Are you an owner of a dog that has to deal with the barking at undesirable times or nuisance barking? Barking is a natural action for a dog and they use it as a way to communicate with other people and animals around them. Teaching your dog when barking is suitable can be beneficial to your dog, you, and any surrounding neighbors. You cannot stop your dog from barking completely because there are times when it is good for them to bark. Things such as alerting you of an intruder are welcomed by any owner and barking is a good reaction.
Before you buy a no bark collar or other training product, observe your dog's behavior, determine what is causing them to bark, and then make a plan. Think about situations where your dog should be allowed to bark. Put them on their own list and then make a list of situations where your dog has been barking and it is unpleasant for you and people around you. Put them in the order you would like them to be corrected. Remember that not all can be resolved at once and you should train for one situation at a time. This will prevent your dog from being confused and make the training more effective.
A no bark collar uses a sensor to detect your dog's bark and then provide a distraction such as a shock or sound that stops the barking. Collars that use sound are normally only affective for a short time period. If you are going to be doing a lot of training, they are probably not the best choice for you. Over time the dog will get used to the sound and start barking again. Collars that provide a shock or vibration are more effective because the sensation can be given at different levels preventing your dog from getting used to it and continuing the behavior.
Try the PetSafe standard bark collar for initial training. This device is meant for teaching a dog the difference between barking for protection and barking out of boredom or excitement. It uses the vibrations that occur when your dog barks to deliver the correction. It emits a beep before the correction to give your dog a warning. The correction itself is more of an annoyance and will not be harmful to your dog as long as the correct level is used. It is lightweight and designed for dogs over eight pounds. There are six levels of correction and an automatic shut off option emergency situations.
When you purchase a dog training collar, pay close attention to your dog's behavior. If they have a bad reaction to it, either decrease the correction level or remove it completely. Read all instructions and make sure you know how to use it properly. Do not leave the collar on when your dog is unattended. These types of collars should not be worn with other collars. Do not attach a leash to them or use for more than eight hours at a time. Any collar you purchase should have the necessary warnings and information in the paperwork that comes with it.
