city) is trying to do is to keep people from thinking the only choice they have to get rid of a barking dog problem is to bring the dog to the shelter" for euthanasia, said Animal Control Officer Mike Kiggins.

"Bark collars" are now available to dog owners in Rock Springs to help quiet noisy dogs.

Under the new program, on the first complaint from a resident about a barking dog, animal control officers will provide the owner with a fact sheet outlining other methods to decrease barking without using the bark collar.
If those methods are unsuccessful, then the offender can check out a bark collar to help control the problem. Kiggins said the training device has a sensitivity control to allow the amount of shock to be adjusted for larger or smaller canines.

Animal control

2006-11-16T22:59:00.000-08:00

Animal Control Officer Jayson Tracy recommended the dogs brought inside at night and be equipped with an anti-bark collar.

Lynn Westgate told selectmen she has applied to the Zoning Board of Appeals for a kennel permit. She has seven dogs and has four up for adoption. Tracy said three dogs are allowed per household.

Selectmen voted to require Westgate to equip the dogs with anti-barking collars to be worn both inside and outside the house.

Selectmen also voted Monday to place a 15-minute parking limit on five parking spaces on Center Street in downtown in front of the Mobile Gas Station and Savas Liquors at the recommendation of Healey and Police Chief Gary Russell.

2006-11-10T18:41:00.000-08:00

Imagine the next time you join a discussion about bark collar. When you start sharing the fascinating bark collar facts below, your friends will be absolutely amazed.

A bark collar is basically a conventional dog collar that includes a small black box with two electrodes.

"When they bark, usually the first bark triggers the collar to activate, and then when the dog barks a second time, it gives them a shock," Kiggins said. "The shock lets the dog know barking is bad, and the dog will usually learn very quickly if they sit there and bark."

Those of you not familiar with the latest on bark collar now have at least a basic understanding. But there's more to come.

Pat Fazio, president of the Cody-based Wyoming Animal Welfare Network, said many Wyoming towns and cities have a dog barking ordinance to help address the problem. Bark collars are another option for pet owners.

"A barking dog will drive you crazy after a while if you have to listen to it all night," she said. "If a dog just barks a little bit, there's not really a problem. But if it goes on and on for hours and hours and disturbs the peace, that's when you run into a problem and people go completely berserk."

You can't predict when knowing something extra about bark collar will come in handy. If you learned anything new about &keyword% in this article, you should file the article where you can find it again.

2006-10-30T00:17:00.000-08:00

Are you looking for some inside information on bark collar? Here's an up-to-date report from bark collar experts who should know.

Walking your dog is a surprisingly effective way to solve many behavioral problems, including excessive barking. Many times, dogs are simply frustrated and need to get out and get some fresh air. Dogs are our little babies, but they still need time to just be dogs. It’s important to their psyche to sniff, mark and explore the great outdoors. It’s also a chance to establish your dominance in the “pack”. While you’re out, try exercising and playing with him/her. This will make the experience more enjoyable for both of you and work out some excess energy.

Some dogs are overly territorial, and so the local mail person and any other passers by get a full dose of barking. In this case, get a friend to help you do some corrective training. First, put on your dog’s collar or harness and leash. Then, have your friend walk by the fence or yard to make the dog bark. Give the dog a quick correction every time he barks so that the association is made that barking at people is bad. If this doesn’t work, try hiring a professional trainer. Many of these people are great experts with dogs and can help.

Truthfully, the only difference between you and bark collar experts is time. If you'll invest a little more time in reading, you'll be that much nearer to expert status when it comes to bark collar.

If all else fails, you could try something like a bark collar. Many people think it’s cruel, but it just surprises the dog each time they bark so that they stop. Make sure, though, that you’ve addressed the underlying issue of the barking.

As your knowledge about bark collar continues to grow, you will begin to see how bark collar fits into the overall scheme of things. Knowing how something relates to the rest of the world is important too.

stop dog from barking

2006-10-09T21:24:00.000-07:00

Another option is to keep your dog from things that trigger his barking. Play music or turn on the television to cover outside sounds. Don't let him have access to the windows. If this doesn't work than allow him to bark three or four times and say quiet in a normal tone of voice. Then shake a can of marbles or money. This should make him stop. Call him over to you and ask him to sit. Offer him a treat.

If none of this works than you probably need advice from an animal or veterinary behaviorist. As a last resort you could use a bark collar. It has a vibration sensor that only picks up the dogs barking. It may squirt citronella spray, give off an ultrasonic piercing sound or mild electricity shock. The collar is effective and should correct excessive barking.

Stop your dog barking effectively

2006-10-04T00:45:00.000-07:00

Imagine the next time you join a discussion about bark collar. When you start sharing the fascinating bark collar facts below, your friends will be absolutely amazed.

A harmless Citronella spray collar that conditions your dog to stop nuisance barking, 100% safe and painless for all Dogs, Humans and the Environment. ABS Anti-Barking Collar, a self-sufficient product, requires no human intervention; it will work even if you are not there. Should you want to reverse the effects of ABS Anti-Barking Collar, just stop using the device. ABS Anti-Barking Collars are used and recommended by local Councils around Australia to solve community barking problems.

Now you can stop your dog barking effectively, and avoid debarking, with a citronella collar, ultra sonic no bark solution or a static pulse no bark collar. When your barking dog wears a no bark collar they receive a deterrent delivered from the barking collar to tell them to stop barking. There are two types of no bark collars used for bark control to stop dogs barking, they are the static pulse anti bark collar, (or no bark collar), which delivers a small static pulse from a device worn around the barking dogs neck, and the citronella spray anti bark collar, (or no bark collar), which delivers a brisk spray of citronella into the barking dogs snout, giving them the message that “barking” should stop. Also available are ultra sonic no bark solutions, less effective but a good entry level product to help train your dog to stop barking.

It's really a good idea to probe a little deeper into the subject of bark collar. What you learn may give you the confidence you need to venture into new areas.

A harmless Citronella spray collar that conditions your dog to stop nuisance barking, 100% safe and painless for all dogs, humans and the environment. Successful in most cases, ideal for strong willed dogs. The accepted training method for all Australian states.

The most effective training method for stopping problem barking. Recommended by animal behaviourists world wide, specifically designed for motivated, highly determined and difficult dogs including toy breed "yappers"

Now that wasn't hard at all, was it? And you've earned a wealth of knowledge, just from taking some time to study an expert's word on bark collar.

stop dog barking

2006-09-27T23:14:00.000-07:00

The only way to keep up with the latest about bark collar is to constantly stay on the lookout for new information. If you read everything you find about bark collar, it won't take long for you to become an influential authority.

Dog training collars can be really helpful for many dog owners. There are various different styles to choose from and they are all there to help you to control your dog.This collar has a built in on/off system that you can control. It also has a built in system which detects the vibrations within the dogs bark and it can determine whether the dog is barking or whether it has suffered a knock or a scratch.

As mentioned, each different dog-training collar is different from the next. There are some that are designed to fit around the dog’s noses, which control the direction of the dog. They are generally attached to the lead and every time the dog is pulling or you need to reprimand the dog for something, a quick, sharp yet gentle tug on the lead will turn your dogs head towards you, shocking them into doing what you want them to do.

The main use for a dog collar is probably the most obvious - controlling your dog. Used in combination with a dog leash, a dog collar can provide you with a certain amount of control to prevent your dog wandering off or straying into road traffic when out walking. There are other uses for a dog collar such as dog or puppy training. Also, you can incorporate your dog's identity and your contact information within the dogs collar, in the event your dog gets lost.

If you base what you do on inaccurate information, you might be unpleasantly surprised by the consequences. Make sure you get the whole bark collar story from informed sources.

Choosing the correct size of dog collar is important. Having a collar that is too small can cause your dog harm and at best will leave your dog feeling uncomfortable. Similarly, having a collar that is too big will enable your dog to easily slip out of it. Also, the width and material of the collar neeeds to match the size of your dog or puppy. A heavy duty leather collar will not be much good for a Chihuahua and neither will a lightweight nylon collar be any good on a Rotweiller.

A good rule of thumb, is to make sure that on a large dog, you can slip two fingers between the dogs throat and the collar. Also ensure the collar can rotate easily, but not slip over the dogs ears. On smaller dogs, ensure the collar can rotate easily and does not cause any breathing problems. Make sure it cannot pull over the dogs ears. Remember that in the right situation, many dogs can become little Houdini's in their own right.

That's the latest from the bark collar authorities. Once you're familiar with these ideas, you'll be ready to move to the next level.

electric shock to your dog when he barks

2006-09-26T20:44:00.000-07:00

Do you ever feel like you know just enough about bark collar to be dangerous? Let's see if we can fill in some of the gaps with the latest info from bark collar experts.

Without a doubt one of the most annoying issues for owners is a dog that is a chronic barker. These dogs seem to bark at anything and everything and do not stop barking even when the threat or event is over. While chronic or excessive barking is often associated with small dogs all sizes and breeds of dogs may become chronic barkers under the right set of conditions.

What makes a dog bark?

Initially puppies and dogs bark to attract attention, notify owners of a stranger or unusual event, or to defend themselves and their property. Most owners appreciate a dog that barks to notify them when a stranger approaches or there is a knock at the door. The problems start to happen when the dog does not disengage from the barking activity, even if corrected. Some chronic barkers will not stop even if removed from the room and will continue to bark even if placed outside.

Usually dogs that have a problem with barking started this behavior because they were bored or received attention for barking. Remember that to a dog all attention is good, even if it is negative. Therefore when a dog is bored, lacks attention and then barks and gets yelled at, he or she quickly learns that barking gets human attention, which is just what he or she wants. Once this pattern has been established it is more difficult to correct than catching it early and stopping it as it develops.

So far, we've uncovered some interesting facts about bark collar. You may decide that the following information is even more interesting.

For your information, your dog might still be barking noisily and disrupting your neighborhood when you are not at home. In this case, you’ll need a training equipment known as “bark collars” to help train him.

There are several types of bark collars on the market. Some of these collars send an electric shock to your dog when he barks, some make a high pitch sound or emits a squirt of citronella which is annoying but safe for your dog. Usually, these collars can help you solve a problematic barker.

Personally, I’ll recommend the high pitch sound or citronella collars. They are very effective and more humane dog training tools.

If you've picked some pointers about bark collar that you can put into action, then by all means, do so. You won't really be able to gain any benefits from your new knowledge if you don't use it.

my house dog need bark collar

2006-09-22T18:49:00.000-07:00

This interesting article addresses some of the key issues regarding bark collar. A careful reading of this material could make a big difference in how you think about bark collar.

Is your dog's barking getting out of control? Does the barking get worse when you leave your home? Are your neighbors at their wit's end? Are you contemplating getting rid of your dog? Bark collars can stop barking dogs quickly, easily, and humanely. When used properly, the electronic bark collar can stop your dog's barking completely within a matter of few days. If all else fails, however, surgery might be a reasonable alternative.

Most electronic bark control collars employ sound as the basic stimulus because it is well established that animals learn more quickly and retain a better memory when the desired behavior is associated with a sound. The more advanced models progressively increase the sonic stimulus as barking persists. Some models employ gradually increasing electric shock stimulus along with the sound to stop even the most stubborn barkers in a humane manner.

I trust that what you've read so far has been informative. The following section should go a long way toward clearing up any uncertainty that may remain.

The more sophisticated electronic bark collars sense the vibrations in a dog's throat that happen only during barking. By doing so, they prevent false corrections from other loud noises and from other dogs barking.

That's how things stand right now. Keep in mind that any subject can change over time, so be sure you keep up with the latest news.

useful of bark collar

2006-09-21T01:48:00.000-07:00

Have you ever wondered if what you know about bark collar is accurate? Consider the following paragraphs and compare what you know to the latest info on bark collar.

A bark collar is a bark collar. It will do its job and eliminate or lessen the amount of barking a dog does. Deciding when to use a bark collar is the decision only the pet owner can make. A recommendation to use a bark collar is not bad, but it may be necessary. Should the dog keep barking and causing the pet owner’s neighbors to report it, can lead the animal to being removed. If a bark collar can stop this, it may be necessary. But, before resorting to this level, a pet owner should try to find out why his dog is barking. Using a bark collar sparingly or only during specific times may also lessen the effects on the dog. While a great tool, the decision to use a bark collar should be thought about first.

Most of this information comes straight from the bark collar pros. Careful reading to the end virtually guarantees that you'll know what they know.

Barking is a natural canine behavior, and is one of the main ways in which dogs communicate. Your dog barks for a variety of reasons. But sometimes dogs bark because they are bored or lonely. This type of barking tends to meet with some response (generally upset pet owners urging their pooch to stop), and unfortunately this type of behavior can easily become a habit. Habitual or chronic barking presents many challenges for dog owners. Many communities have no-barking ordinances that may result in violations or fines. Also, barking dogs can create tension and hostility between neighbors rather quickly. These battery-operated collars, such as the Inhibitor Anti-Bark Collar, use vibration probes to sense when your dog barks. When vibration is detected, the collar probes deliver a harmless electrical correction to your dog's neck. These collars vary by the number of adjustable levels of correction intensity, battery type, and ease of use. These collars are effective because your dog associates his own behavior

(barking) with the unpleasant correction, and will stop the behavior to avoid the correction. Suppose that while a dog owner is away from home, neighbors complain that the barking is unbearable. Perhaps a dog barks quite a bit at night and this leads neighbors to report the owner. Using a bark collar can help eliminate this. The collar is placed on the dog either all the time or during certain times that the pet owner wishes to stop the dog’s barking. When the dog barks, a very small amount of electric stimulation which is similar to static shock is sent through the bark collar to the dog. While it is uncomfortable, it is not harmful. The dog barks again, and again, the collar sends the stimulation. The dog starts to relate the stimulation to the bark and will eventually stop barking.

Hopefully the sections above have contributed to your understanding of bark collar. Share your new understanding about bark collar with others. They'll thank you for it.

to stop barking, use bark collar

2006-09-19T20:48:00.000-07:00

The following article includes pertinent information that may cause you to reconsider what you thought you understood. The most important thing is to study with an open mind and be willing to revise your understanding if necessary.

The bark. It can be annoying. But, in effect, it is the way the dog is communicating to you. For example, it can mean, ‘hello’ or it can mean ‘go away.’ It can mean that they want to play or that they are protecting their territory. You may think your dog is barking too much, or your neighbors may think so. But, before you can put an end to your trouble, it’s best to figure out why she is barking in the first place.

Some dogs have been breed to bark so it is instinctive that they bark endlessly. For example, the beagle is a hunting dog and was trained to bark when it spotted the prey. Another example are some toy dogs which were bred to be a warning signals of invasion. Even so, some dogs within these breeds bark more than they should, some more than others.

While it may be inconvenient to the dog’s owner, bark is part of owning a dog. It comes with the territory, so to speak. Understanding why your dog barks may help you realize what needs to be done. Often, the only thing that can be done is to use a bark collar. Here’s how they work.

It seems like new information is discovered about something every day. And the topic of bark collar is no exception. Keep reading to get more fresh news about bark collar.

Suppose that while a dog owner is away from home, neighbors complain that the barking is unbearable. Perhaps a dog barks quite a bit at night and this leads neighbors to report the owner. Using a bark collar can help eliminate this. The collar is placed on the dog either all the time or during certain times that the pet owner wishes to stop the dog’s barking. When the dog barks, a very small amount of electric stimulation which is similar to static shock is sent through the bark collar to the dog. While it is uncomfortable, it is not harmful. The dog barks again, and again, the collar sends the stimulation. The dog starts to relate the stimulation to the bark and will eventually stop barking.

When a dog barks, he is protecting you or just warning you. The dog is trained by ancestors to do just that; to warn people. It makes sense then that the dog would be a little upset at there is a man approaching the house even though he visits daily with the mail. The dog wants you to know that the man is there and that you should react to the mailman. Those dogs that do bark too much may need some help. You can find a lot of help on training your dog to stop barking in books or with professionals. Use training as well as patience to help your dog learn when its okay and when it is not.

A bark collar is a bark collar. It will do its job and eliminate or lessen the amount of barking a dog does. Deciding when to use a bark collar is the decision only the pet owner can make. A recommendation to use a bark collar is not bad, but it may be necessary. Should the dog keep barking and causing the pet owner’s neighbors to report it, can lead the animal to being removed. If a bark collar can stop this, it may be necessary. But, before resorting to this level, a pet owner should try to find out why his dog is barking. Using a bark collar sparingly or only during specific times may also lessen the effects on the dog. While a great tool, the decision to use a bark collar should be thought about first.

As your knowledge about bark collar continues to grow, you will begin to see how bark collar fits into the overall scheme of things. Knowing how something relates to the rest of the world is important too.

dog need bark collar to stop barking around.

2006-09-18T01:20:00.000-07:00

In today's world, it seems that almost any topic is open for debate. While I was gathering facts for this article, I was quite surprised to find some of the issues I thought were settled are actually still being openly discussed.

Walking your dog is a surprisingly effective way to solve many behavioral problems, including excessive barking. Many times, dogs are simply frustrated and need to get out and get some fresh air. Dogs are our little babies, but they still need time to just be dogs. It’s important to their psyche to sniff, mark and explore the great outdoors. It’s also a chance to establish your dominance in the “pack”. While you’re out, try exercising and playing with him/her. This will make the experience more enjoyable for both of you and work out some excess energy.

Some dogs are overly territorial, and so the local mail person and any other passers by get a full dose of barking. In this case, get a friend to help you do some corrective training. First, put on your dog’s collar or harness and leash. Then, have your friend walk by the fence or yard to make the dog bark. Give the dog a quick correction every time he barks so that the association is made that barking at people is bad. If this doesn’t work, try hiring a professional trainer. Many of these people are great experts with dogs and can help.

