Most of the times, dogs bark for a justifiable reason. However, sometimes dogs over-react to situations or stimuli and become excessive in their vocalizations. Among the most common situations (and the hardest on neighbors) are dogs that suffer from separation anxiety and bark nearly constantly while alone.
Since the owner isn’t at home, it is very difficult for him to be able to control his dog’s behavior. There are times when dog owners do not know what to do anymore, other than subject their pets to debarking surgeries or simply take them to a shelter. Of course, these are rushed decisions which should only be used as a last resort. Yet, if neighbors complain constantly, there’s not much the owner can do.
Fortunately for both the dog and the owner, anti-bark collars were invented for these situations. Like most new technologies, there were some unforeseen complications. They often reacted to the barking of another dog, and could not differentiate between the types of barks, so would correct the dog when it was responding as any dog would; and did not necessarily have a safety cut-off in case the dog was hurt or panicked.
bark collars have been constantly upgraded since they were invented. For instance, you can find them in three different types – the citrus spray, ultrasonic and static collars. All three types are based on the same idea. When the collar detects barking of a certain range of frequencies and volume (both audibly and vibrationally) for a preset number of times, it will then be triggered. The combination of vibration and barking makes the collar react only to the dog’s noise. 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.
bark collars based on citrus spray release the substance when they’re triggered by barking; the sonic ones produce a sound that irritates the dog and static collars give the dog a mild shock. None of these devices can seriously harm the animal. The static versions can be adjusted according to the intensity and frequence of barking; if the dog does not bark for a longer period of time, they will automatically shut down. They can also be switched to lower settings if the dog barks less often than before. This reduction reinforces the idea that being quiet has benefits.
Having a bark collar does not exclude proper dog training; these collars should be used only as adjuvants. It should not be left on all the time, and initial sessions with it should be monitored. If your pet only barks when you are away and there’s no possible means for you to control his training, ask for a neighbor’s help. He will be more than glad to do it, since he’s the most affected by your dog’s behavior. Choose a person whom your dog trusts already.
This monitoring is crucial in the beginning to ensure your dog reacts within normal parameters for effective training. Dogs need much more than an anti-bark collar in order to learn how to behave. You must train them constantly, especially during their first year of life.
Instead of resorting to extreme solutions, consider purchasing bark collars instead. These devices can prove to be very efficient in educating your dog. If you want to know more details about these devices and the mechanisms they use, read more about bark collars here.
Tags: bark collar, Rottweiler, collarTags: bark collar, collar, Rottweiler
