Bark Collars For Dogs

15 Responses to “Are Anti Bark Dog Collars cruel?”

1. Cake Batter Says:
   June 23rd, 2010 at 10:50 am

   Try a citronella collar if you don’t like the shock ones.

2. Bart Simpson Says:
   June 23rd, 2010 at 10:50 am

   7

3. Emily Says:
   June 23rd, 2010 at 10:50 am

   Everytime your dog barks punish it ( say no…). When your dog doesn’t bark reward (say good boy/girl, give him/her a treat…). Try that and see if it works. Another idea is to take it to obediance school.

4. Wolfy Says:
   June 23rd, 2010 at 10:50 am

   Yes Definetly but my dad makes me put one on my dog so i have no choice but it does make them quiet. After the first shock or make that a few they’ll stop barking with the coller on. So they know better after that. And you don’t feel so bad anymore cause they won’t get shocked anymore.
   Hope i could help.

5. April Marie Says:
   June 23rd, 2010 at 10:50 am

   It’s really to each his own..If it’s something you are comfortable with, then do it, if not then don’t. I don’t think it matters what anybody else thinks. I don’t agree with them 100% but in some cases there may be no other option

6. Don't Litter! Spay & Neuter Says:
   June 23rd, 2010 at 10:50 am

   If you use them as an easy way out and without the guidance of a trainer? Absolutely.

7. tboznchilli Says:
   June 23rd, 2010 at 10:50 am

   I have one for my dog. I have asked that question myself. As long as it doesnt harm the dog, Its fine with me.

8. ? BAY BAY ? Says:
   June 23rd, 2010 at 10:50 am

   well i think they r because well it is hard to Say but ya i do my dog does that.but my dad trained him so ya.

9. xxx_yourstruly Says:
   June 23rd, 2010 at 10:50 am

   I personally think the electric shock anti bark collars are cruel. Barking is a dog’s way of communicating, so it would be the equivalent of someone shocking you every time you tried to talk.

   However, there are different types of anti bark collars. There are ones that emit a high pitched noise, which bothers the dog and makes it stop barking.

   If you still think that is inhumane, there are citronella bark collars. Every time your dog barks, it lets out a burst of citronella, which doesn’t hurt the dog, but it seems strange to him so he stops barking temporarily.

   I am probably going to get a citronella collar for my dog because she barks for no reason when she gets hyper and it bothers my roommates and neighbors.

10. 6dogmom Says:
    June 23rd, 2010 at 10:50 am

    I never liked the thought of using one, but I have 3 dogs that just won’t stop barking. I don’t want to be an annoyance to the neighbors this summer, so have decided to give it a try.

    I tried the citronella collars last summer, but these dogs are stubborn and would rather be sprayed over and over than stop barking. It got to the point where we couldn’t stand to be by them, the smell was so strong, but they didn’t seem to care.

    My breeder had a boarding dog that came with one and she tried it on her two worst barkers (mothers to two of my dogs of course). She said that her husband put it on his arm first, and it did give a slight shock, but wasn’t bad. It was set on 4 out of 10 so it could go lower if needed. It worked well on the dogs she tried it on, so we have decided to buy them. The dogs were startled, but didn’t have the reaction I always invisioned.

    Looked at numerous models and always chickened out, but after reading about this one, and seeing how it worked I will give it a try.

    Bark Limiter XS

11. Murphy13 Says:
    June 23rd, 2010 at 10:50 am

    Personally I think that they are. That is how they talk. What if someone put anti-talk collars on us?

12. Elena R Says:
    June 23rd, 2010 at 10:50 am

    I’ve seen ones that like…Spray some kind of stuff at the dog. I don’t really know much about it though.
    Look for different kinds of collars, instead of ones that shock.

13. Deb Says:
    June 23rd, 2010 at 10:50 am

    First, do not just address the symptom, the barking. Figure out why the dog is barking and fix that. Answer to question, yes they are cruel.

    Read on…http://www.cesarmillaninc.com/tips/issues_barking.php
    http://www.cesarmillaninc.com/tips/issues_barking_nuisance.php

    Excessive barking is most often the result of "lack of exercise" and boredom.
    When dogs are not walked daily, many will be forced to find ways, on their own, to expend their large amounts of natural energy.
    We must help them mentally and physically by taking them for daily walks, 2 preferably.

    You should not punish your dog for doing something that he has to do, expend energy and express his boredom.
    Owners often find that when they control one issue, the dog finds another way to expend energy such as digging, tearing things up, etc.

    Please try daily walks and see if your dogs situation improves.
    If you have never seen the proper way to walk dogs, with you the leader in front and the dog, the follower next to or slightly behind you, then watch an episode of Cesar Millan Dog Whisperer on National Geographic Channel. He helps owners on every episode with all the typical "dog issues" that owners have.

14. Hanna-Party of 3 Says:
    June 23rd, 2010 at 10:50 am

    I don’t like them at all either, but one of my dogs needed to use one. She barked all the time-day, night, it didn’t matter and would just start barking at nothing. We tried everything for about 5 years. The cops were even called on occasions and the last time they said that the dog was becoming a nuisance and if she kept barking then she would have to be put down. That is when we tried the bark collar. It only did a shock when she would bark twice in a row. After about a day of having it on she barely barked. I tried the amount of shock on my wrist before I put it on her and it was more uncomfortable than painful. She only had to wear it for about a month. I would only use that type of collar as a last resort. Try everything possible first. There is also a surgery that can take out that part, but that seems way worse.

