Does your dog bark excessively?
If so, this is one of the most common problems that faces pet parents, and it is also possible to deal with.
Unfortunately, this nuisance behavior often manifests when you are not around and when your furball is out of reach. While this can make the behavior more challenging to deal with than mouthing or jumping, it is nevertheless possible to train your dog not to bark when he shouldn’t.
Today’s guide to the bets citronella bark collars, also known as citronella spray collars, should help you to establish whether or not this method of correction is liable to stop your dog from excessive barking.
Many of the best dog training collars deliver static correction in order to discourage poor behaviors. Not all dog owners consider this to be a humane approach to training.
Citronella bark collars work by gently irritating your dog’s nose, annoying him, and discouraging him from repeating that behavior, but without causing him any harm.
An essential oil derived from the lemongrass plant, citronella is primarily used as a bug-repellent. Most dogs dislike the scent of citronella.
When you use one of these training collars on your dog, the collar will pick up on your dog’s bark, delivering a fine spray of citronella scented liquid around his head. The mist will distract, startle, and annoy your pooch. This will hopefully be enough to stop your dog from barking.
Here’s what to consider when you’re shopping citronella bark collars:
As long as you bear these pointers in mind, you should have no problem choosing the most effective collars from the 11 leading models we review below.
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The 11 Best Citronella Bark Collars
1. Our Pick PetSafe Spray Collar
Features
Our favorite citronella spray collar overall comes from the inimitable PetSafe. This brand has been producing first class pet equipment for over 25 years, so how does this humane training collar stand and fall?
The first thing that stands out with this collar is the overall build quality. Made from a hardwearing waterproof plastic and rugged nylon, your pooch should get plenty of use out of this thing.
There is technology baked in that tunes out all other barks except your dog’s bark, minimizing the chance that Rover will get sprayed on the snout when he is not even barking.
Many citronella spray collars come without any spray refills included. PetSafe offers you a pair of refills. One is a citronella scented spray and the other is an unscented spray. Most dogs dislike their snouts getting wet, so you may find that the unscented spray is enough to discourage excessive barking.
You’ll need to use the rechargeable batteries included to give the collar up to 40 hours of runtime. The fast charging capacity means you can get a full burst of charge in just 2 hours, cutting back on downtime.
Always remember to include plenty of positive reinforcement when you’re training your furball and you might find that this PetSafe spray collar is the extra incentive your dog needs to stop barking when he shouldn’t.
2. WWVVPET Citronella Training Collar
Features
Many dog owners put off investing in a training collar for their pups because they are unsure how they will respond to a given form of correction like citronella spray. WWVVPET overcomes these objections by producing a collar that offers a choice of correction methods.
When you’re training Fido not to bark inappropriately, choose from these correction methods:
- Citronella spray
- Audible alert
- Vibrating alert
You may need to experiment before finding which form of correction most effectively inhibits your pup from barking when he shouldn’t.
This collar is not suitable for pet parents looking for an always-on collar that can be used when they are away from home. The remote-controlled nature of this collar, though, makes it the perfect hands-on training tool. Just remember to throw in plenty of love, treats, and positive reinforcement when training your pup and you should see almost immediate benefits.
The multipurpose collar is highly adjustable and fits most dogs weighing 8 pounds and above.
You’ll get a can of citronella spray included as well as integrated and rechargeable lithium-ion batteries. In just 2 hours you could return 2 weeks of use.
This is one of the most versatile citronella spray training collars out there, and it also costs far less than you might imagine.
3. YOLLIT Citronella Bark Collar
Features
YOLLIT might not be the first brand that springs to mind when you’re shopping for pet accessories, but this citronella spray training collar is well worth popping on your shortlist.
The first thing to bear in mind is that you get no refills bundled with this collar. That said, you’ll need to factor in the ongoing expense of spray refills when you’re determining which training collar to buy, so source some affordable refills and make sure you can get hold of them easily before committing to purchase.
As long as your dog is 6 months or older and weighs at least 8 pounds, you should find that you can adjust this collar so it fits him snugly. The collar is not recommended for aggressive dogs.
If you have a dog with long hair, you should trim away his neck hair so that the collar works properly, and the sensor doesn’t get blocked.
As an added bonus, if you’re not completely satisfied with this training collar, you can return it for a no-quibbles return or replacement. You really can’t ask for much more at this price point – except, perhaps, a refill!
4. ulpeak Citronella Spray Collar
Features
ulpeak is another manufacturer offering a cheap and no-nonsense citronella spray training collar that comes without any spray refills. As long as you don’t mind digging deeper for these, what can you expect from this device?
