Fresh Start Pet Coaching

Dogs bark. Barking is normal behavior for a dog along with many other sounds used for communications such as whining and howling. However, there is a point at which barking stops being a normal form of communication and starts being a problem, particularly if your neighbors are complaining.

A friend of mine recently discovered that she had a barking problem with her dachshund Sammy. She and her husband recently moved from an apartment to a house and now that their dogs were outside more, Sammy’s barking had become an issue.

How do you know if an anti-bark collar is appropriate for your dog?

There are two main types of anti-bark collars, one type delivers a mild electric shock when barking occurs and the other delivers a spray of citronella. I personally prefer the citronella collar which has been found to be as effective as shock collars in reducing barking. To me it is more humane and owners are more likely to follow through with using it.

I always recommend that anyone looking to use an anti-bark collar speak with a professional before ever using it to decrease the occurrence of barking. This is because their are many reasons that dogs bark and some of those reasons will only be worsened with the use of an anti-barking collar, which serves to punish the dog for barking. You will need to have a professional behaviorist evaluate the reason for your dog’s barking before you use an anti-bark collar or you may end up making the situation worse.

In the case of my friend’s dog Sammy, I did end up recommending a citronella collar. Sammy is they type of dog that if he doesn’t know what something is, he barks at it. He barks at other dogs, people on the street, the microwave beeping, etc. Because the situations that triggered Sammy’s barking were so diverse and because we couldn’t control the occurrence of those triggers, the citronella anti-bark collar was the best coarse of action for them.

You will know if your dog is barking excessively if it’s bothering you, if your neighbors are complaining, and if your dog doesn’t stop when you tell him to. If your dog barks excessively I recommend that you contact a professional to help you evaluate the reason for the barking. Once the cause of the barking is determined then you and the person you are working with can develop a plan of action to reduce the frequency of the barking.

If your dog is barking excessively seek out professional help to work with the problem. Contact us today to set up your complimentary 15 minute telephone consultation.