At the mention of bark collars, it is easy to think of the nightmare-inducing collars that shock the pets each time they bark. While using a shock bark collar in NZ is not illegal, animal lovers have advocated against this way of training pets. Keeping this in mind, you must find suitable ways to train your pet because you must also consider your neighbours’ interests.
Before training, you need to understand that barking is a natural response. It is almost equivalent to how humans speak. So before you run off to find expensive dog training sessions in Marsden or Christchurch, you need to look for a valid reason behind your pet’s barking.
Nuisance Barking
Often you see dogs perched on porches or balconies and barking loud enough to scare passersby. There is one major reason behind this. It is because dogs get incredibly territorial at times. When they bark at everyone, the people are ‘chased away, and the territory remains ‘protected’. Unfortunately, the loop of having people go away faster when they bark reinforces this behaviour in your pet.
Before getting started on negative reinforcement training, try some other avenues. For instance, you can always block the dog’s view so they don’t see the people on the sidewalk. Invest in curtains or blinds that only let the light in. When your furry friend cannot see someone ‘encroaching’ on their territory, the nuisance barking is sure to stop. You can also try training your pet to associate passersby with positive things. They will see it as a positive event by rewarding them with their favourite treat when they see an intruder.
Barking When Confined
No one likes being confined, and your pet is no different. If your dog barks too much when placed in a crate or room, getting them to stop this behaviour is tricky. The first course of action might seem a little difficult, but still, you have to go ahead and ignore them. Getting them out of the confinement immediately to preserve the silence teaches them that making noise is the best way to get out. Ignore the noise and keep them confined until they calm down. You can liken this process to the ‘self-soothing’ techniques parents apply to babies.
The second method is much easier for you and the dog. Simply reward the dog when they are quiet. When they cease the nuisance, shower them with praise and treats. This way, your pet will know when to stop the barking in a few attempts.
While On Walks
Temperamental dogs are tricky to train, and these are the ones who need it the most. When you take such reactive dogs on walks, they can start barking up at every squirrel, biker, and pet in sight. Tackling such an issue needs multiple approaches, such as keeping adequate distance between everyone else and your pet, feeding your pet a treat when someone is approaching, or having a leash to keep your pet from chasing everyone in Auckland.
When these techniques don’t yield the right results, you might consider getting a bark collar in NZ. With the help of an expert trainer, such behaviour can be eliminated.
You can’t deny that pets make everything better. While this stays true for you, the same must be said for everyone else in the vicinity. Training your pet is incredibly important, and promptly doing this will benefit everyone.