A dog’s bark can either be a blessing or a curse. On the one hand, they can help alert you of any danger, especially in the middle of the night. However, more often than not, a dog’s bark can annoy the heck out of you and your neighbours.
If you have a dog that won’t stop barking, a good solution is to get an anti-bark device. Using various humane methods, they can effectively curb barking or, in some brands, any other negative behaviour.
In this article, we’ll run through the best and (more importantly) most effective anti-bark devices on the market. After carefully reviewing only the most honest and authentic experiences from dog owners like you, we picked these recommendations for your convenience.
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The Best Anti Dog Barking Device in the UK
Wango Ultrasonic Anti Bark Device
- Type: standalone (handheld)
- Method: 24 kHz ultrasonic sound
- Range: 16.4 ft
- Battery Life: 15 days
Consider the Wango Ultrasonic Anti Bark Device as your personal bark silencer that you can bring with you anywhere. It’s like a digital dog whistle that works continually in your pocket. You simply point it at your dog and press the button every time they bark or does other inappropriate behaviour.
While convenient, the main drawback of the Wango is its very limited range (just under 16.4 ft). If you have a large house or have plenty of dogs, you’d probably need to move around a lot. It can also be impractical to use it to control a neighbour’s dog.
The Wango is more suitable as a dog training tool than a semi-permanent bark deterrent because of its portability and short range.
Pros
- You can conveniently bring it around with you
- Useful not just to control barking but other inappropriate behaviour
- The battery lasts long even with continuous use
Cons
- The range is relatively short
Our Rating: 4.5 / 5.0
Wizco Anti Bark Collar
- Type: collar
- Method: vibration
- Weight: 204g
- Sensitivity Levels: 5
The Wizco Anti Bark Collar takes our pick as one of the best vibration-based collars in this list. Many dog parents who used the collar report a change in behaviour with their dogs in as short as three weeks. It works well for small and large breeds thanks to an adjustable collar that most users say is comfortable with their pets.
Part of the effectiveness of the Wizco is that it has two vibration settings, one standard and one much stronger. You can use the stronger vibration if your dog is particularly stubborn, is a larger breed, or if they’re already ignoring a lower setting.
Other standout features of the Wizco include an IPX67 rating (making it waterproof) and a reflective TPU strap. They both make the collar suitable for both indoor and outdoor use as well.
Pros
- Two vibration settings
- Waterproof
- Adjustable sensitivity levels
Cons
- A howl (instead of a bark) can fool the collar into not triggering
Our Rating: 4.5 / 5.0
HVRSTVILL Anti Bark Collar
- Type: collar
- Method: ultrasonic sound
- Compatible Dog Weight: 7 kg – 55 kg
- Collar Weight: 70 grams
- Sensitivity Levels: 7
The HVRSTVILL Anti Bark Collar is a brilliant little product that does what it advertises. It uses ultrasonic sound to help control your dog’s barking, and it’s quite effective at achieving that – a lot of other reviews and dog owners’ experience all point to this.
What sets this collar apart is that it’s less prone to accidental triggers. In other words, the collar will only set off from your dog’s bark alone, and nothing else. HVRSTVILL does with a sensor that detects both the sound and vibration of the bark. Seven different sensitivity levels ensure that the collar fits the dog’s size and the bark’s volume for the most accurate results.
The collar itself can be a bit bulky, especially for smaller dogs. But the good thing is that it’s still lightweight so it won’t pose a strain to your dog’s neck. The collar also has a wide adjustment level, making it suitable for small dogs (from 7 kg) up to bigger 55 kg canines.
With an IPX6 rating and long battery life, the HVRSTVILL Anti Bark Collar is a must-have to keep your dog’s barking at bay.
Pros
- Less prone to barks from other dogs
- Fits a wide variety of dog sizes
- Long battery life
Cons
- Relatively bulky
Our Rating: 4.3 / 5.0
PetSol Small Barking Collar
- Type: collar
- Method: ultrasonic sound and vibration
- Compatible Dog Weight: 5 kg – 50 kg
- Collar Weight: 30 grams
- Sensitivity Levels: 8
The PetSol Small Barking Collar is perfect for training smaller breeds or puppies, thanks to its reduced size. The progressive training feature, which has eight different levels, also works well to gradually influence your dog’s barking behaviour so as not to “shock” your pet. You can, for instance, crank it up if you have a stubborn dog.
Despite being quite effective, the PetSol collar isn’t harsh at all, even at the highest setting. It uses rounded nodes for the most comfortable contact with your dog’s fur while providing substantial stimuli.
Overall, the PetSol dog collar works exceptionally well. The only caveat is the clasp of the collar, which isn’t as well-made as the rest of the product. At the price, however, it’s a good value for money purchase.
Pros
- Gentle yet effective anti-bark deterrent
- Progressive feature fits any dog, no matter how stubborn
- Small and unobtrusive, great for smaller dogs
Cons
- Collar clasp can be improved
Our Rating: 4.4 / 5.0
SOYAO Anti Bark Collars
- Type: collar
- Method: spray
- Strap Length: 75 cm (adjustable)
- Battery Life: 12 days
If you find that a vibration or ultrasonic collar isn’t doing the trick with your dog, then a spray collar might be a good solution for you. Enter the SOYAO Anti Bark Collar, which is one of the more effective anti-bark spray devices we’ve seen in the market.
