Barking among dogs has its ups and downs.
On one hand, it can alert the homeowner to the possible dangers lurking around the house as well as communicate positive emotions from the dog to its owner.
On the other hand, it can be so annoying when done excessively and inappropriately such as when the dog starts barking at the moon because, well, it is there.
With that in mind, many homeowners will use the electronic shock anti-bark collars.
These devices are basically collars placed around the dog's neck that will deliver a mild electric shock after a certain number of seconds that the dog will not stop barking.
In most models, the electric shock is delivered after 30 seconds of non-stop barking.
The question is: Are these electronic shock anti-bark collars safe to use on the animal? Critics advocate that it is not while proponents say that it is for the following reasons and we say that we are on the side of the latter.
Mild Shock As previously mentioned, the electric shock given to the dog when it starts barking excessively is only of the mild kind.
The shock will only startle the dog into stopping its barking behavior at present instead of killing the dog into complete silence of its bark.
A shock from an exposed household electric wire will be so much greater in intensity.
Manufacturers took great pains to ensure that the dog will not be electrocuted by the collar.
The prongs are made to deliver the shock once the sensors detect the barks from the dog but only after a certain period of time has elapsed.
The sensation of shock will give discomfort to the dog.
Soon, the dog will learn to associate the barking behavior with the shock and, thus, will be able to control its barking behavior.
Varying Degrees Electronic shock collars also have a built-in safety measure that also serves as a disciplinary tool.
This is the varying degrees of electric shock provided to the dog whenever its starts to bark at inappropriate times or in an excessive manner.
The first shock delivered will be the weakest just so the dog will take notice and stop barking.
But if the dog resumes barking for a certain number of seconds, a stronger but still mild electric shock will be delivered.
With proper training, the dog can stop barking at the first shock delivered although other safety measures are also in place since the pet can have a valid reason for barking nonstop, say, an intruder in the house.
Safety Measures The foremost safety measure in electric shock anti-bark dog collars is the two built-in microphones in the collar itself.
We always suggest going for the collar with two microphones instead of one for a good reason.
This is because the first microphone picks up the vibration from the barking sound itself while the second microphone detects the movement from the dog's vocal cords.
The mild electric shock will then be given only under the condition that the dog is actually barking instead of the collar picking up vibrations from the surrounding area such as other dogs barking near your pet.