12 December 2013

Bark Collars: Yes or No?

Bark collars have sparked a lot of debate in recent years. Many pet owners do not use them because they think that they harm the dog. People can learn more about bark collars for dogs by searching different reviews online.

Online reviews should be taken with a grain of salt most of the time. If there is a trend going for one product though, it is pretty easy to trust in the reviews. Many people successfully purchase items online because of what other people have said about them. The more reviews, the better it is. When 2,000 reviews say that a dog collar works in a humane way, it is easy to trust in that collar. Reading a review from an owner who was hesitant to get a collar can be even better. When they write that it has worked for their dog, it makes it easy for other people to get the collar.

When a particular dog is mentioned, it is even easier. Going to different websites is a great way to find the best trends. Just because one site says it is a good product, does not mean that it actually is. If 3 different websites all say the same thing, most of the time it is correct. Not all of the time though. Some products have really good reviews, but do not work as well for another person.

The best way to find out which bark collar is safe to use is to ask a vet. They will know how to care for a dog. If two different vets say a product is good, it is almost always good to use.

8 comments:

  1. Never head of a bark collar before! Thanks for sharing!

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  2. I like your idea of asking the vet. It really does take the "selling it" out of it and lets you get real feedback on what your dog will feel (physically) and how safe they will be with a product. I am against the bark collars not only because of how it might hurt my dog, but because I think it is like the easy way out as a pet parent. I wouldn't use one on my child, so I won't use one on my furbaby either. Why would you need to use one if you take the time to properly train your dog for when is the appropriate time to bark and when is not the right time. I even know plenty of pet parents that train their dog to growl instead of bark if they don't like their bark. Our dogs ultimately want to please us, so with proper training and some creative thinking, you can get them to stop barking so much or at all I would think.

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  3. No!!! I always treat my pets as part of the family and I would NEVER put a bark collar on a child. I do believe dogs need discipline, but I dont believe it needs to be done with a bark collar.

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  4. I think there are so many other ways to discipline dogs that are better.

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  5. No no no no There is no need to shock a dog. It can be done through positive reinforcemnt.

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  6. I read with interest your article on the trend toward bark collars and the debate surrounding them. I ike to state firstly that I am an animal lover, owner, and advocate; and secondly that I manage a retail store. I am witness everyday to the effect public "trends" have toward shopping whether or not it is a safe, worthy, or necessary product. While I think the intention of those consumers who read reviews, they must bear in mind the source of the review. If the reviewer works for or otherwise has something to gain from the sale of the product, the review will be a good one, no doubt. The review must come from an independent third party who has nothing to gain or lose by a shift in the marketing trend. Let's not base the safety and wellness of our animals on a review that, in high probability, was written by a member of the marketing staff of the bark collar company.
    Thank you for bringing this issue to light!
    L Garrett, Albemarle, NC

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  7. My Dad used a bark collar for a while for his dog and it just didn't work out. I definitely agree with your recommendation to consult with your vet!

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  8. We never really had to use one on our dog, but we did consider using a static collar for training. I do wish our tenants would get one for their dog though, and I am tempted to buy one for them!

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