Dog Silencer Max Review: Must Read Before Buying

Filed in Dog Products by on November 24, 2020

Dog Silencer Max Review

Does your dog have a barking problem?

Maybe you own a dog who always barks, or perhaps you live next door to one; either way, it’s a headache.

Excessive barking is a common complaint for dog owners.

It’s one thing for a dog to bark at the mailman, or when your neighbor’s doorbell rings, but it’s quite another to have a dog that barks at every moving thing!

If you’re running out of solutions – or if this is your first desperate attempt – I highly recommend checking out this page about Dog Silencer Max Review.

You can buy the Dog Silencer Max on their website.

As an affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases, but I only recommend products I find trustworthy and you pay nothing extra.

Benefits of the Dog Silencer Max

This bark control device made by Good Life has many benefits.  Here’s the main ones:

1. Works With Multiple Pets At Once

two wolf dogs in field

Bark collars may not be an effective solution for many people since they only allow you to train one dog at a time. If you have three dogs, the cost for bark collars can add up quickly!

The Dog Silencer Max is effective for deterring multiple dogs from barking at once. It features fold-out feet to help stand it up on a ledge, plus you can buy an optional wall mount with pan & tilt for $14.95 to let you hang it on a wall, fence, tree, deck and more.

It’s also weather-resistant and can be used both indoors and outdoors.

2. Silent Ultrasonic Sound That Doesn’t Disturb Humans

Woman putting finger to lips to show silenceRegular bark collars use a light shock, vibration or spray of citronella to deter dogs from barking, but that may only be effective in the short-term.

You also have to refill the collar’s cartridge or recharge it every night, and then remember to put the collar on in the morning. By the way, the same company (Good Life) also offers the Barkwise Complete Dog Collar for that purpose.

The Dog Silencer Max, however, doesn’t shock, vibrate or spray barking dogs. Instead, it uses high-pitched, ultrasonic frequencies that are six times more powerful than competing products.

And don’t worry, “ultrasonic” sounds intense, but it will not harm our dog or damage their hearing in any way! It’s like nails on a chalkboard for humans.

While this will definitely discourage a dog from barking, the sound is too high for people to hear; so you won’t be bothered one bit.

The Dog Silencer Max will last much longer than a traditional bark control device as well. It comes with a five-foot AC adapter for constant use, or you can power it with six AA batteries.

They also offer a solar panel as a separate accessory to keep the device powered with more energy efficiency.

As a side note, I wrote an article talking about Citronella bark collars if interested.

3. Long Distance Barking Detection And Range

Dog standing in fieldThe Dog Silencer Max has some of the highest ranges on the market.

It can automatically detect barking from up to 75 feet away, and the subsequent ultrasonic sound frequencies travel up to 300 feet!

Who knows, the whole neighborhood may thank you for keeping this device in your backyard.

Good Life raised the bar with the Dog Silencer Max. Not only does it have a further sound range than the original Dog Silencer, but the Silencer Max is also 40% louder than its predecessor.

You won’t have to wonder if your dog hears the noise or not; with that kind of power, rest assured that they do!

4. Remote Control For Manual Training

Even with the impressive bark detection range, you might want some added control while you’re training your dog to respond to the Dog Silencer Max.

The device package includes a portable remote keychain that you can use to activate the Dog Silencer Max, provided you are within the 75-foot detection range.

In the early stages, the device may not detect your dog’s every bark due to improper placement or other “learning curves” of that nature.

With the remote control, you can make sure your dog hears the high-pitched sounds every time they bark, so they learn more quickly that constant barking will only garner an unpleasant sound – not the attention they’re demanding!

Keep in mind that you still need a clear line of sight between the dog and the main device. This is important for the dog to correctly hear the sound.  The remote can work through walls, but the main device needs a clear direct line of sight with the dog.

5. Optional Accessories For Even More Benefits

As mentioned previously, you can purchase an optional wall mount with pan & tilt for $14.95 to allow you to hang it on a wall, fence, tree, deck and more.

