It’s important to do a bit of research before getting an anti bark collar for your dog. What types of dog collars are there? How can you choose the right one? Are they necessary for all barking dogs?
Types of anti bark collars
There are three methods that are used for anti bark collars: citrus spray, sonic or ultrasonic (or vibration), and electrical. All of which are safe and perfectly harmless to use while you’re training your pet to reduce barking.
A citrus spray (citronella) works by spraying the muzzle of the dog when the dog starts to bark. This is very uncomfortable for dogs, since they greatly dislike the smell of citrus. Very often, collars of this type will hiss before releasing the citrus spray, so that they eventually learn to stop the barking before the spraying.
Next, we have the sound based dog collars. The principle of these collars is that they emit a sound that is not detectable by the human ear, but it is detected by dogs. Over time, the dog is annoyed or distracted by the high pitched tone to stop barking.
Finally, anti bark dog collars that are electrical give a small electrical shock to a dog every time it barks. This could be compared to the static electric shock you might get after walking across carpet. That is, it doesn’t hurt and it isn’t painful, but it really makes you pay attention.
Other Factors to Take into Account
There are even some collars that use more than one of the mentioned anti barking methods. For example, it may use both the ultrasonic sound with the citrus smell.
There are some models that let you adjust how strong the stimulus is. It would use a quiet sound, or lower levels of shock, etc. You can increase them for better results or reduce them as your dog becomes more obedient. In any case, the dog will associate the barking with the negative sensation. With time, your dog will learn to behave without the use of the collar.
Before buying an anti bark collar, know your options. Collars can work by using citronella spray, sonic or ultrasonic sounds, or electronic shocking. Regardless of their method, anti bark collars are harmless and effective.
It’s always a good idea to learn more about anti bark collars before getting one. In addition, you’ll feel more comfortable when you make your dog wear one. Just ask your local pet store for more info on anti bark dog collars.
