Several types of simple bark collar devices are available to train a dog to bark only when appropriate. The collars are activated either automatically by the barking or by the owner with a remote control. The collar delivers an annoying correction to the dog that trains it to not bark excessively.
Instructions
Try to control barking first by identifying any possible stimuli for the behavior and removing them. Is Joey barking at squirrels? Close the curtains. Does Fido bark out of anxiety or boredom when you leave? Give him more chances to run and play. A dog that is tired from exercise or working is less likely to bark. Supply your dog with chew toys and interactive toys that may also keep him busy.
Purchase a bark collar that is automatic if you are not able to be present when the dog is barking. Citronella spray collars are activated by the bark and the annoying spray response trains the dog to not bark. The collars smell pleasant to people but not to the very sensitive nose of your dog.
Employ a bark collar that has a hand-held remote, such as one that delivers an ultrasonic tone or a mild electrical stimulus, especially if you are present and want to control when the correction is delivered to the dog. This type of device is particularly helpful if the dog barks while out walking or in the park. Other dog's barking will not set the collar off, only the owner's remote signal. Signals can be adjusted from mild to strong by the remote.
Start with a mild signal and increase as needed to get the barking behavior to cease. Deliver a signal immediately as the dog barks so that the annoyance is associated with the behavior.
Remove the collar once the dog has learned to curtail her barking. Most dogs respond quickly to bark collar corrections and decrease their barking.
Occasionally, you may need to use the collar again if the behavior resurfaces. In some cases, just showing the dog the bark collar will cause the barking to cease.