How Do Bark Collars Work?

Every bark training collar works the same way. A corrective stimulus is activated whenever the dog barks. Over time, this teaches the dog when barking is inappropriate by associating barking with the stimulus.

Bark collars come in three main types:

1. Spray Collars release a distracting citronella spray in front of the dog whenever it barks.

2. Ultrasonic Collars let out a startling but harmless tone to let the dog know it isn’t time to bark.

3. Stimulation Collars detect barking and administer a slight electric pulse.

All of these methods are designed to be relatively harmless. They provide an instant feedback mechanism to control barking.

However, it is not recommended to use bark collars on a dog that is already anxious or stressful, as this could worsen their condition. Consult your vet before using a bark collar.

The simple answer is ‘sometimes’. Because there are so many underlying reasons for your dog to bark and dogs use their bark to communicate many different things, a collar may or may not work for your situation. In several studies bark collars have been shown to be effective. However it may depend on your dog’s temperament.

Many dogs will simply ignore the collar and continue barking. Dogs that are anxious and fearful often respond poorly to punishment too and become more anxious if being punished. So if your dog is barking due to separation anxiety or fear a collar is unlikely to help. While these collars may act as a deterrent in the short-term there is a degree of habituation that comes over time, leading to decreased efficacy and a 86% relapse rate in a group of dogs who initially had a reduction in their barking frequency.

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