Customer Reviews

K-Ii Enterprises Pet-Agree Dog Training Aid Ultrasonic

5 star:		(148)
4 star:		(47)
3 star:		(17)
2 star:		(27)
1 star:		(47)

 

 

I was somewhat apprehensive about buying an ultrasound device for dog training, because some of the other products were given lukewarm reviews. But at $20 for this handheld device, I thought I'd give it a try. Well, I am thrilled. This is not an overstatement. My husband and I have dogs that are barking breeds. And bark they do. One starts, and it's pandemonium. We have been going crazy. Nothing stops them once they begin. This little device is the only thing that works. I pair a hand gesture with the Pet Agree. I put my hand out toward the dog as if I'm telling a car to stop, palm out. At the same time, I push down in two short bursts on the Pet Agree. Everything immediately goes silent. The dogs don't like the sound. My hope is that they will eventually stop barking with my hand motion alone, and I won't need to use the Pet Agree anymore. I recommend this product.

I have been a professional dog trainer for 30 years. I have used the Pet-Agree product and it does what it's supposed to do: delivers a high-frequency sound that only dogs can hear (although if you put it up to your own ear you will hear a faint sound).

I think the reason people reviewing this product are saying it doesn't always work, or wears off after a time, is due to the fact that ultrasonic devices ALONE won't solve your problems! (1) You must first determine why the dog is doing what it's doing, and often that will be something in the environment/lifestyle that you need to change; (2) the purpose of the ultrasonic device is merely to INTERRUPT the behavior long enough for you to reward the brief stopping of the behavior and then insert a more appropriate behavior into the "void" you created by using the ultrasound (counterconditioning). To just point the device at your dog and press a button (as if it were some sort of "magic wand") might work sometimes, but it won't get to the root of the problem, and after a while most dogs will start igorning the sound and go on doing whatever they were doing. This is the "lazy way" to try to solve a dog's behavior issues and will not have long-lasting effects. Without positive reinforcement added to the process, it becomes a very negative, vicious cycle.

If you want to be successful using this kind of product, consult a good positive dog-training book, or call a professional to help you.

UPDATE APRIL 2012: I would like to add a few more thoughts to my original review: I was referring specifically to training one's own dog, as it is probably impossible to train a neighbor's annoying dog w/o the neighbor's cooperation! There are sonic devices available that you can post permanently in your yard, but unfortunately, these might not always work, either.

Using this Pet-Agree device would not permanently solve the "neighbor's barking dog" problem in most cases. It might stop the dog for a few seconds, but then they would resume barking at whatever was triggering them (which is sometimes just plain old boredom).

I agree that one has to speak to the neighbor, if at all possible, and find out what your town's barking ordinance is (it differs from place to place), and notify the authorities if the dog is exceeding the accepted limits. However, I do sympathize with Paul, who has had no luck going the conventional route. Unfortunately, this does happen much of the time, and we have limited control over someone else's pets (or children, for that matter)! :-)

As far as how to combine positive reinforcement with a "startle device" such as the Pet-Agree: It would be helpful to use clicker training if one is knowledgable about the concept and coordinated enough to manage it (a good book, video, or trainer could help you).

But even w/o a clicker, I would proceed this way: Use the Pet-Agree to interrupt the barking (if it works on your dog). Coupling the word "Quiet" with the startle device, as suggested by another poster, is valid. As soon as you get a couple of seconds of silence, click/praise and give your dog a tasty treat. Call the dog over to you to get the treat and then redirect his attention AWAY from what was triggering him to bark in the first place. If he tries to go back and bark some more, repeat the above process. Redirecting his attention is key.

Contrary to a lot of dog owners' beliefs, a dog does NOT have to sit by the window and bark at everything all day long! This is barrier frustration and it will get worse. Give your dog interactive, puzzle toys and safe "chewies" to keep him occupied AWAY from the windows while you're not at home. Block his access to troublesome windows in any way you can, if at all possible.

Most of all, make sure he gets enough EXERCISE!!! Behavior problems are caused or exacerbated by insufficient exercise. Do obedience training with him, on your own or with a trainer, and practice it every day. This will give him a job to do. Much barking is caused by boredom, unexpended energy, and frustration. After all, when a dog is bored, he has limited options. He can't watch TV, surf the net, talk on his smartphone, or read a book. It's either barking, chewing, or digging...none of which are usually acceptable to humans!

As for the "smarty" dogs who manipulate you to get the treat, if you suspect this is happening after a while, just praise the dog for a good response but do NOT click or treat unless you feel it is a genuine situation, not merely a ploy to get a treat.

Hope this is not too rambling and involved. As you can see, if you have real problems, you might need the help of a professional. But good luck to all of you out there with barking dogs! (BTW, the Pet-Agree can be used to interrupt other behaviors, such as jumping up).

I was skeptical whether this product would work given the price and give than my dog is a beast. You don't even have to point this at the animal and it works. I have a very aggressive and hyper german shepherd and this brings her right to attention. I wish I would have purchased this a long time ago before purchasing a shock collar.

After opening the box, I realized that this is the same training aid my professional dog trainer uses.