Additionally, they now offer an optional solar power option for $59.95 to power the device without any batteries or wires. You will save on having to buy batteries or keeping the device plugged in all the time.

Lastly, they offer an optional sound-amplifying cone to increase the sound by 4–6 dB.

Features & Specs

  • Ultrasonic sound travels up to 300 feet (farther than any other product on the market)
  • Detects barking up to 75 feet away
  • Shock and spray-free for a humane yet effective solution to nuisance barking
  • Convenient remote control option with up to 75-foot range
  • Suitable for indoor and outdoor use – water-resistant and stormproof
  • Lightweight – only weighs 1 pound
  • Easy to set up with Fold-Out Feet, Mounting Holes, or optional Wall Mount with Pan & Tilt
  • Long power lifespan with AC adapter or six AA batteries
  • Solar panel accessory sold separately for even more energy efficiency
  • Sound-amplifying cone sold separately to increase sound by 4-6 dB.
  • One-year manufacturer’s warranty and 60-day money-back guarantee

What Do Customers Say

Man taking phone call at computer

It should come as no surprise that customers give raving reviews and five stars for the Dog Silencer Max.

Michelle from Canada wrote a review on Good Life’s website that her dog used to be terrible about barking outside, which concerned her since the neighbors would be bringing home a new baby soon.

The Dog Silencer Max stopped her dog’s barking instantly and solved the problem before the young family got home. She thanked them repeatedly on their website.

Other customers had little faith in the Dog Silencer Max but came to see the light soon after installing it. Chris from the US left a review saying that he was skeptical of the device but desperate, so he decided to give it a try.

His new neighbors included five dogs that barked incessantly, much to his chagrin, and Chris had had enough. He got the device in place and let the training unfold. The “lead” dog was a bit more stubborn than the rest, but there was finally peace in the neighborhood within a few weeks. He said it took three weeks, but he finally has quiet restored.

While some customers like Chris had to wait a few weeks to see the full results with multiple dogs, others saw an immediate change for all of them.

Manny from Australia wrote a review describing instant success using the Dog Silencer Max with his two dogs.

The device stopped his dogs’ barking habits from the first time he turned it on, and they didn’t show any signs of discomfort or distress. The two pups just quit barking and ran back over to Manny with wagging tails!

Some Drawbacks

1. Doesn’t Penetrate Solid Objects

When you install your Silencer Max, you need to be mindful of its placement since the sound cannot travel through solid objects such as walls or windows.

For instance, if your dog barks a lot inside and you install the Silencer Max in the living room, it will be ineffective at stopping your dog from barking when he’s outside.

Make sure that you keep the device in the area where your dog barks the most to get the best results.

2. Impacts Other Pets

cat and dog on couchMany customers say that they have used the Dog Silencer Max to train multiple dogs to stop barking at once.

While this is a huge benefit in most cases, it also means that other pets – even quiet ones – will experience the annoying ultrasonic sounds as well. So long as they are in the same area as the device, of course.

However, if your Silencer Max is outside with your barking dog, and another pet – say, a cat – is inside your house, your cat will not hear the irritating noises through the walls.

3. Should Not Be Combined with Invisible Fence Systems

Electronic and invisible fence systems often utilize a high-pitched sound to signal your dog that he’s getting too close to the fence line.

From your dog’s perspective, the sound frequencies from the Dog Silencer Max sound very similar to that of the electric fence.

As a result, he could become confused and even fearful if he hears that noise in a different place than he’s used to hearing it.

Good Life does not recommend combining these two training methods for your pup for this reason.

Though you should evaluate these concerns for your specific situation, there aren’t many deal breakers for the Dog Silencer Max, and the pros outweigh the cons by a landslide.

However, if you feel any others should be added to our Dog Silencer Max Review, let us know!