Well, most dogs loathe the citrus scent of citronella sprays. Beyond this, they typically recoil when their snouts are wetted unexpectedly. This training collars capitalizes on this by recognizing when your pup is barking too much and spraying his snout with citronella. As long as you supplement this form of training with plenty of encouragement, hugs, and treats, there’s no reason why you can’t stop your dog from barking inappropriately without resorting to static shock correction.
The collar runs on rechargeable batteries. In just 2 hours, you’ll give these batteries a full burst of charge and you could get days of use, depending on how much your dog needs correcting.
As with all citronella spray collars, you’ll need to find a cost-effective supply of citronella spray refills. You’ll get hundreds of metered doses from each spray can, so this is an affordable method of training your dog not to bark when he shouldn’t. whether or not it’s effective will depend entirely on your dog, but it’s well worth giving this humane collar a try.
5. Downtown Pet Supply Citronella Collar
Features
Next in line is this citronella spray collar from Downtown Pet Supply, one of the most reputable brands in a crowded field. Not only does this manufacturer have a deep bench of pet products, but they are also surprisingly affordable. What do you get for your money here, then?
The first thing we like is the refill spray included with purchase. As you can see from the other collars we review above and below, many do not come with any citronella spray in the package.
This is a completely humane approach to discouraging your dog from barking too much. You won’t need to worry about hurting your pup with static shock correction, and you should find that the smell of citronella stops him from exhibiting destructive behaviors like excessive barking.
Suitable for just about any breed, this bright yellow color will introduce a splash of fun into training. Just make certain that you also incorporate hugs and treats, rewarding your dog for positive behaviors as a central component of training.
You will get a single can of citronella spray included, allowing you to get going right out the box. Be sure to pack plenty of patience when you’re training your dog and use training as an opportunity to bond with your furball.
6. Connete Auto Citronella Spray for Dogs
Features
As we pass the midway point of our citronella spray collar reviews, we have another great example from the Connete stable.
This is an always-on collar suitable for discouraging excessive barking in your absence. rather than a remote-controlled training collar you can use when you’re working with your dog to stop him from barking humanely.
Pop the collar onto dogs of most shapes and sizes and adjust it easily to get a snug fit.
When the collar detects that your dog is barking excessively, a short, metered dose of citronella spray will douse his snout. This should be enough to stop him in his tracks and discourage him from continuing with this destructive behavior.
If the first attempts with the collar prove ineffective, you can increase the intensity. You need to accept that there is no guarantee when you use any kind of training collar on your dog. If you have reason to believe that citronella spray might not be enough to dissuade your pooch from barking too much, you could consider one of the multipurpose collars we highlight above.
7. PetSafe Remote Pet Spray Trainer
Features
Next up is another offering from the PetSafe stable, so how does this citronella spray collar differentiate itself from the opposition?
Well, the first selling point of this collar is its suitability for training sensitive dogs. If you have a dog like this, the last thing you want is to use a static shock no-bark collar. You may even find that a collar emitting a vibrating alert spooks a sensitive dog. With citronella spray collars, though, your dog should find the smell unappealing and uninviting, but he won’t be hurt in any way.
When you’re training a sensitive dog, it is more important than ever to incorporate plenty of positive reinforcement into your training.
Both the remote control and the collar of this unit are waterproof, ideal if you take your dog outside when it rains, or you walk him near the water, and he can’t stop himself from jumping in.
You will get a pair of spray refills included, something we can’t say for all the citronella collars we review today. PetSafe throws in a citronella spray and an unscented spray, allowing you to work out which ones is most effective at stopping your dog from barking too much.
8. PetSafe Elite Spray for Little Dogs
Features
As we near the end of our showcase of citronella spray training collars, we have yet another example from PetSafe.
This collar is specifically designed with the needs of smaller dogs in mind. As with all collars from this brand, the highly adjustable nature is suitable for almost all dogs. You should make sure that your pup is aged at least 6 months, weighs at least 8 pounds, and has a neck with a circumference no greater than 22 inches. If you can tick all these boxes, the PetSafe collar should fit Fido snugly without weighing him down or making him feel uncomfortable.
You will benefit from a single citronella spray refill with this purchase. When you’re calculating your ongoing running costs, allow for each spray can delivering 300 or more sprays of citronella.
If your dog cannot tolerate citronella for any reason, you could use unscented PetSafe spray refills. Most dogs dislike their snouts being wetted, so this may be enough to stop him from barking around the clock.
As a final kicker, if you run into any problems, PetSafe has a highly responsive customer service team based in the United States.
9. WWVVPET Remote Citronella Spray
Features
Another entry from WWVVPET before we round out today with this citronella spray training collars suitable for almost all dogs. As long as your pooch is at least 6 months old and weighs 8 pounds or more, you should find that the collar fits neatly around his neck without burdening him.
