We all know how frustrating it can be to deal with a barking dog. Whether it is the neighbor’s pet at all hours of the night or your own pup’s incessant yapping, it can be difficult to find a way to stop the barks. Though some people may consider anti-bark dog collars as a way to curb the behavior, others may consider them cruel and inhumane. In this blog post, we will take a deeper look into anti-bark dog collars, examining the pros and cons of this type of training tool, and ultimately determine if they are indeed cruel. We will also provide tips on other ways to train a barking dog so that owners can make an informed decision on the best way to proceed. So, join us as we explore the subject of anti-bark dog collars and decide for ourselves if they are truly cruel.
What are Anti-bark Collars, and How do they Work?
Anti-bark collars are devices designed to curtail barking. When your dog barks, they work by immediately releasing a bad stimulus. Anti-bark collars can be categorized based on the types of unpleasant stimuli they are exposed to. The groups of collars are:
When the dog barks, some bark collars make a loud noise. However, they are less common because pet owners find the loud sound to be an annoyance.
Anti-bark collars alter animal behavior through the use of punishment. As such, many animal pet trainers do not recommend them. But are they cruel?.
After carefully considering the cruelty claims, we can confidently say modern anti-bark collars are not cruel. The designs discourage barking without hurting the dog.
The gadget emits an unpleasant stimulus, like a vibration, whenever the dog tries to bark. It does not automatically result in pain. Similar to how an ultrasonic noise or citronella mist would be uncomfortable But hardly hurt your furry buddy. Anti-bark collars are more frequently used today by trainers and pet owners to stop unwanted barking.
Some pet owners assert that canines can develop collar smarts. When wearing the device, the dog won’t bark, but when you take it off, the annoying behavior returns. So anti-bark collars are not effective for long-term behavior change.
On the contrary, bark collars can aid positive reinforcement. An anti-bark collar can be used to teach a dog that barking causes discomfort. However, by patiently waiting for his turn, he receives a reward, and anti-bark collars contribute to a decrease in the number of dogs put down.
What to Do About Your Dog’s Excessive Barking
Identifying the type of bark your dog is emitting is the first step in reducing its barking. The answers to the questions below can help you identify the type of barking your dog is engaging in and determine how to solve its issue. As you read the following details on the various types of barking and their remedies, consider your answers to these questions.
Determine if the barking is territorial or alarm behavior. Territorial behavior is frequently prompted by both fear and anticipation of a potential threat. Many dogs are highly motivated to bark when they notice the approach of unknown people or animals near familiar places, like their homes and yards, because defending territory is such a high priority to them. Due to its high level of motivation, your dog may ignore unpleasant or punishing responses from you, such as reprimands or yelling, when it barks territorially. The motivation for your dog to protect his territory will remain strong even if punishment stops him from barking, and he may try to do so by biting you without provocation.
Territorial barking is a behavior used by dogs to warn neighbors when people are present, frighten away intruders, or both. When the mailman delivers the mail, the maintenance worker reads the gas meter, or other people are at the door, a dog may bark. He might also become agitated by the sounds and sights of dogs and people walking by your home or apartment. When dogs or people pass by while they are in a car, some dogs become especially agitated. Your dog’s body language and behavior should allow you to determine whether he is barking to say “Welcome, come on in!” or “Hey, you’d better hit the road.” If you’re dealing with a dog that fits into the first category, adhere to the advice given in this article for greeting barking (below). You’ll be more successful if you restrict your dog’s ability to see or hear onlookers and train him to associate the presence of strangers with positive things, like food and attention, if you’re dealing with a dog in the latter category who isn’t friendly to people.
Your dog’s motivation and opportunities to defend his territory should be decreased in order to treat territorial barking. You must prevent your dog from seeing people and other animals if you want to control his behavior. Glass coatings applied with a spray gun or removable plastic film can help block your dog’s view of certain areas inside your home that he patrols and observes. Secure, opaque fencing should be used to enclose any outdoor spaces that your dog may access. Don’t let your dog welcome guests at the front door, the front yard gate, or the property line. Instead, teach him to go to a different place, such as a crate or a mat, and remain quiet until he is invited to greet properly.