Compared to Zelers Sonic Bark Deterrent

In short, the Dog Silencer Max blows the competition out of the water, but let’s take a closer look at why that is.

Another top dog silencer is the Zelers Sonic Bark Deterrent. Much like Dog Silencer Max, the Zelers Sonic Bark Deterrent is compact, easy to mount, and suitable for indoor and outdoor use.

However, it only detects barking up to 50 feet away. It sends an ultrasonic sound between 15 and 50 feet away, depending on what level you set it to – not quite the 300 feet that Dog Silencer Max can provide.

Additionally, the Zelers Sonic Bark Deterrent is powered by a single nine-volt battery, so it runs out of power within a matter of days if your dog is constantly barking.

Even though the Zelers Sonic Bark Deterrent is similar in theory, it doesn’t hold a candle to Dog Silencer Max’s uncompromising, long-lasting performance.

Conclusion

Dog Silencer Max by Good Life makes an excellent barking deterrent device.

It can work with multiple dogs at a time, does not disturb humans, is not harmful to your dog, works at long distances, and provides remote control for manual training.

This humane solution to barking works both indoors and outdoors and gets great dog silencer reviews from customers.

With only a few minor drawbacks, this product gets five-star ratings and excellent customer reviews. It also beats out the competition in many areas such as having a longlasting performance.

Let us know if you have any questions or comments or anything else to add to our Dog Silencer Max Review.

Comments (56)

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  1. Dan says:

    I purchased the unit about 6 weeks ago and immediately put it to use. This unit has NO effect on the neighbor’s 3 barking dogs. They continue to bark as much as they did before I purchased it. I followed instructions exactly but to no avail. Sorry, but I can’t recommend this device.

    • Todd says:

      Hi, sorry to hear you had a bad experience. I went ahead and contacted the company regarding your complaints. First, have you contacted their customer service? If so, then you can disregard the rest of my advice. However, if not, they told me that often times when the device isn’t working, it’s not setup correctly (and there are a variety of reasons why this might be the case). Their customer service team can go through your setup, extend your trial period if necessary, or offer an exchange or refund depending on your situation. Let me know how you make out.

    • David says:

      I agree that is is a con device. Junk. Only one yipping is me for letting myself get con’d by this lying company. Do NOT buy this product!!!

      And Todd always says sorry!!! Buy means Thank you for making himself rich. $$$$

      • Todd says:

        Hi yes I do say sorry because I realize that this device does not work for all dogs. I also normally allow all comments, even negative ones, on my blog to keep my readers informed. While I disagree that this is a con device, I appreciate everyone’s feedback and let my readers decide.

    • Eric Morton says:

      I also purchased this trash waste of money they shouldn’t this junk you shouldn’t have to bargain with your neighbors about a barking dog

    • Owen says:

      Either you set it up wrong or the dogs are deaf. I had two dogs barking all the time and this unit quieted them in less than two weeks time. Check the batteries, they wear down quickly. Can’t even tell there are dogs there anymore. I love it!

  2. Tim says:

    The Dog Silencer Max is a total farce and a piece of junk. I might as well have thrown $215 in a hole and covered it up. What a waste of time and money.

    • Todd says:

      Sorry to hear you had a bad experience. Many times with these anti-bark products, it is hit or miss. I’m assuming you’ve already contacted customer service, but I would recommend that. While I’ve also read good reviews for Dog Silencer Max, I appreciate the feedback.

  3. charlie aughenbaugh says:

    I just received my dog silencer max. I set it up, put on audio and high sensitivity. I hung it in clear line of sight to the dog, 50 ft away, and the dog just laughed at it, even barked louder and longer. what a waste of money this item is.

  4. Melinda Ray says:

    I ordered dog silencer max as I had neighbor move in with 2 Rockweiler’s. Barking incessantly I approached neighbor that said their dogs did not bark!
    Within minutes of putting dog silencer in my window did the dog silencer work! I am tickled pink! Dogs no longer come outside to bark!
    I am so thankful this worked! I had seriously considered moving after 31 years in my home! But now I have my home back!

