Overview
A dog that barks when they’re not supposed to can be pretty annoying, and one of the harder habits to break. Several products on the market promise to get rid of this annoying habit with the use of small but effective electric shocks that will zap your dog when they bark. Getting zapped enough times will cause them to link their barking with the jolt, and eventually condition them to stop barking.
Or so the theory goes.
The Claim
If you use Bark Off your dog will not bark anymore. With their “ingenious” ultrasonic technology it allegedly disrupts the barking cycle so your dog doesn’t want to bark anymore. The ad shows beams of ultrasonic radio waves being emitted into the room, and the dogs immediately stop themselves.
The problem with this claim is that you’d have to believe that a cheaply made product like this actually has the technology to know when your dog is barking and turn itself on. What is more likely the case, based on dog owners reporting their dogs behavior when they use it, is that it continually sends out the signal when it’s switched on.
The Hype
The hype comes in the form of their chintzy commercial that shows dogs not barking when the device is turned on, and that says it’s a humane way to get your pet to stop barking.
The Cost
Bark Off is one of those products that is priced so low that it’s tempting to try it just to see if it works. On TV it had a get 2 for $10 plus shipping and handling offer. It referenced other bark prevention devices costing around $70, and this is fairly accurate.
It’s currently being sold on Amazon for $4.95. Being battery powered you have to immediately see that the quality can’t be what they claim it to be. It should at least be something that you’d plug into the wall, or have a lithium ion battery that can be recharged, like an iPod or a cell phone.
The Commitment
Turn Bark Off on when you don’t want your dog to bark, that’s all you have to do. It is items like these that have almost zero commitment involved that lead people to buy it almost instantly. This is one of those products that is bought on a whim, tried out, and tossed in the garbage heap along with all of the other faulty products that get sold on TV.
Evaluation
What really seems to be going on based on a plethora of consumer reviews is a constant stream of what can only be imagined as a ear-splitting racket for dogs. So instead of you being constantly bombarded by barking, your dog will be constantly bombarded by Bark Off. This is not a fair trade and leaves no one satisfied. As a responsible pet owner and presumed dog lover you should get no satisfaction from using Bark Off, even if it did work in stopping your dog’s problem barking.
No, Bark Off does not work. In fact, it can be dangerous for your dog to use it, and is inhumane. The temporary effectiveness of the product could be due to shock and confusion on your dog’s part when they hear the sound coming from the device. Since humans cannot hear it, and since we have no idea how a dog’s sensitive sense of hearing hears sounds, there’s no way we can imagine what an ultrasonic blast sounds like to them.
Our Recommendation
Dogs are man’s best friend, and therefore we should treat them as such. If your dog is a problem barker you can fix this humanely and safely with the help of a certified dog trainer. You won’t be able to buy this solution at Amazon for less than $5 but it’s the best thing you can do for your dog.
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View Comments
Found old, as seen on TV, Bark-off still in package while cleaning out garage, any way our newer neighbors have a German Shepard they keep outside 75-80% of the time and often when gone and he could be starved for our attention (we’ve all petted him over the chain link) or doesn’t like our lab/Colie hybrid and he barks incessantly. My neighbors across the street have complained to Owner’s and our dog just sits on deck, sandbox, or rolls in the grass when he barks. So bought a 9volt and tried it. Moments after setting on deck facing neighbors yard, Kegger comes around barking, twice & stopped and went back to side of his house. We’ll monitor effects on our dog, but didn’t see any adverse effects in him the first time it “worked?”
I suggest giving more specifics like breed/size on reviews it makes a difference from what ive seen. I had two 20lb dogs, male was a pit/terrier mix (like the dog on frasier only brindle) though we called him a pit chihuahua. We had to take a pup cuz he knocked up the cocker spaniel next door. The male was easy to teach but strong willed. The female liked to lick people and stare at birds. Both loved to bark. Turn it on, silence and wide eyes. He didnt like it but learned not to bark often and was fine until he barked. She thought there was a demon after her. She started hiding under the truck in the garage. The furthest she could get from it. Tested her to see if she was afraid because she saw us with it but no if it was on she knew it without a bark. Cocker spaniels have excellent hearing. The dog across the fence from us came out, big dog is all i know. I turned it on and mid bark he stopped and yiped. Ran back in its house. It works but results are diff for diff dogs.
