Dogs usually bark for a legitimate 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 there is no supervision whatsoever, it is difficult to control their behavior in this circumstance. There are times when dog owners do not know what to do anymore, other than subject their pets to debarking surgeries or simply take them to a shelter. Neither of these was a good choice, but if you lived anywhere near others, especially if there were other dogs in the neighborhood, several citations left no other choices.
Luckily, bark collars can help in these situations. These devices were not always as efficient as they are now. 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 been constantly upgraded since they were invented. Now they come in three versions – ultrasonic, static or with citronella spray. All three work on the same principal. 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. This is what makes these collars react only to the dog’s barking. Having adjustable volume and frequency monitoring, these collars will not be triggered by reactions such as fear or stress.
Static bark collars give the dog mild shocks when it is noisy; those with citrus spray spread the substance and the ultrasonic collars produce an irritating sound that only dogs can hear. None is intended to harm the dog, but startle it, which will silence it. The static versions can be adjusted according to the intensity and frequence of barking; if the dog does not bark for a longer period of time, they will automatically shut down. The bark collar will also reset to a lower setting if the dog is silent for a preset amount of time. This idea is meant to encourage the dog to only bark when needed.
Having a bark collar does not exclude proper dog training; these collars should be used only as adjuvants. Anti-bark collars are meant for use over a limited period. It is important to monitor the first days when the dog wears the collar; if you cannot do it all the time, because you have to leave for work or school, you could ask a neighbor to help you. He will probably be glad to be of assistance since he’s the most affected by your dog’s noise. Choose a person whom your dog trusts already.
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.
