"Stop barking"! How many times have you screamed that at your dog? Unfortunately, yelling at your dog rarely solves the problem. Dogs don't stop until they are good and ready. Screaming doesn't stop the behavior, it just creates more noise pollution. If your dog won't stop, you can get into trouble with the law as well as annoy your neighbors or family members.
To work towards correcting the behavior, you must understand why your dog barks in the first place. Dogs, like people, want to communicate; dogs howl, growl, grunt, whine, and bark to communicate with other dogs and with us. Dogs bark out of frustration, loneliness, anxiety, boredom or because they are startled by something. When a dog's barking annoys people, it is important to stop the behavior quickly. A lonely or anxious dog may be especially annoying to your neighbors, since that type of bark often gets higher in pitch.
Some stop barking collars, such as the TriTronics Bark Limiter XS have Bark Odometers, or bark counters. This allows you to see how many times the dog barked during the day and the level of frustration your neighbors may be experiencing. That information can help you decide which method is correct for your dog. And, it is important to remember that collars are not meant to completely eliminate dog barking; some barking is good. For instance, you wouldn't want your dog to remain silent if a stranger came on to your property.
Many dogs bark because they are lonely when their owner is not at home. The anxious dog may stop barking if you give it food, water, and a chew toy. Even if a dog is lonely, it may not bark if it is comfortable and feels secure. But, what should you do if your dog won't quit?
In some circumstances, a more extreme method is needed. Bark collars are a good way to keep dogs from barking. Some bark collars work by using ultrasonic sound. The dog will stop when a sound that only dogs can hear interrupts its bark. This method does not hurt the dog. Eventually, the dog will learn to stop when it hears the sound.
Other bark collars work by using electronic stimulation. Most collars that use this sort of correction have several levels of stimulation. The first time your dog barks it will feel the lowest level of correction and will increase until your dogs stops. When your dogs stop for a few seconds, the collar resets its self back to the lowest level of correction. You can use as much or as little stimulation as needed to stop dogs. Although some people are concerned that using this method is inhumane, the correction is mild and doesn't cause any harm to your dog.
Of course, using electronic collars, but they are not ideal for every situation. If your dog is anxious, it might not be best to use electronic stimulation. This might not stop the barking behavior, it might just make a more anxious dog. An anxious dog may associate the correction with the owner being gone and become more upset. A talk with your vet or a local pet trainer may be needed for professional advice under some circumstances.
Other professionals prefer to stop barking with citrus collars. These collars emit a burst of citrus when a dog barks. The citrus smell is too strong for the dog because dogs have an extremely effective sense of smell. This technique doesn't hurt the dog in any way.
If it's not your dog that won't stop making noise, you could try a remote device. A transmitter can be set up in the yard, and when a dog barks in a particular range, the transmitter works by sending an ultrasonic tone. You won't be able to hear the tone, but any dog in the range will hear it and will stop.
When deciding the best way to to train your dog to be quiet, it is best to know your dog. Know why it won't stop and go on from there. If your dog is over six months old, a collar is safe for it. And, collars are water-proof or water-resistant. Whether you use ultrasonic, electronic, or citrus collars,
stop barking devices will control barking if you work with your dog.