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Anti-bark collars are devices that can detect sound and act upon it in order to prevent your dog from being a nuisance. Whilst some barking is acceptable, excessive barking can be quite disturbing not just for you but also for your neighbours. So, by having an anti-bark collar on your furry friend you will prevent this from happening without the dog being able to counteract the function of the collar. An anti-bark collar works by either sending a vibration, electric pulse, a scent or creating a noise. Your dog will associate this negative action with the barking thus it won’t bark as much.
Do Bark Collars Work?
Although there is a chance that anti dog bark collars can go off when a nearby dog barks if used properly they can be quite effective. An anti bark dog collar is going to work just fine in the majority of situations though and there will be no need to take it off as long as you are not using it in a place were multiple dogs reside.
Are Anti Bark Collars Cruel?
The majority of dog bark collars will interrupt your dog’s barking in the safest way but when it comes to shock collars your dog will get an electrical shock. This is by far the least humane way to prevent your dog from barking excessively.
Types of Anti-Bark Dog Collars
Spray (Citronella)
With this type of anti-bark dog collar you get a natural, dog-friendly device which can be used effectively on young and smaller dogs. These collars spray citronella scent directly towards your dog’s snout as soon as the mic on the collar detects the barking sound. Spray dog bark collars are an affordable solution which is recommended by dog trainers too. If you have a working dog, it is not advised that you use this type of anti-bark collar as it won’t be as effective. A spray collar can also have a psychological effect on the dog which will prevent it from barking even when it needs to.
Shock
Although it’s considered as the most unpleasant collar, a shock collar works better than a spray collar. You can adjust the intensity of the shock so it is not as harmful to your dog but you’ll have to be careful not to overuse it as it can cause anxiety and stress especially when it comes to oversensitive dogs. Shock collars can also make a slight burn to the skin but as long as you use them properly this won’t happen.
Vibration
A vibration dog collar activates when it detects that the dog’s vocal chords are moving. This then makes the collar send a tickling vibration to the dog’s neck which is considered to be a generally less effective option than other types of anti-bark collars. Dogs can get used to the vibration and they can start ignoring it which is usually the case with stubborn and working dogs. These collars can be fully automatic or controlled via a hand-held remote – you also have some vibration collars that have a static shock option.
Ultrasonic
An ultrasonic bark collar will emit a high pitched sound that will only disturb your dog when it’s barking and no one else. This won’t hurt the dog, it will just make it stop, without deafening it too. An ultrasonic collar can also have a vibration sensor too which activates if the audio warning isn’t successful. Others have an additional shock option which can be delivered if the audio warning can’t seem to stop your dog from barking.
Tips on How to Use Them
Before you decide to get a bark collar you need to make sure that your dog needs one. You need to figure out why is your dog barking so much in the first place – is it fear, stress, or anxiety? If your dog is barking because of any of the aforementioned reasons it will become more aggressive and jumpy or very quiet if you use an anti-bark collar. Boredom can also be the case. If any other methods or types of training haven’t been successful in preventing your dog from barking excessively, then you need to consider getting an anti-bark collar.
To get the most out of you dog collar make sure you get one with dual sensors in order to prevent other dogs from activating it – these are also more effective. Make sure there are no other dogs around your pet as the collar can be triggered or disturb them too. You’ll want to try on a dog collar that offers different levels of warning and punishment so you can find the appropriate one for your dog. Do not let your dog wear the collar for the whole day, instead do so in 3 to 5 minute intervals for about 10 to 14 days.
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