Dog Training Tips and News

Ultrasonic Dog Trainer - Equipment For Dog Training

The hearing range of dogs is from about 20 cycles per second to over 50,000 cycles per second. While this range is similar, on the low end, to that of people, the upper range in dogs is more than twice as high as in people.

Dogs can hear, but learn to ignore, many sounds in the environment that are inaudible to people (ultrasound is above about 20,000 cycles per second). However, most dogs and other mammals react strongly to a short ultrasonic beep, much as humans react to a sudden movement at the edge of their peripheral visual field.

Extremely loud sounds above about 120 decibels, produced within 4-6 inches of the dog\'s ear, can produce pain and defensive startle reflexes. The ultrasonic devices mentioned here produce ultra-sound well below the pain threshold. Their effectiveness lies in momentarily interrupting the dog\'s attention to the undesirable behavioral activity, with a beep of ultrasound. When the sound is paired with a word or movement, a conditioned response can be taught.

Bio-Sonic Beanbags: This new device, nick-named The Magic Beanbag, combines Pavlovian and operant conditioning principles to:

1. Distract, or stop, the dog as he starts unwanted behavior, which is reinforced by certain movements, etc., and praise or petting,

2. Teach commands or behavior by combining the beep with a command to gain a conditioned orienting response, which is reinforced by the owner\'s actions and praise to teach a conscious motor movement, posture or behavior (such as silence, if the dog were about to start barking.) The ultra-sound is made by 2-ounces of soldered, closed-link high-brass chain in a beanbag. The sound occurs when the device lands on the ground or when it is shaken once in the hand.

Dog-Master Systems: Formerly called Hi-FiDo and Sound Rx, several different Dog-Master devices are now available through mail order houses, along with an accompanying manual and more than 30 audio tapes concerning use of the device to correct various behavioral problems. The devices consist of a chain of brass links. The ultrasound (about 34,000 cycles per second) is produced by tossing the device at the dog\'s feet, or holding it in the hand and giving a single, quick shake. Both methods require considerable practice before the device can be used with the dog. Manual, vocal and visual timing skills must be practiced until the user\'s full attention can be devoted to the dog to detect its responses, often as subtle as the flick of an ear or a subtle change in gait or posture.

Pet-Agree Pet Trainer: Pet-Agree is a hand-held ultrasonic transducer powered by a 9-volt battery. It is manufactured by K-II Enterprises. A more powerful device is available to government agencies, utility companies and businesses, as a deterrent against aggressive dogs. When the device is pointed at the dog, pushing its button emits an ultrasonic frequency of about 22,000 cycles per second, along with an audible frequency. This alerts or startles most dogs, depending on how close the device is to the dog.

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