How to train your dog to barking collar
A dog will always be a dog, and most dogs will bark, whine and howl – that’s natural. But fines, scandals with neighbors, etc. trouble will not please the owner of the dog.
The dog must understand when to bark, and when not, and the duty of the owner to teach this pet. But most often the puppies are taught the commands “near” and “give a paw”, and the owner has “no time” for teaching other good manners.
The puppy barks cutely, reacting to the noise outside the doors and to the guests who have come, which very touches the owners and encourages unnecessary barking in the future.
The dog grows up, neighbors begin to complain about loud barking.
And now the owner wants to sleep, and the dog begs for a treat by barking, or loudly demonstrates that it is bored, or …
No matter what the reason prompted you to buy an anti-barking collar, the important thing is that in the past you did everything yourself in order to make it a necessity now.
Rule number one, never pet or feed your dog when it barks for attention out of boredom or excitement, has been broken by you.
Are you tired of unwanted barking? Are you anxious to stop your dog’s musical exercises as soon as possible? Wonderful!
So, take the collar out of the box and … put it aside!
The first thing to do.
You must get the instructions out of the box and read it carefully (before you get distracted by the instructions, read this article). There are many different brands of barking collars, there are many different types of devices, and sometimes, especially for Chinese versions, the instructions for the device are very difficult to understand. In general, the instructions should be read carefully before using the device, not after.
Note!
This article is written on the example of the use of D-mute bark collars from the Czech manufacturer Dogtrace. Over the years of working with various devices, we (at e-dog) consider them the best in all respects. But the principles outlined apply to all bark control collars.
The first day.
Put the collar on the dog, no battery!
The dog needs to get used to the new thing on its neck. The collar has a certain weight and volume and is different from the collars the dog is used to. Let’s clarify that while the dog is getting used to the collar, it should not turn on if the dog barks.
N.B.
“Box with electrodes” should be located on the dog’s throat, strictly under the lower jaw. It is there that the dog’s vocal cords are located, the collar will respond to their vibration. The electrodes should have clear contact with the animal’s skin, but should not strangle it.
Second day.
Turn on audible warning.
Any good barking collar has a mode in which, when the dog barks, it emits only an audible (warning) signal.
For D-mute collars, this is the first level, and a new collar will turn on at this level immediately after installing the battery.
The second day the dog wears a collar, which, on its barking, emits only a sound signal. The dog barks – the collar squeaks, barks – squeaks and so on for one day.
The dog needs to understand the connection between his barking and some event that causes the barking. Moreover, at this stage, without any unpleasant sensations for the dog, except for the sound signal.
Important note!
You cannot immediately turn on the corrective impulse! Everything must be done sequentially. The dog must understand what follows what, and what happens as a result.
If you immediately turn on the corrective impulse in the collar, you get the following.
The dog will bark and the collar will respond with an electrical impulse and beep. The dog will get scared from surprise and bark again, which is absolutely normal. On the second “woof” there will be a new impulse, on the third the next …
D-mute collars are equipped with a safety block and will not emit pulses until the battery is completely discharged. Having “fired” a series of impulses, the collar will go into standby mode until the dog has calmed down *.
But by the time the collar disconnects, the dog will be in a state of mild panic, and the owner, most likely, too. So let’s do everything gradually.
- After about 5 minutes of silence, the collar will restart and will be ready to continue working.
To understand whether there is such a safety mode in collars from barking, from other manufacturers, read the instructions for your device.
Day three
Turn on the second level – a sound signal and a weak electrical impulse
At the second level, the collar from barking to the sound signal adds a weak electrical impulse.
The dog barks and experiences an unpleasant tingling sensation in the throat, which distracts from barking, but does not interfere with barking. Now barking is an unpleasant irritant not only for neighbors, but also for the dog itself.
Day four
Turn on the third level – beep and medium electrical impulse
At the third level, the barking collar adds an electrical impulse of average power to the sound (there is always a sound signal).
The dog barks and experiences a sharp and unpleasant contraction of the muscles in the throat, which no longer distracts from barking as much as interferes with barking.
If, based on the results of the fourth day, you see that the dog is trying not to bark again, stop at this step for a few days. When the effect of the use of the device is stable and the dog is silent in those situations when it used to bark, begin to reduce the strength of the discharge.
Switch to a weak discharge, then to sound only, and then … What to do then read a little below.
If the average shock is low, move on to the next day of training.
Day five
Turn on the fourth level – a sound signal and a strong electrical impulse
At the fourth level, the dog will receive a beep and a strong electrical impulse.
The dog barks and experiences a sharp and strong contraction of the muscles in the throat, the pleasure of barking disappears completely.
Within a few days, the dog will learn to control its barking. When the effect of the collar is stable, i.e. the dog is silent in those situations when it used to bark, start moving in the opposite direction.
Note.
Weak – medium – strong electrical impulse are all rather arbitrary definitions, and you should not be afraid of them.
Please note that a barking collar for a dog must be selected, taking into account the temperament and characteristics of the breed.
Having received the desired result, do not rush to immediately remove the anti-barking from your dog. Over the course of several days, reduce the strength of the impulse until you come to the first level.
At the beep, use the collar for a few days, and then unplug the collar completely.
If the dog does not bark again, you can remove the collar.
Just do not hide it far, barking is natural for dogs, especially if there is a long-term habit of barking in response to some stimulus. From time to time, you will have to put the collar back on so that the dog remembers that barking is not good. An audible signal, and sometimes just a device on the throat, for a reminder, is usually sufficient.
If you use the collar according to the proposed scheme, then you will quickly wean your dog from unnecessary barking. And wean it without irritating yourself or your dog.
By the way.
Some brands of anti-barking collars also have a fifth level – increasing momentum.
In the fifth mode of operation, the collar first emits a sound signal, then a weak impulse, then a medium and then a strong one.
This mode can be used when you want to let your dog do a couple of test barks.
For example, a dog must guard the house and must be able to “warn guests” of its presence.
But be careful when using this mode of operation for sly, barking dogs. The sly doggie will understand that he can bark a couple of times, then be silent, then bark a couple more times and bark in this mode until he gets tired of it.
In conclusion, I would like to repeat.
A dog will always be a dog, and most dogs will bark, whine and howl – this is natural, especially if they miss their beloved owner.