Before getting into the topic of bark collars and if they are good or cruel, perhaps a little background is in order as to why dogs bark in the first place. Sometimes they have very good reasons for barking (besides the obvious that they are dogs and that is what dogs do!) such as being left outside or perhaps they are lonely, bored, hungry or thirsty. Dogs are curious creatures. If you challenge their curiosity, hide something from them or there is an intriguing event happening outside the fence, they will definitely want to find out what’s going on.
Others bark out of habit or because their owners have encouraged their barking with treats and extra attention, instead of penalizing them for the useless noise. Owners think that cuddling the dog when it barks might quiet it down, but instead they only provoke it further.
People who lack proper information have advertised the bark collar like it is some torturing device for an animal. The truth is that a bark collar can come in many options, of which none is so dangerous as you’d believe. When you compare the different bark collars keep in mind a few things. One is that this is not something that will necessarily need to be worn by your furry friend 24/7 and it is a far better option in my opinion than putting your dog through what is known as debarking surgery.
This surgery is an invasive procedure that aims to remove a part of your dog’s larynx that vibrates with each bark. After being subjected to the surgery, dogs will not bark as loud as before. Vets might present you this option in an attractive manner, yet you should carefully think about it. Let’s say your dog got outside of the house and happened to be found in a situation with a bigger dog or pack of dogs or even worse, a coyote or other aggressive animal. When attacked by other animals, like a pack of aggressive dogs, your pet uses barking as a warning signal. Since the surgery is often unsatisfactory as some or even all of the bark comes back within months, and many believe this surgery is indeed cruel, veterinarians rarely suggest this as a solution to barking issues.
On the other hand, anti-bark collars come in more varieties and you can find one that fits your preferences. Citronella collars are the most popular anti-bark solutions. They only release a mild citrus scent whenever the dog barks. The animal dislikes this smell and stops making noise. There are citronella collars that make a “hiss” before spraying. This way the dog knows it is time it stopped making noise even before the spraying starts. Some university studies have proven the citronella barking collars are at least two times as effective as what are known as shock collars. In the end, you are the one to decide what 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.
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