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.

Some dog owners even reward the barking with a treat or special attention. In this case, why do they expect their dog to shut up on command?

A bark collar is often regarded as something similar to a regular dog collar, that might hurt the dog by subjecting it to uncomfortable pressure. As I learned more and more about the variety of bark collar choices I began to breathe a bit easier when I discovered there were actually a few different types of bark collars and not all had even the slightest amount of “zap” to it. When you compare the different bark collars keep in mind a few things. You might want to know that bark collars do not have to be worn all the time and they are a less painful alternative to, let’s say, a debarking surgery.

This kind of medical intervention is rather invasive and consists of cutting off a part of the dog’s larynx that is responsible for creating the barking sound. After the operation, your dog will barely be able to produce a vague barking, which will not be loud anymore. Think about this for a minute. The barking of a dog is not always useless. Sometimes dangerous situations might require your dog’s intervention. What good is a whispering type bark going to do to call for help or defend your dog at that point? A mere whispering bark does not have nearly the aggressiveness that is called for as a mean growl or loud incessant barks. In addition, surgery isn’t successful in 100% of the cases and sometimes it only works for a few months. It is also an uncomfortable, even painful procedure.

On the other hand, anti-bark collars come in more varieties and you can find one that fits your preferences. Among all types of bark collars, the one with citrus spray is the most recommended. It works because the dog really dislikes its smell and will tone down its barking when it smells the citrus. 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. However, you alone will decide what kind of anti-bark method you prefer. 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.