- What is the purpose of the BarkCollar?
The BarkCollar is used to reduce and eliminate excessive barking.
- How does the BarkCollar work?
A sensor inside the BarkCollar is activated when the dog barks. After three seconds of barking (the ‘bark-forgiveness’ period), the collar activates and delivers either a vibration or an electronic stimulation. The vibration or stimulation setting is adjustable and should be set to a level that is just enough to distract the dog from barking. If the dog continues to bark, the intensity of the vibration/stimulation gradually increases from the minimum to the maximum for that setting. As your dog begins to associate barking with the vibration/stimulation, he also figures out the sensation stops when the barking stops.
- How do I fit the BarkCollar to my dog?
The collar strap needs to be placed on the smallest part of the dog’s neck, just below the dog’s ears. It must fit snugly so the contact posts are touching the center of the dog’s neck where the vibration from the dog’s bark can be detected. If the collar is placed too loosely or too far from the center of the dog’s neck, the bark may not be detected.
- How long does the battery charge last?
Battery life depends on frequency of use and the barking behavior of the dog. A collar that is worn for long periods and triggered frequently will need to be recharged more often than a collar that is worn for shorter periods and triggered only occasionally. The charge typically lasts a month or more for a collar worn daily with low to moderate activation.
- How long does the re-chargeable battery last and is it replaceable?
Yes. The rechargeable battery life is typically several years. The rechargeable battery needs to be replaced when the duration of a re-charge decreases significantly. Replacement batteries are available from DogWatch. The battery is easy to replace.
- Do I need the take the BarkCollar off the dog when not in use?
Yes. If there is no need to have the collar on the dog, it should be taken off the dog and turned off. We recommend removing the collar at night to prevent skin irritation.
- How do I pick the setting that is best for my dog?
Turn-on the BarkCollarand and set it to ‘V’ (Vibration). Put the BarkCollar on your dog. Observe the dog barking and look for a response such as a head shake, ear twitch, or change in barking behavior. If you do not see a response, or if the dog continues to bark with no apparent reaction to the collar, increase the setting one level and repeat the process. When you see a subtle reaction from your dog, that setting is a good place to begin training.
- How long will it take for my dog to stop barking?
There are several variables that affect how quickly your dog’s behavior will change, most notably the personality of your dog, the frequency of things that trigger the barking and your dog’s tolerance for distraction when baking. Most dogs begin to understand the relationship between barking and the sensation from the vibration/stimulation after several activations of the collar. Barking behavior will diminish quickly in some dogs and more gradually in others. If there is no noticeable change after a reasonable trial period, check the collar to make sure the fit is good and the contact posts are the correct size. If collar fit is appropriate and the dog continues to bark, the BarkCollar setting should be increased one level.
- How do I know the BarkCollar is working?
Turn-on the BarkCollar. If the Status Light on the BarkCollar blinks green, the battery is charged and the BarkCollar is working. There is also an auto “self-test” (see below) to confirm that the BarkCollar is working.
- How do I test the BarkCollar?
There is an auto “self-test” built into the collar. When you turn it “on” and each time the setting is changed, the BarkCollar will vibrate briefly and the status light will illuminate. This auto “self-test” confirms the BarkCollar is charged and working properly.
- How big does my dog need to be to use the BarkCollar?
The BarkCollar should be effective on dogs as small as 4 pounds.
- How old does my dog need to be to use the BarkCollar?
We recommend waiting until the dog is 4-6 months.
- Is the stimulation going to hurt my dog?
No. The electronic stimulation is mild. Imagine a slight tickle or light static, like touching a metal doorknob after walking across carpet. The stimulation gets a pet’s attention, similar to a tap on the shoulder.
- If used on two dogs, will the bark of one dog set-off the other dog’s collar?
No – the collar must be in contact with the dog’s neck to be activated.
- Can my dog wear both the Hidden Fence collar and the BarkCollar?
Yes.
- Is the BarkCollar waterproof?
Yes.
- Is there a warranty on the BarkCollar?
Yes. The warranty is one year.
- Are there health restrictions?
There are no specific health restrictions. If you have a concern about your dog using a bark collar due to a health condition, we suggest you contact your Veterinarian.
- Which contacts should I use?
We recommend using long posts for dogs with long hair or a thick coat. Short posts should be fine for short hair dogs who do not have a thick coat.
- Will weather affect how the unit works? (Cold, hot etc.)
The components in the BarkCollar are specified to operate from minus 25 degrees (F) to 125 degrees (F). A significant and rapid change in temperature may temporarily disrupt some of the BarkCollar functions until the device adjusts to the new temperature level.