Which is the Best Bark Collar: Anti Bark, No Shock or Remote Control?

Which is the Best Bark Collar For a Dog: Anti Bark, No Shock or Remote Control?

Even when you love your dog and ever ready to put up with his excessive barking, your neighbors may not be willing to endure the torture. Truly, excessive barking can be annoying, but sometimes, you just can’t keep your dog from doing it.

 Positive reinforcement will always help, but you can deal with dog barks better by combining traditional training methods with shock training. That's when you can consider taking advantage of different types of anti-bark collars.

 Here are a few options to help you select the best bark collar.

PetSafe Citronella Spray Collar

BEST Spray collar

  • Good battery time
  • Durable construction

Rated by: Amber

DogCare Rechargeable Shock Collar

BEST Overall

  • 99 static shock levels
  • High quality remote
  • Quite durable

Rated by: Amber

DogRook Dog Bark Collar

Best sound collar

  • Multiple sound and vibration levels
  • Reflective stripes for visibility 
  • Suitable for small dogs

Rated by: Amber

The Best Anti-Bark Collars: Our Top Picks

1. PetSafe Citronella Spray Collar

Quick Summary

Rated by: Amber

In case you're looking for a smarter way to train your small dog, a citronella collar may well be the right option. This PetSafe spray collar relies on a microphone to detect a barking behavior and activates to prevent it. 

Even though the collar contains about 25 sprays before you need to refill the cartridge, you can find a refill can in the package that is going to last up to 300-400 sprays. The collar is quite durable, and the fact that it is completely waterproof means it is going to serve you well for long. The battery time is quite impressive too, thanks to its 6-volt alkaline battery.

Overall, it's a great choice for anyone looking for a citronella collar with a refill can and rechargeable battery already included in the package. The only issue you might encounter is that the collar doesn't come with a vibration and sound sensor – it has a sound sensor only. Nevertheless, it still delivers good performance considering its affordable price tag.

PROS

  • It is waterproof and quite durable
  • It has a good battery time
  • It has an additional refill can

CONS

  • It has a sound sensor only.

2. DogCare Rechargeable Shock Collar

Quick Summary

Rated by: Amber

For those searching for the best bark collar for small dogs, DogCare may well be the answer. The most impressive thing is that it is the best bark collar with remote. The remote comes with a single powerful chip, giving you the ability to control the collar from a distance of 750feet. It is powerful enough to help you to operate up to 9 separate collars. It can be a great convenience for people with multiple dogs.

The dog collar also features a locking keypad. It means you don't have to worry about any accidental misfires either. You can use it to train your small and medium dogs because you can choose from 99 static shock levels. At the same time, you can utilize vibration and audible beeps to help train your dog well.

 The collar is quite adjustable and you won't have a problem putting it on a dog as small as 10 pounds. You can use it on a dog of up to 100 pounds with equal ease. The bark collar is quite durable at the same time, as it is made from high quality ABS material. The only issue you might experience is that there are collars with a battery time much better than what you get from this one.

PROS

  • It comes with a powerful remote
  • It comes with 99 static shock levels
  • It is quite durable

CONS

  • The battery time could've been better

3. DogRook Dog Bark Collar

Quick Summary

Rated by: Amber

If you are not sure about using collars with different static shock levels, this no-shock bark collar is just what you need. It will gently persuade your pet to behave and learn to bark more appropriately. It uses as many as 7 different levels of sound and vibration to help you select what works best for you dog.

A common issue with other similar collars is that they get activated by other dogs barking in the vicinity, but the DogRook utilizes an updated chip to keep the interference to the minimum.  It is quite suitable for most dogs, including smaller dogs because the overall weight is just 1.6oz. Moreover, you won't face any issue in terms of durability because of its rugged construction. It's weatherproof and is capable of resisting water well.


What's more, the collar uses reflective stripes to ensure additional safety. Though it is quite adjustable, it is still a good idea to double-check the fit while considering the size of your dog before finalizing a purchase.

PROS

  • It features multiple beeps and vibration
  • It uses reflective stripes for improved visibility
  • It comes with a 1-year warranty


CONS

  • It may have some fitment issues

4. SportDOG 425 Remote Trainers

Quick Summary

Rated by: Amber

This bark collar is yet another great offering from SportDog, as it lets you use vigorous vibration, ultrasonic beeps, and static across 21 levels. As you can switch using a remote controller and select the lowest setting with ease, it will be a great product for your small dog.

The remote controller is quite powerful; in fact, you can easily use it to control the collar from 500 yards or 1500 feet. You won't have to worry about the quality because both the collar and remote are made from durable materials. Both products are waterproof as well, so don't worry if your pet loves water.

An important consideration is regarding the battery time, but the SportDog 425 will impress you here with its amazing 70 hours of runtime. Interestingly, you can charge it completely in no more than 2 hours. The collar is highly adjustable, so you can use it for dogs with neck sizes between 5 inches and 22 inches.  Overall, it is one impressive no bark collar, but keep in mind that it is a bit pricier than other similar shock collars.

