The Best Dog Collars: Faq
What about prong collars or shock collars?
Prong collars, also known as pinch collars, are controversial. They apply pressure all the way around a dogs neck when a correction is given.
The San Francisco SPCA lays out the reasons for avoiding prong collars. Even properly fitted prong collars dig into the sensitive skin around the neck, risking severe damage to the thyroid, esophagus, and trachea.
Like prong collars, a shock collar is an aversive collar meant to deter a dog from unwanted behavior. When the dog doesnt follow cues, a shock is administered by a dog trainer or an owner from a distance. This type of correction is generally not recommended by experts, particularly for companion pets.
Should I get a dog harness, too?
For most dogs, adding a harness will make walking easier than simply attaching your leash to the collar. Youll find that harness is a lifesaver when your dog pulls! Plus, a back-led or chest-led harness is safer than relying on a flat collar alone.
As renowned trainer Victoria Stillwell explains, Even a dog that pulls lightly can be at risk of neck injuries and other health issues due to damage from a collar.
That said, if youre going to skip the harness, you want to know that it will stay on. All of our choices for the best collar include a strong d-ring for leash attachment.
How do I choose the right size?
Just be sure to check the fit now and then so you know that your dog isnt in danger of slipping out of a too-loose collar.
Benefits Of The Best Bark Collars
To understand the benefits of using a dog bark collar, you must understand why excessive barking is bad for your doggie pal. First, it is an exhausting behavior not just for you but also for the dog. The more the dog barks, the more tired it becomes, and its heart rate spikes.
Second, excessive barkers are generally anxious dogs who cannot function normally when in their natural settings. For example, a hunting dog that is an excessive barker cannot hunt effectively, because it will scare away the prey and usually it cannot stay still when required to.
Not only does the barking affect the dog, but it also affects other hunting dogs in the party, quickly ruining the hunt. If your excessive barker is in a neighborhood, it will likely trigger other dogs in the neighboring homes to begin barking as well.
There are several reasons why a dog bark collar is your best option if this is your predicament:
Petspy P620 Dog Training Shock Collar
When it comes to encouraging manners and a positive attitude in your furry friend, you will find various devices thatll help you. BUT, nothing can beat the PetSpy P620 dog training collar!
After the advent of this shock collar, professional trainers are now finding it easier than ever to stimulate obedience in a dog.This collar comes with 16 adjustable levels of stimulation for training your pet.
That being said, the PetSpy P620 collar is exclusively made to assist first-time pet owners and trainers in having their lovely fellows trained in a matter of days.
With this flat collar, owners can understand that dog training is not just about training the K9 its also teaching the people to get to know their pet even better. Once the understanding part is covered, training becomes easier!
The best feature of this electric shock collar is that its remote contains touch distinguishing buttons. An intuitive button layout enables blind operation and immediate correction-level switch without looking at the remote.
Also, it incorporates a plastic construction, but that doesnt mean there isnt any quality to show! This static stimulation collar is constructed with premium quality materials that offer comfortable usage and extreme durability.
Pros
Verdict
Recommended Reading: Well Groomed Golden Retriever
What To Look For When Buying A Bark Collar
Before you set out to buy a bark collar for your dog, make sure that you know what to look for in buying the right bark collar for dogs and what type will fit your pooch.
Tested Quality
The first thing you need, of course, is to know the quality of the collar. Make sure that the bark collar you will pick is of excellent quality and from a well-respected producer.
More importantly, it would be ideal if the collar is already tested and recommended by most dog owners. Read some reviews about different brands of bark collars for dogs and see which is the highly-rated product based on reviews.
If you want, you can also take recommendations from fellow pet owners in the family or friends. That way, you know that the brand collar they referred is already tested and proven by them.
Collar Size
The second thing you need to see is if the collar actually fits your dog. There are dog collars reserved for medium to large-sized dogs, and there are collars specifically made to fit small-sized dogs.
If you have a medium-sized dog and the collar is a small-sized one, wearing it might choke them. Be precise in picking the correct collar size for your dog because a different-sized collar can become an issue of safety for your pooch, especially since dogs have different neck sizes.
Comfort and Weight
Battery Life
However, for rechargeable ones, how long does it take to fully charge the collar? And how many hours can your dog use them before running out of battery life?
Get Started Without A Collar
The most difficult thing about many projects is simply getting started.
You can get going right away if you want to start discouraging your dog from barking so what do you do?
When your dog is barking too much or at the wrong time, verbally reprimand him every time.
If he listens and dials it back, reward him with a hug or a treat. Or both!
This is a good way to warm up for when you start using a training collar of your chosen type.
Read Also: 10 Week Old Golden Retriever
Different Types Of Collars
There are several types of anti-bark collars on the market, such as citronella collars, beep collars, vibration collars, and shock collars.
