Dogs bark for so many reasons.  Some breeds are just more prone to the behavior while others bark because they are nervous.  In either case, dog barking collars can help you eliminate the problem.

If you have a dog that barks excessively, your neighbors are likely to raise a fuss sooner or later.  Controlling the problem involves understanding the motivation behind the barking.  Just like some children, some dogs will bark strictly for attention.  Others bark because they are lonely, and still others because it is a bad habit that developed over time.  Understanding the cause helps you determine the best way to reduce the behavior.

Training
To stop your dog from barking, you need to engage them in proper training.  A dog barking collar isn’t a substitute for active involvement.  Teaching your dog to lie down and relax is a great first step because dogs bark less when lying down.

Next, chose one word to use when your dog barks.  Avoid the word “no” it is often used for so many things there is no need to add confusion.  A word like “quiet” or “enough” works great.  Everyone in the home should use the same word.  Reward your dog with additional attention each time they stop barking on command.  Positive reinforcement is much more effective than yelling.

Expect the process to take time.  No dog, or person for that matter, will give up an effective behavior willingly or easily.  Clearly, there was a reason or benefit to barking when it started so there needs to be an equally large benefit to stop.

When to Add a Collar
The collar can be added early in the training if you have the kind of dog that will do well with the corrections.  Only you can know whether the addition of the bark collar is beneficial to your training.  Remember to use the collar only for reinforcement, not as a substitute for your involvement.

Styles
Collars come in two varieties.  One style provides an electrical shock to the dog if they bark beyond preset parameters.  The other model projects a citronella based spray at the dog’s face.  Both are effective, but the citronella based spray is considered by many to be more humane.  For a particularly aggressive dog, the electric collar may be more effective.

Controversy
Because of negative publicity generated by animal rights activists, the use of electric collars has dropped some.  There are those that believe that any use of electric shocks is inappropriate for animals.  That said, you may want to exercise some discretion before taking your dog to the dog park wearing an electric dog barking collar.  The last thing you want is to have to justify your decision while out with your dog.

Dog barking collars are a perfectly legitimate aid in re-training a dog that just won’t stop barking.  When used in combination with hands on training, they can quickly help you get your pet’s barking under control.  Take a look online for reviews, product specifications and evaluations so you can pick the very best unit for you and your pet.

Check out great brands of bark collars, like PetSafe, Dogtra, and Innotek.

If you have a dog, you are going to want to take a look at dog fences. It isn’t practical or desirable for you to follow your dog around all the time, nor can you always get them out for a walk when they want to go. Additionally, sometimes the weather just makes the job of taking your dog for their daily constitutional impractical. On top of that you want to make sure that both your dog and your neighbors are safe. Here are some of the most popular types of dog fences.

SOLID FENCING

Ugly but immensely practical, chain link fences are a sure bet when looking to fence in a pet. Especially useful if you plan to create a dog run instead of fencing your entire yard, chain link can be partially buried to keep a digger inside. If you are going to build a dog run within your yard remember that length is more important than overall size. Create a space that permits your dog space to run a bit, even if the structure is narrow over all. As long as your fence is sufficiently high your dog will remain safely within the area. Add a nice shelter, a bowl of water and some toys and your dog will be happy and safe while you are not in attendance.

Wooden slat fences can do much the same thing, but you dog will have access to the whole yard. You are going to spend more time cleaning up your lawn but your dog will have a larger area to roam. Only you can determine if this is your goal. Either of these systems can be access by a dog door if planned correctly. Combining a dog door and a safely enclosed area allows you to give your pet the freedom to come and go as they please.

INVISIBLE FENCES

This style of electric fence uses radio transmitters and receivers to train your dog to remain within a certain area. Unlike solid fencing, radio fences have on visual impact upon your yard. If keeping your landscape unspoiled is important to you, this may be an ideal choice.

A wire is planted beneath the ground and your dog wears a collar that receives the signal the wire transmits. When your dog approaches the wire he gets warned by either a small electric shock or spray of citronella to stop. A series of lessons will teach your dog where the boundaries of the fence are.

The down side of underground pet fences is that they don’t keep others from entering your yard. Additionally, if your dog does make it past the line in a burst of unexpected enthusiasm, there is very little incentive for them to return to the yard and accept additional shocks to do so.

Regardless of what kind of fencing you choose consider your animal’s personality and learning curve. If you have a skittish and nervous dog the electric fence model is not a good choice, nor is it particularly good for dogs that tend to run off.