The Pros & Cons of Bark Collars

Dog owners sometimes use bark collars to make sure that their dogs are quiet. A dog who is left home all day may be lonely and bored and then bark, which annoys the neighbors. Several types of bark collars exist, including collars that spray the dog with an irritating chemical, collars that produce an electric shock, and aversive sound collars that play a loud noise when the dog barks. Dogs have a different hearing range than humans, so humans may not hear the noise an aversive sound collar produces.

  1. Spray Collars

    • Spray collars are a very effective method to stop dogs from barking. According to California's Placer County Animal Services, spray collars that use citronella have an 88-percent success rate. Citronella is a plant extract, which is often an insect repellent ingredient, since it repels insects as well as large animals. A spray of citronella does not permanently harm the dog, so it is widely used in spray collars.

    Shock Collars

    • Electronic or shock collars are not as effective. Los Angeles County Animal Care and Control states that these collars have about a 50-percent success rate. Shock collars are more painful to the dog than citronella spray, although they are designed to produce a low-intensity shock. According to the city of Huntsville, Alabama, high-strung dogs often ignore a shock collar and bark anyway, so a spray collar is a better alternative for them.

    Collar Activation

    • All bark collars have one major disadvantage. The electronic sensors in the collar cannot always determine whether the dog is barking or something else in the neighborhood is producing a loud noise. The dog may end up being punished for a noise he isn't making. According to the city of Albuquerque, New Mexico, low-flying airplanes are loud enough to trigger many older types of bark collars.

    Collar Supplies

    • Many types of bark collars have limited resources available to produce their aversive effect. A shock collar or an aversive sound collar needs to have enough battery charge available to activate. Citronella bark collars run out of spray and must be refilled. According to Placer County Animal Services, dogs can sense when the bottle of citronella spray is empty and often start barking again.

    Removing the Cause

    • Bark collars will not solve the underlying problems that cause the dog to bark. If the dog is barking because he misses his master, he will not feel better even if he stops barking. A dog who barks because he is scared of other dogs or people in the neighborhood will still be scared when wearing the bark collar. Distracting the dog with ambient noise or toys is an alternative way to stop the dog from barking.