Dog owner's electric collar shock

CLARIFICATION: In this story, dog owner Jeannie Johansson said her dog Hugo had been curled up in a ball "when we went to get him'' and that he looked frightened. To clarify, Mrs Johansson's daughter collected the dog and a kennel worker had told her the dog was curled up asleep.

However, there was no suggestion the dog was curled up frightened.

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How do you stop a dog from barking? And barking.

Rotorua dog lover Jeannie Johansson was shocked to discover her dog Hugo was zapped with an electric collar to shut him up, while he stayed at Kaharoa Boarding Kennels.

However, the kennels' owner Chris Hill says the collar - which senses a dog is about to bark and emits a small shock - was a last resort after Hugo barked constantly for two hours.

Mrs Johansson loves Hugo. She says if she had known Hugo, 9, was wearing a "no-bark" collar she would have driven from Auckland to Rotorua collect him.

She had not realised the collar would be used and says kennel owners should advertise the fact they use them.

However, Mr Hill said Mrs Johansson signed an agreement stating the kennel was "the keeper" of Hugo for two days and it was up to them how the dog was disciplined.

Mrs Johansson discovered Hugo had been shocked when she picked up the german short-haired pointer and it was wearing a "no-bark" collar.

Mrs Johansson said she was not completely against using the collars for young dogs in training, but she didn't think they were suitable for old dogs.

"When we went to get him, he was curled up in a little ball ... He looked frightened," Mrs Johansson said.

"We would have driven back from Auckland to pick him up if we knew he wasn't settling.

"Yes he does bark when people arrive or when he is fretting but he quickly settles down."

Hugo lives with Mrs Johansson during the week and with her daughter Donna on the weekends.

Mr Hill said he suspected Hugo barked as he thought he was going to Donna's house.

"In a way they are responsible for his heightened anxiety. For them to make a huge song and dance about it is not fair," he said.

"I feel for the dog but once it goes on and on it starts the others up and we can't have the neighbours complaining."

There were about 25 dogs a day at the kennels and the collar was used less than once a month.

"I don't use it unless all other means don't work. It sounds like they think I don't care for dogs, which hurts me.

"I've been training them for 25 years."

Steve Matthews, owner of Bimler's Pet Ranch said he used such a collar on his own dog as it barked at people "coming and going".

"I think they're a good idea. I don't think they harm the dog."

He said he did not use them at the ranch as there was no need.

A spokesman for Cameronian Pet Lodge in Ngakuru said although he did not use the collars he understood why Mr Hill did.

"He's obviously thinking of his neighbours ... a barking dog just drives you mad. You have to experience it yourself to know."