Why ultrasonic dog training devices are worth trying
The Case of Max, the Terrorising Terrier
Max, our next door neighbour’s 11-year-old terrier who was adopted as a pup, is not only a mad barker when there are strangers within the vicinity of their fence, he would also escape outside as soon as he sees an opening and often with the intention of attacking another dog. Max attempted to bite our dog Rocco who bit back, resulting in Max visiting the vet hospital emergency. The whole time we witnessed Max grow from a pup to a mature dog, he has been the same ball of aggressive, anxious energy. The owners have tried three different bark collars and even anti-anxiety medication prescribed by the vet and he’s never behaved any differently.
Communication Breakdown and Finding a Common Language
Max's owners have struggled to find ways of getting through to him. They haven't found a consistent and effective way of communicating to get his attention and follow commands, especially when Max is in the hyperactive state he seems prone to. You can sense the family's frustration with the way they interact with him. Worst of all, Max has turned his aggression to his owners, biting two members of the family recently and within a short period of time. It has made Max's family wary of him and they are even considering re-homing him or worse. Something needs to be done and fast.
Experiment with Ultrasonic Handheld Trainer
I was outside in the garden with my dog Axel when Max sensed him and started barking frantically through a gap under a colour bond fence. I decided to grab my UL33 handheld ultrasonic trainer and try it with Max to see if it would affect him in any way. When Max next stuck his face under the fence to bark at my dog, I pointed the handheld ultrasonic at the gap and pressed the trigger. The change was instant- not only did Max stop barking immediately after I triggered the ultrasonic device, he stayed quiet and didn't attempt to bark again soon after! I quickly called our neighbour Amy, his owner, to show her what the device can do and sure enough, Max didn't take long to want to start barking again and as soon as the ultrasonic device was triggered, he went quiet. But what was truly remarkable was the calming effect the ultrasonic device had on Max. He wasn't growling or stifling some aggression after hearing the device. He looked like a calm and quietly curious dog, words we never would have fathomed using to describe Max. His family is relieved they now have the UL33 ultrasonic device, which has taken away the headache of trying to get Max's attention. It is helping them communicate with Max and they are finally making progress with his training!
Ultrasonic Training Devices are Worth Trying
We often recommend ultrasonic devices for dog owners as a first resort before progressing to training collars. But clearly as Max's case demonstrates, ultrasonic devices are also worth trying as a last resort when all other measures have failed. After over ten years of struggling with Max, I'm sure his owners never would have thought such a simple device often categorised under "gentle training" would work best on their aggressive and stubborn dog. Whether you are just starting to train your dog or you have a bona fide little terrorist in your hands, ultrasonic training devices are definitely worth trying. Make sure to shop around and compare what's out there as not all devices are created equal. Bark Doctor's UL33, for example, has two powerful ultrasonic speakers compared to the more commonly available single speaker options, making this one of the most powerful handheld ultrasonic training devices you can find.
UPDATE: ULTRASONIC 3-SPEAKERS OPTIONS NOW AVAILABLE
Bark Doctor constantly updates our range of products to reflect improvements in design to increase effectiveness of the training tool. So visit it us regularly for the latest in tried and tested dog training collars.