Is a Bark Collar for Small Dogs Safe?

Excessive barking. Maybe it drives you –or your neighbors–crazy. Particularly when that barking is high-pitched, you might find yourself wishing for a foolproof method to stop it without causing any harm to your beloved pup. 

It might seem like stopping your dog from barking is a lost cause. But even if your pooch is no longer a puppy, it can still adapt, learn new behaviors, and stop barking with the right training tools. From bark collars to portable training tools, there are a range of solutions to humanely stop your dog from barking excessively. 

Selecting the right bark collar for small dogs, however, can pose a bit of a challenge. Below, we break down what to look for when selecting one for smaller dogs.  

What Is a Bark Collar?

Bark collars are a popular method to curb those loud, all-day yaps that make nails on a chalkboard sound like Ludwig Van. But before you hop online and purchase just any old collar, you might want to do some research on what kind will work best for your small dog while keeping them safe, comfortable and stress-free. 

Dangers of Traditional Static and Spray Collars

Shocks and spray collars can cause discomfort or pain for your dog, which can be even more pronounced on small dogs and potentially lead to behavioral issues. 

Though electric stimulation has been used in dog training for years, the static electric shock that ripples through your dog's neck whenever they bark excessively does not feel good. You might reduce excessive barking, but the method can be a bit draconian. After all, no one likes to be shocked. And we certainly don’t like to learn good behavior through pain.

 Some might say the way to a dog’s heart is through its nose. But the way to a dog’s vocal cords is also through its nose. Spray collars typically emit a burst of citronella spray toward your pooch’s nose whenever they bark excessively. The scent is quite unpleasant for dogs, and thus, keeps them from barking for fear they may smell that horrid scent once again. While physically harmless, spray collars do create discomfort for your petite pup, which can lead to stress.

Why Are Ultrasonic Sound and Vibration Collars Preferable?

As we touched upon above, shock and spray collars use aversive stimuli to teach your pooch better barking skills—in essence, they use fear and physical discomfort to teach good manners. But with ultrasonic vibration collars, you get a completely humane training tool that simply relies on sound and light vibrations to catch your dog’s attention and get them on a quieter path to a relaxed life.

Good Life Inc. products exist to help your dog control its barking in the most humane, kind, and nourishing way possible.

Here’s how our bark collars work: 

1. Your dog barks when you don’t want it to. 
2. Sensors in the bark collar activate and emit a high-frequency sound and vibration telling your dog it’s time to quit yapping. 
3. Once you have your dog's focus from using the collar, offer a calm but firm "No" or "Quiet" command.
4. Immediately redirect them into polite behavior like sitting or laying down.
5. Reward your dog’s good behavior with pats, treats or attention.

No pain, no stress involved, just a little reminder that now is not the time to wake the baby, ruin the movie or disturb the dinner party.

Pros of Ultrasonic and Vibration Bark Collars

Ultrasonic and vibration bark collars offer a range of benefits over alternative methods of training, including:

• Effective Correction: Bark collars can provide consistent correction leading to better behavior.
• Immediate Feedback: Bark collars deliver the correction in real-time so your pooch learns more quickly.
• Convenience: You can’t always supervise your dog—with a bark collar, you can train while you’re away.
• 360 Training: When used responsibly as part of a comprehensive training approach, bark collars can reduce unwanted barking behavior with long-term positive effects.

Safety Precautions for Small Dogs

When introducing a new training tool into your small dog’s life, it’s important to keep a few things in mind to ensure their overall comfort and safety during the process.

Since small dogs are more prone to experiencing stress and anxiety from stimuli, stick with a safe tool like our Positive Pet Training Collar. 

This collar offers a humane way to get your pup's attention and encourage good manners when it comes to barking. Your handheld remote sends a safe vibration signal–no shocks–to a lightweight collar worn by your dog. When you notice unwanted behavior, press the button to activate the collar's vibrations and buzzing sound. This harmless sensation surprises your dog and interrupts their misbehavior. What’s more, the remote has a range of up to 45 feet so you can correct behaviors from a distance. 

With consistent training, your dog will understand which behaviors make the collar buzz and which earn rewards.

Find the Right Fit

For a bark collar to be safe and effective, it must properly fit your dog. At Good Life Inc., we’ve created collars to fit all dog breeds. The Barkwise™ Complete, for example, expands from 6 to 24 inches to fit dogs as small as Chihuahuas and Yorkshire Terriers. Since it weighs only 2.2 oz, it won’t weigh small dogs down when they wear it.

Create Positive Associations

You want Lassie to stop barking at the postman, but now she’s upset whenever you open the refrigerator door. It’s important to make sure you’re using the bark collar correctly to teach the right behavior. Pair your bark collar with careful training and be sure to reward your dog with enthusiastic praise, pets, and a treat when they comply.

Check In With Your Dog’s Emotions

Lastly, it’s always important to keep in mind that your dog may be barking for reasons beyond your understanding, including fear and anxiety.  A bark collar can’t address and solve those deeper problems on its own. You’ll need some reassurance and love (and maybe the help of your vet) to the root of their barking in some cases.

Let Good Life Inc. Help Your Yappy Pooch

Remember that when looking for a solution to barking, it’s imperative to place your pooch’s well-being before your own. An annoying bark is only just that—annoying. But a fearful dog is far worse. If you’re looking to train your dog in a humane and respectful manner, there are plenty of safe ways to do it—and that’s what Good Life Inc. is all about.

Sources

DMV360 - Acoustic Features of Dog Barks Predict Annoyance Levels in Humans

Applied Animal Behaviour Science - Do aversive-based training methods actually compromise dog welfare?: A literature review

Applied Animal Behaviour Science - Behaviour of smaller and larger dogs: Effects of training methods, inconsistency of owner behaviour and level of engagement in activities with the dog