Ultrasonic Bark Control | Things we should know

What is an ultrasonic bark control device? This little piece of equipment was invented to stop incessant barking by releasing an annoying tone that is only audible to our dogs. The intention is, the dogs will hear the irritating high-pitch sound whenever they start barking out of control. However, the effectiveness of this type of bark stop is still debatable. Most of the consumers are reportedly satisfied and happy with the device’s performance. But some have been complaining that there is either no result or the barking even increases. Dog experts have agreed to this report. They said that the ultrasonic bark control device will only work on specific breeds and it will also depend on the type of device that we use.

There are a number of types of ultrasonic dog barking control devices. The most common type is the one that is attached to our dog’s collar. The device will automatically activate when it detects the sound of barking. Some of these collars can be operated with a remote control allowing us to trigger a sound correction. This is helpful in training our dogs because we can control and decide as to when our dogs are barking incessantly or not. Small dog bark collars for toy breeds are also available in this type. We can buy them in any pet stores or we can also search online. And since it is sometimes difficult to find the right size for our pet, we can measure their neck’s first to make sure that we buy something that will fit.

The next type is called the indoor noise generation device. This type provides ultrasonic bark control within a variable radius of the device. This type is available in automatic or manual design as well. The third and final type is the one that is designed for outdoor use. This type has several designs such as a birdhouse, wind chime or any lawn ornament. Consumers usually purchase this type in an attempt to stop the neighbor’s dog from barking and howling all night. 

All of the types of ultrasonic bark control device have the same function. They release a high-pitched tone that can only be heard by dogs. This tone is meant to discourage our dog from barking. The intention is to have our dogs associate the unpleasant tone with their barking. This should help them curb their bad behavior. Some designs even have an audible ‘warning tone’ option which informs a barking dog that a high-pitched tone is about to take place.

As I’ve mentioned earlier, the effectiveness of this device is still debatable. A review by Gary M. Landsberg, DVM stated that collars that release ultrasonic waves with each unnecessary bark are usually effective but they are sometimes inconsistent. That is why they are not considered as an effective bark stop. Mr. Landsberg also stressed out that the two important things about dog barking control devices are reliability and consistency. Nancy Freedman-Smith, a professional dog trainer, is also unimpressed with this device. She personally studied an outdoor ultrasonic bark control device and she said that it had no effects on a variety of barking dogs that they brought into the yard.

Experts and dog owners said that the ultrasonic bark control will only work if it is administered properly. A device that activates even when the dog is not barking is as useless as a device that does not activate when the dog is barking. So as dog owners, we should pay close attention to how our dogs react to these types of devices. If our dog shows a sign of fear to the tone that is totally unrelated to nuisance barking, then we should cease the use of the device. Improper administration of an ultrasonic bark control device may lead to unwanted effects to our dog like fear and a change in their behavior.