PROS

  • It features DryTek technology for water protection
  • It has impressive range of up to 500 yards
  • It has an impressive battery time

CONS

  • The price could've been lower

5. PetSafe Basic Bark Control Collar

Quick Summary

Rated by: Amber

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Although a basic no bark collar, this pocket-friendly product from PetSafe is still capable of delivering great performance. It is a suitable choice for dog owners looking for collars with multiple static shock levels. You can easily choose from 6 levels of static correction, which means you can use it for both small and medium dog breeds.

 The collar is quite adjustable, so again, you can expect a smooth fit for small breeds as well as large dogs, like German Shepherds. The collar is waterproof and its bright red collar makes your dog more visible even when walking in low light conditions. Overall, it's a great product, but some may find the price to be a bit on the higher side for a basic no-bark collar.

PROS

  • It comes with 6 levels of correction
  • It fits dogs up to 28-inch neck size
  • It is quite visible with its red color

CONS

  • It may feel a bit overpriced

FAQ - A Buyer's Guide

Are bark collars cruel?

In general, bark collars aren't cruel.

It all depends on the type of collar you buy and the way you utilize it. You may choose to use a bark collar when you feel that your dog's barking excessively and for no obvious reason.  

However, you need to remember that dogs may bark for so many reasons. There is a school of thought that dogs bark more when they are bored. This is not really the case. Most dogs simply settle down to sleep when owners are away but left for long periods boredom usually results in misdirected play behavior. Dogs don’t always choose the right things to play with any more than a preschooler left on their own does. Sadly, too many good dogs end up mislabeled as destructive because they were never left in a dog-friendly environment.

Even if your dog is only barking and not causing damage, it is sometimes possible to modify their behavior by modifying their environment. Simple things like leaving a light or the radio or TV on can work, as will leaving treat toys to keep them engrossed and distracted from guarding.  For a dog, something to gnaw on is like giving a toddler a soother. A good chew on some rawhide calms and relaxes. There are even beds designed to provide your dog with an increased sense of security. Being in one is like cuddling up with mother.

If nothing else works, you can then switch to the best bark control collar. And sometimes, you can use bark collars along with other training methods to prevent excessive barking. Are those collars harmful? To know this, you need to learn about the types of bark collars you can find these days. There are three different types of bark collars, including shock collars, spray collars, and ultrasonic collars. Here's more you need to know to understand that these collars aren't cruel.

  • Shock Bark Collars: These bark collars are the reason why some dog lovers believe that using shock training may hurt your dog. They find it inhumane because the collars emit an electric shock to correct your dog's behavior or to keep him from barking excessively.  In reality, modern-day shock collars are quite different and often deliver a shock between 0.000034 joules and 0.0003 joules. It means the static shock delivered is much lower than the sources of static impulses that humans get. Therefore, the electrical output of these collars is surely not going to hurt your dog.
  • Spray Bark Collars: There's nothing really to worry about when you're using a spray collar, as it is the best no shock bark collar to prevent excessive barking. It only emits citronella spray to interrupt a dog's barking behavior and put a stop to it. There's no need to worry about applying excessive pressure on your dog's neck, as there are sensors capable of activating the collar with a high-pitched bark.
  • Ultrasonic Bark Collars: These barking collars are quite safe as well because they don't deliver an electric shock but simply produce an ultrasonic sound that helps distract your barking dog. The collar gets activated sensing the sound and vibration of your dog's vocal cords.

It implies that dog bark collars aren't cruel, even when you opt for a shock collar. The only thing you need to understand is that you may be hurting your dog when you buy a substandard anti bark collar or put it on incorrectly. Using the best no bark collar would prevent such issues. It means that it is your inability to use the collar than the collar itself that could hurt your dog. If a dog collar could hurt a dog, it is much more likely to hurt you first because your skin is much more delicate as compared to a dog's thick, furred, dry skin. So, learn to use it correctly and it will offer some amazing benefits.

What is the Best Anti-Barking Device?

The best anti-barking device is the one that suits your dog's size and temperament and is easy to use for you as well. For instance, if you have a large, stubborn dog, using a citronella spray collar may not be the best choice. You need to consider your unique circumstances to be able to select the best barking device. For instance:

  • If you have a dog that howls or whines, you will benefit a lot by opting for a collar that gets activated after detecting the sound of the bark. But, you also need to bear in mind that the collar may get activated unnecessarily when another dog barks.
  • In case your dog growls a lot before entering a hardcore barking mode, you may consider buying an anti-barking device that gets activated through vibration. You wrap these around your dog's neck and they activate sensing the vibrations of your dog's vocal cords.

