Entertainment Center: TVs, Stereos, VCRs and DVDs - Want to use ultrasound to stop dog barking

Yesterday the neighbor's dog barked for 10 hours straight till 11:00pm. I have heard of a couple cases of guys who rigged up some kind of speaker/amplifier arrangement that emitted ultrasound waves to stop dog barking. People can't hear it, but it causes the dogs enough discomfort to stop the barking.

Where would I go for equipment and advice to do this. I'm not in the mood to hear from animal rights people. In fact, I'm still pissed off as I write this. Just want to know how to do this.

Thanks,
Dave

Contact the local authorities. Different areas have different authorities in charge of barking dogs. A dog that would bark 10 hours straight without a break for a drink, snack, or nap would be exhausted.

Here's a link that may be helpful. It includes a link to sound devices. http://www.barkingdogs.net/yourneighborsdog.shtml

There's a 50-50 chance that any device will work. There's a good chance that even if it does work the dog will get used to it and eventually ignore it.

Those devices sell for $40 to $70 according to the web site. Since you're willing to shell out cash, why not offer the neighbor $50 toward hiring a trainer?

If you must get one an want to build it, a Motorola/CTS piezo tweeter will produce the frequency of interest (30kHz should do nicely). You'll need a tone generator to produce a 30kHz sine wave and an audio amplifier that will handle that frequency. The piezo is rated for 75 watts, but half that should be plenty to blast a 100dB+ signal into the yard.

Thanks for responding to my inquiry about using ultrasound to stop dog barking. There are dog barking ordinances in my city. But you have to submit evidence to the prosecutor for review. I don't want to bother with that. I have also used a couple other techniques that have kept the problem under control.

The dog did occasionally take breaks. But it last about 10 hours.

Rick mentioned a website where I could buy the equipment. what is the website? Are there other websites to check out? Can I buy a kit for everything I need? I already tried Radio Shack.

Thanks,
Dave

on the link twelvepole provided, there are links within to the sound emitters.

I probably should have explained myself better on the first post. I am not really interested in buying one of those sound emitters. Half the time these don't work anyways. I am more interested in assembling one from parts. Wanted to learn how to do this.

Thanks,
Dave

I can't find anything readily avaialble on the net. iwoudl suggest hanging out at a few of the electronics builders forums and asking a few of them.

If you do find something, I would appreciate you coming back and letting us know if it works. I am curious as to how effective something like this actually is.

you have to submit evidence to the prosecutor for review. I don't want to bother with that.
Seems to me that a videotape with six hours of footage of the mutt blasting the neighborhood would be plenty of evidence. Just park the camera where it can see & hear the lil' darling, connect it to a VCR in SLP mode, and come back six hours later. Put the time & date on screen so the authorities know you haven't fudged the tape.

There are hobby ciruit websites all over the web that provide schematics for the sine wave generator and amplifier that you'll need to build.

The only speaker in any low-budget system that will reproduce the frequency of interest is the Motorola/CTS piezo tweeter. You can buy them just about anywhere for under $10. They are also found in cheap stereo speakers. They were originally brought to market 30+ years ago as ultrasonic bug killers, but that didn't work either.

By the time you add up the cost of parts and the time you'll spend building this thing that may or may not solve your problem, $50 will be a bargain.

I once bought a dog whistle to see if it would get my dog's attention. It was a simple piece of plastic that produced a frequency that only dogs can hear. It did get his attention, but only for a few minutes. He got bored with it before I did.

That said, there is a reason why that dog barks incessantly.

Some bark because they want to be with their family. Others are extremely territorial and bark if they sense another dog or "intruder" in their domain. The intruder could be something out of place in the backyard, or something that was blown in by the wind. Find the reason and you'll be the star of the neighborhood.

If your neighbors are neglecting that dog by leaving the poor critter outside all day with no food and water while they are at work, that's abuse and it should be reported.

My dog barks whenever something or someone enters his territory. We never let it go on for more than a few seconds. Several of the neighbors also have dogs, and they are also respectful of those who don't.

I suggest annoying the neighbors in the same way their dog has annoyed you. Record the dog barking. Then, when the neighbors are home, play your recording on some sort of PA system. Early Sunday morning is a good bet. Alternatively, you could play some 80's metal. Loud. That would get their attention.


But seriously, the owners may not even know their dog is creating a problem. You should contact them. If you are uneasy about confronting them, an animal control officer should at least be able to give them a warning. Perhaps the other neighbors have complained too, your reporting will strengthen the case.

"But seriously, the owners may not even know their dog is creating a problem." A very good point. I they are not home, then they do not know. As a previous poster indicated, it may be neglect. Continue to contact the authorities persistently.

You have been given lots of advice here. City Councils do not act unless they receive a letter in writing. Write your city council and get on the agenda. Demand to know what the ordinances are and ask that they be enforced. If not action is taken, continue to request to be on the agenda. Council does not want to look bad.

Yeah, the city prosecutor prefers a petition signed by at least three people. But they will also review a complaint from one person with evidence of barking.

The 2 neighbors know their dog barking is a problem.

Actually, I have greatly reduced dog barking using these methods:

1. I obtained one neighbors phone number. I called several times very late at night and played a recording of the dog barking over the phone. or I would tell him to get the barking to stop. I figured I would give him a taste of his own medicine by waking him up at 3:00 am.

2. I also sent letters to neigbbors.

3. I have also waited very late at night to blast an air horn at another neighbor's window or at the dog.

4. Soaked the dog with water.

Anything more than the occasional yapping is excessive to me.