Information on Ultrasonic Dog Bark Collars

How They Work

• An ultrasonic anti-bark dog collar is basically a standard dog collar with a very special battery-operated electronic box attached to it. The box contains a noise sensor, which senses when your dog is barking. Your dog's barking activates the electronic box to emit a high-pitched sound only a dog can hear. The sound annoys your dog and disrupts his barking. It usually doesn't take long for a dog to make the connection that its barking causes the irritating sound, and it learns to stop barking whenever it is wearing the collar.

Benefits Of Ultrasonic Collars Versus Other Anti-Bark Collars

• There are three basic types of anti-bark collars available: shock, citronella, and sound-emitting (ultrasonic) collars. The shock collar senses a dog's bark and in return sends a mild shock to the dog. While shock collars have a high success rate, many dog owners and the ASPCA consider shocking a dog, no matter how mildly, inhumane.

  Citronella collars are also bark activated. Instead of emitting a shock or an annoying noise when a dog barks, they give a quick spray of citronella-scented liquid into the dog's face. These collars also have a high success rate, at least initially, and the citronella is all natural and nontoxic. Some owners have found that while dogs detest the smell of citronella, their dog eventually becomes accustomed to it and the collar loses its effectiveness. Some dog owners also find it inconvenient and expensive to continually refill the sprayer.

  Ultrasonic collars are the third option.

Purchasing an Ultrasonic Anti-Bark Collar

• A number of electronics companies manufacturer ultrasonic anti-bark collars. You can purchase them at pet supply stores or online. If you do a quick internet search, you'll find many choices and prices ranging from around $10 for a basic collar to more than $80 for a complete training system.

Using an Ultrasonic Anti-Bark Collar

• The collars are easy to use. For most models, simply install batteries in the device, then put the collar around your dog's neck. Depending on your model, there may be a switch or two to turn on. The device will then begin detecting barks and emit the irritating sound on cue. Your dog may immediately begin to associate the unpleasant noise with its barking, or it may take a week or two. Leave the collar on continuously in the beginning, and remember to periodically check and replace the batteries with fresh ones. Each dog is different; your dog may need to wear the collar every day for best results, or your dog may transform into such an infrequent barker that you can eventually remove the collar.

Training Your Neighbor's Dog

• If the barking that keeps you up all night is not coming from your own dog, there are ultrasonic options to help you discreetly train your neighbor's dog to curtail its barking. One company makes an ultrasonic unit disguised as a birdhouse that you hang on a tree, wall or pole. It can detect barking from nearby yards and send the annoying tone within earshot of neighboring dogs. Stand-alone units can be hidden on rooftops or in tree branches. Be sure to follow the manufacturer's directions to to position these units properly for optimum results.

Drawbacks

• There are some drawbacks to using ultrasonic anti-bark collars. Obviously, they are not going to have any effect on dogs that are deaf or hearing-impaired. Additionally, dogs that live within the confines of invisible fences may become confused, as invisible fences use a similar tone to warn the dog of an approaching boundary. Another drawback is that all pets within hearing range of the device will be bothered by the high-pitched sound, whether they are deserving of correction or not. Also, the sensor may pick up sounds such as children playing, and correct an undeserving dog. Dogs that tend to bark mainly at strangers may associate strange people, instead of their own barking, with the correction.