Monday 4 January 2010

Should You Use a Bark Collar on Your Dog?

By Sara Hansen

It might be necessary to use a bark collar on your pet dog. There are just some dogs that seem to bark more than the regular dog, and they might even do this all throughout the day and night.

Aside from your own sanity, you have to consider your neighbors. Some of them might want to rest after a long day at work and get bothered by the barking of your dog. This causes bad relationships with them. They might even sic the police or local officials on you.

The good thing about a collar is that it is a shortcut method of training. Instead of spending big bucks on a long training program that does not even guarantee success, a bark collar can save you money and time. These collars sense when a dog is barking through the vibrations in its vocal cords. When it does, it employs one of many corrective measures.

One of these measures is to spray the dog with citronella. This is a natural extract and insect repellent but it discourages the dog from barking because canines generally do not like this smell. When positioned properly, a little amount is sprayed near the nose area. The collars are not designed to hit the eyes, and citronella has been assessed and found not to cause any harm to the skin of the dog.

Another measure is a high-pitched sound. With the use of ultrasonic technology, this sound comes out upon detection of the bark. It is unpleasant to the dog, and so he will learn to avoid barking. Fortunately, this frequency of sound can only be picked up by dogs, so there is no need to worry about the neighbors complaining.

A third bark collar gives a tiny electric shock to the barking dog. Many swear against this method, but dog owners who have tried it agree that their dogs are not really harmed in any way, because the shock is minimal. It is only enough to cause slight discomfort that gives the dog second thoughts about barking.

People have different opinions on the use of the bark collar. Some think that while other methods are acceptable, some are too harsh. Some say that rendering any kind of discomfort to the dog is inhumane. If you agree with them, there is always the option of having the dog trained for behavior modification. However, this is only fine when you have all the time in the world. The dog learns gradually and success is not a guarantee. What's more, you will be spending a considerable deal.

Also, using a collar is actually more humane that what lengths other dog owners get to when dealing with a misbehaving dog. Some may have the dogs vocal cords surgically removed, or in extreme cases, even put the dog down. This is because some dogs become so uncontrollable that they become a nuisance to the community and authorities are alerted. In comparison, using a collar is definitely kinder on the dog.

Experts offer advice on collar use. If you absolutely have to use one, you at least have to make sure that your dog is big or old enough. Barking that is also due to such emotional causes as fear and anxiety should not be corrected through the use of collars. Otherwise, a dog can be permanently damaged emotionally.

Finally, find out which bark collar is best for your type of dog. Different collars work on them differently, and he might be more agreeable with one compared to another.

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