Pros & Cons of the PetSafe Ultrasonic Bark Control

The PetSafe Ultrasonic Bark Control device, manufactured by Innotek, emits a high-pitched, ultrasonic tone that most humans cannot hear when your dog barks. This training device discourages barking by teaching your dog to associate barking with an unpleasant noise. Depending on your needs, the device comes in several models for both indoor and outdoor use.

  1. Identification

    • The electronic barking control device from PetSafe comes in four models, two free-standing models for use outdoors, one free-standing device for use indoors and one model that you place directly on your dog's collar. Each device uses a 9 volt battery to power it, except for the model that attaches to your dog's collar which uses the PetSafe RFA-67 battery. All models contain a microphone that automatically detects when your dog barks. You can find the devices directly through the PetSafe website or in pet supply stores. The devices range in price from $38.95 to $70.95, as of July, 2011.

    Pros

    • The weather-resistant, outdoor bark control units each look like decorative bird houses and you can set them to automatically detect a dog's barks from 15 to 50 feet away. You can hang the units from a tree or fence, and use them to control the barking of your own dog or the barking of your neighbor's dog. The indoor unit has a range of 25 feet and you can set it to detect your dog's bark automatically and react to your dog's bark with a two-second tone. Because you can also activate the unit manually, you can use it to control only certain types of barking and other unwanted behaviors. The collar-mounted model is light and works automatically, without having to worry that the dog is out of range of a free-standing device.

    Cons

    • While you can use the collar-mounted bark deterrent model on any size dog, the manufacturer recommends this device for use with small dogs. Some dogs become accustomed to the unpleasant sound of the device, rendering it less useful to deter its barking. If your dog suffers from separation anxiety, the device can actually increase your dog's stress level, leading to other destructive behaviors, according to the Vetinfo website. For multiple-dog households, all dogs in your home will hear the device when one dog barks, leading to increased anxiety, possible resentment, and stress among your dogs, says the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

    Considerations

    • The PetSafe ultrasonic bark control products provide a humane way to train your dog not to bark as frequently. Some dogs do not respond to the sound deterrent and others require a higher volume of sound to take notice of the sound. You can adjust the volume of the devices for your particular dog with the volume control. Use these devices in conjunction with other types of behavioral modification techniques, such as clicker training, to get the maximum results and stop your dog's excessive barking, recommends the ASPCA.