Stop Your Dog From Barking

A hunting dog that barks at home needs to be dealt with, but a hunting dog that barks inappropriately in the field is a completely new ball game. A dog that barks uncontrollably while out hunting is definitely not going to bag you any game.

There are a lot of ways to train a dog not to bark: some better than others. The most common and usually most successful method is through using bark collars. These work by teaching through negative reinforcement.

The two basic types of dog collars for training dogs not to bark at inappropriate times can be used effectively on all types of dogs. Whether your dog is a hunting dog or a family pet, these collars can safely be used.

Bear in mind that not all dogs respond to every collar out there. Do some research to ensure that the training collar will be effective for your dog before investing in a purchase.

Electronic Bark collars

These collars work by emitting a light jolt to your dog when he barks, surprising him and stopping the bad behavior. It sounds cruel, but the jolt is so light, it’s nothing compared to even the static jolt you might get by touching the doorknob in your stocking feet. It will not harm your dog.

The idea behind these collars is that the “jolt” when he barks surprises him out of the behavior. Repeated enforcement of this pattern (bark, then jolt) ties the activity (barking) in with the result (jolt) and the dog soon learns not to do the activity that causes the result.

Most electronic collars come with settings, from extremely mild to more severe. All have safety settings to keep them from being accidentally misused. The settings for severity are generally for different sizes of dog, not necessarily for “impact.” Smaller dogs require less while larger dogs disperse more of the static. Start out with the lowest setting and work your way up until you find the one effective for your dog.

If you’re uncomfortable jolting your dog, a spray bark collar may be a better option over the electronic bark collar. Although electronic collars are harmless and humane, some people are unable to get used the idea of electrically jolting a dog. The spray collar utilizes citronella and is a good choice to control dog barking.

These work similarly to electronic collars, but emit a spray of citronella when the dog barks, which the dog does not like. The spray to the face is an instant reaction to his bad behavior (barking) and the smell, which most dogs find unpleasant, is a negative result for the barking behavior. As with electronic collars, the dog eventually ties barking in with the bad smell and so quits barking. These collars are effective on dogs up to about 160 pounds.

Summary

As a hunter, you probably enjoy taking your dog when you go hunting, and your dog probably enjoys it as well. However, it’s very hard when your dog barks at every small movement or sound when you’re hunting. A dog bark collar may be helpful to you when you’re out hunting. When you invest in a bark collar, you don’t have to be concerned about incessant or untimely barking and actually have a good time out with your dog. Dog bark collars, whether citronella or electric, are great hunting dog supplies that are humane and effective so be assured that you’re doing the right thing.

Tags: Pets