Citronella Bark Collar

For dog owners having to deal with the reality of congested apartment buildings and complaining neighbors, a citronella bark collar may be both man and dog’s best friend. Here is an overview on the citronella bark collar.

Citronella Oil

A citronella bark collar takes its name from citronella oil. This is an essential oil that is taken from leaves and stems of the Cymbopogon plant. Its extracts are commonly used in cosmetics, flavoring, and various soaps and perfumes.

Citronella oil is known for its qualities as a natural and non-toxic insect repellent. It is also antifungal and known for its effectiveness in calming a barking dog.

How it Works

The citronella bark collar utilizes citronella oil. Its mechanism is that it sprays a little oil under the nose of the dog whenever it barks excessively. This is an unpleasant smell for a canine, and in that sense, it works as a negative reinforcement training method and persuades the dog to stop barking.

As a Training Tool

A citronella bark collar has the basic function of preventing the dog from barking, but it also has another use- as a training tool. This can be done by rewarding the dog after he follows a verbal command, for example “Sit”, and by using the collar on the dog when he does not obey.

The collar can also be used in teaching the dog to observe particular barriers or to not go beyond certain boundaries- for example, to stop him from crossing over into the neighbor’s lawn.

Remember that as a training tool, it is only an assistive device and the owner must exert effort on his part to impart commands. The citronella bark collar, as well as other methods of mild punishment, must be used sparingly and only when absolutely necessary, to stress discipline on the pet. Be sensitive to the reason that the dog is barking, because it is a natural form of communication for such animals. It might be just hungry or asking for attention. Remember that the opposite method must also be used at the same time, positive reinforcement, which is to say that the dog must be given a reward when it follows orders or cooperates during training. And make sure that if the dog has internalized good behavior, the collar need not be used. That way, the pet can make both associations and develop a relationship with its owner inspired by loyalty, not fear.

Why Citronella?

There are other types of bark collars in the market, some of which give the dog a mild electric shock upon barking. However, many dog owners opt for the Citronella bark collar because it is more humane than giving the dog a shock, the mild spray does not harm the dog in any way, and it is a non-toxic and natural substance. Not only that, its repellent qualities prevents mosquito and insect bites on the dog. Also, it is a cheap and easy training tool, often priced around the $50 range, and frequently comes with extra canisters for refill.