For best results, the unit needs to be “on” and in use near the dog at all times. This unit is a training device, so the dog needs to hear this activate every time he barks. The unit will go into “stand by” mode when it doesn't detect barking. During this standby time, no power is being used, but the unit must stay “on.”

While many customers see the effects of the Dog Silencer within a few days, this unit is a training device and will depend on how quickly the dog associates the sound with his barking. We strongly recommend you give the unit two to three weeks to see full results.

If within the first few days you notice your dog barking at the unit or barking more than usual, this is part of the learning process in which the dog associates its bark with the sounds emitting from the Dog Silencer.

The Dog Silencer uses a high-pitched ultrasound that is designed to “irritate” the dog. It is not designed to cause pain or harm to their ears (we compare it to someone dragging their fingernails on a blackboard). We do not recommend using the Dog Silencer with puppies under one year of age as they are still developing their hearing. Please consult your veterinarian before using this product with puppies.

The sound from the Dog Silencer, although irritating, is not designed to hinder 100% of your dog's barking. If your dog “needs” to bark, he can. The Dog Silencer will not train the dog to stop barking out of instinct (at an intruder for example).

You can use batteries or electricity — it's your choice. For the base price, you get the Dog Silencer and its convenient remote control. If you chose this base option, you will run the unit on six “AA” batteries. For a limited time, we are including a 5-foot AC adapter. Do not use aftermarket AC adapters with the Dog Silencer. This will void your warranty.

Battery life varies on the dog's barking habits since the device only turns on when the dog barks. When first using the Dog Silencer, the dog will bark as usual since it has yet to associate it's barking with the sound frequencies. At first, the batteries may only last about a week. As the dog becomes trained and barks less, the batteries can last anywhere from 2–4 weeks. In addition, battery life will depend on the weather, the quality of the battery, and how often the unit is being activated. You may use rechargeable “AA” batteries if you wish.

Even though the Dog Silencer can “hear” barking up to 75 feet away, the sound emitted from the unit can travel up to 200 feet in a clear, straight path. If the dog is 100 feet away, for example, his barking alone probably won't activate the unit. But, pressing the remote control will activate the Dog Silencer manually and the dog will still be able to hear the corrective sound.

In addition, you can turn the Dog Silencer microphone sensitivity all the way down and activate your Dog Silencer using only the remote control. Not only does this allow you to train dogs over 75 feet away, but you can customize your own dog's training. This could include staying off furniture, away from the trash, and anything else you want to teach your dog to do. The key chain remote works up to 200 feet away from the main unit.

We do not recommend using sound-based bark control devices with invisible or electric fences. Here's why:

Invisible/electronic fence systems use a very similar high-pitched tone to “warn” the dog when he gets too close to the boundary of his yard. If he goes any further after hearing this tone, his collar emits a shock. Since the Dog Silencer (and all of our sound-based products) uses a very similar tone, this can confuse the dog. Since he has already associated this tone with his property boundaries, he cannot associate it with his barking. The same problem can occur if you try to use a “shocking” bark collar on your dog with an invisible-fence system. If the dog becomes confused between the two systems, this can make the barking worse. If you are using an invisible fence system, we recommend using a different stimulus to stop barking, such as a citrus-spray or vibrating collar. This way the dog will learn different outcomes for the two different behaviors (boundaries versus barking).

Ultrasonic sound cannot travel through solid objects like walls or solid fences. Make sure OnGuard is in clear line of sight of the dog you wish to train.

The high-pitched ultrasound emitted by the Dog Silencer will not penetrate any solid objects such as wood fences, windows, walls, or thick shrubbery. Sparse trees, window screens, chain link, and wrought-iron fences should be okay. Please see our video “Getting the Best Results” with your Dog Silencer.

We do not recommend using the Dog Silencer on puppies under one year of age. Please consult your veterinarian.

If the Dog Silencer is close to the dog, you may be able to adjust the microphone sensitivity higher to pick up howling or even whining. If this doesn't work, you might consider our BarkWise™ no-shock training collar for your dog. Also keep in mind that a dog might be howling or whining for reasons such as discomfort, fear, or anxiety. These issues should be discussed with a trainer or veterinarian instead of “punished” with any bark control system.

Cats and dogs have very similar hearing ranges, so if your cat is near the unit when it's activated, yes, it will probably bother the cat. But, the sound from the Dog Silencer does not go through walls or around corners. For example, if the Dog Silencer is located in the back yard, and your cat is in the front yard or even in the house, the sound should not bother him at all. If the Dog Silencer is being used indoors, you'll want to keep cats and / or rodent pets out of the area where that is being used.

The high-low dial on the side of the unit adjusts the microphone sensitivity. This is not a volume setting. You may adjust the sensitivity of the bark sensor between High ( if the dog is far away ) and Low ( if the dog is near the unit, or if the unit is being used indoors ). We recommend you start with the unit on low and then increase the sensitivity as needed. There is no volume change necessary on the Dog Silencer, as the ultrasonic frequencies can travel up to 200 feet in a clear, unobstructed path.

When using the “Audio” mode, you will hear the Dog Silencer activate. It's recommended you use this mode when adjusting the bark sensitivity when first setting up the unit. In addition, you can use the audio mode for older dogs or dogs with poor hearing as an alternative to ultrasonic sound training.

Ultrasonic sound is above the hearing range of humans, but is attention grabbing and irritating to dogs. This makes a safe and effective tool for dog training. It takes your dog's focus off of barking and towards the high-pitched sound.