There are many reasons why dogs bark. Your dog may bark as a warning that a burglar has entered your home or to let you know that a stranger is approaching. The barking of dogs is also used to draw attention to or intimidate the owner of the dog or other people. Whatever the reason for the barking, I am sure we can all agree that it is annoying and you need to find a way to stop it quickly. Owners of dogs who bark constantly are sometimes accused of disturbing public order. Fortunately, there are several ways to discourage dogs from barking for no good reason.
Training your dog when appropriate to bark is probably the best way to stop unwanted barking. Although there are several options, the best way is the reward / reprimand method. This is a humane and effective method.
To avoid the use of this training method, some dog owners wear an electronic bark collar that emits a small electrical shock when the dog barks. Finally, the dog stops barking when the dog connects his barking with an unpleasant experience. I am of the opinion that using this method to stop the barking of dogs is inhuman and cruel.
Electronic collars should not be worn for a variety of reasons, one of which is that not all dogs associate their barking with uncomfortable impact. They learn to tolerate the impact and continue to bark. Also, if the tips of the collar do not touch the dog’s skin, a dog with a thick coat will not feel the impact. It should be noted that just the use of an electronic collar for training rarely stops the barking of dogs. For best results, obedience training of the dog is also necessary.
Some people think that electronic collars could put off dogs, even though the collar is not really for them. People who hold this point of view often wear citronella necklaces that work on a similar principle to electronic necklaces. The citronella collar emits a mist when the dog barks. Since dogs do not like the smell, they will start to connect their barking with the foul smell and stop barking. The success rate is roughly the same as for electronic necklaces.
Although electronic collars can be useful training tools, most veterinarians and dog trainers feel that they cannot be used as a replacement for good obedience training. Dog obedience training helps solve more dog behavior problems than just a dog’s barking.
Surgery is sometimes used to stop the barking of dogs. This is the most barbaric and drastic option. The dog is prevented from barking by removing a piece of tissue from the larynx. There have been cases where the dog’s ability to bark has returned, defeating the goal of surgery. Fortunately, most veterinarians are opposed to surgery to stop dog barking.
I hope we’ve managed to convince you that good dog obedience training is essential for dog barking and most other dog behavior problems. It is worth noting that if a dog stops barking with an e-collar, it will not bark when a burglar enters your home. However, a dog that receives obedience training will know the appropriate times to bark and will protect you and your family.
