How Stop Dog Barking With A Citronella Anti Bark Spray Collar

We will detail some of the pro's and con's of these citronella dog collar anti barking collars and how to use them for the best results.

You may have been considering an electric shock collar or an ultra-sonic collar to try training your dog to not bark, using pain as a deterrent.

But you are likely to discover that this kind of pain therapy is less effective than spray and the pain of shock treatments may just make your dog anxious and aggressive, and can in fact make the problem behaviour even worse as a result.

But a citronella dog collar simply sprays the neck to release an unfamiliar scent, that interrupts the dogs pattern of behaviour and distracts them long enough to break their old patterns.

It is a great remote-control reinforcement when you are also there to verbally reprimand them, so that they soon learn to associate the smell with your verbal commands and you won't need to be there to stop barking. But it also helps to reinforce your verbal commands, as the dog will remember the 'unpleasant' smell of citronella when you need to tell it to stop barking, long after it has stopped wearing the collar.

The collars can also be used with any breed of dog, as long as it weighs 6 pounds (3 kilos) or more and is aged six months or older.

The only main reason to not use a collar like this is when a dog is suffering from anxiety related barking, as they need actual behaviour modification training and confidence building to make them feel more secure and confident.

In those cases, any of the anti-bark dog collars should not be used. Get a dog trainer to help you with advice for how to support your dog through this period of anxiety, as their expertise is what is required in cases like that.

1. May not be a good little dog bark collar:There are some reviews that dogs 6 pounds and over can still be a bit too small for the heavy collar and may struggle to raise their heads and run about like normal, so bear that in mind if you have a dog who is less than say 10 pounds in weight.

It seems that the larger dogs definitely do the best with this form of training, just due to the size and weight of the equipment in the collar, but many smaller breeds have also had good results according to dog owners who have used them.

2. Mechanism Batteries run out too quickly: One of the complaints that customers have is that the batteries can be expensive, yet others say that the online option is the cheapest. I guess you need to do your comparison shopping for the batteries.

You do need to remember to turn the collar "OFF" when the dog comes inside or the collar is removed, to save the batteries. It is obvious, but has clearly been forgotten by some dog owners who then wonder why the batteries are run down and the refills getting empty faster than they expected.

You don't need to spend $10 for a replacement battery. The battery needed is a standard size and can be obtained from Walmart camera section, Target, Walgreens, etc for around $3 or $4.

For people who like to shop online, getting a supply when you order the collar is probably the best option - just buy in bulk so that you get free shipping to help save on the costs.

But if you buy your batteries in bulk you will have plenty on hand whenever you need them, and you can get them with free shipping here: Spray Sense 6 Volt Battery Retail Package

~ Retail package contains two 6-volt batteries
~ Designed for use in SpraySense Anti-Bark Collars
~ Virtual Fence Outdoor containment system that gives your dog freedom and safety within your property boundaries without fences, chains or kennels.
~ 6 volt batteries to be used with Gentle Spray Anti Bark Collar and Spray Commander.
~ Get two batteries for the price of one
~ Get free shipping on this item when you spend $50.00 or more on Qualifying Items offered by EntirelyPets. Enter code IYZXTI2W at checkout.

3. How smart is your dog? It also appears that the smarter dogs can sometimes work out how to quickly empty the spray canisters to then be able to bark again without interruption - read this mixed review:

Customer review:
4.0 out of 5 stars very effective, but might not work for very challenging dogs,

By P. Stoika "psstoika" (Madison WI)

This collar worked great for my smart and trainable long-haired German Shepherd -- effectively re-trained her barking behavior, and we quickly got to the point where she didn't need it any more. I also loaned it to a friend with a very spirited Golden Retriever, and it has worked well for their dog, although she continues to need to wear it most of the time even after a year.

My mother tried it with her keeshonds, who are the most stubborn dogs I've ever met, and it really didn't work with them, even when she made adjustments for their thick fur. Of course, those dogs are pretty behaviorally challenging, and a strong shock-collar has only been moderately effective for them.

So ... for a spirited but reasonably compliant dog, it has seemed to work well, but for more stubborn dogs, the barking challenge may go on and on.

4) Another issue can be the sensitivity of the microphone, some say it is set much too lightly and it hardly takes any noise or heavy breathing to set off the spray, while others complain that their dog's very high pitched barking doesn't seem to register on the microphone's system.

