We live in a fairly rural area, yet we still have neighbors, and I like to stay on their good side. Constantly barking dogs aren’t acceptable to the neighbors and drive us crazy. Since we have a regular stream of different dogs for training, electronic bark collars are a necessity. I know the neighbors appreciate them, and it helps our sanity. That said, I use them sparingly, only on the right dogs and at the key times. I have found that there are typically only one or two instigators and if I control them, all the others are quiet. I also have found that at our place, the dogs are particularly noisy in the evening for a couple of hours after I get home from work and before being fed. These are the times I use the electronic bark collars.
Often times barking is about boredom for a dog. I do not believe that a bark collar should be used to shock Rex into silence in the backyard, when Rex is in solitary confinement being fed from an automatic feeder and never socialized or exercised. That’s just not right. (Why have a dog?) On the other hand, I take every dog out every day for a 2 to 4 mile run, train several times a day, and give the dogs lots of doggy socialization (play-time) in the yard, so I feel like it is acceptable controlling nuisance barking for a couple hours a day.
I have tried three different types of electronic no-bark collars and definitely have my preferences. I have used the Innotek (sold through Cabela’s), the Dogtra (YS500), and the Tri-tronics (Bark Limiter XS). Each of the collars are reliable as far as only activating when the dog wearing the collar barks. Understandably, this is a concern, and may have been an issue with 1st generation bark collars, but it is no longer a concern. Each of the three collars works differently and has its pros and cons. Here are my thoughts on the different units:
The Innotek does not have an on/off, but rather is activated by the barking of the dog. It senses the barking vibrations through the two prongs. It has seven automatically increasing intensity levels that increase to the level where the dog stops barking, then backs down one level after a set time interval to try to teach the dog not to bark. The batteries are easily replaceable with a screwdriver opening the unit and they seem to last quite a while. The pros for this collar are its price ($40), size (fairly small) and the automatic intensity setting. However, I have not had good success with this collar. I’m not sure if it is the thin nylon collar on the unit that does not keep it in good contact with the dog or what, but it does not work reliably. When I put it on one of my die-hard barkers, she doesn’t even notice it on, but when I take it off and test it, it’s cranked up full power. I definitely do not recommend this model. It’s cheap, but not worth the money.
The Dogtra Yap Stopper (YS-500) has a circular on/off and intensity level setting switch. The unit senses vibrations from the vocal chords through a receptor between the prongs. The unit is rechargeable (12 – 14 hr charge time) and seems to hold a charge for several weeks. The only con with this collar is its size. When compared to the others, it’s a bit bigger. However, it’s not too big, especially when I put it on my larger dogs. The rechargeable feature is a plus; though you may have to time it right to recharge it. The unit costs $80, and works great. I typically only have to use it on setting 2 (of 10) and 3 for my worse barkers. This has been a great collar.
The Tri-Tronics Bark Limiter XS collar has a covered push button on/off switch and intensity level selector. The unit takes batteries, but I have yet to replace one. They seem to last a long time. It senses vibrations through a sensor between the prongs similar to the collar above. I love the collar’s tiny size. The unit also has a feature that counts the number of times it has activated since it was last turned on, which is useful in determining setting level the next time you put it on the dog (next time you use it, if there were very few activations, lower the intensity setting one level, if there were a lot of activations, raise it one). The unit costs $100, and it works great, and I love the small size. Because if its size and effectiveness, it is my favorite collar.
I would recommend either the Dogtra or Tri-Tronics units if you are looking for a solution for barking dogs.
Left to Right: Innotek, Dogtra & Tri-Tronics Bark Collars