  5. Charles Creameans says:

    Bought this thing, set it up. Worked for about a week. Watched the dogs go running the first time I turned it on. A week later dogs are looking at me with it in my hand,light still flashing. No effect. Waste of money.

  6. Shawn Neary says:

    Bought 2, set them up in tandem to control 5 caged dogs( 2 bloodhounds) that barked constantly together for hours on end. Technician at company says two devices rigged together increases range by 25 ft. Got a fairly clear line of sight( some slight twigs and brush in the way) to shoot at dogs laser ranged @ 272 ft. from end of my deck. Using the remote for 8 straight days now, been on top of it every second they barked. Bottom line, unbelievable results. They bark, I press remote 2 or 3 times, maybe 4, they’re done. Three hours later, they try again, 2 or 3 presses of remote, done. Rest of nite, done. Again, took eight days to achieve results, but probably have 90-95% less barking than before. Read reviews of other customers saying they had no results, gotta believe they doing something wrong or device is defective.

    • Todd says:

      Wow that’s awesome!

    • sw8dishgirl says:

      that’s encouraging. We need a minimum of 200 feet to reach their property, and it’s across a road. I don’t imagine the device will detect the barking, but at least I can do something similar to what you did. I am more confident about buying this product. Thank you for your detailed review!!

  7. Fred says:

    So the remote turns the machine on, or sends a signal every time you push it? I have a neighbor that lets his dog poop on my lawn when he is walking it. I asked the company, but said it wouldn’t work like that. I’m hoping it sends a signal when you push the remote. Thanks for any help.

    • Todd says:

      Hi, the remote sends a signal every time you push it, so it activates the ultrasonic sound. It doesn’t turn the unit on and off. I confirmed this in the product’s manual where the unit must already be turned on for the remote to work. It also says specifically that you can use the remote to train other unwanted behavior.

    • Mrs Wells says:

      Your neighbour should pick up after his dog’s poo which is mandatory.
      If it was my lawn I would tell my neighbor to do the right thing
      (in a nice way) so as not to upset your neighbor.

  8. John says:

    Does this product come with the power cord or is it extra?

  9. Nancy says:

    Is this device activated/turn on when a dog starts to bark? Is the device activated by human voices?

    • Todd says:

      Yes, it is supposed to turn on when the dog starts to bark. There is also a remote control if you want to manually operate it. It does not turn on from human voices.

  10. Con says:

    Hi
    Must the device be placed facing the dog such that the barking is projected almost directly towards it? If not, will it still be just as effective in picking up the barks and activating the ultrasonic sound waves? The fence where I can place it is at right angles to the projected barking.

    • Todd says:

      My understanding is that there needs to be a clear line of sight, but your dog doesn’t have to be directly in front of it. There’s a bark sensitivity dial on the device to control how sensitive it is to detect your dog’s barking. The closer your dog is to the device, the less sensitive you need the dial to be set.

  11. Susan H says:

    We bought this a week or so ago. And unfortunately it does not seem to be working. We are hoping it is just the location we put it in. We will try another spot. I am very disappointed so far especially since it cost over 200$

  12. Oeter van der Stam says:

    Hi there,
    Your reviewer writes: does not go through solid objects.
    I do have a few of those barkers behind a wooden fence. What about them ?
    Works from my balcony ( about 20-25 meters away? Or not at all?
    Regards

    • Todd says:

      According to their manual, it will not go through solid objects like walls and fences, hedges or thick foliage. If there is not a clear line of sight, it sounds like it might be an issue.

  13. Stacey says:

    Is there a setting that allows you to only use the remote? I ask because they said a door closing or ambient noise could set it off and confuse the dog. Also, does it work with dog whining?

