If your dog barks excessively, you probably wish you had a solution. A dog's barking is annoying for both their owner and surrounding people, such as neighbours or passers-by. It may even get bad enough that someone reports your residence for noise pollution. After all, they deserve peace too, perhaps they have a sleeping baby, or their pets get disturbed and worked up throughout the day.
It's essential to fix this problem before it becomes a significant issue. In the long run, the best solution is to treat the underlying issue. Your dog is usually barking for a reason - maybe the dog is bored, or something is bothering them. In the short run, or as a tool to achieve behaviour change, bark collars are a useful tool. They're also very safe when understood, and used correctly.
A bark collar is a collar that uses a stimulus to train behaviour in your dog. It's essential you understand the different types and how they work before using them on your dog. There are three main types of collars that emit different combinations of stimuli:
Sound or Vibration - This type of collar emits a high-frequency sound that distracts your dog when they bark. Since it is so high-frequency, the dog can hear it, but humans can't. It's an entirely harmless choice, so for sensitive dogs, this can be a great option.
Vibration collars cause a vibration along the dog's vocal cords. This stimulus can certainly deter barking effectively, particularly in aging dogs that may not be able to hear a sound well!
Citronella Spray - This type of collar will spray citronella when it detects barking episodes. Citronella is a lemon-scented grass that gets used as an insect repellant. It's harmless for your dog, and the smell is usually beneficial at deterring the barking. It's an interesting and not necessarily pleasant smell for the dog, so they'll be more concerned with the scent than with barking.
Static Pulse - An electronic collar is usually the most effective type of collar for curbing barking. This bark collar produces a static pulse or mild-shock to stop the erratic barking. While annoying for your dog, it is also the most effective for stubborn dogs. When used correctly and not excessively, safe-shock collars can be amazing at changing your dogs barking behaviours.
Most bark collars are battery-operated and rechargeable. While the better collars will be waterproof and suitable for outside wear, many will not. It's essential to check, especially if the dog will be outside or around water a lot.
While bark collars are very unlikely ever to cause harm to your pet, it's essential to test them first. As we've seen, there are multiple types of collars and levels of intensity for your pet. It would be best if you found what works for you and your furry friend. Always start with the lowest correction level. Any dog that appears overly sensitive or impacted by a collar should not be wearing it, no matter how effective it may be.
It's also critical to consider the impact on other pets if you have more than one. For example, citronella spray and sound-based collars may disturb or cause unintended punishment for any other surrounding pets. Not fair!
A dog bark collar should always only be used as intended by the manufacturer, and per your dog's comfort levels. Every collar will come with specific instructions. Covering how and when to use, for how long, and under what circumstances. Make sure to read and apply these instructions very carefully.
Most collars are not designed to be used all the time. Use them only when needed, and for no longer than the recommended training period. As mentioned, only use stronger stimuli after first testing at lower levels.
The primary reason for ineffective or potentially unsafe bark collars is an incorrect size and fit. High-quality bark collars will come in multiple sizes and a guide for the best option for your specific dog's size. Fitting a collar too tight may cause pressure on your dog's neck and even 'burns' or reddening of the skin. If this occurs, loosen it up or try a different stimulus. Too loose and the collar may not react at the right times, causing confusion and discomfort.
"The primary reason for ineffective or potentially unsafe bark collars is an incorrect size and fit."
Always have the collar turned off while fitting, you don't want it to go off accidentally. An excellent way to check the fit is by regularly inserting a finger between your dog's neck and the strap of the collar. Also, make sure your dog is moving and standing comfortably at all times.
Bark collars are incredibly useful and versatile WHEN used and fitted correctly. While a great tool to improve your pet's behaviour, you must address the underlying cause of your dog's barking. If you don't, their bad behaviour may get expressed in other ways, such as digging or chewing. For high-quality dog bark collars designed to let you and your pet live a stress-free life, discover our range today. Any questions? Get in touch! Our friendly team can't wait to help you out.
