Dogs bark for a host of reasons. They can bark to express intent to maintain their territory, or just to get your attention. Just the same, when your dog barks too loud, too often, and too much, you have to deal with it. Any responsible dog owner should be taking steps to curb this annoying behavior. Of course, there are various approaches, among them the use of a citronella spray collar. Here’s a walk-through of those approaches.

Wrong rewards

Some dog owners worsen matters by “rewarding” the dog. Yelling at it or coming over to its side simply gives it attention – a negative encouragement. Also, should the owner, when inside the premises, let the dog continue barking, that’s another wrong message – barking is allowed. Giving him treats to pacify him is also bad. At best, these are short-term solutions. The dog must be trained to understand that barking will not be tolerated, or even rewarded.

Not overreacting to stimulus

Should the dog bark at some stimulus, say a doorbell or a passing loud truck, remain calm. Don’t run to the door or hastily look out the window to yell at the truck driver. If you stay calm the dog will see that the stimulus is no cause for alarm. Over time, your dog will lessen his overreactions – barking – toward the stimulus.

Positive rewards

Unless you find the incessant noise a bother, you may want to approach your dog only after it stops barking loudly. In this way, he is exposed to the link between his silence and your attention. You should reward your dog when it stops barking – play with it, show it affection, give it a treat.

Why you should use a bark collar

It’s most likely that the dog could also be doing loud, non-stop barking when the owner is away. It’s recommended you use a bark collar to keep up this kind of “attention.” When your dog barks, the stimulus from the collar is activated. The stimulus the dog receives depends on the type of collar – it could a be scented spray, a high-pitched sound, a vibration, or even an electric shock that’s harmless to the dog. More information on bark collars is easily available online. Make sure you get the size that’s right for your dog.

These are but a few useful tips you can use. Among these approaches, many dog owners prefer the citronella spray collar approach.

Tired of having to deal with your dog’s incessant barking? Why not get a citronella spray collar? One of the most recommended collars is the citronella spray collar.