15. petsinformation Says:
    June 23rd, 2010 at 10:50 am

    Electronic Fences
    Dogs whose yards are surrounded by electronic fences may develop fear or aggression aimed at what they believe is the source of the shock (kids riding by on bikes, the mail carrier, the dog next door, etc.). Dogs have been known to run through electronic barriers when frightened by fireworks or chasing a squirrel and then be too scared to cross back through the barrier.

    Electronic fences may actually encourage animals to try to escape. Since dogs only suffer painful shocks in the yard, they may associate the shock with the yard itself—once they get out of the yard, the pain goes away. The fact that the pain returns when they try to reenter the yard can cause dogs to believe that they are being punished for returning home.

    Even when animals are confined within certain boundaries of an electronic fence, they are still in danger of attacks by roaming dogs, cruel humans, or other animals, who can freely enter the property. Electronic fences are a dog thief’s dream come true!

    Humane and Safe Boundaries
    The most effective way to keep your dog safely confined to your property is to keep him or her inside the house when you aren’t home and allow him or her outside only under close supervision on a leash or in a securely fenced enclosure.

    Some Fencing Guidelines
    A 6-foot privacy fence is best, preventing your dog or intruders from scaling it.

    Wood or vinyl fencing is optimal for privacy, but chain link is less expensive. (Small windows covered with wire mesh can be cut into wooden fences to allow dogs to see out.)

    Replace a short fence with a taller one, or add an extension to the top.

    Line the fence with rocks or a cement-filled trench to prevent digging.
    If you cannot afford a fence, have a yard that would be difficult to fence, or live in a condominium or townhouse where fences are not allowed, consider letting your dog out only on a leash and taking him or her to a fenced dog park or to a friend’s fenced yard for play and exercise. You may also want to consult a certified dog behaviorist about teaching your dog to stay within boundaries through the use of positive reinforcement.

    Living With Barking Dogs
    Dogs bark for a variety of reasons but mainly because of boredom, distress, separation anxiety, and defense of their territory. Young dogs, small or active breeds, and dogs who are chained up or left outside most of the time are more likely to bark. For humane and safety reasons, as well as to maintain good relations with your neighbors, it is best to keep your dog indoors when you are not at home. Dogs are less likely to bark indoors, and any barking that they do indoors is less likely to be loud enough to disturb the neighbors.

    Tips to Prevent Boredom-Related Barking
    Take your dog for two or three walks per day; family members, trusted neighbors, or professional dogwalkers can help during the workday.

    Allow your dog least five opportunities to relieve him- or herself during a day.

    Provide plenty of chew toys; rotate them and provide new ones.

    Give your dog a toy that can be filled with treats; working to get the treats out will provide mental and physical stimulation.

    Agility and flyball courses are fun and a great outlet for a dog’s energy.

    Barking at intruders or frightening noises is a natural behavior for dogs and should not be totally forbidden.
    Tips to Prevent Excessive Barking at Strangers or Noises
    Take your dog out daily to interact and socialize with other people. Praise him or her for friendliness.

    When people visit your house, give your dog a treat or toy so that he or she associates guests with something positive.

    When something frightens your dog, encourage him or her to sit, lie down, or play with a toy.
    A humane dog trainer or certified behaviorist will be able to provide more tips on desensitizing your dog to frightening sounds. If your dog’s situation is severe, the behaviorist may suggest that you consider consulting your veterinarian about anti-anxiety medications that can help calm your dog.

    Although shock collars

    may temporarily stop the barking, they don’t address the cause behind barking, and they don’t work in a way that a dog can understand. An electric jolt to the neck can hardly be considered humane, particularly when the receptor of the shock doesn’t understand that it’s a punishment for a behavior that cannot seem connected to the collar. Aside from the fact that they cause the dog pain and confusion, shock collars may well increase aggressive behavior as the frustrated and frightened animal lashes out. If he does manage to stop barking, he will likely take up other destructive behaviors such as tearing up the house, because now you have a dog who is angry and scared, plus whatever feeling started the barking in the first place.

    Any animal, no matter how gentle, can reach a state of aggression under conditions of unexpected and unavoidable pain. I once saw the most loving, indeed, a downright wuss of a Doberman transformed into a snapping, growling and dangerous animal when he was stung by a bee just as his human was trying to shoo the bee away. The dog was too upset to understand that his friend was making an attempt of banishing his small,sharp-ended enemy. He associated the brush of the man’s hand against his fur with the pain of the bee sting. He thus responded by making a solid attempt to bite the helpful man. (Fortunately, they had a good relationship based on years of trust, so once the bee was dispatched and the stinging stopped, everyone forgave each other and went back to being friends.)

    Another drawback to the shock collar is that if it doesn’t work right away (and it’s as likely as not that it won’t), the procedure is to continue raising the shock level. Companies like PetPlanet.com won’t even sell shock collars, saying they are cruel, and the Denver Dumb Friends League reports that shock collars have a success rate of only around 50%.