Feeding your dog naturally

June 8th, 2009 by admin

A bark control collar can be used as a safe and efficient training tool for eliminating your dog’s annoying or persistent barking. Following are the most frequently asked points I’m asked to clarify from pet owners interested in learning more about no bark collars and how they are used.

Are bark collars humane?

There has been a lot of debate about the humaneness of using a bark control collar. In my opinion, bark collars are very humane.

There are several different varieties of bark collars (Citronella or Spray Collars, Ultra Sonic Devices and Static Correction Bark Collars). For the scope of this post, I’ll center on static correction since most of the controversy about reliability and humaneness seems to concentrate on this variety.

Static collars use a harmless static shock to correct your dog when she barks. Some collars detect your dog’s bark by using a vibration sensor, some bark collars utilize a microphone to identify barking by sound; many collars use a combination of vibration and sound.

The static correction received is akin to the shock you feel when you scuff across a carpeted floor in your stocking feet and then touch a metal object. You also may have experienced this when you take your clothes out of the dryer during the wintertime and they have “static cling”. The resulting shock is startling, but would not be considered harmful.

When used properly, along with consistent training, static correction bark collars can be an effective, humane way to put a stop excessive or annoying barking.

What type of bark collar will work best for my dog?

There are some questions you should ask yourself to determine the answer. As a dog owner, you know your dog best. Some things to think about when shopping for a no bark collar:

• Your dog’s age: Shock collars or remote dog trainers should never be used on a puppy younger than 6 months of age.
• Your dog’s size & weight: Your dog’s weight and neck size should be considered when looking at collars. A bark collar for small dogs won’t be effective for a large or stubborn dog.
• Your dog’s temperament: Is your dog very difficult to train? Shy and  fearful? There are specialized bark collars that will help with either extreme, as well as standard collars that are appropriate for most dogs. An extremely timid dog may react better to a Citronella Bark Collar or Ultra Sonic system. On the other hand, a larger dog will generally respond better to a bark control collar especially made for large dogs.

Will a bark collar work on my dog?

The degree of success with bark collars is high, but you should realize that bark devices may not work in each circumstance. One way to help promote success is to commit yourself to consistent training. Choose the bark control collar that conforms best with your dog’s temperament and size, apply persistent training, and you’ll soon be enjoying quieter days.