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Barking… It’s part of owning a dog. But it doesn’t take long before a dog’s bark becomes annoying and disruptive to others. So, for some people, a bark collar is an option for them to purchase to end the incessant barking. Dogs bark for all kinds of reasons, whether it’s for fear, to get some attention, being protective of their home or owner… In any of these scenarios a bark collar can be used to keep your canine from barking. You may want to seriously consider a bark collar if you have neighbors close by or if your dog’s barking is scaring your or the neighborhood kids. Not to mention the fact that many feel safer when they see a bark collar on the dog as they are walking by and such, since many people get “scared” or nervous around animals, particularly barking dogs.

There are a couple of options when choosing a bark collar. One is the citronella collar and the other is the traditional shock collar. The citronella collar is a more humane and safe way to prevent a dog from barking (in my opinion). In case you are wondering, this type of a collar sprays a light spray of citronella when a dog barks, that goes right in front of a dog’s nose. This prevents the dogs from barking since they generally dislike the citronella scent as well as the hissing noise that the bark collar makes when they bark. It doesn’t take long for dogs to figure out that it’s letting out this scent when they start barking… which, in turn reduces the barking. These collars have been shown to be twice as effective in reducing barking, as opposed to the other alternative, the shock collar. In any event, there are several types of these citronella collars on the market these days so be sure you choose carefully. Now the shock collar is in my opinion a way more aggressive approach in quieting your canine from barking. The concept behind the shock collar is essentially the same as the citronella collar, except that instead of spraying citronella, it gives your dog an electric shock! Obviously it takes no time before the dog learns to stop their barking since it gives them a painful jolt and many feel this is an inhumane handling of your canine. Still, some opt to use a shock collar over the alternative even though they have shown to be less effective than a citronella collar. Also, some shock collars are made so that the intensity of the shock increases the more the dog barks.

So choose wisely, since your decision will greatly impact the way your dog feels. The worst case scenario for any dog would be a surgery for debarking. This is generally frowned upon by veterinarians and they discourage this type of action. So, if your dog has a barking problem, the better choice would be to go with a citronella collar to help quiet your best friend in the most humane way possible.

Steven Resell is a successful Webmaster and Publisher of UrbanDogz.com. He provides more information and details on dog training, dog collars and ways to choose an appropriate bark collar for your dog on his website.

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Dog training can be an intimidating task. But aside from shelter, food, and vaccination, it is a responsibility of every dog owner. Because training must begin when a dog is a pup, it can be an especially challenging process. A young dog has a short attention span and may become uninterested with long, tiresome training sessions. Likewise, if a dog trainer is over-enthusiastic, the puppy may feel overwhelmed. But if a dog owner can learn these few guidelines, such problems can be overcome.

A training collar can make a big difference. Some collars have concise, electrical impulses that help control the dog and while many people view this as inhumane, the fact that it could actually save a dog’s life may dwarf this concern. For example, if your dog bolts out in front of a moving vehicle, a shock to its collar might make it return home. These electrical impulses may seem harsh, but they act as immediate, sometimes necessary commands. As long as such a collar isn’t abused, it can be a useful tool for training, especially for hunting dogs that need to be controlled over long distances of land and water. For those who are turned off by the idea of a “shock” collar, there are some modern collars that send just a harmless tone to the dog.

As long as you use training collars properly and humanely, they can be valuable and immensely useful tools.

Simon Oliver has an interest in Pets and Recreation related topics. To access more information on dog training collars or on fancy dog collars, please click on the links.

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Dog collars are an important accessory of man’s best friend - they include your dog’s registration tags, ID, and even leads (for leashes). When looking for the right collar for your pet dog, it’s nice to know you have lots of options. Here are some tips to guide your shopping.

You need to find a collar that will fit around your dog’s neck exactly. And as long as this is the case, you can basically choose whatever color, pattern, or style you like.

For small dogs, pick out a collar that is neither too heavy nor too light. For puppies, a thin, leather collar or a soft, nylon collar is ideal. As for bigger, stronger dogs, wider and heavier collars are best. To make sure that a collar is the right fit on your dog, make sure you can squeeze at least two fingers in between the dog’s neck and the collar. It should be a tight squeeze though, as you don’t want to the collar to be too loose. Finally, you will want to cut off the excess length of strap because otherwise, the dog might chew it.

A snap-on type fastener is the most common replacement for buckle collars, because it makes for easy adjustment of a collar’s length. As for choke collars, they are cool looking but shouldn’t be used on younger puppies - gentler, training collars are better.

Moreover, leather collars are long-lasting and are naturally softened by the oils of a dog’s skin and they come in a variety of styles, widths, and colors. Nylon collars are washable and durable and are perfect for dogs that like to swim and for smaller dogs and puppies that need a softer touch. For bigger dogs, a nylon collar is okay, but it will need to be one with heavy webbing.

There are other collars that suit very specific kinds of dogs. For surfers, there are collars that are made out of the same material as wetsuits! And for those impatient dogs that pull on your leash during walks, head collars are the best option and are often used in training. A harness can come in handy with an anxious or hyperactive dog as well, as it is positioned around the dog’s chest and ribcage to prevent choking - some harnesses even allow you to buckle your dog into your car!

There are all sorts of colors and patterns to choose from and most collars come with matching leashes. Because it is important for your dog to feel as comfortable as possible, put careful time and consideration into your search for the perfect collar.

Simon Oliver has an interest in Pets and Recreation related topics. To access more information on dog collars or on designer dog collars, please click on the links.

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