The last thing that dogs with separation anxiety need is punishment. They simply do not understand what they are being disciplined for. The best thing you can do is to teach your dog that she is going to be all-right while you are away. You can do this by going through the “motions” of leaving your home without actually doing so. This means you can put on your coat, gather your things, and pretend that you are leaving. Then don’t. Repeat this, but next time go outside for a few minutes and then return. As you repeat this process, stay outside for a few minutes longer. This will gradually work up the amount of time your dog is alone and she realizes that she is going to be okay. You can also leave a special treat or chew toy behind to distract her from your leaving.

You can do this with an outside dog, too. Simply go outside like you are preparing to leave. Open your car door. Stand there a few minutes, then shut your car door and go back inside. Next time, go back outside and sit in your car for a few moments. Extend the amount of time you are in your car. You can work this up to driving down the block, then around the block twice, etc. You can have a neighbor or family member secretly monitor how long your dog stays quiet.

Sometimes the most important aspects of a subject are not immediately obvious. Keep reading to get the complete picture.

One of the important things to remember when you have a dog with separation anxiety barking is to make your arrivals and departures very low key. Do not overly greet them, or sadly tell them good-bye. This will only aggravate them. While some individuals would never dream of leaving home without telling their pets good-bye, it usually only upsets a dog with separation anxiety disorder.

Another thing you can do if you have an outside dog with separation anxiety is to evaluate if they are being socially neglected. Most dogs have a pack mentality, and they need to feel as if they belong. Make sure you are spending adequate time with your dog. Ensure that her area is full of toys and playthings that will keep her entertained while you are away. There are many families who found their dog quieted once they got her a playmate. If this does not help, there are anxiety medications which you can get from your vet. These will usually keep your dog calm and relaxed while you are away.

If all else fails, you could try something like a bark collar. Many people think it’s cruel, but it just surprises the dog each time they bark so that they stop. Make sure, though, that you’ve addressed the underlying issue of the barking.

As a last resort some dog owners (who find there is nothing to keep their dog from barking) will sometimes have their dog’s “bark” removed. This concept is quite shocking to a dog owner who has never experienced the problem of having a severe barker in their family. However, this doesn’t mean a dog will not be able to bark. This surgery just brings a dogs bark down to a quieter and softer level. It should be noted that many dogs which are in dog shelters are put to sleep on a regular basis because of their incessant barking. If your dog has a severe barking problem, this option is certainly preferred over euthanasia or moving to a secluded island.

Now might be a good time to write down the main points covered above. The act of putting it down on paper will help you remember what's important about bark collar.

Ways to make your dog good.

2006-09-14T22:44:00.000-07:00

Have you ever wondered what exactly is up with bark collar? This informative report can give you an insight into everything you've ever wanted to know about bark collar.

Electronic dog-training collars (also called shock collars) were introduced to the market about thirty years ago. Today, they serve as one of the most effective ways to train a dog. Some of the other dog training tools are remote training collars and e-collars. These collars are remote-controlled and emit a light, corrective static shock as soon as the dog does something wrong. The corrective signal sent by the collar draws the dog’s attention, and it links the behavior with the response of the dog teaching them what is good and bad -- consequently stopping the bad. Most of the collars have several levels of correction.

There are lightweight and reliable water resistant collars for all kinds of dog activities. The different kinds of collars available include plain buckle collar, martingale collar, limited choke collar, choke chain, snap-around choke, head collar, pronged collar and no-bark collar. The choke collar is the safest if used properly. The most popular is the slip collars. These training collars work properly when fitted and used properly. Even though some disapproval exists among people regarding the use of dog training collars, professional dog trainers and veterinarians accept this as a safe training tool.

Electronic collars are dog training collars that transfer a small shock on cue. Since the trainer cues the collar it is paramount that they know what they are doing. Inconsistent and poor training with painful methods is both cruel and ineffective. Shock collars have their place and that is with professional dog trainers. The rest of us need to stick to the basics.

Knowledge can give you a real advantage. To make sure you're fully informed about bark collar, keep reading.

Another collar that employs the use of electricity is the no bark collar. Again this collar is effective, but before you use it you should determine the cause of the dogs barking. Make sure you haven’t taught him to bark and ask yourself if you really want him to punish him for it.

There seems to be a collar for just about every training area and some have proven to be quite effective. However, it is crucial in dog training you only use equipment that you are experienced with. If you have a specific training issue, it may be beneficial to seek help. Learn how to use dog training collars under the guidance of a professional. This will make your dog training more positive and productive.

There's a lot to understand about bark collar. We were able to provide you with some of the facts above, but there is still plenty more to write about in subsequent articles.

bark collar: Is a Bark Collar the Answer for Your Dog's Barking Problems?

2006-09-13T21:37:00.000-07:00

A dog's way of communicating is with their bark. This is perfectly normal behavior. Excessive or loud, unwanted barking is not appropriate and can be annoying to you as well as others. There are all kinds of reason why a dog barks. He may be alarming you that something is on or near his area. It could be cats, squirrels or even your neighbors. They don't like their space to be invaded. They could be trying to tell you they want attention and feel frustrated. Maybe they are just having fun. The list goes on and on for reasons your dog barks. You wouldn't want to train your dog to stop barking completely but they can to be taught to control unnecessary barking. It will increase your dog's ability to communicate with you if they learn to bark at the proper time. They need to know how to act if there is a real problem. It takes patience to stop unwanted barking. Remember that different types of dogs bark more than others.

Making sure your dog gets enough exercise is one way to start getting his barking under control. Lack of exercise will cause poor conduct, including nuisance barking. Walking around your yard is not enough. They should have brisk exercise every day. Mental stimulation is also very important. When dogs are in training they actively are figuring out problems. They are learning obedience, listening to cues and putting them into action. If they are bored, they will bark more. Stimulation will curve the boredom and the barking.

Sometimes your dog will bark uncontrollably when you go away. This is called separation anxiety. Take small trips at first and let treats or toys with him. This will teach him to behave when you are away and not feel so anxious. The more his behavior improves the longer you can stay away. Crating your dog is another idea. Crates are a safe environment once he gets used to it. They actually start to view it as their hideaway or haven.

It is very common for dogs to bark when someone comes to the door. Teach him to do something different and re-enforce it when he barks. You could try using a "down" or "sit" command. This will show him what you want him to do.

Another option is to keep your dog from things that trigger his barking. Play music or turn on the television to cover outside sounds. Don't let him have access to the windows. If this doesn't work than allow him to bark three or four times and say quiet in a normal tone of voice. Then shake a can of marbles or money. This should make him stop. Call him over to you and ask him to sit. Offer him a treat.

If none of this works than you probably need advice from an animal or veterinary behaviorist. As a last resort you could use a bark collar. It has a vibration sensor that only picks up the dogs barking. It may squirt citronella spray, give off an ultrasonic piercing sound or mild electricity shock. The collar is effective and should correct excessive barking.

Michael Russell

Your Independent guide to Dog Training

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_Russell

bark collar: Is a Bark Collar the Answer for Your Dog's Barking Problems?

2006-09-13T21:35:00.000-07:00

bark collar: Barking dogs get collared

2006-09-08T02:07:00.000-07:00

David Nankervis
August 13, 2006 12:15am

BARKING dogs are the target of a hi-tech scheme to give annoyed neighbours some peace and quiet.

Local councils are introducing new technology – the Bark Collar – which has been hailed a canine controversy peacemaker.
The matchbox-sized gadget has a microchip which counts how many times a dog barks – hour by hour – over 10 days.

It can prove once and for all which dogs in the neighbourhood are barking and for how long.

The counter, valued around $500, is being trialled by several councils, which place the collars on dogs at the centre of barking complaints. The collar has the backing of the state's Dog And Cat Management Board.

"Barking dog disputes can take a lot of time to resolve – sometimes owners don't know or don't care their dog is barking, or people make false claims against their neighbour's dog because of other issues of conflict," Dog and Cat Management Board Executive Officer Deb Kelly said.

"Instead of having council inspectors sitting outside homes listening for barking dogs, they can place this device on the dog in dispute and find the answers to a lot of questions."

Dr Kelly said collar trials so far had proved "extremely positive" and the device had the potential to be used by all SA councils.

The world-first bark counters were designed by Anthony Beard at Animal Management Systems in Melbourne.

He said the soon-to-be-released new models would be smaller, more slimlined and tamper-proof.

"The device has a tiny circuit board which records the bark and can be downloaded onto a computer with the information presented in a spreadsheet," he said.

"For example, if the dog was recorded barking between 3pm and 4pm on weekdays it may mean it was being provoked by school children which would help towards solving the problem."

The new tamper-proof models would stop owners removing the 3-volt battery but Mr Beard said, without elaborating, there were other ways particularly "shifty" owners could alter the data.

Onkaparinga Council in the outer southern suburbs has been trialling four devices and plans to buy two of the new models, due for release in the next month.

Council health and safety manager Chris Button said a system had been designed with the help of an acoustic engineer to determine how many barks a day – or night – constituted a nuisance under the Noise Control Act Standards.

"We believe if a dog barks more than 240 times a day we could go to court and have it ruled a nuisance in court under existing standards," Mr Button said.

"The limit for night-time – between 9pm and 7am – is tougher, with just 30 barks."

Mr Butler hoped mediation and canine behavioural management would ensure owners were not taken to court over their barking dogs. The device would also deter bogus complaints, he said.

bark collar: A dog's bark vs. a court's bite

2006-09-06T20:28:00.000-07:00

Animal control officers try to resolve barking issues, but a Suffolk case ends up in front of a judge.
BY SABINE C. HIRSCHAUER
247-4536
August 30, 2006
SUFFOLK -- Her owner, Debbie Eberhardt, says Elsa the 3-year-old German shepherd barks just like any other dog - at noises, at passers-by, and at other dogs just to say "hi."

Eberhardt's neighbor, Randy Carter, says Elsa barks a lot, and that's why this April his wife filed a complaint to put an end to Elsa's barking once and for all.

This week, their fight wound up in Suffolk General District Court.

"I come home. I am beat. I am trying to go to bed," Carter testified, describing one day in March when he had been up since 5:30 a.m. because his grandmother died. "Elsa starts barking at 10:45 p.m. and it goes on for 20 minutes or so."

The case could cost Eberhardt - and taxpayers.

Eberhardt, the wife of prominent Suffolk lawyer Michael Eberhardt, is charged with allowing her dog to bark continually, a city code violation that could cost her as much as a $2,500 fine and six months in jail.

City police and animal control officers have been to Eberhardt's home in the upscale, downtown Riverview neighborhood at least six times. On Monday, two animal control officers and several police officers were subpoenaed as witnesses. Neighbors and friends of both parties, including the paper carrier, were on hand to testify. About 20 people packed a courtroom, ready to talk about Elsa's bark.

A special prosecutor from Norfolk was appointed because Randy Carter is Suffolk's clerk of courts and a former prosecutor.

After about two hours of testimony, retired Judge John C. Baker decided to cut Elsa's day in court short. He continued the case for a year to give both parties a chance to work things out.

Cities and counties usually try to keep such cases out of the court system, officials said.

In Newport News and other localities, animal control and police officers hand out information about the city code and how to control noisy canines if they are called to an incident.

"We try to educate first," said Atiya Pope, acting superintendent of Animal Services in Newport News.

In Suffolk and elsewhere, city or county rules are used.

"We very rarely take them to court," said Kim Miller, vice president of the Virginia Animal Control Association and an animal control officer in Loudoun County in Northern Virginia.

In Suffolk, special prosecutor Linda Bryant said Monday that she and the Carters had tried to resolve the issue out of court. "There are reasonable things that can be done," Bryant said.

Eberhardt has ruled out using a bark collar that would shock Elsa every time she barks. And she says she can't afford a dog sitter. She and her husband separated three years ago.

Eberhardt said she has already done a lot - from banning Elsa from the front yard to keeping her inside as much as possible. She said she feels like a prisoner in her own home.

"I am telling my kids, 'Don't let the dog out, don't let the dog out,' " she said Tuesday. "I don't know what the resolution is. ... I don't want to lock up Elsa all day. ... I can't afford to move. And I should not have to move. I didn't do anything wrong."

bark collar: A dog's bark vs. a court's bite

2006-09-06T20:26:00.000-07:00

bark collar: Stop your dog's excessive barking

2006-09-04T21:42:00.000-07:00

Posted by admin / 28. August 2006, 19:26

IS your dog's barking getting out of control? Does the barking get worse when you leave your home? Are your neighbors at their wit's end?

Are you contemplating getting rid of your dog? Bark collars can stop barking dogs quickly, easily, and humanely. When used properly, the electronic bark collar can stop your dog's barking completely within a matter of few days.

Most electronic bark control collars employ sound as the basic stimulus because it is well established that animals learn more quickly and retain a better memory when the desired behavior is associated with a sound. The more advanced models progressively increase the sonic stimulus as barking persists. Some models employ gradually increasing electric shock stimulus along with the sound to stop even the most stubborn barkers in a humane manner.

The more sophisticated electronic bark collars sense the vibrations in a dog's throat that happen only during barking. By doing so, they prevent false corrections from other loud noises and from other dogs barking.

The drawback with some "barking dog collars" is that they may detect barking with a microphone and activate on sound; these can be set off by other noises or by another dog's bark. Some barking dog collars use only vibration; these can be set off by motion or jostling.

Stay away from the following types of bark collars:

1) Bark dog collars the project a spray mist which startles and confuses the dog's olfactory senses, causing him to stop barking. These mists may cause allergic reactions and hypersensitivity in your dog.

2) Independent devices that have a built-in microphone tuned to the sound of your dog's bark. They emit a loud correction to startle the dog so he stops barking. They automatically stop and reset themselves after each auditory correction. The dog feels no correction with this type of bark stopper and can simply move away to another location further from the receiver and completely avoid the sound all together.

Look for a barking dog collar with the following features:

1) One that simultaneously senses both sound and vibration, and only uses a combination of sound and vibration to trigger the electronic correction. By having both of these features, the electronic bark collar will be activated only by the dog wearing the collar, so there won't be any "false corrections" caused by loud noises or other dogs barking.

2) One that automatically adjusts the level of static correction to your dog's temperament with different levels of self-adjustable corrections in response to the bark intensity of your dog. The more intensity settings will help accommodate the most sensitive to the most stubborn dogs.

3) One that provides a warning beep with the first bark.

4) One with a rechargeable battery, which features a low battery indicator light.

5) One that features a quickfit buckle that provides a quick release.

6) One that is durable, light weight, waterproof, and adjustable.

7) One that comes with a complete operating guide and a video tape demonstration.

Used properly, an electronic bark collar can be a humane alternative to giving away you dog.

bark collar: Town Lake Animal Center: Bark! Bark! Bark!

2006-08-14T23:31:00.000-07:00

Bark collars are specially designed to deliver an aversive whenever your dog barks. There are several different kinds of bark collars:

Citronella Collar: This collar contains a reservoir of citronella solution that sprays into your dog’s face every time he barks. A citronella collar is considered humane and a recent study reported an 88% rate of success with the use of this collar. One possible drawback is that the collar contains a microphone, so the aversive is delivered in response to the sound of the bark. Therefore, other noises may set off the collar, causing your dog to be sprayed even if he hasn’t barked. Also, some dogs can tell when the citronella reservoir is empty and will resume barking.

Aversive Sound Collar: This collar emits a high-frequency sound when your dog barks. Some are activated by the noise of the bark, while others are hand-held and activated by a handler. The rate of success for this type of collar is reportedly rather low.

Electric Shock Collar: We don’t recommend an electric shock collar to control your dog’s barking. The electric shock is painful to your dog and many dogs will choose to endure the pain and continue barking. The success rate of this type of collar is less than 50%.

The main drawback of any bark collar is that it doesn’t address the underlying cause of the barking. You may be able to eliminate the barking, but symptom substitution may occur and your dog may begin digging, escaping, or become destructive or even aggressive. The use of a bark collar must be in conjunction with behavior modification based on the reason for the barking, as outlined above. You should never use a bark collar on your dog if his barking is due to separation anxiety, fears or phobias, because punishment always makes fear and anxiety behaviors worse.

Bark Collar: A total fiasco

2006-08-09T02:33:00.000-07:00

I bought a humane bark collar that used a high pitched sound for bark correction. According to the directions, if Shelby only wears the collar in the car, then it should only correct her behavior in the car, and Shelby will know that it's OK to bark elsewhere.

So I put it on her, and we went for a drive. On surface street, Shelby usually whines. This triggered the bark collar. But she whined so much, that the collar was constantly going off. It was driving me nuts. Almost as nuts as the whining.
I have a video of what it was like. Shelby whines about that much on any car ride, so I don't think the collar caused more whining.

Usually, when we get on the freeway, Shelby calms down, and everything's calm until we exit the freeway. However, even on the least sensitive setting, I found that the noise of the wind resistance was enough to trigger the bark collar, as were potholes. I'm sure this left Shelby pretty confused. She was being a good girl, and the collar was still going off.

Prior to the bark collar, I tried using a spray bottle. Shelby was soaking wet, and I found it impractical when I'm driving alone. It's fine if Steven is driving, but it's simply unsafe for me to pay attention to spraying her while the car is moving.

I'm going to try the collar again, this time, just around city streets. I'm not sure how long it's supposed to take for Shelby to catch on. I hope it's not long.

bark collar: Stop Unwanted Dog Barking

2006-08-08T00:36:00.000-07:00

Many pet owners become lost as to what to do when their dog is
barking and nothing seems to stop him. Maybe it doesn’t even
bother the pet owner himself, but the neighbors are complaining.
What can be done? A bark collar is one method to help control a
dog’s barking. Bark collars are used to stop a dog from barking,
but should be used as a last resort.

While it may be inconvenient to the dog’s owner, bark is part of
owning a dog. It comes with the territory, so to speak.
Understanding why your dog barks may help you realize what needs
to be done. Often, the only thing that can be done is to use a
bark collar. Here’s how they work.