    • Todd says:

      Yes, there is a way to do that. Their directions say to turn the bank sensitivity dial all the way down, so that barking does not trigger it. The unit will then only activate by pressing the remote. You can use the remote to target other types of behavior such as jumping, whining, etc. Keep in mind that every dog is different, so I do not know how your specific dog will react.

  14. Satisfied says:

    This product WORKS. My neighbor has four wonderful dogs, two of whom incessantly bark when their people are away. They are good dogs, just bored and woefully NEGLECTED. I consider them friends (the dogs, not the neighbors). Our boundary is over 300′ long, their street frontage is also >300′. I bought two boxes, spaced them 100′ apart, aimed ENE and ESE. I instantly saw their dumbfounded reaction. They shut up and went back to the house. For me, the remote even sometimes works >100′ away when needed. The ultrasound range does appear to be effective beyond 200′. But now the dogs go to the other side of their lot and bark toward their other neighbor’s house. They can’t hear my ultrasound corrections when they’re that far away.
    COMPLAINT: The Dog Silencer works, but the microphone on one of mine failed within the warranty period. Sending a simple exchange return label seems to be difficult for them. My impression is that it’s just not one of their priorities. For the price they’re charging, I think they could do better.

    • Satisfied says:

      UPDATE: The replacement box ARRIVED today, works great. The exchange process took a long time but they DO HONOR their agreement. Now I have another problem. At some point in the past two weeks my neighbor evidently spotted the box, jumped the fence and stole it. I hope they did their research and realize that this is a HUMANE way to deter barking. We’ve politely asked them for OVER THREE YEARS to address this problem, they didn’t, so we took matters into our own hands.

      • Michelle says:

        @ Satisfied: Isn’t that something? The very people CAUSING the problem, go and steal your expensive counter-measure? These people really are incredibly inconsiderate a**holes. All YOU want is peace and quiet. It’s like the equivalent of someone farting on you, and then stealing the little fan you bought to blow it away from you! They INSIST on robbing you of your peace.

        • Mark says:

          @ Satisfied: It’s so important that you call the police to report that your horrible neighbor stole your device from your property. That’s considered a felony in most states. Failing to do so will most likely empower your neighbor into thinking he can get away from committing such a crime. He will likely do something even worse to you or your property in the future.

  15. DeAnna says:

    So I bought this for my 4 dogs, some of whom bark incessantly when we come home or starting at 4am when they decide they want to eat (they don’t eat until around 5:45am). Within 2 days the barking has stopped. EXCEPT one of my dogs is now terrified of her crate and has to be dragged into it! Yes, worked on the barking but now I have another problem–terrified dog won’t go into crate. Any suggestions?

    • Todd says:

      That is really surprising. While I’m not a dog professional, I would guess somehow your dog (for whatever reason) associates the crate with something bad. Maybe you could try some crate training techniques by feeding them inside the crate or putting their favorite toys or treats inside to make them comfortable with it again?

  16. Max says:

    Worked for about a week, then back to usual barking.
    As with the other ultrasonic devices there is no way to know whether it is even doing anything, so I can’t tell if it stopped working or a dog just got used to it.
    Wasted money

    • Crazy Johnny Sunshine says:

      “As with the other ultrasonic devices there is no way to know whether it is even doing anything”

      Is there some type of microphone that can pick up ultra high frequency sounds? I would think there should be. I would even think there should be an app that allows a standard smart phone to detect that but I haven’t checked yet. I have the same need to know if a product like this is actually sending the sounds out or not. That would be helpful in determining if and when they fail. It sounds like they may have a higher failure rate than they should but if we could know for certain if the signal is being sent or not, that would be nice to know.

  17. CARLO ESQUIVEL says:

    I live in a place where properties have 30,000square feet gardens. I bought 2 devices, so I got 2 remote controls. I discovered that each control communicates with the 2 devices at same time. The microphones/sensors are not so effective detecting when a dog barks, actually they are activated with any kind of sound, also when people talk or clap hands. The key of being successful is to invest some time and use the remote control every time the dog barks, if you expect that the device will detect each time the dog barks, that will never happend, so the dog will never understand. I spent only 1 day pressing the remote control and the dogs stop barking, they prefered to go away to the other side of the garden. The dogs never came back to side of the property where is my house, it looks like the dont like the sound. The know that the sound is there, so they prefer not to aproach.

