Most of the times, dogs bark for a justifiable reason. However, sometimes dogs over-react to situations or stimuli and become excessive in their vocalizations. Most of the times, they get agitated when they are left unsupervized for a longer period. The most affected ones are, as always, the neighbors.
Because it happens when the owner is not around, it is also one of the most difficult to control. In some cases, owners resort to extreme solutions to make the dog stop barking, such as surgical interventions or they even send it away. These are not inspired decisions, but dog owners see no other solution.
Fortunately for both the dog and the owner, anti-bark collars were invented for these situations. Like most new technologies, there were some unforeseen complications. They often mistook other dogs’ barking for the sound they needed to stop and started functioning even if it wasn’t the right moment. Others could not discern between a normal barking reaction and constant barking.
bark collars have improved massively since their beginnings. Now they come in three versions – ultrasonic, static or with citronella spray. All these collars use the same principle. The collar is activated when it detects sounds and vibrations within certain frequencies. Requiring that both systems be activated prevents the collar from reacting to another dog barking. Also having a volume and frequency requirement helps prevent the collar from being triggered by fear, pain, or other vocalizations not tied to problem barking.
bark collars based on citrus spray release the substance when they’re triggered by barking; the sonic ones produce a sound that irritates the dog and static collars give the dog a mild shock. None is intended to harm the dog, but startle it, which will silence it. Some of the static collars can be adjusted and they also have an automatic shutdown system if the dog barks continuously for a longer period. They can also be switched to lower settings if the dog barks less often than before. This system is meant to encourage your dog to only bark when it has to.
A bark collar is intended as an aid in training your dog not to bark inappropriately, not as replacement for training. You don’t need to let the collars on all the time. Use them only for as long as the dog needs them. If your pet only barks when you are away and there’s no possible means for you to control his training, ask for a neighbor’s help. He will be more than glad to do it, since he’s the most affected by your dog’s behavior. Consider the friendliest neighbor you have, with whom your dog is already used.
Keeping the pet under constant supervision is meant to record whether it has a normal reaction to the collar. As with other forms of training, praise and play for correct behavior, and exercise to reduce anxiety and restlessness help achieve the desired behavior.
Instead of resorting to extreme solutions, consider purchasing bark collars instead. These devices can prove to be very efficient in educating your dog. If you want to know more details about these devices and the mechanisms they use, read more about bark collars here.
Tags: bark collar