You should note that this spray collar comes without any spray refills thrown in. Make sure that you account for this and purchase some refills so you can get going upon unboxing.
This collar and remote allows you to correct aberrant behavior in your dog from distances of up to 500 feet. Whether you’re training Rover in the backyard or you’re out at the park, this collar allows you to correct excessive barking and other negative behaviors humanely and without needing to use static shock correction.
You can choose from two different methods of correction when you’re working with your furball to eliminate poor behaviors like barking excessively. If the citronella spray is not enough to stop your dog, you can try introducing a vibrating alert. Make sure to praise your pup when he behaves well and you should find training soon yields dividends.
10. Connete Citronella Spray Collar for Large Dogs
Features
Before we finish up our roundup of the best citronella bark collars, we have time for a model designed with the needs of bigger breeds in mind. How does this collar from Connete stand and fall, then?
Firstly, you can use this collar to stop larger dogs from barking without needing to rely on methods like static shock correction that many pet owners consider inhumane. Regardless of your pup’s size and stature, he is unlikely to appreciate his snout being sprayed with citronella.
This collar comes with a single citronella spray can bundled, giving you hundreds of metered sprays before you need to invest in a refill. These are readily available from the manufacturer at reasonable cost.
Perhaps the main advantage of this collar is the choice it provides when it comes to correction. Not all dogs respond favorably to all types of correction, so this multipurpose model presents less of a risk than a collar that only delivers sprays of citronella.
An audible beep and a vibrating alert may come in handy if you have a bigger dog at home and he proves resistant to the citronella spray.
11. POIIOPY Dog Training Collar
Features
Last but not least is this nifty spray training collar from POIIOPY that provides you with a completely humane way of training your dog not to bark too much.
Rather than an always-on collar intended to train your dog in your absence, this remote-controlled model lets you take a more hands-on role in training.
Choose from the following methods of correction:
- Citronella spray
- Audible alert
- Vibrating alert
As long as your dog has a neck size of no more than 27 inches and weighs at least 8 pounds, you should have no problems getting the collar to fit snugly in place.
Overall, this is one of the most versatile and effective citronella bark collars out there, but does it make the right choice for your dog?
FAQs
1) How can I most effectively use a citronella bark collar?
Just like with any other method dog training, consistency is key when you’re trying to discourage your dog from excessive barking by using a citronella spray collar. This is especially important for those looking to train Fido using a manual spray collar. Unless your dog associates barking with the spray, the method is unlikely to be successful long-term.
Note that many citronella bark collars will discharge a metered dose of spray each time you activate them. As such, you should always switch on the collar before you fit it to your furball. As you do this, make sure to turn the collar away from your face to avoid an unpleasant burst of lemongrass in the eyes. You should not force your dog to wear training collars for long unbroken periods, even when the collar involves a humane method of correction like citronella spray. You should look to use one of these collars only during dedicated times – when you are away at work, for instance, or when the kids return home from school and trigger a potential barking frenzy in your furry friends. Barking is a normal and healthy canine behavior, so you should not be looking to stop your dog from barking, but rather to encourage them not to bark inappropriately.
2) How effective is a citronella spray bark collar?
There are many variables that impact the effectiveness of a training collar, including:
- Breed
- Age
- Temperament
Dogs that are highly driven by smell, for example, will normally stop barking when they are distracted by the intense scent of citronella around their head, as well as the feeling of the mist on their snout. If you have a stubborn dog or a working breed, you may find that they respond more favorably to static shock correction. Only you can decide whether or not you feel that method of correction is humane or acceptable. The static shocks delivered are roughly comparable to those humans experience from time to time after touching a metal object after walking on carpeted surfaces. In some rare cases, dogs may enjoy the smell and the taste of the citronella spray. They may even start barking in an effort to trigger repeated sprays. You will only find out how effective the collar is when you start putting it into practice. Always use treats, praise, and encouragement when you’re trying to correct any aberrant behavior in dogs. As long as you are patient and empathetic, you should find you can train most breeds not to bark excessively, and that many will respond positively to training with a citronella bark collar.
3) Is it possible to use generic citronella spray refills with my dog’s training collar?
No, this is inadvisable. You will find that using spray refills not recommended by the manufacturer will invalidate the warranty and may introduce reliability issues. Stick with the refills offered by the manufacturer.
Conclusion
We very much hope that today’s guide to the best citronella bark collars has shown you that there are humane alternatives to training collars that use static shock correction.
While there is no guarantee that a citronella spray collar will stop your dog from barking excessively, the same applies to any method of correction and training. Overall, though, dogs don’t like the smell of this stuff and will likely do anything to avoid their snouts being wetted with the citrus scent.