Petsafe Stationary Ultrasonic Bark Control #PBC 1000 19 Review

The Ultrasonic Bark Control system by Petsafe is a small device that houses a microphone. Upon "hearing" your dog barking, it emits a two second tone that startles the dog and interrupts the barking. After a few times the dog associates his barking with the awful(to him) noise.  The noise is barely audible to humans.

I have three dogs and two of them love to hear themselves. A leaf falling off a tree into their territory is cause for alarm. A squirrel on the fence is a major breach and requires loud and ferocious yips until the offending rodent is well beyond the perimeter of our yard. Well, as much as I do appreciate the protection from squirrels and falling leaves, and every kid on a bike, jogger, mailman, UPS guy, you get the idea, my family really wanted things to quiet down around here. My husband recommended outplacement, thinking someone else may need their yard de-squirreled, but the thought of losing one of our furry family was too much to bare. Then we thought about surgery but felt it was to brutal. Earplugs were out, we needed to hear each-other. So in desperation,I tried this product, The Ultrasonic Bark control. 

The product works, but has design flaws that keep this from being truly great. First, the microphone doesn't work all that well. The dogs have to practically be barking right next to it and several times before it emits its sound.  A larger or better designed microphone that had a wider range would be much more effective.  The box says it works within 25 feet, but I have not found that to be the case. Also one of my dogs seems to set it off, while the other one has to be barking like a rabid beast before the thing does it's magic. 

I have found the Ultrasonic Bark control very effective when I push the button. Just keep an eye on the kiddies, as they think it is really fun to push the thing and watch the dogs jump and scramble! We have an adults only rule about pushing the button now.  I much prefer this to a citronella collar for many reasons, but mainly, my dogs are too small for them. And please do not even think about the "static" collars! I injured a previous fur baby's trachea with one of those and will live with the guilt forever.