Territorial barking and alarm barking are very similar in that they are both sparked by sights and sounds. However, when on unfamiliar ground, dogs that alarm bark may do so in response to things that startle or frighten them. For instance, a dog that barks aggressively when he sees strangers approaching will typically only do so when he is in his own house, yard, or vehicle. In contrast, a dog that regularly barks in alarm may vocalize when he hears or sees strangers approaching in other locations as well. Despite the slight differences between territorial barking and alarm barking, the following suggestions apply to both issues.
“Quiet” Training If your dog still barks alarmically or territorially despite your best efforts to keep him from being exposed to sights and sounds that could set him off, try the following methods:
“Go to Your Spot” Training Teaching your dog a set of behaviors to perform when guests enter your home will also help reduce the amount of times he will alarm bark. Additionally, your dog will learn that having people in his and your space is a positive thing when he exhibits his new behaviors and receives rewards.
Don’t be afraid to ask for assistance from a Certified Professional Dog Trainer or a Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist in your area if you need assistance teaching your dog these skills. To help you through the process of teaching your dog to sit, stay, and go to a spot on command, a qualified trainer can meet with you one-on-one. To locate one of these professionals close to you, please see our article, Finding Professional Behavior Help.
Greeting Barking If your dog barks at visitors at the door, at dogs or people passing by your property, at dogs or people he encounters while out for a walk, or at dogs or people he encounters through the fence, and his barking is accompanied by whining, tail wagging, or other signs of friendliness, your dog is likely barking to say hello. He probably makes the same barking noise when family members get home.
Attention-seeking Barking Dogs are very expressive, which is one of the reasons it’s so simple to live with them. They find a way to let us know their needs. They often do this by barking or whining. We actually find it desirable when they bark in order to ask to go outside and relieve themselves or to ask for their water bowl to be filled. However, it is less appealing when your dog barks incessantly to demand anything and everything, regardless of whether it is necessary. In order to get your dog to stop barking, you’ll need to consistently refrain from rewarding him for doing so. Demanding, noisy dogs have been trained to be this way, usually unintentionally. Don’t try to figure out exactly why he’s barking. Ignore him instead. Treatment for this type of barking can be challenging because, most of the time, dog owners unintentionally reinforce the behavior by making eye contact with, petting, correcting, or conversing with their dogs. All of these human actions can be considered rewarding attention to dogs. Try to convey to your dog through crystal-clear body language that his attention-seeking barking will not be successful. You could, for instance, turn away from your dog when it begins to bark for attention or leave the room when it does. Ask your dog to sit as soon as he stops barking, then give him whatever he requests—attention, play, treats, to go outside or come inside.
In some situations, teaching your dog a substitute behavior is the simplest way to stop them from barking at you in the future. Install a doggy door, for instance, or teach your dog to touch a doorbell with his nose or paw to ring it if he needs to go outside or come inside instead of barking. Teach your dog to bring a toy and sit in front of you if he barks to get you to play with him. Sometimes, removing the triggers for your dog’s barking makes problems easier to avoid. Block the area if your dog barks for you to get his toys out from under the sofa so they won’t get stuck out of his reach. Give your dog a tasty chew bone to occupy him before he begins to bark if your dog barks at you while you’re on the phone or using the computer.
Additionally, you can train your dog to be silent when asked. This will strengthen the link between quiet behavior and rewards or attention. Every time you want to give your dog attention, play, or treats, they should be quiet first. Giving your dog a surefire way to get attention frees him from having to yell for it. When your dog isn’t barking, regularly approach him and show him that you care with affectionate remarks, petting, and the occasional treat.
Dogs can occasionally develop the compulsive behavior of compulsive barking, which is characterized by excessive or repetitive barking in situations that aren’t considered normal. If your dog barks continuously for an extended period of time, seemingly in response to nothing or at objects that other dogs wouldn’t find bothersome, like shadows, light flashes, mirrors, open doors, the sky, etc. , you may have a compulsive barker. Your dog may be a compulsive barker if he engages in other repetitive actions like spinning, circling, or jumping in addition to barking. You can experiment with altering your dog’s confinement to help reduce compulsive barking. For instance, if your dog is chained or tethered, you can switch to letting him run free in a secure yard. Likewise, if your dog is frequently left alone, you should increase his exposure to exercise, mental stimulation, and social interaction.
