Barking Control Products

Dogs that bark excessively can cause problems with neighbors and even result in losing your pet if nuisance barking is reported to animal control authorities. There are many products on the market designed to control unwanted barking. They include spray collars, sonic and ultrasonic sound devices, sound-emitting collars, electric "shock" collars and toys designed to distract bored or lonely dogs. As a last resort, dogs may have surgery to cut their vocal cords to hamper the ability to bark.

  1. Spray Collars

    • Considered by many to be the most humane bark control devices, anti-bark spray collars are designed to squirt a spray of citronella or citrus oil into the dog's face when it barks. The scent of the spray is unpleasant but harmless to the dog. A dog's sense of smell is extremely sensitive. Repeated dousing with the smelly substance upon barking will make the pup associate barking with the strong, unpleasant smell and dissuade nuisance barking. These can be used on dogs for long periods of time.

    Sound-Emitting Devices

    • Also considered more humane than electric "shock" collars are sound-emitting bark control devices. These sonic and ultrasonic devices claim to be set a frequency that is irritating to dogs but barely audible to humans. The devices can be placed on a wall, fence or tree in the dog yard. When the dog barks, the high-pitched sound is triggered which is designed to startle the dog and stop unwanted barking.

      The devices are designed not only for pet owners, but for use by those who want to dissuade neighborhood dogs from barking. Sound-based bark control devices can be triggered by any dog barking in the vicinity of the device. They can also be set off by other loud sounds, and in some cases, movement. Some sound-emitting devices in dog collars will only activate when the dog wearing the collar barks. These devices work around the clock.

    Electric "Shock" Collars

    • Bark correction can also be accomplished with battery-powered "shock" collars that give the dog a jolt of electricity when it barks. There are many brands available, and the best offer many levels of sensitivity so you can control the amount of shock administered to your pet. Some also come with different lengths of contact points so you can adjust as needed for long- or short-haired pets. The most sophisticated devices use progressive correction levels that you can adjust as your dog learns to control barking. The electric bark control collars are only triggered by barking of the dog wearing the device. Shock collars should never be used on a pet for more than eight hours at a time.

    Toys

    • Nuisance barking is often the sign of a bored or lonely dog. A dog that exhibits unwanted barking should be exercised regularly. A tired dog is usually a quieter dog. There are also treat-dispensing toys on the market that can keep your dog occupied for hours and help control unwanted barking. Kong-type rubber toys are hollowed out so you can place peanut butter or treats inside the toy. Your pup can spend hours retrieving the hidden treats and will be focused on the toy and distracted from happenings outside its yard.