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Dog Citronella Collars
There are a few different kinds of dog training collars made to stop barking but they all work on the same principle, more or less. Basically, a dog bark collar works by doing something to annoy, hurt, or distract a dog every time he or she barks. The dog gradually learns that the barking is associated with an unpleasant stimulus, and gives it up more or less altogether.
Presumably, all dog bark collars are unpleasant for puppies, but since we can't get inside the mind of a dog, we can't figure out which ones are more humane. Personally, my money is on the dog citronella collars. You see, there are three principal types of dog bark collar: shock collars, beep collars, and citronella collars. A dog shock collar admits a painful electric shock whenever the dog barks. The beep training collar blasts out with a loud, high-pitched beep to distract the dog. I believe that both of these will hurt the dog to some degree, although probably not that much. Dog citronella collars, however, spray a harmless jolt of citronella at the dog. This powerful scent overwhelms the dog's delicate sense of smell, temporarily confusing it and causing it to stop barking for at least a few moments. Although this is probably not the most enjoyable sensation for dogs, from what I can tell it doesn't hurt them. It seems to just annoy them for a minute or two.
That is why, when I am training a new dog, I almost always start with a dog citronella collar. Dogs rely on their sense of smell, so having citronella sprayed in their faces tends to make them reconsider what they were doing. Dog citronella collars work almost immediately, since the dog stops barking to try to figure out what this new strange smell is. It may take several sprays in the face to get a dog to really learn his lesson, but eventually it usually happens.
The only problem with dog citronella collars is that some dogs don't find them unpleasant enough to give up barking altogether. Sometimes, a dog will start barking again as soon as the dog spray collar is removed. When this happens, you just have to patiently pick up the collar, put it on him, and try it again. You can also go one step further and use an electric bark control collar. I don't like starting with these because they actually physically cause the dog pain, but they are also extremely effective and not dangerous at all. In the long run, having a well behaved dog that does not bark too much is good for both the dog and the owner. You will have a better relationship with your puppy, and this will make both of you happier.
Summary
Dog citronella collars are a good choice for people who need to control their dog but don't want to use more extreme measures such as shock collars or beep collars. They are used mainly to make the dog stop barking and work well for most dogs by releasing a smell they don't like.
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