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Stop Dog Barking - Reviewing the Safety Of Dog Training Aids
Dogs bark for a variety of different reasons. It's through barking that they are able to communicate and it's up to the dog owners to learn and understand what your dog is trying to say.
One common reason as to why a dog bark's is to warn his/her owners of approaching strangers or if a thief is trying to break into your home. Dogs also bark if they are not comfortable and are apprehensive or even if they are in pain. Sometimes a dog's growl and barking might lead owners to think that their dogs are aggressive and or intimidating. But it could just be that the dog is feeling neglected or bored and is just vying for your attention.
Whatever your dog's needs are, sometimes, persistent barking can be a real pain for you and your neighbors. Sometimes harried neighbors report the dog owners to the cops for disturbing the peace and tranquility of a neighborhood because of their dog's incessant barking. Luckily for you, there are a few things you can try, to train dogs not to bark without reason.
The simple way to control all that barking is to teach your dog when to recognize the appropriate times to bark. The reward/reprimand method works best because it is effective and humane. Some dog owners try and cut short the simple training options that are available and opt using an electronic collar, which is also known as a bark collar. This collar is worn by your dog and is activated whenever your dog starts to bark. It emits a small electrical shock which startles your dog. Eventually, your dog links his barking with pain and the barking halts.
The electronic collar has some drawbacks though. Some dogs simply don't link the pain caused from the electrical shock with the barking so they continue to do it and just build a tolerance to the shocks he receives from the collar. And dogs with a thick coat may not even feel the shock! There are metal prongs on the back of the collar which must be in contact with the skin in order for the shock to be felt. Furry dogs can't feel them if the prongs cannot reach their skin. Besides, there have been few cases where the electronic collar alone cures the barking problem.
Dog collars by itself are not enough and some obedience training is recommended for best results.
My personal opinion is that the electronic dog collar to control barking is mean and cruel. Let me ask you, would you use a collar that transmits electricity to teach your baby to stop crying or if your baby picks up food from the floor and shoves it in his/her mouth? While some say the electricity transmitted is really minute and does not really hurt the dog, I'm not for it. Some other dog owners use another type of dog collar which works similar to the electronic dog collar. It is called the citronella collar. This emits a mist whenever your dog barks. Dogs hate this smell. Whenever they bark, they will smell this citronella scent. Eventually, they will link the two together and therefore will try and avoid having to smell that odor by not barking. The rate of success is about the same as the electronic collars.
Lastly, the most drastic option that is available to stop the barking is surgery. Vets remove a small piece of tissue from the dog's larynx. This method essentially takes away the dog's ability to bark. However, for some dogs, their barking ability does return anyway, rendering the surgery a waste of time and money. Besides, many vets are opposed to this method and many consider it a inhumane and cruel act.
Most veterinary professionals and dog trainers agree that of all the available dog training aids, a good solid and easily teachable foundation in obedience training is what is required. The obedience training will not only eliminate the barking problem, it will also help the owners and dogs bond well with each other and understand each other better.
Spend some quality time with your pet and obedience training will provide you with all the necessary tools you need to stop or eliminate your dog's incessant barking. If you still decide to use the above mentioned collars and your dog learns not to bark, consider what could happen when your dog is actually supposed to be barking, like when someone accosts you or a thief enters your home. Obedience training will help your pet protect its family and also stopping unwanted behavior.
You can find other useful information at dog behavior training tips.
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