We Beagle owners know that Beagles are like humans in that they use their voices to communicate. Hello! Goodbye! Wait--take me with you! I'm bored! I'm excited to see you! Give me the ball! There's a falling leaf! RABBIT! RABBIT! RABBIT! There's a dog four blocks away! Just like humans, some Beagles use their voices more than we'd like them to. What to do??? There are different sorts of anti-bark collars. There is the electric kind that gives a mild but obnoxious shock (yes I tried it). These come in basic and programmable models. We have tried a number of different kinds of electric bark collars. The disadvantage is that the collars have electrodes that poke into the neck and look like they'd be uncomfortable. Sometimes the collar will be triggered by another barking dog or by bumping it on a hard object. That's not fair! However, the collars mostly work and the neighbors appreciate that. There are some dogs that do not seem to be impressed with them, however.

Another type of anti-bark collar squirts citronella at the dog instead of giving a shock. Dogs hate that. This works a lot better. I don't think it is the citronella so much as the hissing sound that they don't like. There are no electrodes and the unit does not seem to register bumps and other barking dogs. My neighbors swear by these things!!!

The Animal Behavior Systems, Inc. (800-627-9447) citronella collar is available from New England Serum (800-637-3786) and other mail order doggy suppliers. At around $100 and $12 for a refill canister, it is a bit pricey. Chances are your neighbors will chip in...