I just moved into my first place and the only negative is my neighbour's two very large,very aggressive,very bark-y dogs. They look like Rott/Pitbull mixes. They don't allow me or anyone else to get near the fence on my side and bark incessantly when anyone comes into my driveway. I went as far as to install an extra layer of chainlink on my side and still they get frenzied and hurl themselves up on to the fence causing it to lean. My new neighbour sits calmly on her porch and watches her demon dogs get completely out of control and does absolutely nothing about them. So I had to take matters into my own hands. I did lots of online research and finally settled on the Pet-Agree.I couldn't wait to try it out on the hell hounds! So I waited till I had a visitor. As soon as the car drove in,the dogs raced to my fence and started barking loudly. I gave the device one sustained press and immediately they whined a little and then stopped completely. I was amazed. I did not have to press it twice.They turned right around and retreated to their porch..quietly.I have now tried it three times with the same astounding result. I love it!

Honestly I didn't have high hopes for this product , but for twenty something bucks I was willing to give it a try. I have two small dogs one is a miniature pincher and chihuahua mix and the other is a mix of five different dogs including doberman, chihuahua, and some kind of terrier. Anyway they make a sport of sitting in the window and barking like mad whenever someone walks or drives by. When someone comes to the door they suit up for war and are ready to bark till the death! Once they start barking their brains go blank and it's nearly impossible to break their focus and get them to stop. My husband and I have been tolerating the barking for 3 years now, but I felt it was time to try something new. I did not want to resort to bark control collars so I gave this product a try. All I can say is WOW so far I am thoroughly impressed! Their barking has decreased about 90% , ( I still want them to bark sometimes for security). That being said I feel this is a training aid not a magic button. What I did that I feel was extremely important was to hide the device in my pocket. I did not want my dogs to see the device and associate not barking only when I was holding a blue thing in my hand. When they began to bark I quickly hit the button while giving a firm verbal command " QUIET" at the same time I gave a hand signal of a closed fist. When my dogs stopped barking I praised them in a high pitched voice and gave them a couple treats. After only a few times I no longer needed to use the device at all. All I need to do is say quiet or give them the hand signal. Needless to say I am very pleased with this product.

Pet-Agree was recommended to me by my veterinarian's assistant to control excessive barking and I have not been disappointed. My dogs are very responsive to use of Pet-Agree in conjunction with an appropriate command and they are quickly learning to be quiet and obedient. I recommend Pet-Agree to anyone who needs to control excessive barking.

Purchased this as a training aid for my very active and headstrong rat terrier. Works wonderfully...actually I am quite surprised how well it works. Dog can hear from quite a long distance away (I'd say max 30-50 feet; depends on the dog I'm sure). Reaction is instantaneous. I give the dog a command such as 'no' and press the button very briefly after giving the command - the offending activity is stopped. The idea is that she will eventually outgrow the need for this device and respond with the command only. Great product, good price.

I bought this to use while training my mutt to not jump on people in greeting. People don't always cooperate, "It's okay." they tell me, so I needed to get his attention in the middle of chaos.

It works. I say his name, click if he doesn't immediately turn to see what I want, tell him 'sit' and click again to get his attention as needed or to interrupt him every time his paws leave the ground. I use it instead of endlessly repeating his name, and I use it with hand signals when it's noisy (usually small, excited children). I have the other clicker (to click and reward) too and swap them depending on how we're doing at the moment. We've made a lot of progress in our training and then the day came when it saved us.

We have woods between us and a very busy road and while we were in back, a herd of deer crashed through with two bucks fighting. My dog learned he can get under the fence last week and he was under before I could catch him. I was sick and had lost my voice, but I grabbed the Ultrasonic Trainer and ran after him.

I found him, and while I couldn't call, I clicked. He turned and I signaled Sit. Despite the distance and the distractions, he did, just like we'd practiced. Every time his head turned away, or he started to get up, I clicked and signaled again. I was able to hike out and get the leash on him without having a voice to utter a single command.

It's not magic, but if you use it consistently, whatever your purpose, it can be a huge help -sometimes in situations you don't anticipate!

I wish I bought this 5 years ago. My cat has been waking me up every morning at 5 am wailing away. Two weeks ago I finally was done with him and considered putting him up for adoption. My wife saw the ultrasonic trainer and decided to give it a try. We were both skeptical and even tried to cancel the order but it was too late. We got the trainer and it only took three days. At 5 am the cat started meowing and I clicked the trainer. He tried again and I clicked again. And that was it. Normally the wailing would go on for 20 minutes. Next day same thing. And next day ...total silence. It has been a week and our cat hasn't meowed once at 5 am. Finally after 5 years I can sleep in. Amazing product. It saved my cat :)

Great product! Solved my dog-bark problems in time for my family's visit - whew! (We have coyotes roaming through here at night; 3 dogs barking at them woulda been not very hospitable!) Now, I don't even need batteries in it, I just point it at them...

With such success, I purchased the birdhouse (stationary) version; that has also helped a great deal with the one compulsive barker. Now he only barks out of range of it, way back behind the house where I cannot hear him. It likely bothers the neighbors, so I may be investing in another one. First, I'll try moving the one I have back there and seeing if barker figures out it isn't in front anymore.

PLEASE NOTE, however, that if you have only one dog barking, and others quiet but in range, it is cruel to subject them all to this punishment - and it is negative reinforcement (i.e, punishment), have no doubt. So I do not use the handheld version unless they are all barking. They usually all follow the barker's lead, however, so they have all barked and gotten the results, and have thus learned to be quiet on command.

Before the main barker learned to avoid barking in range of the birdhouse, the quieter dogs did suffer a bit, but they quickly learned to get out of range (or go back inside) if/when barker started barking.