Suppose that while a dog owner is away from home, neighbors
complain that the barking is unbearable. Perhaps a dog barks
quite a bit at night and this leads neighbors to report the
owner. Using a bark collar can help eliminate this. The collar is
placed on the dog either all the time or during certain times
that the pet owner wishes to stop the dog’s barking. When the dog
barks, a very small amount of electric stimulation which is
similar to static shock is sent through the bark collar to the
dog. While it is uncomfortable, it is not harmful. The dog barks
again, and again, the collar sends the stimulation. The dog
starts to relate the stimulation to the bark and will eventually
stop barking.

A bark collar is a bark collar. It will do its job and eliminate
or lessen the amount of barking a dog does. Deciding when to use
a bark collar is the decision only the pet owner can make. A
recommendation to use a bark collar is not bad, but it may be
necessary. Should the dog keep barking and causing the pet
owner’s neighbors to report it, can lead the animal to being
removed. If a bark collar can stop this, it may be necessary.
But, before resorting to this level, a pet owner should try to
find out why his dog is barking. Using a bark collar sparingly or
only during specific times may also lessen the effects on the
dog. While a great tool, the decision to use a bark collar should
be thought about first.

http://www.dogtrainingcollars.net
Byron Pappageorge

bark collar: Dog Barks When Left Alone

2006-08-06T23:40:00.000-07:00

by Adam Katz

Please let me know if you have any suggestions to help curb a barking problem when we are not home. Our 2 year-old Shepherd/Chow mix rarely barks when we are home, but when we leave her in her nice pen outdoors when we are gone she yips and barks. We have tried stuffed animals and kong toy with food inside. Do we need to get a bark collar? Any other suggestions or info on the collars would be appreciated.

Thank you, Beth Nordstrom

Dear Beth:

First, I would try to figure out what is causing the dog to bark. It may be nothing more than nuisance barking. In which case, a bark collar would work best.

But I'd first rule out all other factors, such as:

- A neighbor's kid who may be taunting your dog.

- Lack of exercise/stimulation.

- Throwing a toy outside of the pen and then barking in an attempt to "make it come back"

- Any number of other factors that could be eliminated before dropping $100 on a bark collar.

I don't know what type of exercise regimen you've got your dog on now, but it probably wouldn't hurt to buy a bicycle and start taking your dog for long runs. (It's good for you, too!)

As for which bark collars to use... the ones that I've had the most success with are the Tri-Tronics Bark Limiter. I've tried the cheap yellow ones they sell at the pet stores and have found them to be poorly engineered, consistently over or under-correcting your dog, and resetting themselves too quickly.

The citronella collars are largely a joke. The get clogged and jam frequently. The citronella runs out. Plus, I'm not crazy about spraying the stuff in your dog's eyes.

That's all for now, folks! Adam

Adam G. Katz is the author of the book, "Secrets of a Professional Dog Trainer: An Insider's Guide To The Most Jealously Guarded Dog Training Secrets In History." Get a free copy of his report "Games To Play With Your Dog" when you sign up for his free weekly dog training tips e-zine at: http://www.dogproblems.com

bark collar: Petsafe Spray No-bark Collar

2006-08-03T23:47:00.000-07:00

For the dog or owner too timid for shock bark collars but who wants to stop the barking. Your dog hears it, he smells it, he feels it shudder. Collar senses your dog's bark and activates the spray. Cannot be activated by other dogs.

Uses replaceable 6 volt alkaline battery (included) and kit includes can of lemon spray. The batteries have been tested to last 4-6 months with normal use, and the can contains up to 80 sprays. (competitor's batteries last only about 1 month and can contains about 25 sprays)

Collar is waterproof and features low battery and low spray warnings.

note: use ONLY lemon refill sprays Citronella refills will clog the collar.

bark collar: Dog Anti Bark Collars

2006-07-31T01:00:00.000-07:00

Anti Bark Collars and Remote Control Activated Spray Collars, are used for the purpose of training and eliminating problematic behaviour in your dog. Using a spray, not a punishment this device will make your dog a happy and well behaved pet. Spray technology is a modern training tool, proven efficient and painless by dog specialists. It acts upon four of the animal's senses. Using a remote control, a citronella spray is ejected from a device worn around the dog's neck. Simply press the button on the remote control and an inoffensive citronella spray is ejected. The spray can be triggered at a precise moment in time, so that the delay between the unacceptable behaviour and the redirection stimulus is instantaneous.
With spray collar training time is greatly reduced. After receiving a few sprays in a specific situation, the dog will attempt to avoid bad behaviour in order to spare himself another spray. The calibrated spray, causes neither pain or nasty after-effects. In fact, we have noticed that the spray has an appeasing effect on dogs. Furthermore the use of the spray is more effective to eliminate bad behaviour, than techniques, which involves fear or pain.

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bark collar: Bark Control Collars

2006-07-25T22:18:00.000-07:00

How the PetSafe Anti Bark Collar Works

The PetSafe anti bark Collar has two primary features designed to shorten the training phase and promote good behavior. First, the anti bark Collar has a unique patented sensor that provides the most reliable bark detection available. The PetSafe anti bark Collar uses both vibration and sound sensors (dual-detection) to discriminate each bark from other external noises. A Static Correction is administered through the Contact Points only if both the vibration from the vocal chords and the sound from the bark match the same criteria. Second, the anti bark collar has a new patent pending Temperament Learning System design that is effective across many dog breeds and their individual barking behaviors. The Temperament Learning System contains software that tracks the number of corrections needed to substantially reduce (and in most cases eliminate) the number of nuisance barks. The anti bark system has 10 levels of Static Correction. It begins with low-level corrections, however, if excessive barking continues the correction intensity will increase with each successive bark until the barking stops. Once the dog has learned to reduce the barking, the initial warning corrections are reduced. If your dog does not bark within 30 seconds, the anti bark collar will reset itself. As a built-in safety feature, if your dog barks 15 times or more within a 1 minute 20 second period, the anti bark collar will automatically shut off for 3 minutes.

Important:

Before playing with your dog, remove the anti bark collar. The activity may cause your dog to bark, which could lead to him associating the play with the Static Correction.
Never leave the Anti Bark Collar on your dog for more than 12 consecutive hours

Why Dogs Bark

Dogs bark. It is part of their normal and natural communication and behavior. Dogs can bark for appropriate and good reasons, such as when strangers approach our house, they hear an odd noise, or they are herding sheep. Most of us want our dogs to be "watch dogs" and alert us to anything unusual. But dogs can also bark inappropriately. In two scientific surveys of dog owners, approximately 1/3 of them reported their dogs barked excessively. To control barking in our dogs, we first need to understand why they are barking.

Types of canine vocal communication

Dogs, as well as wolves use many types of vocalizations to communicate. This communication starts very early in life. Young puppies make a mewing-like sound when they are searching for food or warmth. Louder crying sounds are heard if the puppy is hurt or frustrated. As dogs get older, they make five main classes of sounds: howls, growls, grunts, whines, and barks. Each of these classes of sounds is used in different situations.

Howling is used as a means of long-range communication in many different circumstances. Howls are more often associated with wolves, but dogs howl too. Wolves often howl to signify territorial boundaries, locate other pack members, coordinate activities such as hunting, or attract other wolves for mating. Dogs may howl as a reaction to certain stimuli such as sirens.

Growling can occur in very different activities. It is used to threaten, warn, in defense, in aggression, and to show dominance. But growling is also used in play as well. By looking at the body posture we should be able to tell the difference. Growls during aggression are accompanied by a stare or snarl, and the growling dog often remains stationary. Play-growls occur in combination with a happy tail and a play bow to signal willingness to play. These dogs are often moving and jumping about to entice play.

Grunts in dogs are the equivalent of contented sighs in people. They can also be heard when dogs are greeting each other or people.

Whines or whimpers are short- or medium-range modes of communication. Dogs may whine when they greet each other, are showing submissiveness, are frustrated or in pain, to obtain attention, and sometimes in defense. Dogs generally whine more than wolves, perhaps because they use the whine more as an attention-seeking behavior, and are often rewarded for it. Think about it. The first sound you may hear from a new puppy is the whine at night when he finds himself alone. We often are guilty of unintentionally reinforcing this whining by giving the puppy the attention he wants.

Barking is another mode of communication that seems to be more common in dogs than other canine species. Again, this may be the result of human encouragement. Certain breeds have been bred to bark as part of their watchdog or herding duties. Barking is used to alert or warn others and defend a territory, to seek attention or play, to identify oneself to another dog, and as a response to boredom, excitement, being startled, lonely, anxious, or teased.

bark collar: The naming of a dog

2006-07-23T21:21:00.000-07:00

By ALBINA PECSON FERNANDEZ

In memory of Samuel P. Fernandez (October 25, 1965 to April 26, 1980) who brought home a dog named Yougo.

He was once a sad, sad dog. He did not know who he was. He had no name. His father was crushed to death by a speeding cargo truck and his mother died soon after. So taken up was she with grief that she forgot to give a name to her only child.

Because he had no name, the sad, sad dog did not quite know whether he was being spoken to or not. To be on the safe side, he learned how to be quiet. From when he felt like barking, he just did not. He imprisoned all his barks inside his thin little body. He was the quietest dog ever. He was kicked, stoned, cursed, chased with broom and cuss words, but he never barked.

For sure, he was nobody’s dog. No one patted his head. No one ever gave him a bone. No one ever beckoned him with a whistle. Oh, how he ached to wag his tail to welcome into his life anyone at all.

One day, he decided to carry out a plan. The plan was aimed at acquiring a master. The dog bathed himself so he would look real nice and clean just like that poodle he once saw inside a passing car. As he bathed himself by a broken fire hydrant the alley cats and dogs watched him, with great interest, for once. They were amused by him. For there he was, drying himself under the hot sun and making great efforts to wag his tail in order to catch the attention of passersby. His face was getting blue already, but his tail would not move at all. It was stuck between his legs. It had simply forgotten how to wag.

"Oh, never mind," the dog told his tail wordlessly. "I can bark to attract attention."

And so he forced himself to bark. He was so sure that if he could bark like that German Shepherd guarding the gates of the big house someone was bound to look at him. And take him home, maybe. And so he tried again and again to bark. He was getting blue in the face already but not a single bark would come out of his throat. The dog only then realized that he had forgotten how to bark, too.

Because he was nobody’s dog, he had no home. And so he moved from place to place. And everywhere he went he always heard a voice say, "you go away, you dirty dog. This is no place for you, do you hear?"

Of course, he always heard. At least he had not lost his ears that he had to go somewhere. He couldn’t possibly be nowhere. A place in time must always be there, even for a dog like him. And so. . . .

The dog without a name became a vagabond. He rose with the sun each day to look for a place where he could be even just for a little while. Here was the church by the side of the road, which the dog believed led directly to Heaven. Many a time he had tried to enter the church, but always there was the priest. "You go away, you dirty dog," the priest would say. "Don’t you know that this place is not for you? This is only for God’s own chosen people."

At other times, the dog would try entering the schoolhouse. How he loved to watch the children with their books. He wanted to be with them. But each time he tried to pass through the school gate the teacher’s voice would thunder. "You go away, you dirty dog. This is no place for you, do you hear? This is only for the intelligent."

He, of course, also tried to enter the Municipal Hall. But there was always that policeman guarding the entrance. And so the dog settled for the second best place. At noon the people working in the place threw their leftover lunch inside a garbage can standing under a fire-tree. Sometimes, when luck was with him, he could get chicken bones, fish tails and sometimes, oh, goody, even slivers of fact and meat. But always he ended his meal feeling bad. Always, somebody would suddenly come out of nowhere and shout at him, "You go away, you dirty dog. This is no place for you. Don’t you see that you are eating dirty garbage and messing up the whole place?"

One day, getting really worried about the germs he must have inside his belly for having eaten a lot of garbage, he tried entering the hospital. Of course, that was not the only reason. He had been feeling weak and sick for quite sometime. Dragging himself to the hospital door, he was met by a doctor. The doctor told him, "You go away, you dirty dog. This is no place for you, do you hear? This is only for those who can afford the cure."

Oh yes, the dog without a name also tried to enter a military camp from time to time. He liked to watch the soldiers in their crisp, handsome uniform. How he liked to be just one of them. He would help them track down the enemies of the people. His nose was made for the job. Why, he was even willing to die for the people! But even before he could set foot inside the camp he was always discovered by the guards by the gate. They would always tell him. "You go away, you dirty dog. This is no place for you, do you hear? This is only for patriots."

On Saturdays the dog without a name usually passed by the marker. Many people were always there to buy or sell something. How he wished he had something to sell so he could buy some food. It was really here, where dreams are made of. Because the dog had nothing to sell he relied on the next best thing to do. He would park himself near any butcher. Any butcher at all might take pity on him and throw a bone or two. But that never happened. The moment his fleas on his body transferred to the butcher’s fat legs there it would go again. "You go away, you dirty dog. This is no place for you, do you hear? This is only for those with goods and money."

Oftentimes he tried to enter the rich man’s house. The big house was sandwiched between the church and the municipal hall. He had heard from the cats and dogs, and of course, the rats too, that the rich man’s garbage was full of good things to eat. But each time he tried to join the other animals, he was always told. "You go away, you dirty dog. This is no place for you, do you hear? The place is for us only. We found it first."

Once he tried to join people marching behind a red flag. He had heard from hushed conversations that those who followed the red flag got home of their own. And so, when one sunny summer day he saw this red flag waving wildly in the air, he ran as fast as he could to catch the tail-end of the long march. He was so deeply impressed by the marching feet and the chanting that went with them. Gathering all his strength the nameless dog tried to match the marchers’ feet with his. After a few attempts, he felt very good indeed.

Why, he could march. He could march! He probably could chant, too. Clearing his throat to find out whether indeed he could, he tried releasing his bark long imprisoned in his wasted body. He was about to release the first bark when he felt a kick hit his stomach. As he lay motionless on the hot pavement he heard the voice of the people: "You go away, you dirty dog. This is not for you, do you hear? This is only for the oppressed and the injured."

The dog without a name really had nowhere to go. Even in the cemetery he could find no place. Much as he wanted to smell the flowers on fresh graves he never quite succeeded in doing so. Just as he got near them a stone would hit his head. The gravedigger always caught him by surprise. Spade in hand, and the other pointed at the dog, the gravedigger would intone, "You go away, you dirty dog. Don’t you know you damn dog that flowers are not for you? They are for the dead."

The dog without a name held out from day to day for as long as he could. He did not want to die yet. He wanted to get a name first. For as he roamed around the cemetery he noticed that everybody in the place had a name. That is why they are lovingly remembered. People cry over them. People light candles for them. People clean their graves. People pray for them. People also bring food for them even if they are too dead to eat.

One day the dog without a name couldn’t take it anymore he decided to die once and for all. "Who cares if I died? He asked himself wordlessly. Even if I get a name and then died, who would remember me?" he added, "Life is sad, life is sad," he repeated wordlessly over and over again. While saying these wordless words he looked for a place to die. Now already too weak from lack of food and too much wandering, he could not really have his choice—the churchyard where birds sang all day long, He had to settle for a patch of grass he knew not where. Nestling himself on the soft grass he waited for death to carry him away to his father and mother. Wondering how he might recognize them, considering that he never saw his father and he no longer remembered his mother’s face. Just as he was about to see dog faces in a land he had never seen before, he felt something touch him. Hands were putting a dog bark collar around his neck. And then, he heard the voice: "You go home with me, little doggie." Upon hearing this, he no longer wanted to die. All that he wanted just now was to open his tired eyes. At last he had a name. "Why didn’t I realize it before?" he asked himself. "My name is Yougo. Yes, that is my name."

"What a lovely name," the voice said.

Yougo wagged his tail.

bark collar: SOUNDS OF YOUR HOUND

2006-07-18T02:03:00.000-07:00

A NEW device will tell dog owners what their barking pets are saying.

BowLingual clips on to a dog's collar and translates the barks of more than 80 different breeds into phrases such as "I feel great", "Let's go", "Listen to me" and "I miss you".

The bark decoder was developed by scientists in Japan and sends the translated barks to a hand-held receiver.

bark collar: Doggie translator: the meaning behind the barks

2006-07-07T01:18:00.000-07:00

Related Entries: Miscellaneous

Judging from the number of dogs that try to take a chunk out of me on my morning run, not enough people are watching The Dog Whisperer on the National Geographic channel. So to you folks who can't be bothered to be home Fridays at 9 p.m. Eastern (and don't have TiVo or a cable-box DVR), I point you to this: the BowLingual dog translator. No, it doesn't change your pet's growls and yelps into actual speech, but it will do some on-the-fly bark analysis to let you know if your pal is happy, sad, frustrated, or territorial at any given time. All you have to do is attach the transmitter to your dog's collar, input its breed and other information into the handheld receiver, and you'll be able to read the furry guy's mind like a book. Well, at least like a mono-colored face on an LCD screen. And for those who just love being judged, the BowLingual will even give you an MBF (Man's Best Friend) Score to grade how good your relationship with your dog is. Of course, if you're so perplexed by your canine companion's barking and body language, maybe a cat or hamster would be more your speed, but what do I know? The BowLingual site incomprehensibly has no link to a vendor, but you should be able to find one online for less than $150. — Peter Pachal

bark collar: Anti barking dog collar

2006-07-03T02:04:00.000-07:00

Anti barking dog collar

Now why would anyone want to make his or her dog suffer for doing something that comes natural? I am talking about anti barking dog collars of course. Dogs are born barking, they communicate by barking. All of their important functions within human society as watch dogs, guard dogs and companion dogs cannot be possibly completed without the ability to bark. Whether it be a warning bark to let their owner know that danger approaches, a threatening bark to let potential trouble makers know its time to move on, a plea for help for their owner in need of immediate assistance or just a cursory bark to let us know that they are on the job. If you forcibly take away the ability of your dog to communicate by making them wear an anti barking dog collar you not only do them a great disservice but you inhibit their natural function. What if you were to gag all the security personnel at an event? Would you expect them to do a good job? What if you were to all the boys in a grade school and put devices on their throats that gave them a shock if they utter a sound? How long would they remain sane? Now we not only have electric shock anti barking dog collars but we have more "humane" sonic anti barking dog collars and spray anti barking dog collars. The sonic variety emits a high pitch sound that causes the wearer to stop communicating. Imagine, it you will, that every time you opened your mouth to say something a fog horn went off in your ear. The spray collar gives the dog a spray of chemicals every time he makes an unwanted sound. I don't think it is even necessary to ask how someone would feel if every time they had something to say they had to deal with a squirt of pepper spray.

bark collar: Posties hot under the collar over dogs

2006-06-30T02:00:00.000-07:00

A DOG owner is barking mad after a post office refused to deliver his letters until he agreed to keep his dogs behind closed doors.

