Choosing Bark Collars For Small Dogs
Bark collars can help you control your dog if it’s one that makes a lot of noise. But things can become confusing when you delve into trying to choose the appropriate solution for both you and your dog.
Which Collar?
There are many different collars designed to help you control your dog if it is prone to break out into bouts of nuisance barking.
At iPetCompanion – bark collars for small dogs that are available include:
The Ultrasonic Collar: This style of collar emits an ultrasonic tone that can’t be heard by the human ear. However, dogs hear a piercing sound. When this collar picks up the fact your dog is barking via its built-in microphone, it triggers the noise.
A big downside of this product is that is common for many dogs to become accustomed to the ultrasonic tone. This means they continue to bark even after a very short time of using the product. They are only recommended as alternatives for young small dogs that display low drives or are timid in temperament.
The Spray Collars: Collars that spit out a splash of Citronella spray after they detect your dog’s barking are called Spray Collars. These citronella collars are very well known but may not turn out to be the best alternative. They tend to be activated by a microphone activated so many other loud noise can also set them off. Many of the versions that you will find available only promise to be weatherproof – that is they are not suitable for use in the rain or if your puppy likes to go in the water.
Some brands are waterproof and these are activated by a dog’s neck vibration as well as the microphone. This precludes the danger of the collar being activated by accident. This type of spray collar also sprays a more direct spurt of liquid. This makes them much more effective when the conditions are windy.
Spray collars are about 70% effective for most dogs. But they are not recommended if the dog in question is stubborn or a working breed. This is because this type of dog is often used to being sprayed and will tend to bark despite any spray. This type of collar can work out expensive as the spray refills need to be bought regularly.
The Static or Electric Collar: There is huge controversy about this style of collar even though it is widely regarded as being the most effective for stopping nuisance barking.
Many people consider the administration of electric shocks to be very cruel to dogs. But static bark collars still are available in a wide variety for small dogs.
There are options to use both rechargeable and replaceable batteries. They are all activated by a sensor that picks up vibrations from being in contact with your dog’s neck. They are then activated by the dog’s bark. In some models, a microphone sensor is combined for extra reassurance.
An electric bark collar is considered much more advanced than they used to be. They now come with switches that automatically cut out as well as variable settings that can be used to find the right operating mode for a particular dog. These collars can only be worn for between a maximum of 10 and 12 hours on any given day.
