Customer Reviews

PetSafe Outdoor Ultrasonic Bark Deterrent

5 star:		(218)
4 star:		(106)
3 star:		(69)
2 star:		(70)
1 star:		(248)

 

 

We've been bothered by a neighbor's dog that comes out periodically day and night and just barks for 10 to 30 minutes -- usually facing our house. We got this product, found a spot in the trees facing the dog, and set it up. It's really worked as advertised. The dog starting barking, as usual, but then seemed to bark fewer times, and with less noise. As three weeks have passed, we hear the dog give one or two "test" yelps (more than barks) presumably to see if it still gets "zapped' by the machine. Since it does, it stops barking immediately. No more gritting teeth (for us) for 10 to 30 minutes, as before. So, I'm delighted with this and wholeheartedly recommend it.

HERE'S THE SCOOP ON IT:
A new family moved in next door. They brought with them a german shepard looking dog that they keep in the back yard. This dog barks non-stop all day long, and it's a very deep and violent bark. It boggles the mind how these people next door can be so oblivious to the barking. We couldn't enjoy the inside of our own home due to the barking. Something had to be done immediately. I read the reviews on here which seem to have mixed results. I didn't care if it was going to be a waste of money or not because I had to try something. I bought it and hung it on a tree next to our wooden privacy fence. The instuctions say not to hang it higher than 5ft but we had no choice but to hang it higher. It's hanging on the tree about 7-8ft high and it's pointed down toward the middle of their yard. IT IMMEDIATELY WORKED. We were amazed. It barked once and I guess it heard the noise and it didn't bark for 2 days after that. After about the 3rd day it would give a test bark and then it would quit. We thought it was so funny. Finally relief. However, after 2 weeks the dog started on a rampage of barking non-stop again. We were thinking to ourselves that the dog must be used to it. But after taking it down, we noticed the 9 Volt battery was already dead. I guess we just have to replace the battery every two weeks, but we will. I don't think the 9 Volt lasts very long in the cold.

But, to sum it up, it worked. Also, the dog looks fairly young so I'm sure it's hearing is acute, meaning that it's getting blasted when it barks. HAHA, we win.

Update on 02-27-09 - The dog next door seems to have adjusted to this bark deterrent, and now barks when he wants to, although he doesn't bark non-stop like he once did before we hung this device in our tree. So it worked for a while and trained the dog a little I guess.

This "deterrent" has had zero effect on my neighbor's dogs. In fact, they run right up near the thing (within 2 or 3 feet) and seemingly bark AT it. And they don't stop. They just seem to be annoyed at it rather than learning not to bark. I am not impressed with this product and question the legitimacy of the 5 star reviews. I do not recommend this item. The merchant, Key Products, was excellent, however. I did receive it within 4 days of ordering with regular shipping and I would recommend them. Just not for this product.

We have two mid-to-large dogs (ridge hound, and black lab mix). The ridge hound is trained, so adding the bark control was no problem. He reacted as expected - only to test to see if the device is still around from time to time. However, the black lab mix is stubborn and will bark every once in a while directly at the device to show dominance. We have a neighbor with a very bark-happy beagle. When we directed the device toward their back yard (approximately 200 feet away - or two lots) - the reaction was immediate, and the beagle stopped barking right away. Per the previous reviews, it is probable that this device may not have the expected outcome for small dogs. A hypothesis would be that 1) small dog pitch does not activate control, or 2) small dog tends to be either stubborn of lacks reasoning with when affected by the control.

Another observation in studying this product is that after about 1 weeks worth of use, there has been a significant decline in Grackles (black birds) in the garden. There may not be a correlation, but we will continue to monitor and report.

So, in short, this is not the end-all product, and gets 4 stars. However, if you are looking for a solution to address mid-size and larger dogs, then this product exceeds expectations. Remember, be kind to animals. Taper the use of this product of the course of a few days. Then, reintroduce this product as necessary to maintain awareness of the control with the dog.

If you have dogs like mine that bark just for fun, over EVERYTHING, and you want ton fix it buy this birdhouse. It worked instantly! We have 3 very vocal dogs, a german sheppard (THEY ARE NOTORIOUS BARKERS)and 2 little yippy dogs. It has even helped with their indoor barking, they definately think twice before they do it. I am not telling you anything but the truth, I wish I had bought this months/yrs ago. It has helped even our neighbors dog who would get it a bark-off with our dogs. Now they are angels. It has only been up for about 14 hrs. and I feel compelled to promote this product to anyone considering buying it. It is well worth the money!

We've had this about a week and it is working! Our 10 year old Great Pyrenees is quite a barker, and I've never been able to train it out of her. I love this product, but PLEASE BEWARE! I didn't realize the vacuum cleaner was setting it off and my poor dog was suffering needlessly. Also, clapping and other loud noises, even loud voices can set it off. I had it sitting on the kitchen table, and when we set something on the table it went off.

I wish I had found this product 10 years ago. She's even stopped barking at the mailman. But please make sure you pay attention to what else could set off the controller (it has a red light indicator to let you know) as it really does seem to hurt a dog's ears.

"This product is fantastic. I have my yard back. The world's most annoying dogs and their owners have become good neighbors in spite of themselves. When I placed this in my yard, the neighbor's dogs immediately came over to the fence to bark and growl as they always do. After the very first bark they backed away from the fence. Now when I go out into my back yard, they may bark tentatively once or twice from the far side of the yard, but usually not. These are the same dogs that would try to bite through the fence, now they don't even approach it."

I bought this product because the alternative would have ended up with two dead beagles and probably me in jail. Installed it facing over the fence, and the ridiculous howling has been reduced to one howl followed by silence until their little brains forget and they howl again. I'd say the improvement is in the area of 70%, plus the added fact that the owner now sees a flashing light which he thinks is some kind of recording device. I had read that the product does not work on deaf dogs, which may explain the (limited) continued howling. Though expensive, this product is worth a huge amount when compared to the cost of disruption caused by people buying dogs because they think they look cool instead of doing research and realizing that beagles are actually disciples of satan.

All three of my dogs dislike the sound it produces, but only one of my dogs can be tagged as an excessive barker. He especially hates it, which you may think means this birdhouse does its job. However, it is very important for all future buyers to know: Any sound sets it off. Shutting a car door, calling for my dogs to come eat, closing the house door, talking too close to it, the cat meowing, and music have all set it off. I've tried all the levels. This product says it is for excessive barking, and I mistakenly thought it would beep after continuous sound.

Not only does the dog think he is being punished after the first and only bark, but he is also being punished for every sound. The dogs are miserable and hide on the other side of the house. It is impossible for this to be a teaching tool. It may impact the dog's personality. Either they will learn to tolerate the sound and go about their normal barking, or they will seclude themselves. This product needs to be improved.

We have been blessed with new neighbors with three large dogs. The dogs bark at everyone who passes, including my family every time we enter our back yard. I purchased the Petsafe PBC00-11216 in an attempt to tone this annoyance down and left it in place for three weeks. I mounted it on a post facing their yard and noticed no reaction from the dogs. The indicator turned on in response to the barking, but the dogs did not seem to react at all.