Before enlarging on whether dog collars are ethical or not, we should first try to understand the reason why dogs bark in the first place. Sometimes they have very good reasons for barking (besides the obvious that they are dogs and that is what dogs do!) such as being left outside or perhaps they are lonely, bored, hungry or thirsty. Dogs are curious creatures. If you challenge their curiosity, hide something from them or there is an intriguing event happening outside the fence, they will definitely want to find out what’s going on.

Some dog owners even reward the barking with a treat or special attention. In this case, why do they expect their dog to shut up on command?

People who lack proper information have advertised the bark collar like it is some torturing device for an animal. As I learned more and more about the variety of bark collar choices I began to breathe a bit easier when I discovered there were actually a few different types of bark collars and not all had even the slightest amount of “zap” to it. When you compare the different bark collars keep in mind a few things. Whatever collar you choose, it is much better than the alternative – debarking surgeries.

This surgery is an invasive procedure that aims to remove a part of your dog’s larynx that vibrates with each bark. After being subjected to the surgery, dogs will not bark as loud as before. Think about this for a minute. Your dog, or yourself even, might run into a dangerous situation at some point. How is your dog supposed to alert other people and call for help if it can only be heard from a two-feet distance? Moreover, an anemic bark cannot keep enemies at distance. It doesn’t impress them at all. Moreover, even though the dog undergoes the surgery, there is no guarantee that the barking won’t come back. Sometimes these surgeries do not have long-lastiing effects.

The good news is that there is at least one anti-bark collar that is humane, very effective and safe. Among all types of bark collars, the one with citrus spray is the most recommended. It works because the dog really dislikes its smell and will tone down its barking when it smells the citrus. There are citronella collars that make a “hiss” before spraying. This way the dog knows it is time it stopped making noise even before the spraying starts. University studies have shown that citrus collars are much more effective than regular shock ones. In the end, you are the one to decide what you prefer. A rough method such as the shock collar or just an annoying smell.