Are anti-bark collars effective?
We get a lot of questions about bark collars, ranging from “do bark collars work?” to “are bark collars effective?”, and those who don’t know anything about it always ask “are bark collars cruel?”
Here we provide you with answers to all the questions you may have about anti-bark collars, but perhaps don't dare to ask.
1. How do anti-bark collars work?
A bark collar (also called an electronic collar or anti-bark collar) is a device that issues a behavioral correction when it detects barking.
The collars are equipped with sensors that, placed on the side of your dog's neck, detect barking. When barking is detected, the collar issues a correction.
Behavior correction depends on the collar you purchase. Bark collars can emit a vibration, a beep, a burst of citronella, a static correction, or a combination of these signals.
2. Are anti-bark collars really useful?
Anti-bark collars are effective in preventing your dog from continuing excessive barking.
The anti-bark collar works effectively. To get the most out of your anti-bark collar, make sure to place the collar receiver (this is the part that emits corrections) on the side of your dog's neck. This position is ideal for comfort and accuracy of the collar.
Next, make sure the collar is snug around your dog's neck, but you should be able to fit 2 or 3 fingers between the dog and the collar. This is to ensure that your dog is comfortable with the bark collar and that the collar is not too loose.
If you follow these two guidelines, as well as making sure the collar is clean and charged, the anti-bark collar has every chance of stopping your dog from barking continuously.
3. Are anti-bark collars effective?
Bark control collars are very effective. Most of our customers find that within a few corrections, their dog has made the connection between the stimulation (the correction from the collar) and his barking.
Usually, the dog does not need to wear the collar for long to stop barking.
In fact, we have heard from customers that their dog loves the smell of citronella and therefore does not mind barking through the citronella. Others feel that after a low-intensity static correction, their dog learns that nuisance barking is not so fun.
4. Are anti-bark collars cruel?
No, bark collars are not cruel. This misconception is understandable because when people hear “static shock,” they think it’s an electric shock so strong it knocks you over.
In fact, the static shock caused by the collar is equivalent to the static shock we feel when we rub our feet on the carpet and touch a doorknob. It does not hurt. We also have a procedure that we recommend our customers follow to ensure maximum comfort and safety.
First, try the collar in your hand at the lowest level, to get a feel for how it feels. Then, increase the intensity levels to understand how the collar behaves at different settings.
Next, try the collar on your dog at the lowest level. This is the lowest possible level of stimulation that will get your dog's attention. For reference, our Sanedoggy products have 127 intensity levels, but the working levels for most of our customers are levels 5-10.
Additionally, it usually takes very little correction for your dog to learn the consequences of his actions.
Dogs quickly learn that barking results in a correction in the form of citronella, vibration, or static. Once they establish this correlation, they typically no longer bark excessively to avoid being corrected.
5. How long does it take for a bark collar to work?
This question is often asked, but the answer depends!
The amount of time it takes for a bark collar to work depends on the dog and the collar. The collar must be distracting enough to deter the dog from barking. And your dog must think that the consequence is enough to stop barking.
If after a week you don't see any results, check that the collar is properly placed on the dog's neck. It should be placed on the side of the neck and not on the throat.
Afterwards, you may need to adjust the intensity of the collar, i.e. either increase the static intensity or increase the duration of the citronella treatment.
6. Will a muzzle stop my dog from barking?
A muzzle technically solves the barking problem, in the sense that the dog can no longer bark properly because of the muzzle, but that is not the intended purpose of the muzzle.
However, if the muzzle were not there, the dog would continue to bark. However, after a few sessions with the collar, the dog will no longer feel like barking and will still be able to move around freely.
So, yes, a muzzle will stop the dog from barking for the time being, but it is not a viable long term solution unless you want him to wear a muzzle forever.
7. What is the best dog collar to stop barking?
It all depends on your needs and your dog. The best collar for your dog will probably be:
We highly recommend the Dog Collar | Vibration™ Bark Control Kit - this collar is one of our best-selling products. Every day, many customers tell us how much they love it and how much they appreciate that their dog is calm. It's an easy-to-use device that quickly teaches your dog to stop barking.
For a static anti-bark collar, the Rust™ Dog Collar is a must-have; it's not for nothing that this device is an industry favorite. It has multiple intensity levels, is fully rechargeable, is waterproof, and is suitable for a wide variety of dogs. It is safe and extremely effective at detecting your dog's barking.
One more thing about anti-bark collars
Unfortunately, there is a small portion of the population that has a negative opinion about anti-bark collars, and these are people who have never had a dog that required the use of an anti-bark collar.
Our customers buy a bark collar because they have no other choice. They have received complaints from their neighbors or the city council, and they need to prove that they are doing something to help their dog.
We also recommend incorporating a bark collar into your current training program. This helps your dog understand more quickly when barking is acceptable. You are not hurting your dog by using a bark collar. A bark collar allows you and your dog to have a better relationship; it is a training tool.
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