Barry Brame, of Avocet, Letchworth GC, said he was sent a letter telling him that delivery of his post would be stopped until he agreed that his two rottweilers, Lilly and Tallulah, were kept inside during delivery.

Mr Brame, 60, said although his pets were not a threat to the postman's safety he had no choice but to agree with the request.

He said: "He has been our postman for some time now and has never mentioned my dogs being a problem in the past. Each time the postman comes up the drive the dogs are wagging their tails. They don't bark or anything.

"Even after I promised I would keep the dogs inside they still held on to my post for some time.

"It means I have to keep them inside and that could be all morning. Sometimes the postman doesn't come until much later in the day. I fear that if I let them out of the garden and the postman comes round the corner it could all start up again.

"I've done all they asked. I can quite understand postmen worrying about being bitten by dogs, their safety is paramount, but these dogs are no harm to him whatsoever.

"This has all been an over-reaction."

A spokesman from the post office said: "Royal Mail suspends deliveries as a last resort but the health and safety of our workforce has to be a prime concern.

22 June 2006
EDITORIAL - editorial@thecomet.net

bark collar: Stop Dog Barking

2006-06-27T23:14:00.000-07:00

Dogs bark, what's the problem?
The problem of course, is when your dog won't stop barking and it bothers the neighbors. More often than not, barking can be eliminated or reduced to reasonable levels quickly and easily.

Normal barking
Barking for attention
Make sure your barking dog is being fed properly and has water continually available. Outdoor dogs need shade in the summer and a warm enclosure in the winter. See training your dog to stop barking

Frustration barking
Confined dogs can quickly become frustrated by people on the other side of a fence or beyond the reach of their leash. Sometimes children or neighbors will threaten or yell at a barking dog, which makes things worse. This sort of barking can be corrected by bringing your dog inside or providing a kennel area shielded from view of the sidewalk.

Quick ways to stop barking
Citronella anti bark collar
The new Gentle Spray citronella barking collar is safe, humane and remarkably effective.

When your dog barks, the collar sprays a light mist of citronella scent in front of his nose. Dogs don't like this. The hissing noise startles them and dogs seem to dislike the smell. Most dogs figure things out very quickly and stop barking. University studies have shown that citronella barking collars are twice as effective as shock collars.

We've had excellent success using these collars for barking problems at our animal hospital. We can't guarantee that the Gentle Spray collar will work for your dog, but nearly all our customers use these collars successfully and are very happy with the product. see letter . To find out if the collar is likely to work for your dog, see do not order the collar if

These may or may not be available at your pet store, but you can order the Gentle Spray citronella anti bark collar on line at fuzzytummy.com

Anti barking shock collars
I don't like anti bark shock collars at all. You can't tell if they are working and unless you try the collar out on yourself, something which doesn't appeal to me personally, you can't tell how much it hurts. Besides that, they don't work. Recent university studies found citronella barking collars to be twice as effective as anti bark shock collars.

Debarking surgery
Dogs have a fold of tissue on each side of the larynx which must tighten and vibrate to make a bark. Debarking surgery removes this tissue. After the operation, dogs have only a whispery bark, and most of the time both dogs and owners are quite happy with this. Unfortunately, some or all of the the bark comes back within a few months. Because we know how awful it would be to "debark" a person, many people think the operation is inhumane. Since the surgery is often unsatisfactory and because many people consider it cruel, veterinarians seldom suggest debarking as a solution to barking problems.

copyright by Placerville Veterinary Clinic 1995 . . .2004

bark collar: Help for gulf coast trees

2006-06-22T23:31:00.000-07:00

At the request of tree groups affected by Hurricane Katrina, AMERICAN FORESTS has launched a Katrina ReLeaf Fund to provide money for local communities to restore their tree canopy when conditions permit.

The effort is being undertaken with a host of local partners from universities and state forestry groups in the affected states; replanting will occur when conditions permit in 2006. Donations made to Katrina ReLeaf (http://www.americanforests.org/planttrees/) will be eligible for federal matching funds. All proceeds from a September promotion with the online auction service eBAY also were directed toward Katrina ReLeaf.

As of press time, groups signed on as partners in Katrina ReLeaf included: U.S. Forest Service, Southeast Region; Southern University, Baton Rouge; Louisiana Forestry Commission; Louisiana Dept. of Forestry and Agriculture; Mississippi Forestry Commission; Alabama Forestry Commission; Alabama Cooperative Extension System; Mississippi Urban Forest Council; Louisiana Urban Forest Council; and Alabama Urban Forest Council.

AMERICAN FORESTS worked extensively with communities in south Florida in the wake of Hurricane Andrew, and lessons learned then can help those now dealing with Katrina, says Nancy Masterson, who served as AMERICAN FORESTS' rep in Florida.

One imporant lesson is that it is possible to save some downed trees. Restoring existing trees will help control stormwater, cool and clean the air, and remove toxins from groundwater, which is important now, especially in New Orleans. Trees also will restore a degree of the familiar to communities attempting to rebound from the disaster.

"We lost many valuable trees in the debris-clearing stage of recovery" after Andrew, Masterson says. "Had they been marked as salvageable, they could have been righted when time permitted." Trees in USDA growing zones 8 and 9 "will show vigor and resilience if they are saved by replanting," rather than allowed to be cut down.

Masterson offered the following tips:

1. Look for blown-down trees that were planted fairly recently and are still partially rooted. Cover as much of the root ball as possible with mulch, leaves, soil, or whatever is at hand. If possible, cover the root ball with burlap, sheets, or old blankets and wet it down; do not use plastic. If long lengths of root are exposed, cut cleanly to reduce water loss.

2. Post a sign--Save This Tree--or surround the tree with marker tape. It should survive until the next rainfall.

3. When residents return to replant, excavate a broad area on the windward side of the fallen tree. Make the hole wider than the width of the root ball and as deep. If you can't pull the tree to an erect position by hand, use a car or truck. When pulling up, protect the trunk with rags or soft material. Backfill the hole with soil and make a ring of dirt around the tree to help hold water.

4. Prune off damaged or broken branches at the branch bark collar, which is the slightly larger portion of the branch where it connects to the trunk. Do not cut inside this collar.

5. Mulch and water, then treat like a newly planted tree for the next three years, giving it frequent inspections and regular watering.

To contribute to AMERICAN FORESTS' Katrina ReLeaf, call 800/368-5748 or log onto our website at: http://www.americanforests.org/planttrees/.

COPYRIGHT 2005 American Forests
COPYRIGHT 2005 Gale Group

bark collar: Pupperware events target people whose pets are part of the family

2006-06-20T01:43:00.000-07:00

BY LAUREN BISHOP | ENQUIRER STAFF WRITER

It's a Wednesday evening at Paw's Palace grooming spa in Silverton, and about 16dogs - shelties, standard poodles and golden retrievers - bark, sniff around and play with brightly colored toys scattered on the floor while their owners talk and laugh over the din.

But the owners haven't brought their pets to get primped. They've brought them here so they can browse, try out and maybe buy dozens of pet products, from $5 Ulti-Mutt candy bars to $11-$15 Aromutt Therapy shampoos, spritzers and candles, to $165 pet strollers.

Paw's Palace was the site of a recent Pupperware party, a new twist on a Tupperware party that combines two of Americans' favorite pastimes - shopping at in-home parties and spoiling their pets.

Home parties generate $30 billion in annual sales, according to the Direct Selling Association, a Washington, D.C.-based trade group. And people spent $36.3 billion on their pets in 2005, according to the Greenwich, Conn.-based American Pet Products Manufacturers Association.

"I think it's great. There are so many times you go to a feed store or a pet supply store and you don't get to try things out," 51-year-old Candace Gates of Blanchester says of the Pupperware party.

Gates decides to buy a $12 bottle of orange mango-scented foaming cleanser - the most popular product from Shure Pets, which puts on Pupperware parties - for her dog, Roxie.

"She has a tendency to roll in everything nasty she can find," she says.

An entrepreneur named Andrew Shure founded Shure Pets in 2002 after seeing that people were treating their pets as family members and spending money on them accordingly.

It's important for people with a passion for pets to sell directly to others, Shure says. His company boasts more than 1,200 consultants around the country, a number that's more than doubled since last year, he says.

A Pleasant Hill, Calif.-based company called Petlane shares that philosophy.

Lane Nemeth, who founded the Discovery Toys direct sales company in 1978, started Petlane in 2003. Petlane has 500 advisers across the country - although none yet in Greater Cincinnati or Northern Kentucky - who sell holistic food, toys, books, grooming, health and safety products for dogs, cats and birds at what the company calls Pet Pawties.

"Even if they don't buy a pet product from us, they walk away better parents," says Kimberley Coburn, Petlane's vice president of sales.

Shure Pets has about 10 consultants in Greater Cincinnati, including Gale Wulker, a 46-year-old Blue Ash resident who put on the Pupperware party at Paw's Palace.

Wulker became Shure Pets' 312th consultant in 2004. A stay-at-home mom to two boys and a Boy Scouts volunteer, she did an Internet search for pets while she was looking for a part-time job. That's when Shure Pets popped up.

"I'm not into jewelry or cosmetics or cookware, but pets (are) something I can do," she says.

Wulker sells Shure Pets products in homes and at events about two days each week. About half of the customers who attended the party at Paw's Palace ended up ordering products, she says.

Marilyn Newman, 54, of Silverton buys something at every Pupperware party she attends for her bichon frise, Susi, and no longer buys from pet stores.

She uses Shure Pets' emu oil spray and shampoo that she says leaves Susi's fur free of mats. She's also bought spritzers, a reflective leash and collar and a paw mitt, and she often sports a sweat shirt with a bichon frise embroidered on the front.

bark collar: Pupperware events target people whose pets are part of the family

2006-06-20T01:42:00.000-07:00

bark collar: Cool competition for hot dogs

2006-06-12T23:27:00.001-07:00

BY DENISE FLAIM
Newsday Staff Writer

June 1, 2006

If Labrador retrievers kept datebooks, and 7-year-old Rock had his way, every entry would look something like this:

Run. Jump. Splash. Grab. Exit. Shake. Again.

True to his breed's retriever roots, this black Lab from Freeport lives to fetch, especially from the water. While channel-surfing a couple of years ago, his owner Barbara Radtke lit on ESPN and was mesmerized by images of dogs flinging themselves like coiled springs off an elevated dock and into a waiting pool of water. Soon, she began entering Rock in this aquatic broad jump for four-leggers, traveling to Arkansas, Florida, even California so he could take a flying leap after his beloved foam mallard.

"He'll go for anything that floats," says a beaming Radtke as Rock demonstrates his "woo-woo shuffle": This impatient whine-bark coupled with scooting back as he waits for his duck to become airborne has become Rock's trademark at dock-diving competitions. "They say he has a New York attitude."

Big Air in Freeport

Radtke wanted nothing more than to have Rock in his watery element right here on Long Island, where the suburban concentration of surf-obsessed Labs makes dock diving a no-brainer. So she organized an event of her own: Tomorrow through Sunday at the Freeport Nautical Festival, the Rock Classic 2006 will introduce metro-area mutts to two water sports: the distance-based Big Air, where dogs jump off a 40-foot turf-covered dock into a 50-foot portable pool to retrieve a favorite toy tossed in by the handler; as well as the relatively new height-based Extreme Vertical, where dogs leap for a fixed bar suspended at varying heights 8 feet from the dock's edge.

In the popular Big Air competition, where pure distance determines the victors, "the throw's important - sometimes it's more important than how good the dog actually is," says Radtke, tossing the battered duck, his foam chest pitted with use, into her backyard swimming pool for the umpteenth time. Rock barrels by, a blur of black fur and orange neon collar.

Jump. Splash. Grab. Exit. Shake.

Created in 1999 to satisfy ESPN's need to fill some empty programming time, dock diving is one of the continent's fastest growing dog sports. Though there are several different organizations sanctioning these events, DockDogs, which is sponsoring Radtke's event, is the largest, holding events in both the states and Canada. The Medina, Ohio-based group has 13 affiliated clubs, with new ones coming aboard at an average of one a month. And events are growing exponentially, from four events the year of its inception to 100-plus in 2006, with more than 4,000 registered participants. Next stop: Europe.

Mutts welcome

The key to dock diving's success is that it is egalitarian - no papers or pedigrees required. Also, unlike agility, another canine sport made popular on cable channels such as Animal Planet, it requires no training.

"Anybody can do it - any dog, any size, any breed, any person," says Grant Reeves, chief operating officer of DockDogs. "There's no 'right' dog. Basically all you need is a handler, a dog that likes to swim and a toy."

That's not to say there aren't hard-core competitors who fret over their Chessie's trajectory and weep over every inch of shortfall. They travel the country vying for titles - which range from the ground-floor Novice to the apex, Elite - and even snag corporate sponsors.

Kevin Meese of Fredericktown, Pa., tried dock diving on a whim. Today, his greyhound mix, 5-year-old Country - whom Meese got for free at a coondog field trial, where he came in dead last - has his own web site, www.nothinlikecoun tryair.com, and a DogDocks Big Air world record of 28 feet, 10 inches.

"I saw [dock diving] on TV, and I said, 'Country can do that,'" recalls Meese, who spent two years teaching his water-averse dog to swim. Though he knew Country was a natural jumper, "this was a running dog that had been in a kennel all his life and never fetched anything." As incentive, Meese started off by tying little pieces of deer meat to a floating bumper.

Country, who will be competing at the Freeport event, eventually mastered fetching, but "sit" and "stay" are another story. So at DockDog events, Meese has to first toss the bumper in the water, walk Country to the end of the 40-foot dock, lift him so he can see his target, and then let him go.

While DockDogs is popular among the usual hydrocentric suspects - Labs, Goldens and Chesapeake Bay retrievers - Reeves says the last few months have seen a huge influx of border collies, "and they're coming on strong." (In an effort to woo toy breeds, the organization has added a Lap Dog class, though smaller doesn't always mean less distance, especially when you're talking about those mosquitoes trapped in dog suits also known as Jack Russells: One jumped 22 feet, 10 inches.)

"In the next three years, you are going to see breeding for speed down the dock and ability to leap," Reeves adds. As in agility, where crosses between Jack Russells and border collies make for killer competitors, Labrador/border collie hybrids are just starting to materialize in the DockDogs world. And as Extreme Vertical begins to gain ground as a sport, competitors will have to make a decision about whether their priority is a dog that jumps up - or out.

As for Rock, who will be kicking off each day's competition at his eponymous event this weekend with a couple of jumps, he's approaching the sunset years of his career. He turns 8 soon and will be eligible to compete in the veteran class.

But, unlike the humans involved in this curiously engaging and addictive sport, he could care less about what category he's in.

"The duck's going to sleep now," says Radtke pointedly, heading to the garage to hide the battered waterfowl.

And with an earnest woo-woo and a shuffle, Rock bolts after her, ever hopeful he can change her mind.

Rock Classic 2006

Long Island's first-ever dock-diving event, the Rock Classic 2006, takes place tomorrow through Sunday during the Freeport Nautical Festival on Woodcleft Avenue's Nautical Mile. Splish-splashers should head to E.B. Elliot's Restaurant & Bar at 23 Woodcleft Ave.

Teams and competitors are expected from all over North America, but local dogs can take the plunge by registering at the event, space permitting. There will also be opportunities for practice jumps.

Canine competitors must be at least 6 months old, and their handlers must be at least 7 years of age. No female dogs in heat.

For more information about this event, call 516-379-6490 or send e-mail to rockrad1@aol.com.

bark collar: U.S. Air Force Shifts Mindset To Counter New Threats In Iraq And Afghanistan

2006-06-12T23:27:00.000-07:00

Robert Riggs
Reporting

(CBS 11 News) LACKLAND AIR FORCE BASE, SAN ANTONIO Bursts of machine-gun fire and mortar explosions erupt as a mock U.S. Air Force base comes under attack by insurgents. Future airmen take up defensive positions. A steel-jawed training instructor draws a bead on a trainee who hesitates. The instructor comes nose-to-nose with the trainee and shoots point blank with a verbal barrage, "Do you have a death wish? Then fire back!"

The training scenario playing out at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas marks one of the biggest cultural shifts in the service's fifty-nine year history. The Air Force overhauled its six and one-half week basic military training course to instill a "warrior spirit" worthy of Davy Crockett and Jim Bowie, who fought heroically a few miles north of here at the Alamo. Colonel Gina Grosso, commander of the 737th Training Group, started instituting the changes last November, "I think no airmen can take for granted who is going to go into harm's way. In the global war on terror you don't know who the enemy is, you don't know where they are going to be."

Insurgent tactics and strained Army manpower in Iraq and Afghanistan brought about the changes. Pilots and their rescuers used to be the only Air Force personnel that faced combat. Airmen grew accustomed to clean sheets and hot meals far removed from the battle at rear air bases. Now, more than five thousand airmen drive convoys and conduct patrols outside their air bases. "There's no longer a huge force between us and the bad guys. Our airmen were encountering missions that they were not really prepared for. They just didn't have the comfort and familiarity with the M-16.", says Chief Master Sergeant Steve Sargent, who is the Superintendent of Basic Training.