So you might experience some sensitivity issues like this reviewer, but still get the desired results to stop your dog barking:

Customer review:
Spray-happy, M. Green (San Diego, CA USA)
While this anti-bark collar works well-- my Yorkie no longer yaps-- there are some definite drawbacks:

1) Settings-- there are none, so I cannot adjust the noise level my dog can make. This unit sprays even when he sneezes or yawns.

2) Sprays even in off position-- when I turn the collar off, but leave it on the dog, for instance when I am training him and barking is encouraged (such as 'speak') or mild growling during playtime-- the collar will still spray a few times. I have even turned it off and put it on my neck and have been sprayed myself.

3) Random sprays-- sometimes my dog would just be sitting there, licking his paws or something and I would hear the collar spray two or three times in a row very quickly, but he made no noise whatsoever. This only happened twice that I witnessed.

Like I said, this collar absolutely helped my dog stop barking. MISSION ACCOMPLISHED. It is much more humane than shock collars-- even if this unit malfunctions, it is just a nuisance, not a painful torture session. It is also very inexpensive compared to other models on the market.

While the setbacks listed above are definitely irritating, I still believe this unit was a good choice for me and my pup. I would recommend a more expensive higher quality collar if you able, but this unit will do as it claims if you just need a cheap quick fix and do not mind it's 'spray-happy'

Overall, the spray bark collars seem to do a great job, just be aware of some shortfalls you need to plan for like the ones above.

A citronella anti-bark spray collar is safe to use as opposed to its main counterparts.

There are mainly 3 types of anti bark devices which are used nowadays and they all affect your pet in some way or the other.

The Three Main Bark Controlling Devices

1. Shock Collars - This bark control device inflicts pain whenever your dog starts barking. A rather cruel way of controlling your pet's barking habits, you have to agree!

The bad news is that these shock collars are still being sold in the marketplace and people still buy them. Animals are unable to express their frustration and pain in the way humans do. If you care about your pet, stay away from shock collars!

2. Ultrasonic Devices - Though a better option as compared to shock collars, the amount of damage it might cause to a dog's health is still not known. Ultrasonic anti-bark devices produce a high pitched sound which only a dog can hear.

Upon hearing the sound, the dog gets distracted and stops barking.

3. Spray Collars - This is the group where a citronella spray collar falls into. By far, the safest option of all - a citronella spray collar shoots out a liquid which distracts your pet and stops it from barking. Every time your dog barks, this harmless liquid is exerted.

Dogs generally do not like the smell of the citronella essential oil and will stop barking. Over time, your dog will learn to expect the smell and will stop barking excessively.

Using spray collars is a humane way to tell your dog that it shouldn't bark endlessly. This is not the case with other forms of anti-bark devices which are harmful to the dog in one way or the other.

The MultiVet Innotek citronella anti-bark spray collar is a bestselling product which has been used satisfactorily by many dog lovers. It has been scientifically proven that a citronella spray collar does not harm your pet in any way which might explain its popularity in the market.

The MultiVet kit also comes with a collar, refill, battery, spray device and an instruction manual. Read through the manual carefully to see how and when you can use the citronella spray collar. One thing to keep in mind is that the spray collar is not waterproof. Hence it shouldn't be used on a rainy day.

You shouldn't use spray collars to deal with your pet's behavioral problems or issues. Rather you should resort to using spray collars only if your dog barks unnecessarily at neighbors or at every moving object all day long.

For our noisy, problematic, multi-dog household: A miracle January 22, 2010
By Karen "k_rap" (Brooklyn, NY)

Background: We have two barky terrier mixes and one SERIOUSLY aggressive Hurricane Katrina rescue mix. The interactions among our pack were getting more and more problematic, after the Katrina rescue came along. "Katrina" has a severe aggression problem, for which we have consulted multiple trainers, including one expert who has prescribed several different types of medication.

Even with this medication regimen, and with positive reinforcement for calm behavior, Katrina has inflicted multiple bite wounds on our household members and has drawn blood when attacking our other dogs, honestly, too many times to count.

