Bark Training Collars for Dogs

Constant or loud barking at all hours of the day and night is a nuisance. Many local noise ordinances have made disruptive dog barking illegal. The loud, jarring noise disrupts sleep and other activities. If your pet barks uncontrollably at odd hours, a bark training collar may help break this bad habit.

  1. Function

    • Bark training collars work to correct the learned behavior of nuisance barking by delivering some kind of unpleasant sensation after each bark. These collars are designed to be used for short periods of time along with other training methods, not as a constant tool to prevent barking. Some collars automatically deliver the stimulus when a bark sound is detected by the sensor, while others are operated by a remote and allow the owner to determine when the stimulus occurs.

    Types

    • Bark training collars discourage nuisance barking by delivering a light shock, a fragrant oil spray or an annoying sound when the dog barks. Electronic shock collars are the most well known, but citronella spray collars can be just as effective, according to Cornell University. The citronella oil produces a smell disliked by dogs, but fades quickly. Tone collars produce a noise too high for human ears to hear but that dogs find irritating. Tones and smells may not work on stubborn dogs who only react to electronic shocks.

    Considerations

    • Determine the severity of the dog's barking problem before choosing a collar. You must also discover the cause of the nuisance barking, not just punish the dog for reacting to something. Many dogs learn to bark excessively when they want attention or a treat because the first time they tried it, they were rewarded. A shock or spray collar alone won't retrain this association in your dog's mind. Stubborn dogs may need a stronger stimulus than timid dogs or those that are barking out of fear.

    Warning

    • While spray and tone collars generally have no side effects, shock collars can cause an aggressive dog to stop showing signs that he is about to bite, according to the Association of Pet Behaviour Counsellors. Aggressive dogs need training that doesn't completely eliminate barking as a warning sign before a bite. Improperly timed or overly strong shocks increase the fear and anxiety that cause barking in many dogs. Inexperienced pet owners may actually make behavioral problems worse in a pet if they don't know how to use a shock collar for training.