The M-16 is my best friend

The first weeks of training used to be heavy on the history of air power and the proper way to fold socks, shirts, and shorts. Trainees didn't touch a rifle until the fifth week. Now, the Air Force issues a newly designed M16A2 rifle trainer on the first day of training. Nineteen-year-old Laura Olson of Knoxville, Tennessee, who plans to be a nurse, realizes that she may likely practice at a forward operating base under fire. "I think it's probably good experience at least to get use to it and be comfortable with it before they get out on the front lines," Olson explains. The trainer rifle is identical to the real one in every aspect except that it can't be fired. Air Force blue colored paint on the rifle's stock and hand guards signify that it is a trainer. Trainees practice until they can break it down within two minutes and reassemble the rifle just as quickly. There is a proposal to add 9mm handgun training to the course.

Field Training

The fourth week of training moves from air-conditioned dorms to tents, turned into ovens by the merciless Texas' heat. Many of the trainees have never slept outdoors. They face the wrath of fire ants, wasps, rattlesnakes, and training instructors barking orders at decibel rattling levels.

Barrel-chested Master Sergeant Robert Hembree hovers over trainees as they belly crawl like alligators for two-hundred yards beneath simulated gun fire and razor wire. Hembree is the picture of perfection in neatly pressed and creased fatigues, spit polished combat boots, a Smokey-the-Bear style campaign hat shading his eyes, and not a single bead of sweat in sight. He towers over grunting and groaning trainees, their faces caked with sand and sweat. Some are harshly reminded not to stick the muzzle in the sand and not to point the M-16 at their buddy or "wingman" crawling beside them. Hembree pounces when a trainee falls back, "Don't quit" No pain! No pain! Don't forget your wingman!" A trainee grabs the straggler by the back of his collar and begins dragging him forward. "A lot of the stuff we do focuses on leadership abilities and teamwork. You've got to have the team work where somebody falls, the other one has to pick it up. You have to be able to recover and help your teammate. Leave no man behind," says Hembree.

The new basic training prepares airmen for the realities of an Air Expeditionary Force by sending a message that you are either deployed or preparing to deploy. Trainees saddled with sixty-pound duffel bags go through a mock mobility line. Training instructors bark out the list of required contents such as the prescribed three pairs of wool socks. When a trainee fumbles his bag because of missing items an instructor strikes, "Stop! Stop! You are not having a very good day! You think and then you do! Understand? Fix it!" The drills are meant to put the trainees under stress in a controlled situation.

The trainees watch a videotaped deployment briefing that tells them about their upcoming mission; they board buses; get issued combat gear, M-16s, MRE's (Meals Ready to Eat), just as if they were headed overseas. Twenty-year old trainee Erica Grotty of Portland who is the mother of a fifteen-month-old daughter says, "It was very frightening at first, the idea that I would most likely be deployed. But every day that I'm here I'm learning so many skills. It's just making me feel a lot more comfortable about going and having the confidence that when I come back I will walk off that plane."

The Air Force plans to add two weeks to its basic military training by October 2007. It would allow more time for warrior skills and to teach battlefield first aid. It's waiting on Congress to approve twenty-five million dollars for more facilities, including firing ranges.

On another corner of the sprawling base, seven hundred trainees in dress uniforms smartly march in formation for their coining ceremony. The ceremony marks the transition from trainee to airmen. Senior Master Sergeant Larry Hetrick, a twenty-two-year veteran and training instructor, proudly presents a coin to his twenty-one-year-old son Albert. The core values of the Air Force are cast on the coin: integrity first; service before self'; and excellence in all we do. Colonel Grasso stresses to new trainees on the first day that the profession of arms must live by those core values

Back in the field, trainees take a brief break from combat training that started before dawn. With machine-gun speed, Staff Sergeant Jason Bowman rattles off challenges to his trainees, "You're tired right now! You're feeling it right now! Now that you are out of breath! Now that you are hot! Now that you are sweaty! Now that you are tired! Can you do it now?" The trainees shout their reply in unison, "Yes sir!” Their response exemplifies the warrior spirit that the Air Force expects to help keep its airmen alive on the frontlines.

(CBS 11 News)

bark collar: U.S. Air Force Shifts Mindset To Counter New Threats In Iraq And Afghanistan

2006-06-12T23:24:00.000-07:00

bark collar: Ruffles for Rover, finery for Fido

2006-06-08T00:37:00.000-07:00

Jun. 8, 2006. 01:00 AM

THE ITEM: Puppy blanket and dress by FouFou.

THE COST: Blanket, $40 on sale from $65; dress, $25 on sale from $40.

WHERE TO BUY: Get the deep discount only at Woofstock, June 10 and 11, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. in the St. Lawrence Market neighbourhood. Admission to the show is free. For more information, see http://www.woofstock.ca.

It's time to bust out Princess's summer wardrobe for Woofstock, the year's biggest fashion event for prettified pups.

The annual outdoor dog show has moved to a bigger location to make room for massive canine crowds and their owners. This year, as many as 40,000 people and their pups are expected to descend on the St. Lawrence Market neighbourhood.

In addition to fun contests and pageants, a big part of the reason to go to Woofstock is the shopping. About 160 companies will display and sell the latest in food, fashion, furnishings and services for your pooch.

If Princess needs a fab new frock before her big appearance in the Stupid Dog Trick contest, stop by the FouFou booth (on Front St. between Jarvis and Church Sts.) to see glam fashions by local designer Cheryl Ng. All the sweet summer gear will be priced 30 to 50 per cent less than retail.

Since Ng launched her line of clothing, accessories and jewellery for fancy fidos at Woofstock last year, FouFou has become wildly popular in Canada and the U.S., and will soon be available in Europe. It got the important celebrity thumbs up from Eva Longoria, who ordered a personalized doggie collar for her the

It all stemmed from an obsession with the most famous dog-toting celebrity of all, Paris Hilton.

"I was a big fan of Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie," says Ng, 27. "I started dressing my dog Ernie — he's a white Maltese. I picked up this dog because I was really into the toy dog craze," she says.

At first, she was shopping at mainstream pet supply and department stores for pretty puppy wear, but couldn't find what she was looking for in Canada.

"I thought, why don't I come out with a Canadian designer doggie line?"

Teaming up with her sister Jenn and her friend Evelyn Yu, Ng set to work designing a collection based on the latest fashion trends for humans.

This summer, casual tees and tanks have been hot sellers, she says.

"We go for the everyday things that dogs can wear every day," says Ng. "A lot of the products out there now are so costume-y and fancy. I'm thinking that's a fad. We're going with traditional everyday wear, tank tops with no screen print, no flashy stuff. It's for every dog, not just the fancy dog."

FOR FUTURE REFERENCE: If Woofstock isn't your thing, buy Foufou directly at http://www.foufoudog.com and at Bark & Fitz (http://www.bankandfitz.com) stores across Canada.

bark collar: Hot under the collar

2006-06-08T00:33:00.000-07:00

By Paul Dunlop

8th June 2006 10:37:59 AM

Pakenham woman Sheree Deane, with her six-month-old Staffordshire bull terrier Dozer, would like to see an off-leash park for Pakenham pooches. Picture: Stewart Chambers.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DOG lovers are calling for an off-leash park in Pakenham, saying there is nowhere in the area where they can exercise their pets without breaking the law.

State regulations require all dog owners to keep dogs on a leash when outside their own property.

Owners of dogs left uncontrolled in public areas face hefty fines.

Authorities said the stance is in the interests of community safety because many dog attacks could have been prevented had the animal been on a leash.

Pakenham resident Sheree Deane said having an off-leash park would mean dog owners, particular those with bigger dogs, could let their pets get the workout they needed without presenting a safety risk to people.

“I have been living there for three years and I can’t believe there isn’t an off-leash park,” she said.

“So many people have dogs, but there is nowhere to take them.

“People worry about dogs being aggressive, but that is often because they are not properly socialised.

“Dogs bark because they don’t get enough exercise. If there was a secure and safe place where you could throw a ball and let the dog play with other dogs, it will wear itself out and won’t be any trouble.”

Pakenham resident Lillian Keogh said she would love to see an off-leash park in the town. She said the facility would be well used.

Ms Deane takes her six-month-old Staffordshire bull terrier, Dozer, into inner Melbourne, where she said there were plenty of pooch-friendly parks.

“We went to a park at Brighton and he had a ball. It wouldn’t take a lot to build one, just a fenced off area in an existing park that’s not used much,” she said.

Cardinia Shire manager of governance and communications, Doug Evans, said the council had considered creating designated off-leash areas a few years ago, but had not pursued the initiative.

The main problem was finding an appropriate location, he said.

“The area needs to be effectively fenced, it needs to be out of the way yet accessible, and you need to make sure it is not in close proximity to a school, and there needs to be dog toilets.

“Finding shire-owned land that meets all the criteria is not an easy task and council found at the time that there was not a huge demand for those areas.

“But if the demand grows as Pakenham and the surrounding area grows, then council would certainly look at it,” Mr Evans said.

Ms Deane said something needed to be done, and she was considering starting a petition.

• What’s your view about off-leash dog parks? Email the News at editor@starnews group.com.au or phone 5941 2666.

bark collar: Meanwhile: After the plague

2006-06-06T06:09:00.000-07:00

TUESDAY, JUNE 6, 2006

AUSTERLITZ, New York On the ground was a young woodchuck. It lay on its back, feet spread evenly as if for dissection, fur still lustrous, bright curving teeth. There was also a profound hole at the base of its neck and a collar of blood. Behind me in a birch tree stood the vulture that had flushed when I came around the corner. It seemed to be trying to stand on one leg with its wings raised, tipping side to side almost the way a vulture does in flight. A pair of crows complained from a higher branch. I had nothing to add.

What was interesting wasn't the dead woodchuck. It would have eaten my beans later this summer. What was interesting was seeing the vulture come out of its column of flight and make a long, curving landing behind the barn. I knew there was something dead in the grass only because of the vulture's hunching presence. Death to me is still a curiosity, even after all this time here. To the vulture it is simply a way of getting a living.

There was nothing mournful in any of this, and cruelty isn't really a word worth using when talking about nature. The death of that woodchuck seemed economical, considering what was happening on the rest of the place. The forest tent caterpillars have made their way up into the canopy of the trees, and they have simply erased May. Where there were young leaves there are now nearly empty branches. The roses are bare, and so are the blueberries. The walk down to the barn is littered with precisely scissored leaf fragments, like a jigsaw puzzle waiting to be assembled. A strange light makes its way down through the trees - not spring, not summer.

And yet some plants have gone untouched - the hydrangeas and a striped-bark maple. Perhaps there's something unpalatable in their leaves, just as there seems to be something unpalatable in the caterpillars themselves. Nothing wants to eat them. Their destruction lies in their own numbers, I suppose. I heard the electric fence snapping clear across the pasture the other night, grounding itself on a fallen tree limb, I thought. But no. The caterpillars had crawled up a neutral brace wire at the fence corner, so many caterpillars that the current leaped from the hot wire into the gob of them, sparking.

Verlyn Klinkenborg is a member of the New York Times editorial board.
AUSTERLITZ, New York On the ground was a young woodchuck. It lay on its back, feet spread evenly as if for dissection, fur still lustrous, bright curving teeth. There was also a profound hole at the base of its neck and a collar of blood. Behind me in a birch tree stood the vulture that had flushed when I came around the corner. It seemed to be trying to stand on one leg with its wings raised, tipping side to side almost the way a vulture does in flight. A pair of crows complained from a higher branch. I had nothing to add.

What was interesting wasn't the dead woodchuck. It would have eaten my beans later this summer. What was interesting was seeing the vulture come out of its column of flight and make a long, curving landing behind the barn. I knew there was something dead in the grass only because of the vulture's hunching presence. Death to me is still a curiosity, even after all this time here. To the vulture it is simply a way of getting a living.

There was nothing mournful in any of this, and cruelty isn't really a word worth using when talking about nature. The death of that woodchuck seemed economical, considering what was happening on the rest of the place. The forest tent caterpillars have made their way up into the canopy of the trees, and they have simply erased May. Where there were young leaves there are now nearly empty branches. The roses are bare, and so are the blueberries. The walk down to the barn is littered with precisely scissored leaf fragments, like a jigsaw puzzle waiting to be assembled. A strange light makes its way down through the trees - not spring, not summer.

And yet some plants have gone untouched - the hydrangeas and a striped-bark maple. Perhaps there's something unpalatable in their leaves, just as there seems to be something unpalatable in the caterpillars themselves. Nothing wants to eat them. Their destruction lies in their own numbers, I suppose. I heard the electric fence snapping clear across the pasture the other night, grounding itself on a fallen tree limb, I thought. But no. The caterpillars had crawled up a neutral brace wire at the fence corner, so many caterpillars that the current leaped from the hot wire into the gob of them, sparking.

Verlyn Klinkenborg is a member of the New York Times editorial board.

bark collar: Navman iCN 720 route planning

2006-06-06T06:07:00.000-07:00

Paul Allen, Computeract!ve 06 Jun 2006

ADVERTISEMENTThe iCN 720 has a photographic memory for places, aided by the 1.3megapixel camera mounted on the front and its NavPix software.

The idea is that you can take a quick snap of any location and the device logs its GPS coordinates. To revisit, just open the picture menu and select the image of the location to plot your course.

It's a simple way of storing favourite locations. Navman hopes to build an online community of beauty spot sharers, as you can upload images with their coordinates embedded in the file for others to download and navigate to.

Images can be downloaded to a PC using the supplied USB cable or a memory card, but were of poor quality and definitely not what you'd want to print out for posterity.

Finding locations using an address proved tricky in areas where town boundary entries had changed, with the device insisting that some towns with London postcodes were still in Essex. However, using full eight-digit postcode searches proved more effective.

One of the key selling points of satellite navigation devices is their ability to recalculate routes should the driver divert or miss a turn. We ignored every turn instruction from the iCN 720 near a busy junction and were impressed with the speed at which it recalculated.

Some sat-nav devices merely bark out an instruction to perform a U-turn and adhere to its original route, but the iCN 720 worked out the next best route within about five seconds of each wrong turn.

Spoken instructions were prompt and the screen was clear. We found it easier to use a pen to input addresses on the landscape-orientated 4in screen rather than use the small touch-sensitive keys. All the usual amenities and places of interest, such as petrol stations, can be highlighted on route.

The windscreen-mounted bracket felt rickety, and we had to tighten the screw-collar until it creaked to stop the device rattling as we drove through bumpy streets.The suction cup presses onto the screen or dash, and seemed insecure compared with the lever-locked suction pad of the Tom Tom range, but the device stayed in place as we drove over potholes.

We were a little disappointed that the iCN 720 struggled to make itself heard against the noise of traffic and rushing wind when the car window was open.

A separate traffic pack can be downloaded from the Navman website containing location information on speed cameras and live updates of traffic and accident reports for £129.

The iCN 720 is a competent GPS device and will direct you within a few feet of your destination. The NavPix feature may appeal to some, but the gimmick could soon wear off, especially at this price.

Related Reviews
Tom Tom One
Verdict: No camera but with good sound and a straightforward interface, the Tom Tom One is almost everything a navigation system should be
Rating: 4/5
Price: £280

batk collar: The Barking Dog

2006-05-30T20:12:00.000-07:00

Fears And Phobias
Your dog's barking may be a response to something he's afraid of if:

The barking occurs when he's exposed to loud noises, such as thunderstorms firecrackers or construction equipment.
Your dog's posture indicates fear -- ears back, tail held low.

Recommendations:
Identify what's frightening your dog and desensitize him to it (see our handout: "Helping Your Dog Overcome the Fear of Thunder and Other Startling Noises"). You may need professional help with the desensitization process. Check with your veterinarian about anti-anxiety medication while you work on behavior modification.
Mute noise from outside by leaving your dog in a basement or windowless bathroom and leave on a television, radio or loud fan. Block off your dog's access to outdoor views that might be causing a fear response, by closing curtains or doors to certain rooms.
Separation Anxiety

Your dog may be barking due to separation anxiety if:

The barking occurs only when you're gone and starts as soon as, or shortly after, you leave.
Your dog displays other behaviors that reflect a strong attachment to you, such as following you from room to room, frantic greetings or reacting anxiously to your preparations to leave.
Your dog has recently experienced: a change in the family's schedule that results in his being left alone more often; a move to a new house; the death or loss of a family member or another family pet; or a period at an animal shelter or boarding kennel.

Recommendations:
Separation anxiety can be resolved using counter-conditioning and desensitization techniques (see our handout: "Separation Anxiety").
Bark Collars
Bark collars are specially designed to deliver an aversive whenever your dog barks. There are several different kinds of bark collars:

Citronella Collar: This collar contains a reservoir of citronella solution that sprays into your dog's face every time he barks. A citronella collar is considered humane and a recent study reported an 88% rate of success with the use of this collar. One possible drawback is that the collar contains a microphone, so the aversive is delivered in response to the sound of the bark. Therefore, other noises may set off the collar, causing your dog to be sprayed even if he hasn't barked. Also, some dogs can tell when the citronella reservoir is empty and will resume barking.
Aversive Sound Collar: This collar emits a high-frequency sound when your dog barks. Some are activated by the noise of the bark, while others are hand-held and activated by a handler. The rate of success for this type of collar is reportedly rather low.
Electric Shock Collar: We don't recommend an electric shock collar to control your dog's barking. The electric shock is painful to your dog and many dogs will choose to endure the pain and continue barking. The success rate of this type of collar is less than 50%.
The main drawback of any bark collar is that it doesn't address the underlying cause of the barking. You may be able to eliminate the barking, but symptom substitution may occur and your dog may begin digging, escaping, or become destructive or even aggressive. The use of a bark collar must be in conjunction with behavior modification based on the reason for the barking, as outlined above. You should never use a bark collar on your dog if his barking is due to separation anxiety, fears or phobias, because punishment always makes fear and anxiety behaviors worse.

Copyright Denver Dumb Friends League and Humane Society of the United States. All rights reserved. Used with permission.

bark collar: Tools to Help Train Dogs and Cats

2006-05-30T20:00:00.000-07:00

Section: How to Train the Right Way

So you want to train your dog and it's just not happening. You say, "sit" and he just looks at you. You say, "stay" and he runs away. But you know there must be some way to train your pooch.