I disagree with those who say it is torture. My dog, a 55 pounder, can EASILY and comfortably sit within 3' of it with no problems whatsoever. Those who claim that we as pet owners shold be finding out the root of the problem should consider this: Sometimes, dogs bark. Sometimes, it's in small amounts and is not bothersome. Other times, it's because the UPS or FedEx drivers go by or neighborhood kids are out on their scooters/mopeds/whatnot and most dogs aren't fans of things with wheels. When the windows are open, the delivery trucks are heading by, the motorcyclists are revving and the scooters are scooting...it's a Godsend.
This review only confirmed what I thought. We have two dogs that bark at anything that moves, including a leaf blowing across the lawn. We started using The Bark Off two nights ago, and granted the barking stopped but only to be replaced with them scratching at the doors to try to get outside and away from it, hiding under beds, and a 96 pound Chocolate Lab immediately becoming a lap dog for no apparent reason. I finally had enough of the unexplained NEW issues that I turned the thing off, and within a 15 min they went back to relaxing with the family (followed by a bark or two). I'd rather tolerate the barking, then put them and us threw that again. IN THE GARBAGE!!
My pit pup barked in his cage non stop when I would leave for work or go upstairs to shower etc. This device has stopped it completely and he is not in pain, he is laying sleeping soundly right now. My husband and I work opposite shifts, I could not let him keep hubby up all day, we are satisfied.
I use it to keep my dogs from barking when I leave and when I come back (I take it with me). My dogs were getting overstimulated when I left one day and I got nipped--I was not happy. I do believe that it is set off by other sounds though. I base that on observing my dogs. I don't mind if they bark when the postman arrives--I say "thank you, okay" and they stop. One gets very excited at dinner time and will bark-so what. Anyway, I have found that I don't have to turn it on when I come and go now. They bark when I drive in and stop when I open the door to the house. Yes it works but you have to be aware of your dogs reactions. Use it sparingly.
Some people will try almost anything, if it's cheap and easy. When dogs are barking excessively, there is a reason. I think it would be better and more humane to find our "why", deal with the cause, learn about training, rather than create fear, forcing the dog to stop, yet, never realizing what caused the problem to begin with.
If you had a screaming child, wouldn't you want to know why, or would you slap him/her for making so much noise and threaten to do it again? It may stop the "noise", but create fear and never help you understand your child or what caused the problem. That would be inhumane, as would sounding a loud noise at a sensitive dog's ears. This device could readily be abused and create such fear that the dog stops barking, completely.
Some of the users, at least, demonstrate some common sense and sensitivity, by severely limiting its use, although it still would be a good idea to know what triggers the excessive dog barking. Punishing a dog for doing what is natural, is never a good idea, but when excessive needs advice from experts. There are even some good ideas from them on-line.
Also, because it is such a cheaply-made product, if probably won't last long, and for many not work at all.
The writer of this is clearly ignorant, not doing personal research. The device DOES NOT EMIT A CONTINUOUS SOUND. When switched on (it has an on/off switch), it is SILENT until it detects a loud noise, then it emits a BRIEF high pitched sound like a blow of a dog whistle. It works well to remind my dog to stop barking. *If you're in a loud environment, do NOT use this tool as the loud surroundings would continually trigger it to emit the sound.* You can test it by holding it up to your ear & making a loud sound; as a human, you'll hear it click on & possibly be able to faintly hear the whistle & quickly click off.
this thing WORKS!
IT IS WONDERFUL.shuts up neighbors dog.
you may want a 6v dc male plug in adapter so you dont forget the 12v battery, but just change batt every montgh you should be good.
i put mine outside under deck to protect from rain
I used this product because my ShiTzu was always barking at visitors. I only had to turn it on once! I showed it to her and asked her to stop barking, she continued, I said that I was going to turn it on and I did. After barking a bit she realized something was not good for her and she stopped, then she tested it again and stopped. I showed her the Bark Off again and told her I was putting it away and I did. She has been good with her barking and when she barks unnecessarily, I ask her, "do you want me to turn it on" and I show her the Bark Off and it works...she stops the bad behavior. Now I don't even have to show it to her. I just ask her if she want me to turn it on and she goes in a circle and stops the barking. I shared it with friends and they had the same success. I only had to use it once!