Hi @Lo0cie66,
First off, I have to admit that the subject of bark collars really gets my back up; I’ll give you that. And in this case, my username is definitely fitting.
However, I’m going to reply to you point by point, and in a completely calm manner.
In the meantime, if bark collars exist, it’s because they’re effective and not dangerous for the dog
Do you honestly think that just because something is available to buy, it doesn't pose any danger?
in my opinion, they're designed so as not to affect their nervous system
If the vibrations or shocks aren't picked up by the dog’s nervous system, then they won’t feel a thing. If they don’t feel anything, they won't change their behaviour and will just keep barking.
The sensation of vibrations triggers a stress response in the body. Stress isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but it always causes an imbalance in homeostasis. This imbalance almost always leads the dog to act on instinct to restore that balance. And from the moment they are driven by instinct, the dog is hardly receptive to social cues or training anymore.
In other words, by using this, you're cutting off all communication with your dog and leaving them to deal with the situation alone.
I look after him as if he were my own son
I personally think that’s another mistake people make with dogs, but that’s a debate for another time.
Don't think I've put a bark collar on him because I don't love him!
I never said you didn't love your dog, just that you've gone for the easy option.
To stop him getting into trouble, it was the most effective and quickest solution!
No, a bark collar will never be a "solution". As I said before, this kind of thing only deals with the symptom, not the cause.
You have to understand that in many cases, a dog barks to raise the alarm. In that context, the dog is doing what feels necessary to avoid a potential danger. Through their barking, they are communicating with you. From their perspective, they’ve been the perfect companion.
However, for you and the neighbours, it’s a nuisance—which I completely understand. So what do you do? You punish them for communicating with you by putting that collar on. How do you expect your dog to understand that without any prior work on the root cause? The dog will just understand that when they bark, they get punished. Unfortunately, whatever is making them want to bark in the first place will still be there; you've just suppressed the barking itself.
There are other methods out there... thankfully!