In addition, you can also find dual activation collars that are capable of detecting the sound of the bark as well as the vibration of vocal cords. But before finalizing a purchase, be sure to consider the following points to ensure you end up buying the best anti-barking collar.

  • Be sure to pay attention to the safety of your dog and only buy a high-end collar. High-quality collars will let you adjust the intensity of the sound and shock to get good results without hurting your dog.
  • Opt for a bark collar with remote because it allows you to activate the collar from afar. It also helps you change settings without getting near your dog.
  • A good anti-bark collar will also have the feature of an automatic turn-off, which means the collar will stop delivering shocks after a while, and won't hurt your dog if he continues to bark even after receiving a shock.

So, keep all these points in mind and you will eventually be able to find the most suitable anti-bark collar for your beloved pet.

Do Citronella Bark Collars Work?

Citronella bark collars work by administering a burst of citronella spray in order to distract and make your dog to stop barking. Are they effective? It depends on the temperament of your dog actually. Shock collars are usually a lot more effective when it comes to training a large, stubborn dog. While a citronella collar is a more humane way to curb excessive barking, it is also a less effective way to get the desired results.

You need to consider the size of your dog when buying a citronella collar because some of them are designed for smaller dogs, while others are more effective while training big dogs. A standard citronella spray collar is usually effective for most barking issues, but an old barker may need something more.

If you're interested in using a spray collar, be sure to consider the following points to help make it more effective.

  • Choose the correct bark sensor type for your dog. Citronella collars usually come with vibration sensors or sound sensors. Most of these collars are usually equipped with a sound sensor only, but the issue is that they often find it difficult to distinguish between a whine, bark, and the ruffling of air against the sensor, which is a microphone. Buying a high-end collar may be the solution because they're designed to identify sound and vibration.
  • Consider the capacity of the collar. You will find a cartridge attached to these collars that is there to hold citronella. The cartridge is usually good enough for 30-40 sprays only. Quite interestingly, some dogs realize that the more they bark, the sooner they will get rid of the spray. If your dog learns that, a citronella collar with less than 30-40 sprays per refill isn't going to deliver good results. So, know your circumstances and be sure to buy a high-end collar only.
  • Opt for a citronella collar with remote if your main purpose is to behavior train your dog. With a remote controller, you will be able to activate the collar at will. This way, you can make the collar last long and help your dog understand which behavior gets him a spray and he should avoid that.

Other than these features, it is also a good idea to buy a citronella spray collar that is waterproof, especially if your dog loves water. Moreover, it should come with a rechargeable battery, so you can continue to use the collar for extended hours.

While citronella collars may certainly help, you should also be willing to work with your dog to change his behavior. Again, nothing works better than rewards training. Positive reinforcement will produce long-lasting results, so you have to proceed properly. But keep in mind that if you are dealing with an older barker, using rewards too immediately after barking is easily confused as a reward for having barked. One approach is to retrain with a new command that puts a break between the barking and the reward but keeps the two together as an action.

Set up a session using a known bark trigger such as the doorbell. Once the dog starts up, move between it and the door and give two commands sharply together with an emphasis on each /t/, ‘quiet and sit’. Reward with a tasty morsel as usual and repeat. Spend five minutes a day and with this technique, your dog learns a new thought process that accomplishes your training goal but rewards for a definite easy action from the dog's point of view, the sit. The being quiet, usefully, becomes part of presenting the sit.

It implies that even if you have an old barker, you can teach him to change his behavior with the help of rewards training and the best dog bark collar. Just be sure to use a barking collar as a temporary aid and teach your dog to behave well even when he's not wearing a collar at all.

What are the Best Bark Collars for Small Dogs?

Modern-day anti-bark collars have evolved considerably, so now it is possible to find all types of collars suitable for large and small dog breeds. These collars now come with safety shut-down feature, dual-activation sensors, and automatic multi-level stimulation with different levels of correction.

However, if you compare different options, you will know that shock collars are usually more suitable for medium and large dogs. Therefore, you may want to avoid them for your small dog – even though you can buy a shock collar with several levels of correction and use the lowest intensity.

A citronella spray collar is usually the best choice for smaller dogs. Citronella can effectively distract your tiny dog without hurting him in any way. You can choose a spray collar with combined activation features, including sound and vibration to get good results. However, for an oversensitive dog, you may want to switch to an ultrasonic or simple vibration bark collars because they won't startle your tiny dog and still help you get the desired results.

Conclusion

Sadly, excessive barking will always be tricky to remedy for pet owners, which is where a dog bark collar comes in handy. No-bark collars, ultrasonic bark collars, anti-bark collars with remote – they do get results although how fast and how permanently depends on your dog.

Even so, being on the receiving end is supposed to be an unpleasant experience and that’s where people have issues. It feels an unkind way to learn. These folks have probably never had to deal with a truly persistent barker. It takes time and effort to work through things that might be a solution.

About the Author Steven