Citronella anti bark collars are the safest, most effective option when it comes to choosing a type of anti bark collar.  Research has shown that the citronella collars are more effective than shock collars at curbing excessive barking.  These collars are my personal preference for the smaller, toy breeds as these dogs wouldn’t need something as strong as a shock collar!  A lot of owners prefer this type over the others as it’s less painful for the dog.

Spray anti bark collars use a citronella scent that dogs dislike.  Some are also scared by the sound the collar makes when it sprays.  The way they work is quite simple.  The collar is placed on the dog with the spray attachment in the front.  When the dog barks, the collar sprays the citronella scent up to their nose.  You’ll have to test it out on your dog to make sure it isn’t too traumatic for them.  Although the spray isn’t harmful to the dog in any way, some dogs overreact to the smell and will lay down and rub their bodies all over the floor in an attempt to get rid of the unpleasant scent.

Other anti bark collars use ultrasonic sound or shock the dog when he barks.  The ultrasonic collars emit a high-pitched noise that can’t be heard by humans, but is unpleasant for the dog.  Shock collars are just as the name states – they shock the dog at varying levels when he barks.  This type of collar is better used in the hands of an experienced trainer or by an owner of a very large, fractious dog.

Citronella anti bark collars can be purchased at your local pet store on in many online stores.  If your dog is an excessive barker and you need to stop the barking to save your relationship with the dog (and your neighbors!), do some research on the different types of collars before you buy.  No matter what type of anti bark collar you choose, make sure it’s not so sensitive that it goes off with any loud noise.  Having the collar activate and correct the dog when he’s not barking will negate the purpose of this training tool.