"My Neighbours Threatened To Call Animal Control" — How I Finally Stopped The Barking Without Hurting My Dog

Last month, I received a note taped to my front door that made my stomach drop. It was from my neighbour.

It read: "If you don't shut that dog up, we are calling the council."

I was mortified. I knew my Golden Retriever, Max, barked when I left for work, but I didn't realise it was constant. I felt trapped. I couldn't stay home all day, and I certainly wasn't going to use one of those cruel shock collars that zap your dog into submission.

I felt hopeless. The barking was ruining my relationship with my neighbours.

The "Old School" Solutions Failed Me

I spent hundreds on trainers who charged me $200 an hour. I tried yelling "Quiet!", but as I later learned from animal behaviourists, shouting actually reinforces the barking. To a dog, your loud voice sounds like you are barking along with them, validating their alarm.

I started looking into anti-bark collars, but the reviews horrified me. Burns? Anxiety? No way. I wanted to stop the noise, not traumatise my best friend.

Then I Found The "BarkBuddy"

A colleague from the dog park mentioned she used a device that looked like a little birdhouse. She called it her "peacekeeper."

It wasn't a collar. It was a standalone device called BarkBuddy.

I was skeptical. "A sound? Will that really stop a 70lb Golden Retriever?" But it was on sale, and cost less than one council fine, so I ordered one.

The First Test

It arrived in two days. It was small, discreet, and didn't require me to put anything on Max. I set it up on the kitchen counter, turned it on, and waited.

The mailman arrived. Max ran to the window and let out a massive "WOOF!"

The device blinked.

Max stopped mid-bark. He tilted his head, looked around, and... sat down. Silence.

He wasn't hurt—he was just confused! The barking stopped instantly.

I couldn't believe it. No zap, no yelling, no stress. Just immediate, humane correction.

Why I Recommend BarkBuddy To Every Dog Owner

Since getting it, the note on my door has been replaced by a neighbour asking, "Did you get rid of the dog? It's so quiet!"

I can finally leave the house without worrying about a $2,000 noise abatement fine waiting for me when I get home. It's a simple, logical solution to a complex problem.

• It's 100% Humane: No shocks, no prongs, no pain. You don't have to feel guilty.
• It works on all dogs: My sister used it on her tiny Chihuahua, and it worked just as well.
• Set it and forget it: It's automatic. I don't even have to be in the room.