What are Barking Collars and How to Make the Most Out of Them?

Living alone in a big city can be intimidating as meeting new people doesn’t always go as expected which is why oftentimes a pet is the best way to ensure you have some company throughout the day. Dogs are considered to be a man’s best friend and while you should do all in your power to make your furry friend feel at home it can be quite the nuisance sometimes with its excessive barking. This can not only keep you awake but it can also annoy your neighbours. In such cases, it is recommended that you get a bark collar. This device is meant for training purposes and it helps create a negative association in regard to excessive barking in your dog’s memory. This device discourages your dog from barking excessively but only when it’s used properly.

Are Anti Bark Collars Safe?

Anti bark dog collars are not going to be harmful for your dog unless you make them so. Barking collars are safe as long as they are used in a certain way and for the right situations. Knowing when you should use a bark collar will prevent you from doing more harm than good.

Types of Bark Collars

Citronella

When it comes to small to medium sized dogs, a citronella spray barking collar is the best solution. Citronella is capable of distracting dogs at an effective rate and it is also a natural fragrance too. If your dog has a sensitive personality then it is recommended that you get a citronella spray collar as it won’t get as easily startled by it, unlike other types of collars. A citronella spray collar is oftentimes combined with a sound, vibration or both as a secondary activation feature.

Vibration

Barking collars based on vibration can be used on small to large dogs and on both young and senior dogs with a sensitive temperament. The collar will send the vibrations when it detects that the vocal chords are vibrating meaning, it won’t get triggered when other dogs are barking. Vibration anti-barking collars are also available with a sound activated sensor too.

Ultrasonic

Ultrasonic or an audio based bark collar is best for small to medium dogs that are extremely sensitive but easy to train. The type of sound these collars emit cannot be heard by humans, a dogs ears are the only receivers. This makes the collar convenient but it is shown that it is not as effective as other collars. An ultrasonic barking collar often comes with a secondary option based on vibrations.

Electronic

Electronic or static bark collars are considered to be the least humane option since the dog gets zapped whenever it barks. But when used correctly and with medium to large sized stubborn dogs then they can be harmless and very effective too. These collars usually come waterproof.

How to Use a Bark Collar?

Introducing The Collar

1. The first step to a successful dog training with an anti-bark collar is proper introduction. Introduce the collar to your dog in a quiet place and a calm manner. Ensure that there are no other dogs or kids around to distract your dog. Once these conditions are met, attach your dog’s leash on the buckle and give it lots of treats. If your dog feels comfortable, turn on the collar and put it on your dog with both contact points touching it’s neck. A loose collar will create anxiety but you shouldn’t overtighten the collar either.
2. If your dog seems to be fearful when you have the collar on, make sure you remove it and turn it off to make the whole situation more comfortable for your pet. Play with your dog to create a positive association with the collar and to ensure your dog that there is nothing to worry about. When you see your dog getting more comfortable, start by placing the collar loosely around its neck and give your dog a few treats.
3. Continue doing that until you can place the collar and tighten it properly. If your dog seems frightened when you do that you can start by putting the collar on the floor and letting it sniff it out. For some dogs it may take longer to get used to this device than others but the wait will be worth it. Once your dog is comfortable wearing the collar as it normally would, it’s time to set it to the correct level.

Finding The Correct Level

Always start by setting the collar at the lowest setting and go from there. If your dog doesn’t react to this level of intensity and it continues to bark as if nothing happened, turn it up a level. If the next level does nothing and the dog still continues barking, it’s time to take it up a notch again. Raise the level every time your dog doesn’t fully acknowledge the collar’s activity. The collar will work successfully when your dog gets mildly startled (its ears might start to flick or it may instinctively look down. This is when you need to distract your dog from the collar’s activity and give it treats whilst walking around preferably with a toy in your hand.

Your dog shouldn’t squeal or jump from the stimuli ever! (No matter if the device is at the highest level or not). If that were to happen, do not cuddle your dog, instead give it a treat or try to distract it by tugging on the leash a little bit to make your dog snap out of it. It sounds cruel but you should act as if nothing happened. No matter what happens, ensure that you finish training your dog with the collar on a positive note.