For more information about this problem, please see our article, Separation Anxiety. Think about your answers to these questions as you read through the information below on the different types of barking and their treatments. Because defending territory is such a high priority to them, many dogs are highly motivated to bark when they detect the approach of unknown people or animals near familiar places, like their homes and yards. This high level of motivation means that when barking territorially, your dog might ignore unpleasant or punishing responses from you, such as scolding or yelling.
Dogs engage in territorial barking to alert others to the presence of visitors or to scare off intruders or both. A dog might bark when he sees or hears people coming to the door, the mail carrier delivering the mail and the maintenance person reading the gas meter. He might also react to the sights and sounds of people and dogs passing by your house or apartment. Use secure, opaque fencing to surround outside areas your dog has access to.
For example, a dog who barks territorially in response to the sight of strangers approaching will usually only do so when in his own home, yard or car. By contrast, a dog who habitually alarm barks might vocalize when he sees or hears strangers approaching in other places, too.
Although territorial barking and alarm barking are a little different, the recommendations below apply to both problems. A professional trainer can meet with you one-on-one to guide you through the process of teaching your dog to sit, stay and go to a spot on command. Please see our article, Finding Professional Behavior Help , to locate one of these experts near you. Greeting Barking If your dog barks at people coming to the door, at people or dogs walking by your property, at people or dogs he sees on walks, and at people or dogs he sees through the fence, and his barking is accompanied by whining, tail wagging and other signs of friendliness, your dog is probably barking to say hello.
He most likely barks the same way when family members come home. They find a way to let us know their needs. They often do this by barking or whining. Indeed, we find it desirable when they bark to ask to go outside to eliminate or to request that their water bowl be filled.
This pattern of barking does not happen by accident. A demanding, noisy dog has been taught to be this way, usually not on purpose! Ignore him instead. Treatment for this kind of barking can be tough because, most of the time, pet parents unwittingly reinforce the behavior—sometimes just with eye contact, touching, scolding or talking to their dogs.
To dogs, all of these human behaviors can count as rewarding attention. Try to use crystal-clear body language to tell your dog that his attention-seeking barking is going to fail. For example, when your dog starts to bark for attention, you can stare at the ceiling, turn away from your dog or walk out of the room.
If your dog barks to get you to play with him, teach him to bring a toy and sit in front of you. You can also teach your dog to be silent on command. This will help strengthen the association between quiet behavior and attention or rewards. Your dog should always be quiet before receiving attention, play or treats.
If your dog also does other repetitive behaviors like spinning, circling or jumping while barking, he may be a compulsive barker. When you buy through our links, Insider may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more. Bark collars are designed to help break excessive barking habits. We spoke with veterinary behaviorist Katherine Houpt, a professor at Cornell University's College of Veterinary Medicine, to better understand how these collars work.
It's important to understand that barking is a natural way that dogs communicate with each other and with humans. Training your dog to stop barking by identifying the root of the behavior and using positive training techniques should always be your first attempt.
The collars in this guide work by administering an unpleasant stimulus when your dog barks. The stimulus could be a vibration, high-pitched sound, or scented spray. Other anti-bark collars administer a static shock, but we do not endorse their use as they can cause both physical and psychological harm to a dog.
You can read more about each type of collar at the end of this guide. The various types of no-shock bark collars can be safe and effective when used properly. Houpt explained that timing is important with these collars. The collar must be triggered immediately after the bark in order for the dog to make the association.
The stimulus is meant to deter a dog from barking through causation — a dog will associate barking with discomfort. However, if used incorrectly, they can create additional stress for a dog. Based on this information, we researched the best spray, ultrasonic, and vibration bark collars. If you've been thinking about getting one for your pet, be sure to consult your veterinarian first. Pros: Three training options, remote range of yards, includes one unscented and one citronella cartridge, rechargeable.
Cons: Not for dogs under 8 pounds, manual control only, refills needed frequently. Spray collars work by releasing a plant-based fragrance, usually a citronella spray, each time a dog barks. While we humans may enjoy the smell, dogs typically do not.
Houpt conducted a study comparing citronella collars to shock collars and found the spray collar to be more favorable. Also, it may annoy them, but it doesn't hurt the dog," she said. The Petsafe Remote Spray Trainer comes with three training options: a spray, a tone, and a vibration.
Each training option must be manually activated using the remote control when within a range of yards of the rechargeable collar. A tone can be set to accompany either a spray or a vibration. The collar can be loaded with a scented or an unscented canister. Each canister provides up to 35 sprays and can be used on dogs larger than 8 pounds. According to Houpt, the use of citronella won't have any adverse effects on the dog or make the dog sick.
Although this is her preferred type of bark collar, she said that some dogs, particularly larger ones, will get used to it and it will lose its effectiveness. July 31, Do Bark Collars Really Work? Are Anti-Bark Collars Safe? What Are Alternatives to Bark Collars? Content Topics: Dog Training. Prev Previous. Next Next. Ultrasonic bark collars also have a microphone, and emit a high-pitched sound that is imperceptible to humans and irritating to dogs.
Some systems have two tones—one to reward positive behavior and another to indicate negative behavior—but most just have one. Ultrasonic bark collars are also often paired with electronic shock collars to deliver first a sound, then a shock if the behavior continues.
Of the three types of bark collars, the ultrasonic bark collar is the one with the least amount of corroborating research. Why Use a Bark Collar? Katherine A. Houpt, V. Houpt describes the type of dogs whose owners typically purchase bark collars as "nuisance barkers.
Houpt says that behavior modification can help manage nuisance barking, but owners who are not present when barking occurs, unwilling or otherwise unable to correct the dog may choose to try a bark collar.
Many dogs bark for a specific purpose, and barking can usually be resolved without resorting to a bark collar. The SPCA considers them inhumane and never to be used. Craig Mixon, who authors BarkingDogs. With habituation, the more the dog wears his citronella collar, the less well it will work, and the less effective it will ultimately be. Dogs may learn to circumvent the citronella collar, barking and then backing up so as not to smell the citronella or barking excessively until the citronella supply is exhausted.
Mixon writes that the best way to circumvent habituation is to alternate the use of citronella and electronic collars and to use the collar as just one component in an arsenal of training and behavior modification, not the sole training method.
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