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. Dogs do not bark purposelessly. Sometimes their bark is actually justified; maybe they’ve been forgotten outside the fence or the apartment, maybe they are ill or have a wound, or they’re hungry, thirsty or simply got bored. Dog may bark simply because they are curious about what is happening on the other side of the fence.

Others bark out of habit or because their owners have encouraged their barking with treats and extra attention, instead of penalizing them for the useless noise. Owners think that cuddling the dog when it barks might quiet it down, but instead they only provoke it further.

People who lack proper information have advertised the bark collar like it is some torturing device for an animal. The truth is that a bark collar can come in many options, of which none is so dangerous as you’d believe. If you consider purchasing such a device, then you should do some research oon all options available. One is that this is not something that will necessarily need to be worn by your furry friend 24/7 and it is a far better option in my opinion than putting your dog through what is known as debarking surgery.

This surgery is an invasive procedure that aims to remove a part of your dog’s larynx that vibrates with each bark. The surgery removes the tissue and following the surgery, dogs are only left with barely just a whisper of a bark. Vets might present you this option in an attractive manner, yet you should carefully think about it. Let’s say your dog got outside of the house and happened to be found in a situation with a bigger dog or pack of dogs or even worse, a coyote or other aggressive animal. When attacked by other animals, like a pack of aggressive dogs, your pet uses barking as a warning signal. 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.

The good news is that there is at least one anti-bark collar that is humane, very effective and safe. Citronella collars are the most popular anti-bark solutions. They only release a mild citrus scent whenever the dog barks. The animal dislikes this smell and stops making noise. There are citronella collars that make a “hiss” before spraying. Almost all dogs stop barking when the “hiss” occurs, as they know the sound will be followed by an unpleasant scent. University studies have shown that citrus collars are much more effective than regular shock ones. You decide which is better. a zap or a sniff?!.  

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.