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It’s no secret that excessive dog barking can be difficult to live with—and even more difficult to train. Bark collars are some of the most common tools used to reduce unwanted dog barking. But the devices have come under fire in recent years from a number of experts and organizations. They argue that bark collars can cause physical discomfort and mental harm.
Those against include the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, The American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior, and The International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants, all of whom advocate for a shift to positive reinforcement techniques.
We spoke with certified positive reinforcement-based trainer Jenna Pellerito, CBCC-KA, ABC-DT, to understand why experts are moving away from bark collars, and what to use instead to keep your dog both safe and happy.
How Do Anti-Bark Collars Work?
Bark collars are designed to discourage dogs from barking, typically by emitting an unpleasant sensation like shock, vibration, sound, or spray. Sensors in the collar detect the vibration of the vocal cords when a dog makes noises. Sensations can also be controlled by the pet parent through a remote control.
There are many types of anti-bark collars, including electronic bark collars, vibration bark collars, ultrasonic bark collars, and spray bark collars—but all are considered aversive.
- Electronic bark collars deliver an electric shock to the dog’s neck. The shock’s intensity can typically be adjusted.
- Vibration bark collars send a vibration to the dog’s neck to interrupt barking.
- Ultrasonic bark collars make high-pitched sounds that dogs are highly sensitive to, but the sounds are usually inaudible to humans.
- Spray bark collars release a burst of scent (usually citronella or lemon) near the dog’s snout.
According to our expert, all of these collars take the same approach—they use a form of punishment or a certain level of discomfort to try to fix a dog’s unwanted behavior.
“Bark collars primarily work via the addition of positive punishment,” says Pellerito, who specializes in compassionate, positive reinforcement-based methods. “If the stim/shock is set to a high enough level, it will be painful to the dog. While lower-level stim, citronella, and vibrate options may not cause physical pain, they can still cause emotional pain or discomfort to the dog wearing the collar.”
Are Bark Collars Cruel?
Although bark collars can seem like a quick and easy solution, leading studies show that these collars can come with bigger risk than reward: physical and emotional discomfort in dogs, as well as long-term behavioral damage. “Bark collars pose the threat of being incredibly damaging to our dog’s emotional, physical, and mental welfare,” says Pellerito.
Dangers of anti-bark collars—whether shock, vibration, or spray—include:
- Burns, skin irritation, or muscle spasms
- Anxiety and hypervigilance
- Decreased responsiveness
- Increased aggression
According to Pellerito, other side effects include “increased anxiety, stress, and discomfort, and as time goes on, we could see decreased responsiveness, increased hypervigilance, and/or learned helplessness.”
Learned helplessness is especially troubling. When a dog learns they don’t have control over painful or stressful stimuli, they can stop problem solving altogether, diminishing their receptivity to even positive training.
Increased aggression is another risk of daily pain and discomfort, explains Pellerito. Some dogs may even associate the punishment from the collar with a source other than barking. For example, a dog who barks at passersby can start to associate the collar’s pain with the people they see, turning a people-friendly dog into a people-aggressive one.
Are Bark Collars Effective for Noise Control?
Although bark collars might stop your dog from barking in the moment, they can be counterproductive in the long-run for a dog’s health and training.
“Bark collars are effective in reducing the behavior of the dog barking, as the dog will learn to avoid the painful or uncomfortable sensation that the collar administers,” says Pellerito. “When we add positive punishment, or an aversive stimulus following an unwanted behavior, the aversive stimulus will decrease the likelihood of that behavior occurring in the future.”
Note that the term “positive punishment” doesn’t mean the punishment is good; it just means adding stimuli that a dog won’t like. In other words, a bark collar can stop your dog from barking.
But the trouble with positive punishment like bark collars is that it teaches a dog to repress behaviors without addressing the cause. This means a dog doesn’t learn how they should behave, and without a substitute behavior for their barking, a dog and their person will become dependent on the tool. In this case, a dog may only behave when the bark collar is on rather than learning from a pet parent or trusting their bond with their person.
What To Use Instead of a Bark Collar
There are several safe and effective alternative options to bark collars. A combination of positive reinforcement training and fear-free tools can help you and your dog reach your training goals.
