How Does A Citronella Dog Collar Work?
A citronella dog collar is a type of spray dog collar. Spray dog collars work by spraying a substance (in this case citronella, but versions also exist that use water or lemon juice) in the dog’s face when they do an unwanted behavior.
The idea is that the dog, discomforted by the citronella spray, will learn to stop barking to avoid being sprayed in the face. Pet owners consider the citronella dog collars to be more humane than the electric shock dog collars, and citronella collars have been proven to be more effective than shock collars (in some instances, a dog given an electric collar would keep barking despite the shock, whereas with the citronella collar, the odor was so unpleasant that later a substitute could be used and the dog would still not bark, fearing the smell of the citronella spray).
While there’s no doubt citronella dog collars are more humane than electric shock collars, we should still consider the psychological impact of the spray collar on your dog.
Your dog could be punished with a spray of citronella despite having done nothing. Another issue is the psychological implications of such punishment. For instance, barking is a natural reaction for any dog, and can often be a way for dogs to protect their owners. It would be terribly ironic if, for example, your dog was about to save you from a burglar, but because of repeated citronella sprays to her face, she would do nothing to alarm you of the intruder.
That example aside, we feel it is simply wrong to impede or constrain such a natural function. We feel that as the dog’s owner, it is your responsibility to train and take care of your dog. Now you have a living being, a life, on your hands that deserves just as much care and nurturing as if it were your own child.
Citronella dog collars and side effects
Anti-bark collars use a microphone to detect when your dog is barking. Once the collar senses a bark, it emits a spray of citronella oil toward your pets muzzle. In some cases, the odor of the citronella may work to stop a dog from barking.
Citronella anti-bark collars are marketed as a safe way to control your dogs barking. They contain only small amounts of citronella, so unless your pup chews the collar and ingests the oil, he is unlikely to experience symptoms of toxicity. However, if you opt to use this method, monitor your pet closely for skin irritation and rashes and be sure to clean the oils from your dogs fur at least once a week.
Discuss the safety of citronella oil with your veterinarian before you begin using the collar, especially if you have a pup with medical conditions, such as breathing difficulties.
Keep in mind that you should never use bark collars if you have more than one dog in the house or if there are other dogs in the vicinity. The collar may pick up another dogs bark, creating the possibility of a dog being sprayed with citronella even when she didnt make a sound, which can cause a lot of confusion for your pup.
Another issue is that the microphone generally doesnt pick up high-pitched barks, so it doesnt work on all dogs and may teach your dog to simply change the tone of her bark. Bark collars may stop barking by applying a negative stimulus, but they dont address the cause of the barking, which means the behavior may return when your dog isnt wearing the collar, or the citronella runs out.
Understanding why your dog barks can help you develop a plan to address the behavior using positive reinforcement. Some possible types of barks include territorial barking, alarm barking, attention-seeking barking, frustration barking, separation anxiety, or compulsive barking.
Start by setting up your dog for success. If he barks in a car, transport him in a crate. If he barks at the neighbor jogging, consider a plastic film on the window to limit your dogs view. Use positive rewards, like treats, and introduce commands, such as “quiet” or “go to your spot.” This allows you to stop the barking on command.
Teaching a dog to stop barking requires a lot of time and patience, especially if you have an adult dog with a long-standing habit of excessive barking. Dont hesitate to consult a professional dog trainer to assist you if needed.
Anti-barking dog spray collar training program
Like any dog barking problem, you first need to figure out why your furry friend is being so loud. He might be scared, bored, excited or protective. He might simply want to alarm you of possible threats (like cats and the evil mailman). Each problem has a slightly different training program that you can read more about by clicking on each link.
Following are some general training rules that will be useful for all dog barking problems:
Anti-Bark Citronella Spray Collar Test
There are some products on the market that are aimed at preventing dogs from barking such as sound collars (collars that emit a high-pitched sound when the dog barks), electronic collars (collars that deliver an electric shock to the dog when it barks) and citronella collars (collars that spray the dog’s face with citronella scent when it barks). RSPCA Australia is opposed to the use of these devices.
RSPCA Australia is opposed to the use of any electronically activated or other devices which deliver electric shocks, such as anti-barking collars and invisible boundaries. Such devices are inhumane as they inflict pain, involve punishment and can be used to abuse animals. RSPCA Australia is also opposed to the use of collars that deliver aversive stimuli such as sound or scent, including citronella collars and high-pitched sound-emitting devices.
The treatment of nuisance behaviours such as excessive barking should begin by determining the root cause of the problem and then attempting to address the underlying cause humanely.
Talk to your veterinarian, they can provide advice and may refer you to a reputable animal behaviourist (who uses reward-based training methods) to assess the behaviour and provide advice on how best to humanely manage and address it.