Many dog owners try to stop dogs from barking by relying on anti-bark dog collars. They rationalize the use of anti-bark collars by saying “dog training takes too long” or “it costs too much” or even “my dog’s just too stubborn to learn any other way.” The truth is that all dogs are capable of controlling their barking without the need of anti-bark collars.
Anti-bark dog collars use electric shocks, ultrasonic noises, or sprays of citronella oil to stop dogs from barking. When a dog barks, vibrations pass through the collar or into the collar’s microphone that trigger the collar’s activation. The theory is that when dogs receive enough of these corrective jolts, the dogs finally choose to stop barking in order to avoid more irritating shocks, noises, or sprays.
Many animal trainers claim that these collars are highly effective. However, there are several problems with using anti-bark collars to stop dogs from barking. Training received via an anti-bark collar is not long lasting. Companies that produce these collars admit that dogs will need to wear the collars periodically in order to be reminded to stop their nuisance barking habits. Also, these collars are cruel and outright abusive. Wouldn’t it be cruel to make a child wear a shock collar (even if it didn’t injure the child) in order to teach them to stop saying certain words? If a child shouldn’t wear it, why would a family pet need to wear it? Finally, collars that stop dogs from barking are incapable of differentiating between useful barking and nuisance barking. All barking is immediately met with corrective jolts. So, when a burglar breaks into a person’s house, the canine will most likely sit and watch the invader, too afraid of punishment to produce any alert barks for their owner who’s being robbed.
When attempting to stop dogs from barking, avoid anti-bark collars. Despite complaints of time, expense, and stubbornness, dog bark control training is fast, affordable, and works on virtually all dogs. Teaching a dog to stop barking can take just a few days. Dog owners can opt for inexpensive training manuals rather than pay for expensive obedience classes. Training techniques based on positive reinforcement are highly effective, no matter what breed of dog is being trained. Wasting money on an ineffective, unethical, short-term fix like an anti-bark dog collar is a mistake. Training is how dog owners can stop dogs from barking.
Dale Wisniewski is a freelance writer and internet researcher who studies various subjects. Click for more info on how to stop dogs from barking for more great info and the opportunity to obtain a free eBook and audio book package that answers many questions about dog ownership.
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