This article will cover everything you need to know about no bark collars. Let’s jump right in. You probably don’t want to waste any time if you’ve been listening to your new little dog yapping non-stop for days. Don’t worry. You can get the situation under control.
Trouble with dog barking is a concern reported by 35% of dog owners. So, you’re not the only one. If you’re getting headaches from incessant barking, you’re in the same camp as 1 out of 3 dog owners. Luckily, no bark collars are very effective. This article will help you understand what they are, your options, and how to use them.
Before you get started with a no bark collar, though, it’s important to realize that they’re only punishing a behavior and not getting to the root of the problem. Your dog may be barking out of fear or anxiety. You also want to think twice about stifling it if it’s functioning as a guard dog and barking to alert you to intruders. If you want to really solve your dog’s barking problem, you have to train him alongside the collar.
Bark collars react to vibrations in the dog’s vocal chords or when their microphones sense a noise. This then triggers an unpleasant reaction (electric shock, bad smell, or unpleasant noise). The citronella collar releases a citrus smell, the electric shock collar sends out an electric current, and the sonic collar emits a noise that only dogs can hear (it’s out of the range of human hearing).
Unfortunately, they can be triggered randomly even when your dog doesn’t bark. That’s why it’s very important to read no bark collar reviews before choosing a specific collar. The last thing you want to happen is to get a poorly made bark collar that hurts your dog.
A no bark an experienced dog owner or a licensed professional should fit collar. All three types of no bark collars are made out of nylon, and they are similar to regular nylon dog collars. All three collars have a mechanism at the front that releases the deterrent. No bark collars are a seriously effective way to mitigate your dog’s barking. Still, you’ll want to get to the underlying cause of the barking.
Types of No Bark Collars
Let’s give each of the major types of no bark collars a more thorough examination.
Citronella Bark Collar
With the citronella bark collar, the mechanism releases a scented liquid spray when your dog starts to bark excessively. For most dogs, the smell of citronella is terrible, and they will stop their barking.
Sonic Bark Collar
When the sonic bark collar activates, it sends out an extremely high-pitched and unpleasant noise only dogs can hear.
Electric Bark Collar
When the electric bark collar is activated, it sends out a static shock that speeds through two metal prongs that rest against your dog’s neck. These collars start with a low-intensity shock, but the shock intensity increases if your dog keeps barking. You can test the shock’s intensity on your arm or hand before you put the collar on your dog. If you’re worried about it zapping your dog and frying him to the bone, you can put those worries to rest by just testing it on yourself. You’ll see that the shock is very mild and nothing to worry about. It will just feel mildly unpleasant, and you’ll see that the jolt is more irritating than anything else.
Common Uses of No Bark Collars
A dog that regularly runs free of the yard or barks at everything in sight may require a bark collar. No bark collars were originally developed to stop barking, but their use has since evolved to include a number of training tactics, plus their very common use as a way of stopping outdoor dogs from running away from home.
The three most common uses of no bark collars are to control barking, to keep the dog at home, and to train them.
Keeping Barking at a Minimum
Some collars respond to the sound of a dog barking and others react to vibrations from the dog’s vocal chords. The best no bark collars make use of both to cut down on false alarms.
Some collars can be set to react only when the pet owner activates them, rather than them turning on automatically. Sometimes dogs bark for good reasons, like when an intruder is on the property. You don’t want to stifle your dog from barking if a burglar’s trying to get into your home.
Keeping Your Dog at Home
One of main uses of bark collars doesn’t have anything to do with barking at all. Keeping your dog from running off the property can prevent injuries to other animals and children, and also keep your dog from getting hit by a car. No bark collars can also be used in tandem with invisible fences, to stop your dog from running off the property. Since many homeowner associations and town ordinances don’t allow you to put up real fences, their popularity has increased over the years.
Behavior Modification and Training
No bark collars are also used for behavior modification and training purposes. Training collars are also used for this. If you want to prevent your dog from chasing other dogs or getting too close to dangerous situations, then no bark collars are a good tool.
Tips to Get the Best Results
If you think you’re going to buy a no bark collar, then you need to know how to use it to get the best results. Take a look at these tips to get the best results:
- Make sure the collar fits comfortably: If your dog is going to be wearing the collar all the time, then it should definitely be comfortable. A dog won’t tolerate a collar for very long if it isn’t comfortable. Ensure it’s waterproof if he gets in the water at all.
- Keep the dog’s personality in mind: If your dog is shy and timid, then a no bark collar with a citronella scent might be sufficient. An electric shock collar might not even be necessary.
- Read no bark collar product reviews: Any bark collar should have product reviews written about it. Take a look at product reviews and see what people have said about it. One of the best ways to evaluate a product is to see what other people have said about it.
Things to Avoid Doing
The list below will provide some specific things to avoid if you’re going to purchase a no bark collar:
- Avoid a collar that only uses sound: In a harsh city environment, or even in a noisy neighborhood, there are too many external sounds that could activate the collar.
- Get the dog warmed up to the training collar: Introduce the collar to the dog gradually. Have him wear it for short periods of time. Many pet owners make the mistake of rushing the collar and not giving the dog adequate time to adjust.
- Stay away from no bark collars with proprietary batteries: Some bark collars have proprietary batteries that you can only purchase from the manufacturer. If the manufacturer goes out of business, it might be impossible to find new replacement batteries.
Overall
No bark collars have plenty of uses outside of just stopping your dog from excessive barking. They can be used for containment, training purposes, behavior modification, keeping your dog from disturbing the neighborhood, and more. If you’re interesting in getting a no bark collar, check out the reviews and see what other customers have to say before you take the plunge and buy one. Follow the instructions to use them effectively, efficiently, and safely, and you’ll have a much better life with your new dog. Don’t give up and don’t get discouraged too early on in the training. Everything will work out just fine if you just use it right and keep at it.