Why Dogs Keep Silent with Anti-Bark Collars

image credit: d o l fi (flickr.com)

Barking is a natural behavior for dogs, but when it is excessive and uncalled for, it becomes a disturbance that can be upsetting to you and your neighbors. This is a common problem that different dog owners treat in different ways, but one of the most common solutions is the use of anti-bark collars.

An anti-bark collar is a device that's designed to stop dogs from barking excessively. They work in either of two ways:

1. Interruption

Dogs bark for a variety of reasons, and some of them bark for long periods out of boredom. They often bark at anything that catches their attention. To create a solution to this problem, an anti-bark collar designed to interrupt the dog when he barks was invented. These dog collars typically employ citronella, ultra-sonic tone, water, or air to surprise the dog and stop him from barking. These are made for dogs that usually bark at objects and not for canines that woof to catch attention.

Collars that are designed for interruption are not intended to harm or inflict pain, but this may not be the proper way to address the dog's excessive barking behavior. Canines that bark because of boredom or lack of stimulation or exercise don't actually need bark control devices to stop barking. They do bark because they are simply bored and have too much pent up energy to expend.

Although these collars are effective in reducing your pet's barking problem, it would be prudent to consider giving him some exercise and other activities. Engaging your pet in play and exercise can help to eliminate his boredom. This will also reduce his attention on things that can temp him to bark unnecessarily.

2. Punishment

Some anti-bark collars deliver electric shock or a loud and unpleasant ultrasonic tone to stop a dog from barking. The term might be too harsh, but this method is intended to "punish" barking canines in some way. It is a way of telling your pet that his barking is followed by an unpleasant consequence. The shock that follows could be gentle, but it can traumatize a dog if not used the proper way.

Dog owners should carefully monitor their pet when they use electric collars to stop dogs barking without any reasonable stimulus. It is undeniably true that electric collar manufactures produced these products with good intentions, but they can be used for the wrong reasons. These dog training devices are intended for short-term use, and if the trainer or owner allows them to stay around the dog's neck for a long time, it might cause psychological damage on your pet.

I'm not saying that that the use of anti-bark collars is inhumane. In fact they are effective and they allow your pet canines to learn not to bark easy and fast. But you must remember that these products are not intended to stay around your dog's neck for a long time. You should take them off your pet when you see that he has learned to keep silent.

Another thing that you must consider is the dog breed. Some breeds such as German Shepherds, Rottweilers and Border Terriers are barkers. You should not wonder why they bark a lot. You should not punish a pet for doing what he naturally does. One way to avoid the dog barking problem is to raise or adopt a dog that is naturally quiet yet beautiful. These include the Basenji, Collie, Greyhound, Pekingese, and Mastiff.

Related Articles:

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The Ten BestFamily Dog Breeds (cesarsway.com)

How to PreventDog Barking (cesarsway.com/)