Before enlarging on whether dog collars are ethical or not, we should first try to understand the reason why dogs bark in the first place. Dogs do not bark purposelessly. Sometimes their bark is actually justified; maybe they’ve been forgotten outside the fence or the apartment, maybe they are ill or have a wound, or they’re hungry, thirsty or simply got bored. Dog may bark simply because they are curious about what is happening on the other side of the fence.

Others bark out of habit or because their owners have encouraged their barking with treats and extra attention, instead of penalizing them for the useless noise. Owners think that cuddling the dog when it barks might quiet it down, but instead they only provoke it further.

When I first heard of a bark collar what came to mind was a slightly oversized regular dog collar that “zaps” your beloved canine with an uncomfortable pressure and I was not sure just how much pressure or pain was being inflicted. However, if you take some time to gather information on a bark collar, whatever model you want to choose, you will soon realise that it comes in many models, with various anti-barking mechanisms and none of them is likely to hurt your dog. When you compare the different bark collars keep in mind a few things. Whatever collar you choose, it is much better than the alternative – debarking surgeries.

Debarking surgery involves removing a fold of tissue which is on each side of the dog’s larynx which tightens and vibrates with each bark. After the operation, your dog will barely be able to produce a vague barking, which will not be loud anymore. Think about this for a minute. Let’s say your dog got outside of the house and happened to be found in a situation with a bigger dog or pack of dogs or even worse, a coyote or other aggressive animal. How is your dog supposed to alert other people and call for help if it can only be heard from a two-feet distance? Moreover, an anemic bark cannot keep enemies at distance. It doesn’t impress them at all. Moreover, even though the dog undergoes the surgery, there is no guarantee that the barking won’t come back. Sometimes these surgeries do not have long-lastiing effects.

On the other hand, anti-bark collars come in more varieties and you can find one that fits your preferences. Among all types of bark collars, the one with citrus spray is the most recommended. It works because the dog really dislikes its smell and will tone down its barking when it smells the citrus. The hissing sound startles them and they are also not fond of the smell. Most dogs get the picture rather quickly and quit the annoying incessant barking. Studies have shown that these citrus collars are more effective than other anti-barking solutions. In the end, you are the one to decide what you prefer. A painful one, like the shock collar, or just an annoying citrus smell.  

There are situations where dogs use their barking as a defensive strategy. If you are annoyed by your dog’s constant barking, there are plenty of bark collar varieties you can choose from. Please click this link for emore information on bark collar models.