Bark Control - Support

Having trouble with this product? Let us help! Our Customer Care team would be happy to help you solve any issues or answer any questions you have. We're committed to finding the right barking solution for you and your dog.

If all of your dogs bark, an ultrasonic device can be heard by all dogs and will deter barking for all of them. If some of your dogs bark and others don’t, a collar with spray stimulation, static stimulation, or vibration stimulation will only correct the problem barkers. 

Yes, it is possible. The bark control collar effectively and humanely stops most barking when it is worn by a dog. It should only be worn whenever you don't want your dog to bark. Your dog's reaction to the collar in terms of their barking will depend on your usage of the collar and the temperament of your dog. A bark collar helps you communicate to your dog when it is okay to bark and when it is not. Some dogs will become trained quickly and will not need the collar long term. Other dogs associate not barking with the collar and will only control their barking when they have the collar on. For best results, use the collar when you do not want your dog to bark at all and remove it during times when barking is appropriate or wanted.

Only PetSafe® bark control collars with our patented Perfect Bark™ dual detection technology will not be set off by another dog's bark. These collars hear and feel the bark of the dog wearing the collar so that it is only activated by the bark from the dog wearing the collar. The unit contains a microphone that hears the bark and vibration detection that feels the vocal cords when the bark is made. If the collar doesn't experience both of these sensations at the same time, the collar won't issue a stimulation. So multiple dogs can each wear bark collars and you don't have to worry about your dog getting corrected unnecessarily. Available on selected products.

The bark control collar effectively and humanely stops most barking when it is worn by a dog. It should only be worn whenever you don't want your dog to bark. Your dog's reaction to the collar in terms of their barking will depend on your usage of the collar and the temperament of your dog. A bark collar helps you communicate to your dog when it is okay to bark and when it is not. Some dogs will be trained quickly and as a result may not need to wear the collar long term. Other dogs associate not barking with the collar and will only control their barking when they have the collar on.

• Make sure the collar is turned on.
• Check batteries or check battery charge of collar
• Ensure proper collar fit. Place the receiver on dog's neck close to the ears. Fit should be snug, allowing 1 finger to fit between the end of the contact point and the dog's neck.
• Make sure the collar is set to the right stimulation level or mode.
• Increase the stimulation level if the collar can be manually set.
• Your dog may have become used to the stimulation. Stop using the collar for a few weeks.
• If your dog is not responding but the collar is working, repeat training. Some dogs benefit from an occasional reminder lesson. Make sure your dog understands what is expected from him.
• Try a collar with a different stimulation type or a higher range of stimulation.
• If you have a very small dog (Chihuahua, Yorkshire terrier, teacup breed, etc.), sometimes the collar will not pick up the bark. Tiny dogs often have high-pitched barks that are mostly formed in the mouth instead of by the vocal cords. It can be difficult for a bark collar to detect this kind of bark.

For collars with static stimulation:

• Check the stimulation on the collar with the test light tool.
• Make sure the contact probes are making skin contact. This is where the static stimulation is delivered.
• Trim your dog's fur where the contact points touch the neck. Do not shave your dog’s fur.
• Purchase long contact points or use the ones included with your system if applicable.

For collars with spray stimulation:

• Make sure there is enough spray in the collar.

• Make sure you’ve pressed the on/off button firmly for a few seconds.
• Ensure that the battery is good and is properly installed. Replace the battery if necessary.
• Ensure proper collar fit. Allow 1 finger to slide under strap at back of dog's neck and unit fit snugly against the middle of the dog's throat.
• If the collar is still not activating, your collar may have a more complex issue. Please contact our Customer Care Centre.

Press the power button firmly for a few seconds.

• Be sure that the collar is correctly charged and/or has batteries with enough charge.
• Remove the collar from your dog. Remove the battery from the collar. Try to get the collar to give a stimulation by moving the collar’s contact points or receiver across a rough surface. You might need to make a sound near the collar while rubbing it on the surface. You should see a light come on; this means the collar is activating. Replace the battery and retry the system. If no light comes on during testing or the collar still won’t work, contact our Customer Care Centre.

It can be very concerning to find a lost pet and most of us want to find the owner as quickly as possible. Unfortunately, at this time, there is not a way to match the collar with the owner. Please contact your local authorities to understand what services are available in your area to help locate the owner.

• Remove the battery.
• Gentlly wipe off the contact points with a dry cloth.
• Make sure any screws are tight and intact.
• Repeat once a week for easy maintenance.

Never leave the receiver collar on your pet for more than 12 consecutive hours and remove the receiver collar from your pet when indoors for your pet’s comfort. Millions of pets are comfortable while they wear stainless steel contacts. Here are some important steps for the health and comfort of your pet:

• Proper fit of the collar is important. A collar worn for too long or made too tight on the pet’s neck may cause skin damage. Ranging from redness to pressure ulcers; this condition is commonly known as bed sores.
• When possible reposition the collar on the pet’s neck every few hours.
• Check the fit to prevent excessive pressure.
• Always follow the instructions in your product operating guide.
• Never connect a lead to the electronic collar; it will cause excessive pressure on the contact points within the collar.
• Wash the dog’s neck area and the contacts of the collar weekly with a damp cloth.
• You may need to trim your pet's hair in the area of the contact points for your system to function properly. However, never shave the dog’s neck; this may lead to a rash or infection.
• Some pets have sensitivity to the contact points in the collar, a condition similar to bed sores in humans. You may find after some time that your pet is very tolerant of the collar. If so, you may relax some of these precautions.

If a rash or sore is found on your pet:

• Discontinue use of the collar until the skin has healed.
• If the condition persists beyond 48 hours, see your veterinarian.

