Dogs usually bark for a legitimate reason. There are situations though when dogs make a lot of noise due to stimuli people don’t always detect. Dogs are extremely attached to their owners and feel their absence; they usually become noisy when they are left alone in the house.

Because it happens when the owner is not around, it is also one of the most difficult to control. In some cases, owners resort to extreme solutions to make the dog stop barking, such as surgical interventions or they even send it away. Of course, these are rushed decisions which should only be used as a last resort. Yet, if neighbors complain constantly, there’s not much the owner can do.

Fortunately for both the dog and the owner, anti-bark collars were invented for these situations. These devices were not always as efficient as they are now. They often mistook other dogs’ barking for the sound they needed to stop and started functioning even if it wasn’t the right moment. Others could not discern between a normal barking reaction and constant barking.

bark collars have improved massively since their beginnings. There are now three types available: spray, sonic, and static. All these collars use the same principle. The collar is activated when it detects sounds and vibrations within certain frequencies. The combination of vibration and barking makes the collar react only to the dog’s noise. Also having a volume and frequency requirement helps prevent the collar from being triggered by fear, pain, or other vocalizations not tied to problem barking.

Static bark collars give the dog mild shocks when it is noisy; those with citrus spray spread the substance and the ultrasonic collars produce an irritating sound that only dogs can hear. None is intended to harm the dog, but startle it, which will silence it. Some of the static collars can be adjusted and they also have an automatic shutdown system if the dog barks continuously for a longer period. Moreover, the bark collar can switch to a lower setting if the dog doesn’t produce any noise for a certain amount of time. This system is meant to encourage your dog to only bark when it has to.

However, even if you buy a bark collar, this does not mean you should not train your dog as well. You don’t need to let the collars on all the time. Use them only for as long as the dog needs them. It is important to monitor the first days when the dog wears the collar; if you cannot do it all the time, because you have to leave for work or school, you could ask a neighbor to help you. He will be more than glad to do it, since he’s the most affected by your dog’s behavior. Make sure it is someone the dog knows and is friendly with.

Monitoring your dog constantly can be very useful. As with other forms of training, praise and play for correct behavior, and exercise to reduce anxiety and restlessness help achieve the desired behavior.  

Instead of resorting to extreme solutions, consider purchasing bark collars instead. These devices can prove to be very efficient in educating your dog. If you want to know more details about these devices and the mechanisms they use, read more about bark collars here.