Not all dogs who bark need bark collars or other anti-barking solutions. Before rushing out to purchase an anti-barking item, you first need to find out why your dog is so loud. Most of the times dogs have real reasons to bark. They might be irritated by something, lonely for too long, hungry or thirsty. Dog may bark simply because they are curious about what is happening on the other side of the fence.

Some dog owners even reward the barking with a treat or special attention. In this case, why do they expect their dog to shut up on command?

A bark collar is often regarded as something similar to a regular dog collar, that might hurt the dog by subjecting it to uncomfortable pressure. The truth is that a bark collar can come in many options, of which none is so dangerous as you’d believe. When you compare the different bark collars keep in mind a few things. You might want to know that bark collars do not have to be worn all the time and they are a less painful alternative to, let’s say, a debarking surgery.

Debarking surgery involves removing a fold of tissue which is on each side of the dog’s larynx which tightens and vibrates with each bark. After the operation, your dog will barely be able to produce a vague barking, which will not be loud anymore. Think about this for a minute. The barking of a dog is not always useless. Sometimes dangerous situations might require your dog’s intervention. What good is a whispering type bark going to do to call for help or defend your dog at that point? A mere whispering bark does not have nearly the aggressiveness that is called for as a mean growl or loud incessant barks. Since the surgery is often unsatisfactory as some or even all of the bark comes back within months, and many believe this surgery is indeed cruel, veterinarians rarely suggest this as a solution to barking issues.

On the other hand, anti-bark collars come in more varieties and you can find one that fits your preferences. Among all types of bark collars, the one with citrus spray is the most recommended. It works because the dog really dislikes its smell and will tone down its barking when it smells the citrus. Some collars make a hissing sound before spraying the substance, to alert the dog. This way the dog knows it is time it stopped making noise even before the spraying starts. Some university studies have proven the citronella barking collars are at least two times as effective as what are known as shock collars. You decide which is better. A rough method such as the shock collar or just an annoying smell.  

There are situations where dogs use their barking as a defensive strategy. If you are annoyed by your dog’s constant barking, there are plenty of bark collar varieties you can choose from. Please click this link for emore information on bark collar models.