Risks of the Citronella Collar

Although effective in barking and behavior modification, there are some risks connected with citronella collars.

Citronella collars are very effective in the prevention of excessive dog barking, but there are certain risks involved. However, the risks of a citronella collar are minimal, compared to the risks associated with electric shock collars.

Operation

The citronella collar is an electronic collar that is activated when a dog barks or when a dog goes too close to an electronic boundary line. It sprays a small burst of natural citronella on the dog when activated.

Collar fright

Some hypersensitive dogs develop "collar fright," becoming anxious when the collar is placed on them.

Allergies

In a small percentage of cases, a dog might have an allergy to citronella, causing it to break out in a rash or scratch when the collar is activated.

Danger

Since citronella collars are not breakaway, there is a risk that they will get "caught" (hung up) if a dog is going under a fence or is playing with another dog.

Treating symptoms

There is a risk that a dog owner will only treat the symptoms of a barking dog or a dog that runs away by using a citronella collar. This will prevent them from finding out the underlying cause of the bad behavior.

References

• Official Dachshund Guide: Is The Citronella Collar OK For Your Dachshund?
• The Canine Connection: Barking Training Tips