Yes. The bark control collar is designed to get your dog's attention and interrupt their barking pattern, not to punish him or her. It is a device that helps you communicate to your dog when it is not okay to bark. However, the initial static stimulation may startle your dog. Please read and follow the operating instructions for your collar.

No. A lead can result in putting more pressure on receiver and pulling too tightly against your pet's neck. Attach a lead to a separate, non-metallic collar, making sure the extra collar does not put pressure on the contact points.

• Rub the contact points on a rough surface.
• If the red light flashes, the correction is activating and the collar is working.
• If the collar doesn't activate, run the contact points more quickly on a rougher surface.
• If the collar is still not activating, your collar may have a more complex issue. Contact our Customer Care Centre.

No. The spray is very fine and simple creates mist in the region of the nose/muzzle. The action of gentle burst of spray interrupts a dog's barking and distracts them from the focus of their bark.

If your bark collar isn't activating or spraying when your dog barks, there may be a few contributing factors related to the actual collar. Check to see if:

• The spray collar or device is turned on.
• The battery in the unit is good and installed properly.
• The collar is fully filled with spray.
• The spray nozzle points toward your dog’s nose/muzzle.
• Your dog’s fur is blocking the spray. Trim the fur around your dog’s neck. Do not shave the fur, as this could cause irritation or excessive pressure on your dog’s neck.
• The collar fit is snug but not too tight. The collar should be high on your pet's neck near the ears and centered under your dog’s throat. You may need to tighten the collar to ensure that it is close enough to sense your dog's bark.
• Sometimes air can get trapped in the collar, which will impede the spray to make enough pressure to come out, or the air can be blocking the outlet valve. To remove trapped air, empty the collar of all spray by pressing down into the spray inlet-valve (where you would normally fill it) with a small screwdriver or old pen. Keep your face away from the spray and watch for the small black washer, as it can sometimes fall out.
• All of the spray should now come out. Continue to press until empty. It should take 5-15 seconds to release any air blocked inside.
• Give the collar a couple of taps on a hard surface to mix everything. Press again with a small screwdriver in case there is anything left.
• Refill the collar. Turn it on and test again.
• The spray has dried up. If you have not used the system for a longer period, sometimes the spray can dry in the outlet valve. To resolve this, hold the collar under warm water (max. 35-40 degrees Celsius) for a few minutes. This should make the spray fluid again. Dry thoroughly afterwards.
• If you feel that the fit of the collar is good, you've tried the steps above and the spray bark still does not spray, there may be a more complex issue with your collar. Contact our Customer Care Centre.

If the spray is leaking around fill-up valve, hold the can upright and press firmly to create a good seal while filling. Also, check to make sure the black rubber washer is still in place. If the spray is leaking from the seams of the casing of the collar, please contact our Customer Care Centre.

If your spray collar has been functioning and suddenly stopped working, check the following:

• Make sure spray device is turned on.
• Make sure that the battery is good and installed properly.
• Make sure the device is completely filled with spray.
• Make sure the device was not dropped or submerged in water.
• Make sure the device has not been chewed by your dog.
• Make sure to turn the device off when not in use.
• Check the fit of the collar on your pet. The collar should be snug and fit high around your dog’s ears and be centered under your dog's throat.

If you try each of these items and they all check out, you may have a more complex issue with your collar. Contact our Customer Care Centre for more troubleshooting help.

• Check the tightness of the receiver collar by inserting one finger between the collar and your pet’s neck. The fit should be snug but not constricting.
• Allow your pet to wear the collar for several minutes then recheck the fit. Check the fit again as your pet becomes more comfortable with the receiver collar.
• If the collar strap is too long, you can trim the collar. Mark the desired length of the receiver collar with a pen. Allow for growth if your pet is young or grows a thick winter coat. Remove the receiver collar from your pet and cut off the excess.
• If your receiver has a nylon strap, seal the edge of the cut collar by applying a flame along the frayed edge.
• If your dog has long fur, trim the fur on your pet's neck with scissors. Never shave your dog's neck.

The ultrasonic device stops your dog's barking with an unpleasant but harmless high-pitched sound. When your dog barks within range of the device, the built-in microphone detects the bark. The device emits an ultra-high frequency sound that's inaudible to most humans but encourages dogs to stop barking. Your dog will learn that he can stop the annoying sound by not barking. You can also press the button to activate the sound.

The ultrasonic bark control units work on most dogs. They may not work on deaf or hearing impaired dogs.

Just as humans living near trains or airports can become desensitised to the sound, dogs can become desensitised to the ultrasonic frequency after prolonged exposure to it. You can take steps to avoid this. Periodically turn the unit off for a few days. With free-standing units, try moving it to a new or slightly different location.

We do not recommend using these products indoors. Even though the ultrasonic sound is inaudible to humans and only emitted when the dog barks, some people have experienced discomfort after extended time with the unit activating in a smaller indoor space. The PetSafe® Indoor Bark Control is an ultrasonic product that can be used indoors.

The ultrasonic sound is not usually audible to humans.

• Adjust the range or sensitivity setting on the unit.
• Check installation, making sure unit is not up higher than 1.5 metres from the ground and not more than 7.5 – 15 metres away from the dog.
• Make sure the unit is facing the dog. The ultrasonic sound is sent out in an oval-shaped region in front of the unit, so the unit may not respond if the dog is behind it, and the dog probably will not hear it.
• Check for large obstacles located between unit and dog.
• Move unit to a different location.
• Replace the battery.
• You may also need to consult your veterinarian to ensure that your dog has no hearing issues, particularly if your dog has shown other signs of hearing loss or the dog is new to your family.