Bark collars were invented as a solution to the frustrating problem of dogs barking all the time, for no apparent reason. If you happened to be in a neighborhood that had two or more of these, life was miserable indeed, because they reinforced each other’s behavior.
Initially, only one type of bark collar was invented – the static one. The first versions of static collar came with some complications. These versions could not distinguish between more types of barking, and they reacted to all dogs within a certain perimeter, even if the dog wearing it was silent. There were a few reported cases of physical or extreme psychological harm because a dog was left unmonitored before finding out how it would react to the collar.
technology has advanced within past years, yet the idea that led to the invention of bark collars is the same.
They are not intended to cause pain, but startle the dog, which results in a cessation of the offending behavior. (Not only these collars can correct excessive barking, but they can also teach the dog to avoid other annoying behaviors).
There are three different types of collars available on the market – with citronella, static and sonic. The spray bark collar uses a strong scented fluid, such as citronella; the sonic bark collar uses sound, above the frequency of human hearing but within the dog’s range. Both of these styles are best used on ‘sensitive’ dogs; those that are high-strung or over-react to physical stimulation (spray collars are not recommended for scent hounds due to the sensitivity of their noses).
The static collar seems to be the most appreciated among all three versions. When the collar detects barking of a certain range of frequencies and volume (both audibly and vibrationally) for a preset number of times, it will then be triggered. The system does not react to other dogs’ barking. Due to its volume and frequency settings, the collar only reacts to continuous barking, and isn’t triggered by reactions of fear, pain or stress. These devices can be adjusted manually. In addition, they have an automatic shutdown period if the dog barks for a certain period without cease. The bark collar will also reset to a lower level if the dog is silent for a preset amount of time. This will make the dog understand the benefits of barking less.
Anti-bark collars work best when associated with proper dog training. They shouldn’t be used as a single method of training. A reward system must be set in motion, so that the dog understands the proper behavior faster.
These devices are most recommended, over their alternatives – giving the dog away to a dog shelter or subjecting it to a stressful debarking surgery that comes with high risks.
Even though the first versions of bark collar weren’t perfect, they have been improved in time. Most types of dog collars can be adjusted manually or digitally. If you want to find out more about different types of bark collar, click here.
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