Dogs bark for a lot of reasons and bark collars are not meant to stop all barking. Some dog breeds are trained to bark while performing some tasks like herding, hunting, or guarding the homestead. This barking is good and won't be discouraged. Barking is not completely stopped; it is controlled.

There is more than one type of electronic anti bark collar. Some models respond to the vibrations of a dog's vocal cords. Some models use a microphone that reacts to the noise from the barking. A microphone can be sensitive and may react to sounds other than your dog's barking. Because of this sensitivity, some manufacturers use both methods to ensure that the dog is not being over-corrected by the device.

An electronic collar emits a mild correction when the dog barks too much. The correction from the collar is similar to the feeling you get when you slide your feet on carpet and then touch a door knob. It is not harmful to your dog, but it certainly gets the dog's attention. Many models allow you to set the level of correction that is appropriate for your dog. Other anti bark collars have stepped ranges of correction that automatically increase as the dog continues barking. When the dog has not barked for about 20 seconds, the device automatically resets itself to the lowest level. Your dog won't be over-corrected.

If you don't want to give your dog an electronic correction, you can use an alternative device. A citronella collar corrects the dog with a strong burst of citrus scent. Because dogs have a very strong sense of smell, this citrus scent is especially annoying to them. Your dog will be distracted and will stop barking without any physical discomfort.

Some models use ultrasonic tone to correct bad barking. When the dog makes noise, an ultrasonic tone that only dogs can hear is emitted.

Today's models like the Innotek Automatic No-Bark Collar Rechargeable BC-200 are lightweight and water resistant or water proof. Collars are unobtrusive and adjustable to fit any sized dog. Many models run on replaceable, rechargeable batteries. They are suitable for dogs over six months old that know basic obedience commands.

Using a bark stopping device will make training quicker and easier for you and your dog. And, your dog won't have to wear the collar forever. When your dog learns that it is being corrected for barking, it will stop the bad behavior even when not wearing the anti bark collar.