To stop dogs from barking, training is essential. Training with rewards is the top choice. However, this takes time and patience on your part. The other way is to train your dogs to associate unwanted barking with some unpleasant results by using a device to stop dogs from barking. There are various types of devices: citronella or citrus dog collar, shock dog collar and ultrasound emitter. Through a conditioning process, your dog will learn to bark less.
The citronella/ citrus dog collar comes with a spraying unit attached. It works by spraying a short burst of citronella at your dog's face whenever it detects barking. This type of dog collar achieves the targeted result for two reasons - the sudden burst of liquid on the dog's face will cause an initial surprise and stop the dog from barking and secondly, because dogs do not like such smell.
Shock dog collar, as the name implies, sent an electric shock of varying intensity and duration to the neck of a dog. Some collar models also include a tone or vibrational setting, as an alternative to or in conjunction with the shock. The use of shock collars is controversial and scientific evidence for their safety and efficacy is mixed. In my humble opinion, it is best to leave this to the professionals.
Lastly, the ultrasound emitter.When the ultrasound device detects barking, it immediately sends out a high-pitched ultrasound sound to irritate the dog and discourage it from barking. Such frequencies are only audible to animals and not to human beings as they have an upper hearing frequency limit that is greater than that of the human ear. Similar to citronella/ citrus sprays, ultrasound emitters are designed to irritate the dog and would not hinder the dog's barking out of instinct such as at an intruder or harm the dog's hearing.
Remember, these devices are designed to condition your dog to stop barking, not for punishment. The citronella/ citrus dog collar and ultrasound emitter are safe and effective for all breeds and sizes of dogs. For small breeds, dog collar may be too large for some to wear comfortably. In such cases, you can opt for the ultrasound emitter which is available as a standalone unit.
Out of the 3 types, the ultrasound emitter is considered the most cost efficient and humane device to stop dogs from barking, without the need to purchase additional citronella/ citrus liquid. Another beauty of this technology is that it can handle multiple dogs at the same time. Ultrasound anti-barking devices are very popular among dog trainers as well as home owners who need to train their neighbors' dogs.
For recommendation on anti-barking devices, visit http://www.happyownershappypets.com/ and live a bark free life.
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