Stop Annoying Yapping with a Humane Bark Collar

The use of a bark collar can be an effective way to put a stop to a nuisance barker. When shopping for a bark collar, keep in mind that there are big differences between the ways each of these collars work. While most are safe, some of the electronic or shocking anti-bark collars will give your pet some unnecessary pain, and raises an ethical question; how humane is it to jolt an animal with electricity in the name of training? Not only are they painful, but they lower the immune system in an animal receiving these shocks, making them more vulnerable to illness. And get this: some will continue shocking the dog wearing it, even though it is ‘hearing’ another dog’s bark!

The most humane choice for a bark collar is one that emits a quick and harmless spray, whether it be plain water, or something like citronella. The way it works is simple; while many dogs love the water, pretty well any dog will be surprised enough to stop what they are doing when they are suddenly sprayed in the face. Even if they are not bothered by it spraying them, the squirt will be enough of a distraction to divert their attention from whatever it is that is currently making them bark.

A third option for controlling a habitual howler is a bark collar that uses sound to distract the animal, with the same assumption as the spraying collar, that hopefully the distraction will stop the dog from barking. Some of these models have different tones, so Rover won’t get used to one tone and learn to tune it out, while others combine the sound and shock technologies. Remember this about barking dogs, though; it is part of their normal and natural communication and behavior, and two of the key reasons they overdo it is boredom and to seek attention. Luckily, both of these problems can be taken care of with a walk, or a trip to the park, etc.