Walking her has been an absolutely horrific experience: If she sees another dog she does not like, a cat, a skateboard, a motorcycle, etc., she pulls and --when restrained by the leash-- lunges at whatever or whomever is closer to her, initiating a serious attack.

In this redirected aggression mode, both the human walker and my other dogs are at risk of injury. Since I live in a large city, we cannot avoid running into these aggression triggers during every walk. She also occasionally attacked my other dogs when in our fenced-in yard, after another dog or scary object passed by.

When she is not confronted with an aggression trigger, though, Katrina is a LOVE. She is cuddly, playful and affectionate. Nevertheless, because of safety concerns, we were trying to get up the courage to look for a new home for her. I couldn't bear the thought of using a shock collar on her, and didn't know what else to do.

What made me first purchase this collar? Well, one of my terriers is extremely noisy in the house, and often barks at the Katrina rescue. We thought that it might reduce stress on the Katrina rescue and change the overall pack dynamic, if we could get the very barky terrier to be quieter. So, we bought the collar, initially, just to try to reduce the barking of one of our other dogs.

First level of results: Immediate. After one quick spray, the high-strung terrier learned to stop barking. True, it doesn't control her barking when she isn't wearing the collar, but it is a great management tool. If she occasionally forgets and starts to bark, she stops immediately.

She was freaked out with the spraying, for the first time or two, but now recovers quickly after the very occasional spray. She doesn't object to wearing the collar at all, and doesn't seem to associate the collar with the spraying experience. It's only been three weeks, and we are still using the same battery and refill container.

In fact, in 3 weeks, I think I've only refilled it a couple of times (not recommended, though: you can't really tell what's left in the spray box by weight; you are supposed to refill with each wearing). We take the collar off at night and when all the dogs are calm and resting, to increase her comfort and extend the battery life.

Second level of results: A week after the first successful purchase, we tried to experiment by using a 2nd collar on the aggressive Katrina rescue. The collar is not advertised as something to use for aggression, so we just wanted to see what would happen, since Katrina does often bark or growl before she attacks. Here's the miracle: She also learned, in a matter of minutes, that she would get an unpleasant spray, if she barked or growled.

Now, after 2 weeks, she almost always remembers to look at me and sit politely for a treat when she feels stressed out -- it's much better than getting a spray in the face. If she forgets or gets so overwhelmed that she can't stop herself from growling or barking, she gets a quick reminder with an unpleasant spray on the muzzle. The spray stops her in her tracks, & she ends the aggressive behavior.

Cautionary notes: Although I'm confident that this is a good management tool for barking, I don't know whether it would have worked as a management tool for aggression, unless we had already been working extensively with our aggressive Katrina dog, teaching her to refocus her attention and to display alternate responses when she is freaked out.

The spray seems to startle her enough so that she can break her aggressive impulse and then do what we have been teaching her to do: relax and refocus.

Second, it won't help curtail aggression in a dog that doesn't reliably vocalize before attacking. A third caution -- I don't have great expectations for this device as a permanent training tool, above and beyond its stellar use as a management tool (i.e., I don't know whether Katrina will eventually learn to break her aggressive behavior, when not wearing the collar). For now, though, it is an invaluable purchase as a behavior management tool.

I was pleased with the quick ship of both collars from Amazon, as well as the very reasonable price. Except for the difficulty in getting the essential "keeper" buckle threaded onto the strap (a real pain), set-up was quite easy. So far, both units have worked reliably, but we haven't done any long-term testing. I will probably purchase a back-up collar, just in case one of them fails. I've already purchased extra batteries, since I think that these collars will be part of a long-term solution to maintaining peace and safety in our multi-dog household.

I suspect that it's important to adhere to the two-finger-only-fitting-under-the-collar tightness rule, when sizing the collar. This will keep the sensor/spray box securely positioned high on the neck, where it can pick up low growls from the vocal cords. Set up high like this, it doesn't seem to cause discomfort or choking. I also have tried to push Katrina's shaggy hair away from the potential line of Citronella-fire, when fastening the collar, to make sure that she really experiences the spray when/if she barks or growls.

Bottom line: For the first time in years, I am really hopeful that we can live safely and happily with all three of our well-loved dogs. Thank you, Premier.

You can read hundreds of reviews from Amazon customers about using the anti bark spray dog collars here: More Dog Spray Collars & Bark Collar Reviews

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