There is, and this is what you need to know: Training is most effective when dogs or cats are rewarded for the good — or desirable — things they do, and are ignored, corrected, or redirected when they don’t do what you should.

Training Products

A variety of training and behavior modification devices is available through pet supply stores, catalogs, and online. When used as part of a broad plan, such products can be very useful for pet owners. But remember, they are only tools to help change your pet's behavior and will not train the dog themselves.

Products available include: training collars, bark deterrents, booby-trap devices, direct “punishers,” and remote-control training devices. Because so much of training involves stopping unwanted behavior, many of these products are based on the punishment principle.

It’s helpful, however, to keep in mind that behaviors can be interrupted and redirected by products that aren’t particularly unpleasant — and are certainly not painful — for your dog or cat. Whatever method you use to train your dog or cat, it is important to reward your companion for doing things that you approve of — whether sitting, walking calmly on a leash, being quiet for a while, greeting you without jumping, or – especially for cats – staying off counters.

Collars and Harnesses

Conventional buckle collars are fine for dogs or puppies that don’t pull while walking on lead. If your dog pulls, consider using a head collar (a.k.a. head halter). Several styles of head collar are available, each varying slightly in design.

An example is the Gentle Leader™, formerly called the Promise™ collar (Premier Pet Products, Richmond, Va., 800-933-5595). Specially designed harnesses, such as the No Pull Halter™ (Four Paws Products Ltd., Hauppauge, N.Y., 631-434-1100), are also effective in some dogs.

Any of these devices is more useful to the average dog owner — and less unpleasant for the average dog — than the often-misused choke or prong collars.

Bark Deterrents

Anxiety-based barking should first be addressed by treating the source — e.g. separation anxiety — of your dog’s distress. When barking isn't a symptom of anxiety, an anti-bark collar may have the desired effect. Such collars work by sensing the bark and causing some unpleasant effect, such as an audible signal (clicking or buzzing) or electrical stimulation (shock). An effective alternative recently introduced into the pet market is a collar that briefly emits a spray of citronella oil, which surprises — but doesn’t hurt — your dog. Citronella-emitting anti-bark collars are available from Animal Behavior Systems, Inc., Tampa, Fla. (800-627-9447).

Remote Training

When unwanted behavior occurs at a distance from the handler — an example might be fence running by a dog in a back yard — it’s most effective to correct or interrupt the behavior at the moment it occurs. A remote-control interruption device can help achieve this aim. Such a device is typically applied to the dog’s collar and is controlled by the handler, who’s standing a distance away. The appliance works by emitting a stimulus that distracts or punishes the dog. One such remote control device triggers a burst of citronella spray to interrupt unwanted behaviors so that your dog will then respond to, for example, a “come” command. Such a device is the Master Plus™ (Animal Behavior Systems, Inc., Tampa, Fla., 800-627-9447).

Throw Chains

Small hand-held devices (made of chain links) that are thrown to land near and surprise your dog have a similar effect to remote training collars - but they are tricky to aim accurately.

Booby Traps and Environmental Devices

If your dog or cat misbehaves in specific locations in your absence – for example, climbing on the sofa or kitchen counters, or invading the garbage – it may be useful to set a “booby trap” to consistently remind your pet that these locations are off-limits.

There are many products that serve this purpose, including the Scat Mat™ (which delivers a minor static-like stimulus when stepped upon) and Snappy Trainer™ (a safe mousetrap-like device designed to surprise the dog or cat without causing pain). Indoor containment systems, such as the citronella-spraying Spray Barrier™ (Animal Behavior Systems, Inc., Tampa, FL, 800-627-9447) can effectively keep your dog or cat out of a specified area of your home.

Exercise and Food-Based Toys

To occupy the interests of a pet who might otherwise get into mischief with digging, scratching, barking or some other unwanted behavior, consider the use of a food-filled toy. Arrange for the food contained in them to be a challenge to extract - so that your pet is kept busy for hours trying to get the food out. Freezing goopy food (peanut butter or spay cheese) inside the food puzzle has this effect. Such products work best if they’re kept out of sight until needed. Examples include: Kong™ toys (Kong Products, Lakewood, Colo., 303-233-9262); Nylabone™ toys (Nylabone Products, TFH Publications, Neptune, N.J., 908-988-8400); and Pavlov's Cat™ (Del-West Enterprises, San Diego, Calif., 619-689-9999).

It is important to keep an open mind when training your favorite four-legged companion. Modifying his behavior may be a challenge at first, but with a little patience, perseverance, and love, you can bet that the process will be successful in the end!

© Copyright 1999-2006 Intelligent Content Corp., All Rights Reserved

bark collar: gentle spray anti-bark collar

2006-05-30T19:59:00.000-07:00

Immediately and humanely stop problem barking. This bark collar can be used with any breed of dog that is at least 6 months old and weighs 6 lbs. or more.

The Gentle Spray citronella Anti-Bark Collar is the most effective and humane solution for nuisance barking. Stop the problem barking! Recommended by leading veterinarians, behaviorists, and trainers. Gentle Spray uses patented SprayLogik technology to deliver a harmless burst of citronella spray that interrupts your dog's barking. It's two times more effective than shock collars. The spray works on four of the dog's senses - he sees it, hears it, smells it and feels it.

Includes:
anti-bark device (weighs 2.5 oz)
citronella refill
adjustable nylon collar
6-volt battery
detailed instructions and lifetime warranty.

Customer Testimonial

We got one of these for our barker because a behaviorist advised us you can't argue with or reason with a barker when s/he's doing it. It works great and the dog smells terrific. Seriously, we only put it on him when we know he will be in one of those situations where he is likely to bark, such as strangers coming to the house, or a visit to a dog-friendly beach. The darn things are super-expensive, BUT A) they don't hurt like a shock collar and B) they never fail, unlike dog whistles which are only useful on some dogs. Caution: do not sneeze while your dog is sitting on your lap wearing the collar, or you will get a dose, too.

E.Z.

bark collar: NO TIME LIKE NOW TO CLEAR OUT DEAD WOOD

2006-05-28T22:10:00.000-07:00

One of the most important gardening chores we perform in the spring is pruning. This is the second of three articles dedicated to this task. Last week we talked about the reasons why we prune and the tools we need for the job.

Today, we'll look at cleaning out all the unnecessary and unhealthy wood, the first step to proper pruning. But before we begin, we should know a bit of tree terminology.

We all know what the trunk is -- the big guy that supports the top of the tree. The large branches that make up the tree's framework are called scaffold branches. Growing out of these handsome limbs are smaller branches and twigs which produce buds that have the potential of becoming new branches, leaves and/or flowers. Some of these buds are quite obvious, while others, called latent buds, are more difficult for the untrained eye to spot. (Latent buds are immature, hidden buds which rarely develop unless stimulated by pruning.) With that short course in tree biology, let's go to work. Always remove dead or broken branches first. If you aren't sure if the branch is dead, peel back a little of the bark with your thumbnail. The tissue under the bark should be greenish or light cream in color. If it's brown and dry, you can safely bet the branch is gone. Remove diseased wood, though sometimes this wood may be difficult to diagnose. If branches are oozing, blackened, swollen, sunken or rotting, there is a good chance the plant is sick. However, pruning may only be the first step in controlling the disease. If you notice unnatural or sickly areas in the plant, have it diagnosed before taking action. Before we go on, keep in mind that removing dead and diseased wood can be handled any time of the year. Remove branches that are rubbing together, criss-crossing or growing toward the center of the tree. This may be a two-person operation -- one to pull one branch aside, simulating removal, while the other looks at the remaining shape of the tree. As you know, once a branch is cut off, there is no gluing it back on. Remove all stubs to the branch bark collar. Stubs die and rot, leading to internal decay. The branch collar is a term that is often used in pruning vocabulary, and for sound reason. The branch collar is a swollen area usually conspicuous on the underside of the junction between the scaffold branch and the trunk. It looks sort of like a horse collar and is made up of trunk wood. If we cut flush with the trunk, like we were once taught, we cut into the collar. Damaging the collar prevents the tree from properly sealing off the pruning wound, thus exposing the cut and surrounding area to decay. Remove the water sprouts, all the wild little straight-up branches. Though some trees, such as hawthorn, have a tendency to send up hundreds of these fellows without much provocation, most are the result of pruning cuts or pruning at the wrong time of year. Some sprouts can be trained into strong new branches by weighting them down with rocks held in old pantyhose or the like. Only when the cleaning chore is completed do we prune for shape and beauty. This task is handled with the correct pruning cuts as well as pruning at the right time of year. Because the actual cuts are crucial to the health of the tree, we'll examine how and when to make them, next week. In the meantime, if you're heading out to prune before the last pruning installment, make sure you have the right tools - hand clippers, loppers, pruning saw, pole-pruner and depending upon the job, hedge shears. Keep in mind you are pruning for the health of the tree first and foremost. And above all, DON'T TOP THE TREE! There is absolutely no reason for this devastating practice. Aside from being downright ugly, topping shortens the lifespan of trees and creates potential hazards. Please, seek the knowledge of a certified arborist if you don't understand the information I am presenting to you.

Copyright 1999 Cowles Publishing Company
Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights Reserved.

bark collar: Humane Society inundated with pets

2006-05-28T22:08:00.000-07:00

The Kootenai Humane Society shelter is severely overpopulated, inundated with pets acquired by kids who are now back in school.

The Hayden shelter now has 93 dogs and 151 cats - roughly 30 percent more animals than it is designed to handle. About one out of four animals taken in are eventually euthanized.

Joann Ingwerson, shelter director, said the reasons pets arrive are varied. For some, the signs on their cages make clear their crimes: "Wife didn't like dog" or "Neighbor didn't like dog."

The yearly back-to-school influx is an unfortunate pattern seen every year.

"We, as a society, are a disposable society. We get tired of something, and we dispose of it," Ingwerson said. "Our animals are no different."

Ingwerson suggests people try to fix pet problems before getting rid of them, such as buying a bark collar for a noisy dog.

If a pet truly needs a new home, she suggests placing a newspaper ad. This not only may save an animal's life, but helps new owners find compatible pets.

If you must bring your animal to the shelter, she said, call first. There may not be room.

"I like the shelter to be considered a last resort, not a first resort," Ingwerson said.

Coeur d'Alene resident Allison Shevalier recently adopted a springer spaniel. Junior has been a delight to the family of five.

Prior to adopting Junior, Shevalier said her family had a young golden retriever. Adopted as a puppy, he turned out to be too much dog for the family to handle. But Shevalier never considered taking him to the pound.

"I couldn't bear to think about him sitting in a cage all alone, wondering where we were," Shevalier said. After placing an ad and spreading the word, she eventually found a perfect home for the dog on a large farm near Rose Lake.

She said it saddened her to see all the animals caged at the shelter. She went there for one reason. "I wanted to save an animal's life."

Many shelters, including the Kootenai Humane Society, require that adopted pets be sterilized. It offers reduced costs for spaying and neutering. The result has been a decline in the number of animals euthanized.

The Kootenai Humane Society requires that adopted animals be spayed or neutered within six weeks of leaving the shelter.

Lakeland Litter Control in Rathdrum is one area spay and neuter clinic that performs the service. Veterinarian Sherron McKelvey said sterilization ideally would occur before an animal even leaves the shelter.

It's the only way to truly guarantee success," McKelvey said.

The public can help the animal shelter this busy time of year by providing foster care for animals or donating supplies, such as towels, blankets, cat litter, food, and cleaning supplies.

Kootenai Humane Society has also reduced the adoption rate by $10 for each animal in an effort to find more homes for more animals.

This sidebar appeared with the story:

Fast facts

Nationwide, as many as 10 million cats and dogs end up in animal shelters each year. About half are euthanized.

One fertile female cat can produce up to three litters in a year, with roughly four to six kittens per litter.

A fertile female dog can produce slightly less, having roughly two litters per year with six to 10 pups.

For more information on spaying or neutering, call your veterinarian or the Kootenai Humane Society at 772-4019.

Copyright 2002 Cowles Publishing Company
Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights Reserved.

bark collar: Help for gulf coast trees

2006-05-28T22:05:00.000-07:00

bark collar: Bark Collar Information

2006-05-24T02:48:00.000-07:00

Introduction to Bark Collars

Bark Collars are used to keep dogs from barking excessively. There are three main varieties, one is citronella based, another uses electric stimulation and another uses ultrasonic sound. All of these collars usually have a time delay so that the dog may bark up to 30 seconds before corrective action is taken. This in theory tells the dog that it?s ok to bark out of fear or anxiety, but not excessive barking coming from boredom. This type of conditioning has reported some success with dog owners with its use.

How Bark Collars Work

The citronella contains a spray can of citronella and a microphone to track the length of barking. When a threshold has been reached, a small amount of citronella is emitted. Dogs learn to associate the foul smell with their behavior and stop barking.

The electronic-based bark collar works similarly, except that it delivers a small shock to the dog rather than emit a foul smell. Dogs find the shock uncomfortable and thus stop barking. Because of the perceived pain involved with the shock, true or not, this method of bark control has become hotly debated.

The ultrasonic sound bark collar emits a sound wave only audible from a dog but that is loud enough for the dog to understand. The theory is the same; the dog associates the loud noise with barking enough to arrest their bark. This method is considered to be the least effective of the three bark collars however as the dog may adjust to the noise and not find it that intrusive.

Benefits of Use

The benefits of using a bark collar are unique in that you can control your dog?s behavior when you?re away and aren?t able use conventional training methods.

Proper Use of a Bark Collar

Before you use a bark collar, you should determine first why your dog is barking. These collars are not suited for all barking. They should not be used if your dog is barking out of fear, aggression or separation anxiety, as it can create unpredictable behavior in your dog and worsen the problem rather than make it better. Barking for fear is a proper response for a dog. Aggression, perhaps in defense or territorial invasion is a proper response for a dog as well. Separation anxiety and loneliness is easily treatable with proper training and attention. The situations best suited for using a bark collar is when your dog is barking for the sake of barking, likely from boredom.

Ethics and Arguments Related to the Bark Collar

Bark Collars are considered humane by most experts with the exception of electric or shock based collars. There isn?t any physical pain involved with citronella and ultrasonic sound based bark collars and the corrective action from it is really more of an annoyance. The owner should be proactive with this approach. Rather than look at a bark collar as a quick fix to end all barking, a responsible owner will determine first why their dog is barking, then take corrective measures from there.

More Information

Your can check out other articles related to dog training collars and bark collars here:

Dog Training Collars
Electric Dog Collars

bark collar: Spray Bark Collar

2006-05-24T02:44:00.000-07:00

This listing is Expired and is no longer active.
Gently used Petsafe Spray Bark Control Collar in original box, in
excellent condition, new battery and all paperwork.

The PetSafe PSBC-300 Citronella Spray Bark Collar is the safe and
humane way to stop dog barking. Many owners have tried surgical
remedies or shock collars. This collar is perfect for the pet owner
that demands a safe, effective and humane bark control system.

The Spray Control Anti-Bark Collar is simple to operate. Place the
battery in the receiver collar and attach it around your dog’s neck.
When your dog barks, a burst of all-natural citrus spray is emitted,
which dogs find bothersome to their highly developed sense of smell.
While not harmful, it is a sufficient deterrent to excessive barking.

PetSafe PSBC-300 Citronella Spray Bark Collar Features:

Uses a burst of all-natural citrus spray to deter barking
For dogs of all sizes
CANNOT BE SET OFF BY ANOTHER DOG, like other brands
Waterproof
Safe, harmless, and effective even safe around children
Low battery indicator
Uses one 6 volt silver oxide battery
Low spray indicator
On/Off switch
Emits up to 80 sprays per refill (over twice that of any other
brand!)

bark collar: Humane Society inundated with pets

2006-05-23T00:16:00.000-07:00

The Kootenai Humane Society shelter is severely overpopulated, inundated with pets acquired by kids who are now back in school.

The Hayden shelter now has 93 dogs and 151 cats - roughly 30 percent more animals than it is designed to handle. About one out of four animals taken in are eventually euthanized.

Joann Ingwerson, shelter director, said the reasons pets arrive are varied. For some, the signs on their cages make clear their crimes: "Wife didn't like dog" or "Neighbor didn't like dog."

The yearly back-to-school influx is an unfortunate pattern seen every year.

"We, as a society, are a disposable society. We get tired of something, and we dispose of it," Ingwerson said. "Our animals are no different."

Ingwerson suggests people try to fix pet problems before getting rid of them, such as buying a bark collar for a noisy dog.

If a pet truly needs a new home, she suggests placing a newspaper ad. This not only may save an animal's life, but helps new owners find compatible pets.

If you must bring your animal to the shelter, she said, call first. There may not be room.

"I like the shelter to be considered a last resort, not a first resort," Ingwerson said.

Coeur d'Alene resident Allison Shevalier recently adopted a springer spaniel. Junior has been a delight to the family of five.

Prior to adopting Junior, Shevalier said her family had a young golden retriever. Adopted as a puppy, he turned out to be too much dog for the family to handle. But Shevalier never considered taking him to the pound.

"I couldn't bear to think about him sitting in a cage all alone, wondering where we were," Shevalier said. After placing an ad and spreading the word, she eventually found a perfect home for the dog on a large farm near Rose Lake.

She said it saddened her to see all the animals caged at the shelter. She went there for one reason. "I wanted to save an animal's life."

Many shelters, including the Kootenai Humane Society, require that adopted pets be sterilized. It offers reduced costs for spaying and neutering. The result has been a decline in the number of animals euthanized.

The Kootenai Humane Society requires that adopted animals be spayed or neutered within six weeks of leaving the shelter.

Lakeland Litter Control in Rathdrum is one area spay and neuter clinic that performs the service. Veterinarian Sherron McKelvey said sterilization ideally would occur before an animal even leaves the shelter.

"It's the only way to truly guarantee success," McKelvey said.

The public can help the animal shelter this busy time of year by providing foster care for animals or donating supplies, such as towels, blankets, cat litter, food, and cleaning supplies.

Kootenai Humane Society has also reduced the adoption rate by $10 for each animal in an effort to find more homes for more animals.

