Will a Dog Bark Collar Help As a Friendly Canine Learning Tool?

By Trevor R. Price

Are you considering the purchase of a shock, ultrasonic or citronella dog bark collar? Wondering which is the most humane or dog-friendly? To learn more about each style of barking collar, including which one is the most humane and the most effective, keep reading.

Shock Collars

If your dog is wearing an electric shock collar, then he is given an electric zap every time he barks at a certain level of loudness. The shock is quick and painful. So, before you buy this type of collar, ask yourself if you would make your child wear one?

Electric shocks are unpleasant, painful and mentally upsetting. They can lead to symptoms of anxiety, stress and depression, which translates to fearful and possibly overly aggressive dogs. Also, it's unclear what, if any, side effects there are of electric shock therapy.

Ultrasonic Collars

If your dog is wearing an ultrasonic noise collar, then he is treated to an extremely high-pitched and unpleasant siren noise every time he barks above a particular decibel level. That said, these collars rarely work and could even encourage barking.

Not all dogs have ultrasonic hearing nor can they necessarily hear super high-pitched noises. Also, because the owner can't hear the collar, there's no way to tell if it's even working.

Besides being ineffective, the collar may actually encourage barking if your dog can hear it. Most dogs bark in response to a noise or as part of a call and response. If each time they bark they get a response, albeit a high-pitched wail, they may continue barking, but louder.

A Humane Choice - Citronella

Probably the most humane bark collar is the citronella spray model. Basically, each time the dog barks above a certain decibel level, the collar emits a light mist of citronella, which is an irritating scent for canines. The experience is somewhat unpleasant, but not painful or unnecessarily cruel. Eventually, the dog will connect its barking to the citronella scent.

Where to Buy Citronella Spray Collars

There are two major and popular brands for citronella dog collars - these are the Premiere Gentle Spray Anti-Bark Collar and the MultiVet No Bark Spray Collar.

The Premiere Gentle Spray Collar is significantly more expensive than other brands and usually costs between $70 and $80. However, online specials can often be found for as low as $30 to $40. Refills for this product typically cost less than $5, but it comes with a full-sized can of citronella.

The MultiVet No Dog Bark Collar is more affordable at $30 to $40, but many customers complain the collar isn't sensitive enough to pick up high-pitched barking, meaning it's better suited for dogs with low growls.

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