We advise you to seek advice from a Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist or a veterinary behaviorist if you believe your dog to be a compulsive barker. If a behaviorist is not available, you can turn to a Certified Professional Dog Trainer for assistance, but make sure the trainer is qualified to do so. Since this kind of experience is not necessary for CPDT certification, find out if she or he has training in treating compulsive behavior. For information on locating one of these behavior specialists in your area, please see our article, Finding Professional Behavior Help.
Because social animals, dogs that bark socially are compelled to do so when they hear other dogs barking. By keeping your dog inside when other dogs are barking, playing music to drown out the sound of other dogs, and diverting your dog with treats or play when other dogs are barking (in real life or on TV), you can discourage this tendency.
Barking in the Face of Excitement or Frustration Dogs frequently bark in the face of excitement while being prevented from achieving their goals. A dog, for instance, might growl in his yard out of frustration because he wants to play with the kids he hears in the street. A dog that is agitated may bark while running along the fence line with the dog next door or while standing by the patio door and watching a cat or squirrel play in his yard. Some dogs bark at other dogs on walks to greet and play with them, or they bark at their owners to get them to move more quickly as they get ready to go for walks. Teaching a frustrated dog to control his impulses through obedience training is the most efficient way to stop him from barking out of excitement or frustration. Before participating in enjoyable activities like walks, playing with other dogs, or chasing squirrels, you can teach your dog to wait, sit, and stay. You might require the help of a Certified Professional Dog Trainer to help you with this daunting task. Information on where to find a CPDT in your area can be found in our article, Finding Professional Behavior Help. Additionally, you can prevent cats and other animals from congregating in your yard by using motion-activated security systems to alarm intruders.
Numerous tools are available to train dogs to reduce their barking. Most frequently, these are collars that cause your dog to bark while emitting an unpleasant stimulus. A loud noise, an ultrasonic noise, a spray of citronella, or a brief electric shock could all serve as the stimulus. The collars that deliver noise are ineffective with most dogs. According to one study, owners preferred the citronella collar over the electronic collar for curbing barking and it was at least as effective. Almost all dogs develop “collar wisdom,” or the ability to stop barking while wearing their anti-bark collars but resume barking when they remove them. In a home with multiple dogs, collars that detect dog barks using a microphone system shouldn’t be used because any dog’s bark could set them off.
Anti-bark collars are punishment tools, so using them as a first line of defense against excessive barking is not advised. This is particularly true for barking that is prompted by phobias, anxieties, or compulsive behaviors. Please read our article, Finding Professional Behavior Help, for details on how to locate a Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist, a board-certified veterinary behaviorist, or an experienced Certified Professional Dog Trainer for advice before using an anti-bark collar.
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Bark collars can spray your dog with citronella, make a high-pitched noise, or shock the dog in response to the sound of barking or the vibration of your dog’s vocal chords. None of these penalties successfully address the cause of the barking. In the best scenarios, they frighten and discomfort the dog. In the worst cases, they cause pain.
Bark collars are cruel because they cause the dog pain or discomfort in an effort to get them to stop barking. There are more effective methods for dealing with excessive barking that don’t hurt your dog and deal with the underlying causes of the issue. Bark collars do not address the reason for the barking. Punishing your dog for being a dog is cruel because barking is a common behavior.
FAQ
Do vets recommend bark collars?
Anti-bark collars are punishment tools, so using them as a first line of defense against excessive barking is not advised. This is particularly true for barking that is prompted by phobias, anxieties, or compulsive behaviors.
Are bark collars that vibrate cruel?
No, a vibration collar won’t hurt your dog; all it will do is buzz your dog’s neck. They will not shock or cause Fido any pain.
Are bark collars humane for dogs?
Bark collars are cruel because they cause the dog pain or discomfort in an effort to get them to stop barking. There are more effective methods for stopping excessive barking that are also more compassionate and won’t harm your dog. Bark collars do not address the reason for the barking.
When should you not use a bark collar?
However, there is one circumstance in which a bark collar should never be used to prevent barking. Some dogs may bark excessively if they are in pain or have hearing loss, cognitive issues, or brain diseases.