A hunting dog that barks at home needs to be dealt with, but a hunting dog that barks inappropriately in the field is a completely new ball game. A dog that barks uncontrollably while out hunting is definitely not going to bag you any game.
There are a lot of ways to train a dog not to bark: some better than others. The most common and usually most successful method is through using bark collars. These work by teaching through negative reinforcement.
There are two basic types of collars that will help train your dog to bark less often (or at inappropriate times) and they can both be used effectively and safely on all dogs – whether it’s a hunting dog or a family pet.
One thing to keep in mind however not every collar is going to work on every dog – you’ll have to do some of your own homework to make sure that your dog will react well to the training collar (bark collar) that you’re going to invest in.
Electronic bark collars work by emitting a jolt into your dog when he barks. This sounds cruel but the fact of the matter is that this is a very gentle stimulation that will not harm your dog in any manner.
The idea behind these collars is that the “jolt” when he barks surprises him out of the behavior. Repeated enforcement of this pattern (bark, then jolt) ties the activity (barking) in with the result (jolt) and the dog soon learns not to do the activity that causes the result.
Usually, electronic dog collars are made with ranges of very mild to higher jolts, which you can adjust to suit the size of your dog. To determine the best setting for your dog, begin at the very lowest velocity and work your way up to the right level.
A spray bark collar is the choice for many dog owners who simply cannot bear the idea of ‘jolting’ their dog with an electronic collar. Regardless of how humane the electronic collars are touted to be, many people still cannot get over the entire notion of jolting their dog with electricity. In that case, spray collars which contain citronella are often the collar of choice for dog owners seeking to control their dogs barking.
Like the electronic dog collar, the spray collar will produce unpleasant sensations to the barking dog. Because it is not a good feeling for the dog to be sprayed in the face, the unpleasantness of the experience will train your dog not to bark when inappropriate, at the risk of being sprayed again. The spray collar will work on small and big dogs, up to 160 pounds.
Summary
As a hunter, you probably enjoy taking your dog when you go hunting, and your dog probably enjoys it as well. However, it’s very hard when your dog barks at every small movement or sound when you’re hunting. A dog bark collar may be helpful to you when you’re out hunting. When you invest in a bark collar, you don’t have to be concerned about incessant or untimely barking and actually have a good time out with your dog. Dog bark collars, whether citronella or electric, are great hunting dog supplies that are humane and effective so be assured that you’re doing the right thing.
Posted under Dog Supplies, dog training
This post was written by admin on January 25, 2009
