Just a few things to consider:
Barking is natural for dogs. It is one of the few ways they can communicate. When we block their ability to communicate, we are asking for bigger trouble.
Blocking natural behavior is also inhumane. (Would you want someone to handle your upset moments by "yellbusting" or "crykilling"?)
- Or would you prefer that those who care for you make the effort to understand why you are yelling or crying, and then help you with that?
Dog behavior issues are not due to a "lack of leadership"; they are due to underlying needs (medical, emotional, nutritional, pain, neglect, abuse, fear, anxiety, etc.) not being humanely addressed, and/or to accidental reinforcement of the behavior.
Humans are not "pack leaders" for dogs. This idea demonstrates at once anthropomorphic and egocentric thinking at its worst.
By the way, stay away from bark collars as well. From the FDA/Center for Veterinary Medicine:
Harm [from bark collars] includes “severe burns in the collar area and possible personality adjustment injuries to the dogs,”and that the shocking mechanism was “activated not only by barking but by vehicle horns, slamming doors, or any other loud noise. CVM concurred in regulatory action against the device since it was deemed to be dangerous to the health of the animal.”
And let's not forget that any forced suppression of behavior is at best a temporary bandaid. Burying a landmine won't keep it from exploding someday. On the contrary . . .
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