This sidebar appeared with the story:

Fast facts

Nationwide, as many as 10 million cats and dogs end up in animal shelters each year. About half are euthanized.

One fertile female cat can produce up to three litters in a year, with roughly four to six kittens per litter.

A fertile female dog can produce slightly less, having roughly two litters per year with six to 10 pups.

For more information on spaying or neutering, call your veterinarian or the Kootenai Humane Society at 772-4019.

Copyright 2002 Cowles Publishing Company
Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights Reserved.

bark collar: Does Your Dog Have a Barking Problem? Ask Your Neighbor, They Will Tell You!

2006-05-23T00:15:00.000-07:00

Have you tossed and turned in bed at night because the sound of a barking dog is keeping you awake? How about the dog that barks off and on throughout the night? Just when things have quieted down and you have finally fallen asleep, you are jolted awake because your neighbor's dog has wound back up and started her barking, again. Individuals who live next to a "barker" may find their nerves at the breaking point, especially if the dog barks around the clock.

The yipping can grate on your nerves to the point where you are grinding your teeth and plotting ways to get rid of your neighbor's dog. Visions of a full nights sleep or a peaceful backyard cookout dance in your head, yet your daydreams are interrupted (yet again) when "Fluffy"decides it's time to start her barking back up. What can possibly be worse than this? Well, being the owner of this noisy canine is far worse.

Dog owners, who have a pooch that is constantly barking, are very much aware that their neighbors are upset. They are used to seeing their neighbors with bloodshot eyes and unfriendly expressions. Many of these dog owners may even have "run ins" with their neighbors over the annoying behavior of their dog. Others may have received citations or fines for being in breech of some noise ordinances in their town or neighborhood. What is a dog owner to do when they have a dog that has annoying (or down right disturbing) barking tendencies? They love their pet, yet they know their pet's barking is out of control. They also know their pet is tearing down their standing in the neighborhood.

The first step is to try to uncover the reason behind the continual barking. If you have had your dog for years and she has never displayed a tendency for barking before, you should have her evaluated at the vet's office. Older dogs may start barking if they are experiencing changes in their body. A dog that is suddenly losing her hearing or sight may be frightened. She may simply be trying to tell you that something is wrong with her. Older dogs who are experiencing arthritis--or other disease or disorder- may also start barking.

Countless barkers are simply having separation anxiety. The signs of separation anxiety in a dog can include these symptoms:

Your inside dog is your shadow. She follows you from room to room and doesn't seem to have "interests" that do not include you. Your inside or outside dog is aware when you are preparing to leave-and she becomes mournful or agitated. She may also do things for your attention and act excited in an attempt to get you to take her along. Your inside or outside dog barks nonstop when you are away. (You can have a neighbor monitor your dog's behavior or set up a video or tape recorder.) Your dog greets you with much enthusiasm, jumping . . . or even a weak bladder. Inside dogs do not like being placed outside and will stand at the door and bark to get back inside. Outside dogs will bark nonstop when you are away from home. They will also bark when you are indoors and they do not see you.

The last thing that dogs with separation anxiety need is punishment. They simply do not understand what they are being disciplined for. The best thing you can do is to teach your dog that she is going to be all-right while you are away. You can do this by going through the "motions" of leaving your home without actually doing so. This means you can put on your coat, gather your things, and pretend that you are leaving. Then don't. Repeat this, but next time go outside for a few minutes and then return. As you repeat this process, stay outside for a few minutes longer. This will gradually work up the amount of time your dog is alone and she realizes that she is going to be okay. You can also leave a special treat or chew toy behind to distract her from your leaving.

You can do this with an outside dog, too. Simply go outside like you are preparing to leave. Open your car door. Stand there a few minutes, then shut your car door and go back inside. Next time, go back outside and sit in your car for a few moments. Extend the amount of time you are in your car. You can work this up to driving down the block, then around the block twice, etc. You can have a neighbor or family member secretly monitor how long your dog stays quiet.

One of the important things to remember when you have a dog with separation anxiety barking is to make your arrivals and departures very low key. Do not overly greet them, or sadly tell them good-bye. This will only aggravate them. While some individuals would never dream of leaving home without telling their pets good-bye, it usually only upsets a dog with separation anxiety disorder.

Another thing you can do if you have an outside dog with separation anxiety is to evaluate if they are being socially neglected. Most dogs have a pack mentality, and they need to feel as if they belong. Make sure you are spending adequate time with your dog. Ensure that her area is full of toys and playthings that will keep her entertained while you are away. There are many families who found their dog quieted once they got her a playmate. If this does not help, there are anxiety medications which you can get from your vet. These will usually keep your dog calm and relaxed while you are away.

If your dog has been checked by a vet and she is healthy, and if you are certain your dog does not have separation anxiety . . . you may just have a dog with a major "quirk." After you try the many techniques to get your dog not to bark, you may have to try a new approach. This can include squirting them with a water hose/water bottle or placing a barking collar on them.

There are some pet owners who assume that all barking collars are "shock collars." This is not true. There is a bark collar which will squirt liquid on your dog when she barks. If you know your dog will hush when she is squirted with a hose, this collar can work for you while you are away, or at night. Check out the various barking collars on the market and find one you are comfortable with. But, keep in mind that there are some canines who will bark, despite the barking collar they are wearing.

As a last resort some dog owners (who find there is nothing to keep their dog from barking) will sometimes have their dog's "bark" removed. This concept is quite shocking to a dog owner who has never experienced the problem of having a severe barker in their family. However, this doesn't mean a dog will not be able to bark. This surgery just brings a dogs bark down to a quieter and softer level. It should be noted that many dogs which are in dog shelters are put to sleep on a regular basis because of their incessant barking. If your dog has a severe barking problem, this option is certainly preferred over euthanasia or moving to a secluded island.

Copyright © 2005, Ian White

Author Ian White is founder of http://www.pet-Sitters.biz which specializes in helping pet sitters and pet owners connect to each other. Find and screen a sitter for your pet or advertise your pet care business.

bark collar can stop your dog's barking completely within a matter of few days. If all else fails, however, surgery might be a reasonable alternative.

Most electronic bark control collars employ sound as the basic stimulus because it is well established that animals learn more quickly and retain a better memory when the desired behavior is associated with a sound. The more advanced models progressively increase the sonic stimulus as barking persists. Some models employ gradually increasing electric shock stimulus along with the sound to stop even the most stubborn barkers in a humane manner.

The more sophisticated electronic bark collars sense the vibrations in a dog's throat that happen only during barking. By doing so, they prevent false corrections from other loud noises and from other dogs barking.

The drawback with some "barking dog collars" is that they may detect barking with a microphone and activate on sound; these can be set off by other noises or by another dog's bark. Some Barking Dog Collars use only vibration; these can be set off by motion or jostling.

Stay away from the following types of bark collars:

1) Bark Dog Collars the project a spray mist which startles and confuses the dog's olfactory senses, causing him to stop barking. These mists may cause allergic reactions and hypersensitivity in your dog.

2) Independent devices that have a built-in microphone tuned to the sound of your dog's bark. They emit a loud correction to startle the dog so he stops barking. They automatically stop and reset themselves after each auditory correction. The dog feels no correction with this type of bark stopper and can simply move away to another location further from the receiver and completely avoid the sound all together.

Look for a barking dog collar with the following features:

1) One that simultaneously senses both sound and vibration, and only uses a combination of sound and vibration to trigger the electronic correction. By having both of these features, the electronic bark collar will be activated only by the dog wearing the collar, so there won't be any "false corrections" caused by loud noises or other dogs barking.

2) One that automatically adjusts the level of static correction to your dog's temperament with different levels of self-adjustable corrections in response to the bark intensity of your dog. The more intensity settings will help to accommodate the most sensitive too the most stubborn dogs.

3) One that provides a warning beep with the first bark.

4) One with a rechargeable battery, which features a low battery indicator light.

5) One that features a quickfit buckle that provides a quick release.

6) One that is durable, light weight, waterproof, and adjustable.

7) One that comes with a complete operating guide and a video tape demonstration.

In some extreme cases, however, an electronic bark collar may fail to produce results. If your dog happens to exemplify such a case, then a surgical procedure called "De-barking" might provide you with a suitable alternative. The surgery is fairly simple to perform and your dog's barking will be replaced with "squealing" sounds. The surgery will not affect your dog physically or psychologically as it will not make any difference to your dog whether it squeals or barks. However, there are several drawbacks to surgery. First, the procedure is irreversible; and second, your dog won't be able to alert you to intruders. If you are at your wit's end, when you have exhausted all others means, when you can no longer face your angry neighbors, then surgery might be the best alternative to giving your dog away.

Armen T. Ghazarians offers advice and articles for all those interested in training their dogs like the professionals. His website http://www.newdogtrainingsecrets.com offers information regarding many aspects of professional dog training for anyone who is not a professional dog trainer.

bark collar: Is Your Dog Annoying The Neighbors? How To Deal With Excessive Barking

2006-05-21T21:41:00.000-07:00

Along with a baby's crying, the persistant barking of a dog is one of the most annoying sounds. But is there anything you can do as a dog owner to 'persuade' your pooch to stop barking? Here are a few suggestions from an experienced dog owner.

The bark. It can be annoying. But, in effect, it is the way the dog is communicating to you. For example, it can mean, 'hello' or it can mean 'go away.' It can mean that they want to play or that they are protecting their territory. You may think your dog is barking too much, or your neighbors may think so. But, before you can put an end to your trouble, it's best to figure out why she is barking in the first place.

Some dogs have been breed to bark so it is instinctive that they bark endlessly. For example, the beagle is a hunting dog and was trained to bark when it spotted the prey. Another example are some toy dogs which were bred to be a warning signals of invasion. Even so, some dogs within these breeds bark more than they should, some more than others.

Did you encourage this behavior in your dog? If you give your dog a reward for barking then they are thinking it's a good thing. Not necessarily a treat, the reward may have been attention. Even if you think it was a scolding you gave her, she saw it as attention. Are you trying to quiet her? Did you bend down and pet her, sooth her or just talk to her? Yes, this is attention. You are actually encouraging this behavior when the dog barks and you react like this.

There are several ways in which you can work with your dog to stop this behavior. One of those ways is to use a bark collar. These collars all work in different ways but they can disperse a citronella scent that the dog doesn't like or they can even provide a small shock when the bad behavior occurs. But, this will not work in all cases and some do not like the idea of 'hurting' the animal even though the dog is not harmed at all. Another solution would be to use a professional trainer or to pick up a few books that are how to's on training your animal and work one on one with the dog to stop the behavior.

When a dog barks, he is protecting you or just warning you. The dog is trained by ancestors to do just that; to warn people. It makes sense then that the dog would be a little upset at there is a man approaching the house even though he visits daily with the mail. The dog wants you to know that the man is there and that you should react to the mailman. Those dogs that do bark too much may need some help. You can find a lot of help on training your dog to stop barking in books or with professionals. Use training as well as patience to help your dog learn when its okay and when it is not.

Best Dog Health Information is a resource which will help you find infomation, hints and tips to keeping your dog happy and healthy. http://www.best-pet-health.info This article may be reprinted in full so long as the resource box and live links are included intact.

bark collar: Dog Supplies Buying Guide

2006-05-21T21:39:00.000-07:00

Dog Supplies Buying Guide

Just like a baby who needs utmost attention and care, the best supplies for your dog needs some major consideration, too. Here's how you can ensure that your pet gets the best toys, food, and other necessities.

Dog Food and Treats

Your dog's needs should be the emphasis when considering what food or treat to buy him. The proper balance of vitamins and minerals should be given, particularly to growing puppies. Sporting and working dog breeds need to eat something that will sustain their hyperactive lifestyle. Dogs that aren't getting any younger need low-calorie food to avoid weight gain. Don't scrimp on the budget here no matter how compelling it might be. A healthy dog is reflected by the food he eats.

Dog Leashes and Collars

The size and weight of the dog should be taken into account in choosing the right dog collar. The collar's material needs attention too. Nylon is good for water-loving dogs since it is more durable and light. For a tougher look, leather collars are a lot better since they are more durable and can even be accessorized with spikes.

Dog leashes come in cloth, nylon, retractable, and leather styles.

Dog Toys

The safety of your dog should be the top priority in looking for a dog toy. What fun could be derived from a toy if it will endanger your pet's life, right? A dog toy should be large enough so that it can't be swallowed by your pet. However, it should be small enough for your dog to be able to grip it well.

The durability of the toys will need major consideration too, especially for dogs that are serious chewers. Light chewers can settle for vinyl and latex dog toys.

Training Guides for Your Dog

Dog whistles, dog harnesses and bitter-tasting sprays compose the wide array of dog-training guides that will keep a dog from chewing. If the chewing problem is a lot more serious, you may want to use a dog bark collar or an electric fence. It is advised that you remain consistent and humane when training your dog.

There are many dog training books available that can be helpful when training your dog.

Dog Health Items

Tick and flea infestation control medications are available to ensure that your dog's health is secured against these pests. Brands like Advantix, Advantage and Frontline are some of the popular flea and tick drugs in the market.

Your dog's dental health should never be taken for granted either. Dog toothbrushes and toothpastes, and even dog toys are now made available to support the dental health of your pet.

Following these guidelines will definitely help you have a happy, healthy pet!

Jay is the web owner of http://www.dog-training-tips.org Dog Training Tips, a website that provides information and resources on dog training, puppy training, and more. You can also visit his website at: http://www.petmall.us Pet Mall for pet supplies.

bark collar: Incessant Dog Barking

2006-05-21T21:37:00.000-07:00

Dogs bark for a number of reasons. Sometimes these can be good reasons such as to warn of an intruder or to express fright or pain. Sometimes these can be "bad" reasons as far as humans are concerned - attempts to sound menacing or simply to get attention fall into this category. Whatever the reason for a dog's barking, it can often be considered a nuisance by the dog's owners and their neighbors alike. Because of this there are several methods employed to control a barking dog.

Training

By far the best method of controlling incessant barking is to train the dog not to bark or, more specifically, to bark only at the appropriate times. There are several ways to accomplish this, but dog trainers usually agree that traditional reward and reprimand systems are the most effective and the kindest to use.

Some people opt for an electronic "bark collar" as a shortcut to training the dog themselves. The collar contains an electronic device which is activated by the action of the dog barking. The device issues a small electric shock which pains and startles the dog. Eventually the dog is able to associate the negative stimulus with the barking and stops doing it.

The problems with these systems are multiple, however. Some dogs simply don't learn that the barking is the cause of the negative stimulus, and continue to bark despite the discomfort it causes. Particularly hairy dogs may not even feel the shock or activate the device because its metal points must contact the skin directly in order to deliver the shock. Also, the collar itself is not enough and must be backed up with training anyway. It is a bad idea to use the collars for an extended period of time.

Some owners find the concept of delivering an electric shock to the dog to be "cruel." While that may be a matter of personal opinion, the collars are proven to provide only minor discomfort for a short time and will not actually harm the dog. Another type of collar that operates on the same principle delivers a mist of citronella in front of the dog's nose. Dogs hate the smell and soon realize that it is caused by the barking. Success rates for citronella collars are comparable to those of the electronic variety.

Surgery

By far the most extreme method of controlling a dog's barking is to have it undergo debarking surgery. In this procedure a small fold of tissue is removed from the larynx of the dog, rendering it unable to bark. Some find this procedure to be inhumane and, since the dog's bark may return after a few months anyway, it is certainly a less than perfect method which few vets will recommend.

This article provided courtesy of http://www.dog-health-guide.net

barbark collar: What is a Bark Collar?

2006-05-19T19:42:00.000-07:00

A bark collar is a corrective device used to discourage a dog's excessive or inappropriate barking. The dog's owner places the bark collar around the animal's neck and activates a battery-powered unit containing a small microphone. As soon as the dog barks, the microphone activates one of several methods for correction. The goal is to condition the dog to equate excessive barking with immediate negative feedback. No bark collar should cause permanent pain or injury to a pet, and should never be used if the barking is a symptom of fear or separation anxiety.

Dogs bark for a number of reasons- fear, separation anxiety, territorial invasion, response to other dogs, etc. This behavior is instinctual and should rarely be 'trained out' to the point of silence. But many dog owners find themselves at odds with neighbors because of night-time barking or excessive barking during minor events. Keeping a dog's barking under control may require some stronger measures than a squirt gun or shouted commands.

The bark collar considered most humane contains a spray can filled with a citronella-based fluid. When the microphone detects both loud barking and vibration from the dog's throat, a battery-powered sprayer sends out a burst of citronella towards the dog's snout. Dogs find the scent of citronella to be very disagreeable, but the spray won't reach the eyes or burn the skin. Dogs wearing a citronella-based bark collar soon make the connection between loud barking and a dose of foul-smelling spray.

A second form of negative reinforcement is static electricity. This is perhaps the most controversial form of bark collar sold today. A pair of rechargeable 6 volt batteries lead to a set of metal probes on the collar itself. The owner can adjust the level of stimulus from 1 to 10, starting with the lowest setting which evokes a response from the dog. When the microphone detects barking and vibration, the dog receives a quick jolt of static electricity. This would be the equivalent of a human touching a doorknob after walking across a carpet. The static electricity stings momentarily, stopping the unwanted barking and conditioning the dog to modify his or her behavior.

The third most common form of correction on a bark collar is ultrasonic sound. Once a bark is detected, a transmitter on the collar sends out a loud noise in a range only dogs can hear. This would be the equivalent of an owner shouting at the dog for correction. Of the three most common bark collar methods, ultrasonic sound is considered to be the least effective. Dogs can become accustomed to extraneous sounds and not feel compelled to modify their behavior.

Bark collars should not be used on puppies or dogs lighter than two or three pounds. If the barking is triggered by genuine fear or anxiety, other corrective methods should be explored first. Dogs should learn to ignore routine territorial invasions and common noises. If a bark collar becomes necessary for the sake of other humans, it should never be used for more than eight hours. If the dog's owner is in the house, other corrective measures should be used first.

copyright © 2006 wiseGEEK
Written by Michael Pollick

bark collar: Stop Dog Barking

2006-05-19T19:40:00.000-07:00

Dogs bark, what's the problem?
The problem of course, is when your dog won't stop barking and it bothers the neighbors. More often than not, barking can be eliminated or reduced to reasonable levels quickly and easily.