You’re given a lot of room to fine-tune this collar to your dog’s size and behaviour. The SOYAO has an adjustable spray volume to control how much citronella scent is sprayed when the dog barks. The intelligent sensor can accurately tell if it’s your dog that’s barking, which can also be adjusted with different sensitivity levels.
Pros
- Adjustable sensitivity and spray volume for maximum control
- Long-lasting battery life
- Suitable for both indoor and outdoor use
Cons
- Citronella spray not included
Our Rating: 4.5 / 5.0
Modus Bark Control Device
- Type: standalone (handheld)
- Method: 25 kHz ultrasonic sound
- Range: 16.4 ft
The MODUS Bark Control Device is as slick as it’s straightforward. It’s an easy-to-use device that can complement any dog training regimen. Simply press the one button on the device whenever your dog is barking or doing any unwanted behaviour. MODUS is small and unassuming, and you can easily place it in your pocket for bark control anywhere you go.
The device has excellent range, and battery life is superb as well. Another pro is that it can control multiple dogs at the same time – which can turn out to be a significant disadvantage depending on your situation. Definitely problematic if you have other pets like cats around your house. It’s also an “it either works or doesn’t” kind of thing, but that can be said of any electronic dog whistle like this.
But when it works, it works well. Then the MODUS Bark Control Device becomes a fantastic, value-for-money anti-bark solution.
Pros
- Excellent range
- Good battery life
- Easy to use and ergonomic design
Cons
- Like any dog whistle, it may or may not work with your dog
Our Rating: 4.0 / 5.0
Frequently Asked Questions
Is an anti-dog barking device safe?
For the most part, yes. It’s perfectly safe for dogs as long as you buy from legal channels. That’s because collars that use an electrical shock to control barking behaviour is illegal in the UK. Instead, anti-dog barking devices use other safer methods like sound, vibrations or smell to help direct a dog’s behaviour.
Why do dogs bark?
If your or your neighbour has a dog that just won’t quit barking, there are several reasons behind that. The most common is being startled by loud noises, which may happen if you have outdoor dogs.
One thing to keep in mind is that dogs use barking to communicate, much like how we humans talk. They might be anxious about something, or want to call your attention. Or, it may simply be their way of greeting you.
In other words, not all barking is bad. In fact, it would be counterproductive to thoroughly train barking out of some dogs, like watchdogs.
Can I use an anti-bark device on my puppy?
While some owners strap on an anti-bark collar the moment their pups are born, this is generally discouraged. Ideally, you should wait until they are at around 8 – 9 months of age (at least six months if you really can’t wait) before putting it on. That’s because puppies are easily startled by the noise or vibration that will be coming from these devices, which can introduce more behavioural problems.
What you CAN do, though, if you’re using an anti-bark collar, is to have your puppies wear them turned off. That way, they can get used to the collars as they grow up.
Things to Consider When Buying an Anti Dog Barking Device
Type
There are two types of anti-dog barking devices – a standalone machine, and a collar. The collar is easy enough to understand. The dog wears it just like any other collar, but the difference is that this one interrupts them whenever they bark. They’re effective at controlling the bark of a single dog without potentially disturbing your other pets.
On the other hand, a standalone device is a machine that emits a high-pitched sound when it senses a dog’s bark. This noise (which is only heard by animals) discourages all dogs in the area to stop barking. It’s useful for managing multiple pets, and can even deter the neighbour’s dogs from barking.
Anti-Dog Barking Methods (for collars)
Anti-dog barking collars, in particular, employ various methods to control barking.
The most common and (some would say) safest is to use vibrations. The collar shakes when a bark is detected, strong enough to annoy and interrupt the dog from barking without hurting the dog.
The other standard anti dog bark method is using ultrasonic sound, as with a standalone device. One thing to note is that the noise serves to make your dog uncomfortable, and will not harm their hearing in any way.
The main issue with using sound is that it’s not proven to be as or more effective than using vibrations. It also won’t work if your dog has hearing problems, which can be the case if they’re older.
Lastly, there’s using scent. When a dog barks, the collar releases an odour that the dog will find unpleasant (it’s often citronella). This is considered the most effective method since dogs quickly learn to associate the offensive smell with barking.
Range (for standalone devices)
The range of a standalone device determines how far the machine can pick up barking sounds before activating. The range can be anywhere from 15 to 150 feet, but most devices on the market have an average of 50 feet.
You need to determine your desired range before going off and buying an anti-dog barking device. If you simply need to control multiple dogs at home, somewhere around 15 – 30 feet would suffice (depending on the size of your house, of course). On the other end, if you’d like to control every dog’ barking in your neighbourhood, by all means, go with 100 feet or more.
You can often control the range of your machine with a high/low dial. This controls how “sensitive” the device is.
Also, you need to decide if you’re getting an outdoor or indoor barking device, as either of these will affect the machine’s range.
