Bark Collar FAQs

General FAQs

How do I fit the Bark Collar on my dog?

High up on their neck (just under the jaw) and tight enough so that it can't move side to side. Once fitted, wiggle the collar up and down to get any fur out of the way. Please note: A collar that's not fitted properly may result in inconsistent corrections or not be effective. Read more on bark collar fitting in our Bark Collar Fitting Guide.

Does the static electric shock hurt my dog? What does it feel like?

The best way to describe the static electric shock is like the little zap you get when you touch your car door on a dry day or when you rub your feet on carpet and touching a metal door handle.

What are the different types of bark collars?

The two main types of bark collars are citronella spray and static correction.  Citronella spray collars shoot out a burst of citronella when they pick up your dogs bark and static correction collars deliver a localized static electric stimulation to the dog when activated.  For more information on the different types of collars, please view our article - Bark Collars - Citronella vs. Static Electric

Which bark collar is best for my breed?

There are citronella spray or static correction bark collars to suit most breeds, sizes and varying temperaments.  For help discovering which one is most effective for your dog, please view our Bark Collars by Breed guide.

How old does my dog have to be to wear a bark collar?

We suggest waiting until your dog is 6 months of age before using a static or citronella bark collar. This is to ensure the dog can understand why the correction is being given. With static collars for young or ageing dogs it is best to consider a manual set collar so the owner can control the correction intensity.

Does choosing a bark collar depend only on size?

Some manufacturers seem to think so.  At Bark Control we believe you can't judge a dog purely on its breed or size.  Age and temperament are also very important factors when deciding which bark control collar is right for your dog.   For more information please view our Bark Collars by Breed guide or give us a call!

How does my bark collar work?

Barking Collars can be activated by either a microphone, vibration sensor or a combination of both (dual activation).  For barking dogs you can consider the vibration or dual activation collars, however, if your dog is a howler you should consider a microphone activated collar for best results.  For more information on bark collar function, please view our guide on Selecting the Right Bark Collar for your Dog

What are the best brands?

At Bark Control we only stock safe and effective brands of barking collars.  We recommend SportDog, Dogtra, PetSafe, DT Systems, and DogWatch bark collars. If it's any good, we sell it!

Can I purchase a bark collar if I live in New Zealand?

You sure can. If you live in New Zealand, please visit our sister site - https://www.k9control.co.nz/. Orders placed through K9 Control will be dispatched from our warehouse in Auckland.

Static Electric Bark Collar FAQs

How effective are static bark collars?

Static collars are the most effective form of bark control for most situations with a 98% - 99% success rate in controlling nuisance barking.  To learn more about the effectiveness of static stimulation, please view our article - Bark Collars - Citronella vs. Static Electric.

Is the size of my dog the only factor to consider when choosing a barking collar?

Some business' will only use size to determine the right barking collar to use, which can end up causing negative reactions from the dog. When purchasing a bark collar you must consider breed, size, age and temperament before deciding which one is right for your situation. If you would like help discovering which barking collar is right for your dog, give us a call on 1300 668 931!

Will an electric collar harm my dog?

Electric bark collars deliver a harmless static electric correction when activated by a dogs barking.  It is likened to the little shock you receive from touching your car door or rubbing your feet on the carpet and touching a door handle.  It can be startling, but cannot harm your animal. Check out our article on the function of electric collars - Shock Collars for Dogs - "The not so Shocking Truth"

How long can my dog wear a static collar for?

Your dog can wear a static collar for a maximum of 10-12 hours per day.  This is to avoid the probes causing any skin irritation or pressure necrosis sores which can occur with prolonged use.  We recommend that you check your dog's neck for irritation each day when using the collar and give the probes and the dogs neck a good wash each week.

Can other barking dogs set my dog's collar off?

Most static barking collars are activated by vibrations from the dogs vocal chords.  Some collars will have this vibration sensor, paired with a microphone (dual activation) which further minimises the chance of false corrections.  The Dogtra YS300 is activated by an advanced micro-processor which can distinguish the sound of a dogs barking from surrounding noises.  This microphone activation is great for situations with a howling, whining dog or for situations with one dog.  You would avoid these collars when you have multiple dogs in the yard though.  To learn more about stopping howling dogs, view this article - How to Stop a Howling or Whining Dog

What are the best brands of electric bark collars?

When using an electric collar on your dog, we recommend using only reputable brands that have been trialled and tested to ensure the utmost safety for your dog.  Avoid the cheap knock-offs that have the potential to harm your animal and only trust SportDog, Dogtra, PetSafe, DogWatch, E-Collar and DT Systems electric barking collars.

Citronella Spray Collar FAQs

How effective are citronella spray bark collars?

Effectiveness of citronella spray collars depends on a dog's particular breed, age and temperament usually.  For smell driven dogs, citronella barking collars are great because they distract the dog with the smell of the citronella spray, plus the sight and sound of the mist ejected by the collar and the feeling of the spray on the snout.  Spray bark collars are not a recommended option if you have a stubborn or working breed, in that case you would find much better results by using a static electric barking collar. View this guide for more information - Bark Collars - Citronella Vs. Static Electric.

Are spray bark collars expensive to run?

Citronella spray collars will usually cost more than a static electric collar to run because you have two consumable items that must be replaced every few months to keep the spray collar running. Due to the propellant used to release the spray, the batteries in citronella spray collars will usually run out quicker than an electric collar. If you are running through a battery and a can of citronella spray every couple of weeks, it will indicate that an electric bark collar may be a more effective and cheaper option for you to use.

Can I use any citronella spray refill?

There are many generic citronella spray refills on the market and many customers will not realise that using these cheaper knock-offs can ruin the internals of spray bark collars and in turn void the warranty on the barking collar. The manufacturer of PetSafe spray bark collars recommends using genuine PetSafe citronella spray refills only.

What brands of citronella bark collars are best?

Bark Control stock only the best brands of spray bark collars that have proven results in effectiveness and reliability. We recommend the using PetSafe or Innotek citronella bark collars for best results.

How does my citronella collar work?

Citronella barking collars are activated either by a microphone or by a combination of a microphone and vibration sensor (dual activation).  Microphone activated spray collars such as the Innotek Citronella Spray or PetSafe Deluxe Anti-Bark Spray collar, are great for howling or whining dogs but can cause false corrections in situations with more than one noisy dog.  In this case, depending on size, you would use either the PetSafe Little Dog or Big Dog Spray bark collars which will cannot be activated by another dogs barking.  View this article for more info - Selecting the Right Bark Collar for your Barking Dog!

How long can my dog wear a spray bark collar for?

We recommend allowing your dog to wear a citronella bark collar for no more than 12 hours a day. Be sure to check to dog's skin daily and clean the neck and snout often to avoid any irritation.