- Spray/Citronella Collars
Spray collars are very popular for their gentleness and their effectiveness. Fastened around the dogs neck, the spray collar emits a citronella towards and into the dogs nostrils each time it barks. Disgruntled, the dog will generally make the link between barking and the unpleasant odour, which can lead the dog to better discipline itself. That being said, certain dogs may become used to the citronella scent, rendering the product more unpleasant for the owners rather than stopping the dog from vocalizing.
- Beep Collars
When barking occurs, beep collars emit a sound at a frequency only dogs can hear. This sound can be unpleasant to dogs, therefore teaching them to not bark in order to no longer hear it. Generally recommended for smaller breed dogs, this option can potentially be less effective as it is difficult to predict the dogs reaction to the sound some dogs are more sensitive than others. This collar can also be supplied with fixed stations that can be placed around the house in areas where the dog has a tendency to bark the most .
- Vibration Collars
- Electric/Shock Collars
Among the most controversial anti-bark collars, shock collars send an electric shock to the dogs neck. Seeing as many safer and more humane anti-bark collars are available, this collar is not recommended.
What Is A Remote Trainer
Remote trainers can be used to stop your Golden Retriever from barking and obeying commands. It is a type of shock collar that allows you to control the intensity and level of signals it sends. This way, you can find the amount that works for your dog without hurting them in any way.
Even though remote trainers may look like they are the same as shock collars, they should only be used by experienced dog owners. This is because you need to know what your golden retriever needs and how it will respond to various intensity levels.
As a first time dog owner, it may be better to use a regular adjustable collar or even an always-on collar for barking control.
Don’t Miss: Golden Retriever Hair
Petsafe Basic Bark Control Collar
The PetSafe bark collar is a very reasonably priced option for an anti bark collar. It comes with 6 levels of static correction so you can find the perfect level that will deter your Dog from excessive barking. The PetSafe bark collar also has a very in tune detection system that will not recognize other dogs barks or other noises that could set off a false static correction. There is also an automatic shut off after 50 seconds of correction so your dog will be safe if you leave this on while you are out.The static correction automatically increases with every bark and stops when it has found the ideal mode of static correction. It will then start at that level should your Dog start barking again. READ CONSUMER REVIEWS ON THIS PRODUCTIt is also waterproof so you donât need to worry if your Dog enjoys swimming or if this is for a hunting dog.
The PetSafe bark collar fits almost any size Dog from 8lbs and up. The neck strap fits Dogs up to 28 inches, making this one of the most accommodating on the market.
- Can be activated by other dogs barking
This Chart Should Be Taken As A Guide Only
All dogs are different and if your dog is particularly timid or stubborn it may be worth talking to one of our experts before purchasing an anti-bark collar.
It is important to note we have based these bark collar recommendations on healthy adult dogs. If you have younger dogs or senior dogs with a barking problem we suggest you call us for some expert guidance.
Read Also: What To Feed A Golden Retriever Puppy
Are They Really Safe For Your Golden Retriever
Most people feel that dog training collars are basically torture devices for dogs. But, the truth is that most people dont actually know the real facts about these products. In fact, the collars are quite efficient in training dogs and are also developed with safe materials.
Lets talk safety, shall we?
Use Stop Or Some Other Command To Stop Golden Retriever Barking
When the dog barks inappropriately, say calmly stop, or some other command that you will remember. When he quiets down, praise him and give him a treat. As you continue to treat for not barking, your golden retriever barking will soon come to an end. And he or she will only be barking when it is appropriate.
Read Also: Golden Retriever Puppy Names Female
Is It Safe To Use A Shock Collar
So, this is perhaps the most crucial question of all
Is it really safe to use a bark collar.
Well, regardless of the type of training collar you use, all are considered safe. Your dog wont come to any harm at all even if you opt for the most extreme type of collar with static shock. These are still humane even if theyre not to every pet owners taste.
The most accurate way of examining this question is to glance again at each type of collar and rate them in descending order of dog-friendliness.
Note: This rundown does not account for how effective the training collar is, simply how little discomfort it induces in your dog.
- Static Shock Collar: While technically termed humane, a static shock collar will create most discomfort for your pet by buzzing him with a low-level but noticeable shock
- Vibration Collar: While unpleasant, your dog wont be in any pain as a result of the vibration kicked out by this type of collar
- Spray Collar: Although your dog wont be joyous at a wet and lemon-scented snout, this is slight discomfort rather than pain
- Ultrasonic Device: The noises emitted by these devices should annoy your dog without hurting his ears so this is definitely the most humane of all training methods
If you have an always-on collar, you should not leave this on for longer than 12 hours in one stretch. You should also make sure the collar has adequate safety functions baked in so your dog wont end being overcorrected.