Normal barking
Barking for attention
Make sure your barking dog is being fed properly and has water continually available. Outdoor dogs need shade in the summer and a warm enclosure in the winter. See training your dog to stop barking

Frustration barking
Confined dogs can quickly become frustrated by people on the other side of a fence or beyond the reach of their leash. Sometimes children or neighbors will threaten or yell at a barking dog, which makes things worse. This sort of barking can be corrected by bringing your dog inside or providing a kennel area shielded from view of the sidewalk.

Quick ways to stop barking
Citronella anti bark collar
The new Gentle Spray citronella barking collar is safe, humane and remarkably effective.

When your dog barks, the collar sprays a light mist of citronella scent in front of his nose. Dogs don't like this. The hissing noise startles them and dogs seem to dislike the smell. Most dogs figure things out very quickly and stop barking. University studies have shown that citronella barking collars are twice as effective as shock collars.

We've had excellent success using these collars for barking problems at our animal hospital. We can't guarantee that the Gentle Spray collar will work for your dog, but nearly all our customers use these collars successfully and are very happy with the product. see letter . To find out if the collar is likely to work for your dog, see do not order the collar if

Anti barking shock collars
I don't like anti bark shock collars at all. You can't tell if they are working and unless you try the collar out on yourself, something which doesn't appeal to me personally, you can't tell how much it hurts. Besides that, they don't work. Recent university studies found citronella barking collars to be twice as effective as anti bark shock collars.

Debarking surgery
Dogs have a fold of tissue on each side of the larynx which must tighten and vibrate to make a bark. Debarking surgery removes this tissue. After the operation, dogs have only a whispery bark, and most of the time both dogs and owners are quite happy with this. Unfortunately, some or all of the the bark comes back within a few months. Because we know how awful it would be to "debark" a person, many people think the operation is inhumane. Since the surgery is often unsatisfactory and because many people consider it cruel, veterinarians seldom suggest debarking as a solution to barking problems.

copyright by Placerville Veterinary Clinic 1995 . . .2004

bark collar: How the PetSafe Anti Bark Collar Works

2006-05-19T19:21:00.000-07:00

The PetSafe anti bark Collar has two primary features designed to shorten the training phase and promote good behavior. First, the anti bark Collar has a unique patented sensor that provides the most reliable bark detection available. The PetSafe anti bark Collar uses both vibration and sound sensors (dual-detection) to discriminate each bark from other external noises. A Static Correction is administered through the Contact Points only if both the vibration from the vocal chords and the sound from the bark match the same criteria. Second, the anti bark collar has a new patent pending Temperament Learning System design that is effective across many dog breeds and their individual barking behaviors. The Temperament Learning System contains software that tracks the number of corrections needed to substantially reduce (and in most cases eliminate) the number of nuisance barks. The anti bark system has 10 levels of Static Correction. It begins with low-level corrections, however, if excessive barking continues the correction intensity will increase with each successive bark until the barking stops. Once the dog has learned to reduce the barking, the initial warning corrections are reduced. If your dog does not bark within 30 seconds, the anti bark collar will reset itself. As a built-in safety feature, if your dog barks 15 times or more within a 1 minute 20 second period, the anti bark collar will automatically shut off for 3 minutes.

Important:
Before playing with your dog, remove the anti bark collar. The activity may cause your dog to bark, which could lead to him associating the play with the Static Correction.
Never leave the Anti Bark Collar on your dog for more than 12 consecutive hours

Why Dogs Bark
Dogs bark. It is part of their normal and natural communication and behavior. Dogs can bark for appropriate and good reasons, such as when strangers approach our house, they hear an odd noise, or they are herding sheep. Most of us want our dogs to be "watch dogs" and alert us to anything unusual. But dogs can also bark inappropriately. In two scientific surveys of dog owners, approximately 1/3 of them reported their dogs barked excessively. To control barking in our dogs, we first need to understand why they are barking.

Types of canine vocal communication
Dogs, as well as wolves use many types of vocalizations to communicate. This communication starts very early in life. Young puppies make a mewing-like sound when they are searching for food or warmth. Louder crying sounds are heard if the puppy is hurt or frustrated. As dogs get older, they make five main classes of sounds: howls, growls, grunts, whines, and barks. Each of these classes of sounds is used in different situations.

Howling is used as a means of long-range communication in many different circumstances. Howls are more often associated with wolves, but dogs howl too. Wolves often howl to signify territorial boundaries, locate other pack members, coordinate activities such as hunting, or attract other wolves for mating. Dogs may howl as a reaction to certain stimuli such as sirens.

Growling can occur in very different activities. It is used to threaten, warn, in defense, in aggression, and to show dominance. But growling is also used in play as well. By looking at the body posture we should be able to tell the difference. Growls during aggression are accompanied by a stare or snarl, and the growling dog often remains stationary. Play-growls occur in combination with a happy tail and a play bow to signal willingness to play. These dogs are often moving and jumping about to entice play.

Grunts in dogs are the equivalent of contented sighs in people. They can also be heard when dogs are greeting each other or people.

Whines or whimpers are short- or medium-range modes of communication. Dogs may whine when they greet each other, are showing submissiveness, are frustrated or in pain, to obtain attention, and sometimes in defense. Dogs generally whine more than wolves, perhaps because they use the whine more as an attention-seeking behavior, and are often rewarded for it. Think about it. The first sound you may hear from a new puppy is the whine at night when he finds himself alone. We often are guilty of unintentionally reinforcing this whining by giving the puppy the attention he wants.

Barking is another mode of communication that seems to be more common in dogs than other canine species. Again, this may be the result of human encouragement. Certain breeds have been bred to bark as part of their watchdog or herding duties. Barking is used to alert or warn others and defend a territory, to seek attention or play, to identify oneself to another dog, and as a response to boredom, excitement, being startled, lonely, anxious, or teased.

© Radio Fence Distributors Inc. All rights reserved. No photographs, illustrations or text can be reproduced in any form without the express written consent of Radio Fence Distributors Inc.

iPod Hi-Fi Home Stereo

2006-05-16T21:48:00.000-07:00

Steve Jobs lifted the curtains on Apple "fun new products".No Widescreen iBook or iTunes Video store yet, Apple's focus is your Living Room digital entertainment.
The new Apple devices were shown to the media in a variety of staged rooms, including a dorm room, kitchen and den.

First, Jobs announced new Mac Mini with Intel processors.

The look of the Mac Mini hasn't changed, but now there's an Intel chip inside. The new Mac Mini remains Apple's no-frills budget computer that lacks a keyboard, a mouse or a monitor.
The Front Row media software (plus IR remote control) is included for controlling music, movies, and photos from the couch.

Jobs demonstrated a new feature of Front Row that allows users to stream music that's stored on a nearby computer using Apple's Bonjour technology for automatically discovering resources on a network.

Apple then introduced the iPod Hi-Fi, a home-stereo quality speaker set for the iPod. On the top of it, there's a universal iPod dock connector, as well as an auxiliary port to connect an iPod Shuffle or other device

posted by Amit Agarwal

Which Surround-sound Format?

2006-05-13T21:26:00.000-07:00

In the last section, we saw that audio/video receivers decode the surround sound information encoded in video signals and drive the appropriate speakers. Different audio/video receivers are equipped to decode different formats. Today, there are two main sources for home theater surround-sound formats -- Dolby Laboratories and Digital Theater Systems. Dolby Laboratories formats include various versions of Dolby Digital® and Dolby Pro Logic®. Digital Theater Systems has created a range of DTS Digital Theater Sound formats. Between the two companies, there is a dizzying array of sound options. So here's what you need to know:

DTS encoding uses less compression than Dolby encoding. This means that DTS sound is clearer and sharper.
However, DTS encoding is also less commonly used on DVDs and television broadcasts.
Most DVDs have some Dolby sound options, and some also offer choices for DTS sound.
Fortunately, a lot of a/v receivers support a wide range of Dolby and DTS options. When you're choosing a receiver, you should decide two things: whether you want DTS support and how many speakers you want to use for your surround-sound setup. The most common options are 5.1, 6.1 and 7.1 surround, named for the number of channels. The ".1" indicates a channel for a subwoofer. The subwoofer channel carries low-frequency sound to give a bass boost and create a rumbling effect for certain special effects sounds, such as explosions and trains. These are the typical speaker setups and formats that will support them:

5.1 (5 speakers + subwoofer)
A 5.1 surround-sound setup includes left, center and right front speakers. It also has left and right surround speakers. Dolby Digital, Dolby Pro Logic II and DTS 5.1 will all support this format. DTS 96/24 uses a 5.1 channel format to play audio at the same sampling rate at which it was recorded
The sound system is what really makes a home theater experience complete, but the first thing you'll probably notice when you sit down in front of a theater setup is the television. In the next few sections, we'll see how televisions fit into the home theater.

by Tom Harris and Tracy V. Wilson

Nevada casinos win $1.03 billion in February

2006-05-10T23:24:00.000-07:00

CARSON CITY, Nev. (AP) - Nevada casinos won $1.03 billion from gamblers during February for a 12.8 percent gain over the same month a year earlier, according to a state report released Monday.

The win, a record for any February, was the money left over after gamblers bet $13.9 billion. That included $2.8 billion wagered at table games and $11.1 billion pumped into slot machines.

The state collected $70 million in percentage fees based on the February win. That's up 34.3 percent compared with the fees collected for the same month in 2005. Collections for the fiscal year to date total $573.2 million, up nearly $44 million from previous projections by the state Economic Forum.

Frank Streshley, analyst for the control board, said February was the 19th month in a row to show a statewide percentage gain. He added that factors in the gain included a good Superbowl weekend, the Mosley-Vargas junior middleweight fight in Las Vegas and strong Chinese New Year play.

A breakdown of the casinos' $1.03 billion win shows that Las Vegas Strip resorts accounted for more than half the total, $551 million. That's a 19.1 percent increase over the same month a year ago.

Most other major markets around the state also reported gains, although downtown Las Vegas was down 7 percent. Streshley noted that the old Lady Luck hotel-casino closed during the month.

Clubs in Washoe County, encompassing Reno, won $84.4 million, up 8.7 percent. A breakdown shows Reno was up 10 percent while neighboring Sparks was up 9.7 percent. That's the ninth straight positive month for the area.

Stateline casinos on Tahoe's south shore were up 13.7 percent, with the clubs taking in $25.4 million.

"Win" is a gross figure, with no operating costs or other expenses deducted. It represents casino revenue only - not hotel, restaurant or bar revenues.

The total February 2006 win included $366.4 million from table games, up 15.5 percent. A breakdown shows $116.4 million came from blackjack tables, up 6.9 percent; while baccarat tables around the state won $79.4 million for a 35.6 percent increase. Mini-baccarat tables added another $27.6 million, up 1.3 percent.

Craps took in $44.7 million, up 11.2 percent, and roulette generated $31.3 million for the clubs, up 39 percent.

Statewide slot winnings accounted for $647.5 million of the total win, up 11.2 percent. The biggest producers were multi-denomination slots, which accounted for $256.1 million of the total, up 30 percent.

Quarter slots were down 7.8 percent with a win total of $109.1 million; dollar slots were up 3.3 percent with a win of $85.5 million; and penny slots were up 58.1 percent with a win of $95.6 million.

By BRENDAN RILEY

Big Bowl Noodles and Rice

2006-05-07T23:37:00.000-07:00

When the first Big Bowl restaurant opened in 1997, its founding partners had one mission: to make good, authentic Asian food accessible to American diners. Tired of greasy takeout and soggy egg rolls, they created an entirely different kind of Asian menu-one based on healthy techniques, market-fresh ingredients, and vibrant, traditional flavors. From steaming bowls of handmade noodles to fiery curries and fragrant stir-fries, every dish at Big Bowl became a delicious celebration of homestyle Chinese, Vietnamese, and Thai cooking.
Now Bruce Cost, the celebrated cook and a culinary partner behind Big Bowl's spectacular food, reveals how to prepare the house favorites in your own kitchen. Beginning with a basic explanation of Asian ingredients and cooking techniques, Cost's beautifully illustrated guide takes home cooks through the simple steps needed to create an Asian meal, whether it's a one-bowl dinner or a multicourse feast for family and friends. From Thai Chicken Noodle Salad to Blazing Big Rice Noodles with Beef to Shanghai Shrimp, all of Cost's recipes are incredibly flavorful yet easy enough for even the beginning cook to master. The instructions are clear, the ingredients are widely available, and the results are dramatic and delicious.
So if you think Asian food at home means little white boxes, think again. Big Bowl Noodles and Rice will show you how to bring the fresh, authentic flavors of Asia to your table any night of the week.
Hailed by Alice Waters as "one of the greatest cooks I have ever known," Bruce Cost
is an award-winning restaurateur and chef, cooking teacher, and former food columnist for the San Francisco Chronicle. He currently serves as the culinary partner in Lettuce Entertain You's immensely popular chain of Big Bowl restaurants. Cost is also the author of Asian Ingredients, a comprehensive guide to Asian foodstuffs now available as a companion to this book.

Tourism big part of Gulf Coast economy

2006-05-03T21:07:00.000-07:00

WASHINGTON -- It may seem insensitive to think about vacation plans in the wake of the disaster wrought by Hurricane Katrina. But looked at another way, tourists are the economic lifeblood of many of the Gulf Coast communities that have been so cruelly inundated by water and whipped by winds.

Tourism is the top, or one of the top, industries in New Orleans, depending on how you calculate. Domestic visitors spent more than $4.4 billion in Orleans Parish last year, according to a study by the Travel Industry Association of America. In neighboring Jefferson Parish, where the New Orleans airport is located, U.S. tourists brought in another $945 million. And that's not even counting foreign tourists. Last year, 244,000 of them visited New Orleans -- an increase of 23 percent over the previous year, said Cathy Keefe of TIA. About 73,000 locals earned their living through tourism last year, the state-sponsored study showed.

The Gulf Coast communities soon will begin to struggle to their feet. Tourism will eventually be a tool that will help them stand. Until that day comes, here are answers to the questions we've been hearing.

Question: I was planning to visit New Orleans this fall. How soon will the city be ready for tourists?

Answer: Authorities have estimated that it will take one or more months just to empty the city of standing water. Neither private business owners nor government officials have had the opportunity to conduct damage assessment.

"Any guess about how long it will take to get back to normal is a wild guess," said Louisiana State University professor Jim Richardson, an economist whose specialties include tourism. "I'd say that to get everything back into shape, to re-create the New Orleans we knew and enjoyed, you're talking a year, maybe more."

Question: I've heard that the recovery will be quickest downtown and in the French Quarter. True?

Answer: Most likely, yes. The historic French Quarter has one of the highest elevations in the city, so it suffered less water damage. Workers who visited the area Tuesday night reported that legendary Bourbon Street was emptied of water. A collapsed wall that exposed part of the interior of the famed Antoine's Restaurant represented a unique example of visible damage to a Quarter landmark. But assessments for less obvious damage have not yet been made.

by Cindy Loose

Never Give Up

2006-04-28T22:31:00.000-07:00

It is way too easy to throw in the towel. Never having finished what you have begun. Abandoning your dreams and goals because you lack the confidence to pursue them. That was me, thirteen years ago. I got married and decided right away to have a family. Looking back, that was a fun reality to be living in at the time, but it did not last. Of course, having my precious children is a gift, but I never expected to be struggling financially as we were. I wanted to buy things. I wanted to buy cute clothes for my kids. I wanted to go on trips. My dear husband worked hard for a living, backbreaking construction jobs, but his paycheck only covered the basics. I often felt guilty because I wasn't bringing in my own income. I tried doing daycare. As it turned out, I couldn't handle the chaos that extra children brought to my tiny household. Plus, those kids would eat, eat and eat more. Then, it was almost as if I was PAYING the parents to watch their kids! The parents treated me as if they were doing me a favor! At three dollars an hour? Yeah right! Over the years, I tried many different at-home businesses that cost me plenty and it got to the point that my husband was getting irritated just because I wanted to make the money that I felt I was worth! Not just a fixed dollar amount decided by someone else. No way would I place my children in daycare for that! I tried selling beauty products and nutritional supplements. It felt as though I was hounding people to get their orders. I just can't do that to people. I know I hate it when people invite me to their so-called parties selling everything from cookware to candles.......and then hand me an order form and completely expect me to buy something! That it a very rude tactic. I mean, if someone wants to buy something, they'll go to the store and buy it, right? You don't just force an order form into someone's face and take advantage of their kindness to get a sale! (Plus if I want to buy a casserole dish, I'll go to WalMart and pay $6.99-not $49.99. I looked into online businesses and heard all of the lies and promises of wealth from people who wanted me to join their internet businesses. I was roped into many. I wasted too much money on worthless get rich quick schemes. Tried stocks. Failed. I got fed up with the hype, but my dream of making my own money was still as strong as ever. I went through a period of total discouragement, facing the fact that my kids would probably never see new clothes or Disneyland. I was sick of having no food in the cupboards, and the mounting fees of bouncing checks. ( Yes, it got that bad!) Eventually, I did research online. I asked questions to the right people. Real people who had truly made money online and were happy to answer my questions for free. I found products and services I could 'sell' from other companies. Again, free of charge. I picked what I was interested in. I set up a couple of websites for free. I used free advertising. I waited. The commission checks started to come in the mail. I was thrilled. My husband was speechless. I got to take my family to Disneyland.

It did not happen over night. Not like some people might expect. Now I am exactly where I want to be. A Mommy and an Entrepreneur....and I am successful at both.

Juliann Newton http://host474.ipowerweb.com/~webfishn/

About the Author
Juliann Newton is a Stay-at-Home mom of three (and a fourth due in September) who found success on the internet.

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