I. The Introduction
Dog owners should not immediately jump into training with the dog bark collar. It is necessary to accustom the dog to a deactivated bark collar first. This can be done by allotting a couple of days to familiarize the dog with the system. By doing this, pets and owners can avoid bark collar training problems such as the dog cowering when owners approach him with the system. Introduce the dog to the bark collar systems by completing the following.

Day 1

• Choose a small food reward (about the size of a pencil eraser) that the dog finds very desirable and that he will accept every time.
• Place the collar around the dog's neck for approximately 2 to 3 hours.
• Be sure that owners have the collar fitted in the same manner that it will be during actual training. Refer to the product specific operations manual for determining proper fit of no bark collars. After it has been on his neck a short period of time give him a food reward. Repeat this reward several times.

Day 2
Repeat day one procedure over a 5-6 hour period.

Day 3
This is the first day that the dog should receive the correction.

II. Training Proper
Not all situations call for the use of bark collars. Before placing any activated bark collars to the dog, make sure first that it fits the situation. Make sure the dog will learn easily, i.e., one with few distractions. If owners do train in a situation with distractions, the dog may not associate the correction with his barking, but with something else. For example, if when the dog first barks, he is looking at a visitor to the home, he may perceive the visitor as being the cause of the correction, instead of his barking.

The initial training situation should also be one in which owners can observe the dog's first few reactions to the bark collar systems. Do not leave the dog alone the first few times he receives a correction.

Train the dog only in this initial situation until he has learned what the consequence to barking is. Only then should owners move on to the next situation. This will help ensure that the dog understands that barking is the behavior he must avoid, no matter what his reason for barking.

III. Expectations during training
The first time the dog receives the correction he may react in a way that concerns owners. He may yelp or yip or jump slightly. Do not be alarmed by these reactions. His first reaction to the correction towards the dog bark collar will always be his most intense. Do not be alarmed by any such reaction. After the first few corrections his reaction will lessen. He will eventually just stop barking and remain calm. It is advised that owners observe the dog's reactions to the correction.

You should notice an improvement in the dog's barking within the first week of training. At this point many dog owners feel that the "problem has been solved". In some cases this may be true, but in most cases the training is still not complete. Most, if not every dog, will "test" this new learning experience, i.e., they will increase their attempts to get away with barking. This testing period usually occurs during the second week of training. When it does occur owners must remain consistent - do not alter the use of the anti bark collars.

Once the dog is trained, owners must continue to place the collar on him in every situation in which he must be quiet. He may see a new dog or a squirrel through a window for the first time and he may bark. If he is not wearing the collar he may get away with barking and his training may suffer a setback. If he is wearing any no bark collars, he will stop barking immediately and any setback will be prevented.