Does Ultrasonic Sound Really Work To Stop Dogs From Barking
While the ultrasonic sound may help to some extent, it will not be as effective as a shock collar. Remember that the bark is just an annoyance for you and your neighbors, but it is a way of communication for dogs.
If you use ultrasonic sound without the bark collar to get rid of the excessive barking, then your dog will still be communicating in a different way which may stop the interactions with other dogs.
There are many reasons you should not use the high pitched sound without the bark collar, but if you decide to use it, make sure it is at a reasonable volume. There is such a thing as ultrasonic sound being too loud where dogs and humans may be injured. Ultrasonic collars are the perfect alternative.
You May Like: Golden Retrievers Puppies For Sale In California
Petsafe Basic Bark Collar
This is the second Pet Safe collar on our list, and there are good reasons for that. The PetSafe Basic Bark Collar does not only look great but is also a highly efficient nylon collar. It is calibrated to respond to nothing else but the sound of your dogs bark, meaning that no other sound is going to trigger it. It offers six different correction levels of electrical stimulation, and if your dog does not respond to the first level, you just move on up until the dog stops barking.
This static shock bark collar is 100% waterproof for up to 5 feet and has an automatic shut-down after 80 seconds. Also, with the purchase of this no-bark collar, you also get access to customer service, to which you can send your questions via email or chat and theyll get back to you with an answer.
PetSafe is a higly-trusted company, meaning that it poses no risks to your dogs health. If youre planning on leaving your pet home alone for a longer period of time every now and then, this static shock collar is perfect for you.
Pros:
- For canines 8 pounds and up
- 6 degrees of reformist static adjustment with a programmed security shut-off: corrects and stops in 50 seconds
- Lightweight, waterproof bark collar
- Collar utilizes PetSafe RFA-67 battery
- Vibration sensor distinguishes canines vocal
Cons:
Collar Shopping Rule In Relation To Warm/cool Dog Coats
After you have determined if your dogs coat is a warm or cool colour you can narrow down your search while shopping. The rule is to shop for collar colours that are opposite in colour bias to your dogs coat.
So if your dogs coat is a warm colour, shop for cool coloured dog collars. For example: blues, greens and purples. If your dogs coat is a cool colour, shop for warm coloured dog collars. For example: reds, oranges and yellows.
Even though reds, oranges and yellows are traditionally thought of as warm colours, remember that you can find cool versions of these colours. The same goes for traditional cool colours being purple, greens and blues, you can still find warm versions of these. This means you dont need to be limited to these specific colours for your dog, it is rather the tint or tone of the colour that you need to look out for.
In the diagram below you can get a better idea of how a yellow or blue bias within a colour can make it a warm or cool colour temperature.
Read Also: Shock Collars For Golden Retrievers
Tbi Pro Dog Training Collar
If you long for a shock collar that takes training to maximum heights, this product is perfect for you!
The TBI Pro dog training collar is one of the smartest items on our list of best shock collars for Golden Retrievers. The most noteworthy aspect of this shock collar is its powerful processor with a 2000FT remote range.
The high-speed signal antenna combined with the advanced microprocessor provides a real tested training range of up to 2000FT. Besides that, independent function buttons ensure instant response and crystal-clear color indication to offer successful training with no risks!
In terms of training, this shock collar boasts three of them. It operates differently with modes of vibration and signal with 100 adjustable levels so that users can find an optimal correction level for their pets.
Moreover, pet parents can adjust the size of the collar because theres a reflective strap included.
The battery life of this shock collar is also worth the mention. The Li-ion battery offers up to 15 days of running time after a 2-hour charge.
There is also a power mode that increases the collars working time. Other than that, the shock collar is waterproof and works excellent underwater, offering effortless training and eliminating risks of collar damage.
Lastly, this collar was mainly designed to train hard-and-fast dogs, so theres a big chance it may not be the best fit for small dogs. Nevertheless, it is a reliable choice for Golden Retrievers no doubt in that
Pros
Most Advanced Safety Features
Safe, High-Tech Barking Solutions
At PetSafe®, all of our bark control products are engineered and quality tested to be humane and effective.
- Quality tested for maximum safety & effectiveness
- Approved for short term and long term use
- No interference with other frequencies
Perfect Bark® Technology
Our bark control collars are engineered with the most advanced technology and safety features on the market. With innovative Perfect Bark dual detection technology, only your dogs barking causes a correction, meaning no mistaken correction and no over-correction. The collar must pick up the sound AND vibration from barking before delivering a correction.
Approved for Indoor or Outdoor Use
Our ultrasonic devices are safe to use long-term and cause no negative side effects or hearing damage to pets or people. Our outdoor deterrents are specially created for outside use, and the indoor deterrent is most effective when used inside. Sound travels and bounces differently indoors and outdoors, so the technology is different in each product.
Don’t Miss: Summerbrook Goldens