I’ve always had dogs and never really had a problem with their barking, that is until I moved to Spain and suddenly found myself the owner of not one, but four dogs! The trouble here is that there is always a sad looking dog seeking a home and before you know it, like me, you find yourself with several. Now, I really am fond of all my dogs and their different ways but it only takes one to start barking and they all jump on to the bandwagon so to speak. It got to the stage where their barking was driving me nuts and yelling at them was getting me nowhere and so I had to find a solution fast! A friend of mine suggested trying a dog spray collar so I thought I would try some of them.
I did some research and found that most of the dog spray collars are pretty similar in as much as they release a harmless spray of scent (usually citronella) right in front of the dog’s nose but some deliver a cold spray to the back of the neck. In addition some of the collars have integrated microphones to pick up the sound of the dog barking whereas others, such as Petsafe, contain a patented detection system which stops other dogs’ barking setting off the collar. All of the dog spray collars are designed to be used in conjunction with some basic training and startle the dog rather than punish it.
Having four dogs, I was able to try out 4 different dog spray collars as follows:
Innotek Deluxe Anti-Bark Spray Collar for Dogs, Citronella Scent
The product consisted of an adjustable collar, long lasting battery, new deluxe spray device, scentless spray refill, training manual and CD and a protective rubber sleeve. I was fairly pleased with the results as my dog did stop barking when she received a puff of the spray. It did not work, however, on small barks and whines, and being a switched on cookie she soon learned to lower the decibels – which was better than nothing, I guess. Another thing I tried was to say the command, “no barking” every time the spray was activated, in a further attempt to train her not to bark.
Overall I would say that I was pleased with the product and would recommend it, although you need to bear in mind you have to replace the battery and the citronella when they run out – so it is an ongoing purchase. Refill sprays are available in citronella or scentless.
Premier Spray Sense Anti Bark Collar
The product consisted of a 24 inch adjustable nylon collar with a quick release safety buckle, an attachable spray device with an on/off switch, a 3 ounce can of citronella spray, a 6 volt alkaline battery and detailed instructions. It also comes with a limited lifetime warranty. The collar has a microphone which detects the dog’s barking and emits a spray of citronella. The collar works on 4 of the dog’s senses: hear it, see it, feel it, smell it and startles the dog sufficiently to distract it away from barking – also the citronella smell is unusual to them.
I tried this collar on my alsation cross with very good results. The first time she barked, she was totally surprised by the spray and stopped instantly. The second time, same reaction. The third time she just barked once and then stopped. Now, when she wears the collar she hardly dares bark at all. I can see that she wants to bark, but she really doesn’t like the spray. I have read reports that the collar doesn’t always work on a very stubborn dog, but if you have a dog that is reasonably compliant and willing to learn, then I certainly give it the thumbs up.
PetSafe Deluxe Spray Bark Control Dog Collar
Although this was the most expensive collar, I absolutely loved it because of its size! At 0.5 x 6 x 2.5 inches it was by far the smallest and neatest device of the products that I tried. It comes with an adjustable collar that will fit up to a 28 inch neck and has a safety quick release buckle. It is a patented detection that ensures the spray will only be activated by the dog that is wearing the collar.
The product worked well and certainly quietened down my noisy little terrier, but on the downside the collar worked with the first bark but then there seemed quite a pause before it would spray again, giving the dog ample time to re-start barking. Overall, I think it is a winner simply because of its size as the other collars were far more bulky.
Spray Commander
Spray Commander is a remote control activated spray collar designed to help with all aspects of your dog’s behaviour from not digging in the garden, not jumping up and not barking. It acts upon 4 of your pet’s senses, sight, smell, touch, sound. It can be activated by pressing a remote control up to a distance of 300 yards which releases a spray of citronella and, if required, an audible beep. The product consists of an adjustable strap, spray collar, remote control, citronella refill, holding case, batteries, training video and training guide.
I thought this product was great. I know I shouldn’t say this, but I really enjoyed seeing the startled look on my dog’s face as I caught him in the act of stealing the cat’s food, and I activated the collar from a distance! After just a short while, my dog became very wary of doing anything untoward and really did not like the citronella spray in his face. I concluded that this was a very effective way of training your pet to behave without punishment and I wlould highly recommend it.
Conclusion
To conclude my overall product testing, I would say that dog spray collars work quite well on most dogs, although possibly not really headstrong types. They are certainly a good starting point but need to be combined with some verbal commands at the same time so that your pet learns to respond to your voice and not be reliant on a spray. Ultimately, the goal should be to be able to remove the collar and be able to control the dog’s barking with a verbal command.
