Bark collars were invented as a solution to the frustrating problem of dogs barking all the time, for no apparent reason. If you happened to be in a neighborhood that had two or more of these, life was miserable indeed, because they reinforced each other’s behavior.
Initially, only one type of bark collar was invented – the static one. The first versions of static collar came with some complications. These versions could not distinguish between more types of barking, and they reacted to all dogs within a certain perimeter, even if the dog wearing it was silent. There were a few reported cases of physical or extreme psychological harm because a dog was left unmonitored before finding out how it would react to the collar.
While the mechanisms have been developed, the basic idea of these devices stays the same.
None of these collars intend to harm the dog, but rather teach it not to bark all the time. (Not only these collars can correct excessive barking, but they can also teach the dog to avoid other annoying behaviors).
There are three different types of collars available on the market – with citronella, static and sonic. The spray bark collar uses a strong scented fluid, such as citronella; the sonic bark collar uses sound, above the frequency of human hearing but within the dog’s range. Both of these styles are best used on ‘sensitive’ dogs; those that are high-strung or over-react to physical stimulation (spray collars are not recommended for scent hounds due to the sensitivity of their noses).
The static collar seems to be the most appreciated among all three versions. Static collars can be triggered by continuous barking for a certain period of time. The static collar only reacts to the barking of the dog wearing it. Also having a volume and frequency requirement helps prevent the collar from being triggered by fear, pain, or other vocalizations not tied to problem barking. These devices can be adjusted manually. In addition, they have an automatic shutdown period if the dog barks for a certain period without cease. The bark collar will also reset to a lower level if the dog is silent for a preset amount of time. This will make the dog understand the benefits of barking less.
Anti-bark collars work best when associated with proper dog training. They shouldn’t be used as a single method of training. Training should be based on rewards and play for good behavior.
Anti-bark collars are the most practical and humane methods of teaching the dog it shouldn’t bark all the time. Most definitely they are preferable to other alternatives, such as the invasive debarking surgery or alienating the dog.
Even though the first versions of bark collar weren’t perfect, they have been improved in time. Most types of dog collars can be adjusted manually or digitally. If you want to find out more about different types of bark collar, click here.
Tags: bark collars, maltese terrier, puppies
