Five Tips to Prolong the Life of Your Bark Collar

As with any gadget, there are ways to use and maintain the bark collar that will give you more life out of your purchase. Environment, frequency of use and care all contribute to the longevity of the bark collar.

Here are five useful tips to prolong the life of your bark collar:

Regularly inspect the bark collar and clean off debris.

Things like dirt and sand all contribute to microscopic scratches that can erode material barriers over time. To minimise their effect, regularly wipe every nook and cranny of the collar and belt. Be especially mindful after trips to the garden, dog park or beach when these particles are certainly present. Better yet, ask yourself if having the bark collar on your dog is necessary in these areas when they are just short trips rather than the more essential use during 9 to 5 when you're not at home.

Take extra care of the battery.

Most collars are now powered by internal lithium ion batteries. They are rechargeable by plugging it in with a USB cable to your phone charger or PC. Avoid leaving it plugged on full charge for too long. One or two hour charges are better than overnight charging. Similarly, don't leave it drained of power for too long. The same advice is given to mobile phone users to prolong the life of the battery. And if you decide to stop using the collar but still keep it handy, then it's important to remember that the battery of the collar will still need maintenance as the next section explains.

Collars not frequently being used still need maintenance.

If you feel the collar has already served its purpose but want to keep it handy in case the need for it arises again, make sure the battery is fully charged and the collar and belt wiped clean prior to storage. At least monthly, turn it on and charge to full if the battery has reduced or completely drained. This prolongs the memory of the lithium ion battery so to speak. If your collar uses an external battery, remove the battery prior to storing the collar to avoid battery leaks that will certainly destroy the bark collar. Place the battery in the original box or another cardboard box to protect it from humidity. 

Even collars labelled waterproof have limitations.

The common mistake we see in using bark collars on water-loving dogs is not ensuring the charging ports are properly sealed before the dog enters water. Even if you have inspected it prior to starting the road trip, for example, it helps to inspect the collar again before the dog enters the water. It is important to note that bark collars really have no place when your intention is to soak in the pool for some playtime with your dog. Barking in this scenario is encouraged by play and is best addressed using other methods. Another important fact about some "waterproof" bark collars- they turn not to be not meant for prolonged submersion. You know those dogs that look like Macaques soaking in their rock spas? They're not for those scenarios really. Most importantly, as this applies to the majority of Australians, our coastal climate has a not insignificant amount of salt that can cause certain parts of the collar to erode overtime, which eventually affects the waterproofing ability. That's why it's best to avoid using bark collars at the beach, or to ensure they are wiped well with a damp cloth after submerging in sea water and perhaps even applying rust proofing oil/lubricant on screws and hinges. 

Address the underlying causes of excessive barking to reduce need for the bark collar.

This is not simply a "use it less so it will last longer" piece of advice. The reality is- bark collars should be considered secondary to consistent positive reinforcement at home. In households, it's important for every member of the family to provide the same consistency in behaviour reinforcement, such as the ways good behaviours are rewarded and undesirable behaviours are deterred. It is unfair to expect a bark collar to be telling the dog stop barking when the triggers that set them off are not reduced or eliminated entirely. These triggers could very well be a result of mental health issues and medication and alternative therapies may be therefore be required.

We hope these tips help you get the most life out of your bark collar. Remember, bark collars are only secondary to practicing positive reinforcement and setting up their environment for success.