Positive reinforcement means rewarding your dog for positive behaviors when they happen, which will ultimately increase the likelihood that they will repeat the action. Leading studies suggest that positive reinforcement is much more effective in helping pet parents achieve their training goals with their dog.
Pellerito says it’s important to remember that barking is a completely normal way for dogs to communicate. “Humans bred dogs for hundreds of years to bark,” she says. “We primarily used dogs as alarm systems to protect our home, as hunting partners who notified us exactly where the quarry was, and so much more.”
Instead of punishing the barking behavior out of dogs, Pellerito recommends these other strategies to teach your dog better barking behavior.
Redirecting
Redirection means teaching your dog to stop what they are doing (in this instance, barking) and come to a desired location to get rewarded with a treat, a toy, or affection. Pellerito recommends a method created by Kiki Yablon MA, KPA CTP, CPDT-KA.
Yablon is a certified positive reinforcement trainer in Chicago, and her “Thanks for Barking” protocol describes how to redirect your dog step by step. Here’s what the process might look like:
- Step 1: Preventive management — Remove or block access to whatever is triggering your dog to bark.
- Step 2: Preparation — Choose a positive verbal cue (like “Yes!” or “Good job!”). Prepare a reward (treats or toys, for example) and store them in a designated location.
- Step 3: Training prerequisite behavior — When your dog isn’t barking and is paying attention to you, give the verbal cue, reward them, and start moving towards the designated area. Continue to dispense the reward whether your dog comes to you or follows you to the location or not. Practice this step from different parts of the house.
- Step 4: Reinforcing the barking — Practice step 3 when there are things around that trigger your dog to bark. Give the verbal cue and reward your dog the instant they start to bark, or when they become alert before barking.
“We can use this protocol to interrupt barking when it happens and ask the dog to do something else instead,” Pellerito says. “Many dogs can even learn to redirect themselves if we are consistent enough with this protocol.”
If you’re hesitant about working through these steps on your own, a professional trainer can help you get a head start.
Setting up a privacy film
If your dog barks excessively at windows when they see people or other animals outside, putting up a privacy window film can help calm your dog and alleviate their anxiety.
“A privacy film can help your dog feel safer in their home, since they will no longer be triggered by all the outside stimuli,” says Pellerito.
Using calming pheromones
Pheromones are chemical signals that dogs can give off and pick up from other dogs. Dog calming pheromone products are synthetic versions of a chemical compound that help them relax.
Dog calming pheromone products can help prevent barking by reducing your dog’s stress, making them less likely to get distracted by people, other dogs, or noises. Some dog calming pheromone products include collars, diffusers, sprays, toys, and treats.
“However, if you suspect your dog has a generalized anxiety disorder, or frequently seems stressed and agitated, it is your best bet to chat with your veterinarian to see what medication or supplements options may be best,” says Pellerito.
Working with a certified fear-free dog trainer
If you want to stop your dog from barking but aren’t sure where to start, Pellerito recommends working with a professional positive reinforcement-based dog trainer. They can demonstrate force-free training techniques and help you avoid potentially harmful products.
They can also help you identify and address the root cause of your dog’s barking to determine what kind of positive reinforcement method to use.
“Is the dog barking because they are feeling scared, threatened, or unsafe? Is the dog excited and frustrated that they cannot access something they want? What does our dog gain by barking?” Pellerito asks. The answers to those questions can dramatically change your approach.
“If you truly want to work to reduce your dog’s barking habits, I recommend working with a credentialed dog trainer who specializes in behavior modification,” says Pellerito. “It’s important to ensure the trainer you work with is using updated and evidence-based methods.”
Further Reading
- Expert Tips on How To Stop a Dog From Barking
- Is Fear Free the Secret to Happier, Healthier Pets?
- Find Out What Your Dog’s Barking Really Means: A Guide to Dog Sounds
- How To Stop a Dog from Barking at Night
- Puppy Barking: How To Train a Noisy Puppy to Quiet Down
- Why Shock Collars Aren’t a Good Idea for You or Your Dog