  18. Tupelo says:

    What does “line of sight mean”? Can I hang this on top of my 6ft fence? Or does line of sight mean “at dog height”? I just got mine and none of the instructions are clear. Also, it does NOT come with batteries.

    • Todd says:

      My understanding of line of height is that there just cannot be anything in the way between the device and your dog, so that it does not need to be at your dog’s height. This is because the ultrasonic sound cannot travel through solid objects.

  19. CATHY Waechter (Haskett) says:

    Very disappointed. What a waste of $ does not do what you claim it does.

  20. Visitor says:

    Dear Todd,

    I’m confused by this article. It says “review” but I cannot find an indication that you used or tested the device. Rather, it seems to be a re-statement of the company’s website and marketing……..

    • Todd says:

      For this particular article, we were unable to test on our own, so read and summarized many other user’s reviews online, plus information from the company itself. I don’t have a barking dog next door to test it out on, unfortunately.

  21. Paul Gower says:

    I wish I had read the reviews before my purchase. Seems like more are negative than positive. I ordered 2 of the units since my new neighbors dogs bark all the time day and night. I want to try the peaceful approach since animal control in my county is worthless.

    • Todd says:

      Ok, let me know how it goes. Oftentimes, people are more likely to post negative comments than positive, so interested to know if it helps.

  22. Christiaan says:

    Review: DO NOT BUY, IT DOES NOT WORK.
    I bought the Dog Silencer Max with two accessories on the 11th November 2021.

    I am deeply unsatisfied as the device does not work. For such an expensive item, it is completely unreasonable given the performance of it.

    I have two neighbors who have barking dogs. The device is no deterrent for them and has no affect. I one day I took the device to the boundary fence and I merely got the dog’s attention when I activated the device by remote and the dog continued on his/her barking antics.

    The device does not work. For such a huge amount of money I spend on importing the device to South Africa, I am extremely displeased and am considering posting my reviews online for others to know.

  23. Marilyn Warren says:

    My cat was afraid to go outside and was running in and out of the door with his tail flared out very full of anxiety. I didn’t know what was wrong with him. I found out my neighbor in this RV Park is using a dog silencer he told me 50 ft range I am within that. Is not for my dog it’s for a dog behind the RV Park also within a 50 ft range. Now I noticed there are no birds singing I don’t see any squirrels this device to stop a dog from barking which has worked on the dog has also shut down all the wild animals that enjoy our green space in the park. I don’t believe this is fair he also leaves it on when he leaves he leaves the dog 5 on certain device on I don’t think that is the proper use of this device and I think it should be advertised that any kind of loud noise will set off the device, like me opening and closing the door all day long to let the cat in and out and he’s fear. Not a humane device. Should only be used by the dog’s owner to train their own dog not to clear the whole neighborhood of every wild animal that can hear it.

  24. Verbal Garbage says:

    Within a day got 90% reduction in our neighbours dogs barking. But you need the cone amplifier to make it effective. So impressed I bought a second one just in case there’s a problem with the first.
    Pity there’s not a device that’ll work on the dog’s owners…

  25. Mary Flores says:

    Hi my name is Mary. I been using my dog barking machine through my window and sometimes I get clear view of him and it works. But there is a wooden fence about four feet high. The fence covers the dog most of the time. If I were to put the machine on the roof do you think the machine would work better? Or is the fence too high? Please let me know if you think it would work or not. I didn’t want to hire a handyman if you think it’s not going to work. Please let me know. Thank you.

    • Todd says:

      For that question, I would contact the company directly. I just don’t want you to go through all of that effort without confirming for sure.

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