Dog Silencer MAX

[Timothy Huang]

I stumbled upon this page like many others looking for a solution to a problem.

Let me just say for the record I have already purchased an ultrasonic device:  https://ultimatebarkcontrol.com/products/dog-silencer-max

It works - the device is sound-activated (with adjustable sensitivity), and when triggered, it plays an ultrasonic sound from its piezo transducer (at least I think it is a piezo transducer).

This has worked on both of my neighbor's dogs - even the one that my neighbor claimed was deaf (which is somehow an excuse for him barking?). The dog barks, the device picks up the sound, plays an ultrasonic one, and it makes the dog uncomfortable. Eventually the dog learns that barking makes it uncomfortable. Negative reinforcement.

Now, the first problem here is just how expensive the device is. $140. The second problem is the concept of negative reinforcement. It is not as good as positive reinforcement, because it does not seem to be a lasting training technique. If you stop using the device for a while, the dog eventually gets wise and goes back to barking again. It definitely does not have the long-term training results that positive reinforcement does.

That being said, you can always opt not to stop using the device.

Now, what I am wondering here is - is the TQC v2.2.2 basically the same thing as the Dog Silencer MAX but without the sound-activated trigger? Can we come together and make a schematic that won't cost $140+???