Nobody enjoys hearing their neighbors complaining about your dog barking. But if you own a Labradoodle, there is a pretty big chance that he is going to bark every once in a while. It’s frustrating if you’re the neighbor. It’s frustrating (and perhaps a bit embarrassing) if the Doodle is yours.
If you’ve had those thoughts, you’ve probably come to the conclusion that you might need a bark collar.
How do you know what is the best bark collar for Labradoodles? Before I go into detail on the best bark collars, let’s go straight to the answer.
The Best Bark Collars for Labradoodles
🏆 SportDOG 10R Bark Control
This is, in my opinion, the best bark collar for Labradoodles you can get.
There are numerous things that I really like about this model, and one of the best is that it comes with a rechargeable battery. I’ve previously owned other collars that had replaceable batteries, and it’s a constant nightmare, as the batteries always seem to die just when you need them the most and there’s not an open store where you can get new ones in sight.
And if you add the cost of having to purchase replaceable batteries, it doesn’t take long before it’s been costlier to get a cheaper bark collar with those batteries, than if you had purchased this model. These batteries usually last me 6 to 8 months on average.
Another feature of this bark collar that makes my best choice, is that it has three different training modes.
- Temperament mode: This mode slowly increases the level of intensity until it accomplishes to stop your dogs’ barking and then adapts to that level for when your dog barks again.
- Progressive mode: This mode increases the intensity progressively until your Labradoodle stops barking and then resets back to 1 when the barking starts again.
- User-selected mode: You choose what level of intensity the collar should operate at and it doesn’t change, no matter for how long your dog barks.
Pros:
- Double sensors to avoid any false signals.
- Rechargeable battery that lasts a very long time
- You choose between three different styles of training
- SportDOG has the best customer service in the entire dog product industry
- Waterproof at up to 25 feet
Cons:
- It is quite pricey
Garmin Delta XC
The only reason why I’m not putting this as number 1 on my list, is that this is the most expensive collar I’ve tested. But it does come with a feature that none of the other collars have: a remote.
I know that I told you to avoid remote-controlled collars, but this collar is the exception due to the fact that the bark limiting feature doesn’t depend on the remote. What that means is that you don’t have to use a signal from the remote to get your dog to stop barking. And while I’m not really interested in most features of the remote, it does make the added cost bearable.
The bark limiter in the Garmin Delta XC is actually able to distinguish your dogs’ barking from all the other noises that a dog makes, such as whimpering or growling.
If you aren’t comfortable with the “shock” feature that a lot of bark collars use, you can use this model for vibrating only. And while the “shock” in most collars is really just a static shock and not something with a large amount of voltage, vibrating is a different mode of correction that a lot of people are way more comfortable with.
As with the SportDOG collar, the Garmin will also automatically increase the intensity with every bark until your Labradoodle stops. It also has a neat feature where it counts all of the barks in a session, allowing you to track how effective it has been during the training time.
Pros:
- Allows you to switch to vibration only mode
- You can get rechargeable batteries for it
- Waterproof
- The bark odometer is a fun method to measure training effectiveness
- Can also serve as your training collar of choice out in the field
Cons:
- Even pricier than the SportDOG 10R
PetSafe Basic Bark Collar
From the most expensive collar on my list to the most affordable one. The PetSafe Basic Bark Collar is a popular bark collar for Doodle due to its ease of use. It has 6 levels of progressive static stimulation to get your dog to stop barking.
The collar can fit all the way up to a 28” neck, so it should fit just about any Labradoodle out there.
Its’ vibration detection will make sure that another dogs’ barking or any other noises won’t cause a false correction.
Pros:
- 6 Levels of progressive static correction
- Great price
- Waterproof
Cons:
- Replaceable batteries can end up costing more than rechargeable ones in the long run
- Not a lot of extra features
Dogtra YS-600
The Dogtra YS600 takes only 2 hours for full battery charge and has two modes: sound and vibrate. Its’ sleep mode allows it to conserve energy when your Doodle hasn’t barked in 30 seconds.
This collar should be your unit of choice for those Labradoodles that refuse to respond to other collars as it’s the most intense.
The YS-600 comes with 10 different levels of intensity and a lower profile than its predecessors, so you can find the perfect level of intensity for your Doodles’ temperament. It’s also completely waterproof.
Pros:
- Has a rechargeable battery that lasts for up to 7 days and can fully charge in only 2 hours
- Totally waterproof
- Vibrate and sound options
Cons:
- Short battery life
- Some user claim that the unit shocked their dog from simple quick movements
Buying Guide
I can completely understand the frustration that comes with a Labradoodle that won’t keep quiet. A long time ago, I had a Scottish Terrier that was really great at not barking—except during thunder.
When I or anybody from our family were home, that wasn’t that big of a deal, as we could Just bring him inside if a thunderstorm passed by, and he wouldn’t be able to bother anybody with his barking.
But one summer we went on a trip abroad where we had to leave our Scottie behind. We paid the teenage girl next door to take care of our dog for us. She was always very reliable, and I knew that she would follow any instructions I gave her.
For some reason, I didn’t consider leaving instructions in the case of a thunderstorm. And as fate would have it, of course, a big storm with high winds and lightning would hit our home town.
When we returned home, one of our neighbors approached us. In a kind manner, she told us that she wasn’t complaining, “but wanted to let us know” that our dog had been excessively loud thought the entire night of the storm.
So, I can easily understand the need to get a Labradoodle to stop barking. As it in some situations might even be absolutely vital to keeping the dog at all.
If you live in a neighborhood where the homes are closely located, this is especially true.
As you can see in my quick summary list above, I’ve already shown you what bark collars I would recommend.
Let me give you a brief introduction to how I judged which collars were the best and why some collars that you might know about, aren’t on the list.
Guidelines for Using & Choosing a Bark Collar on a Labradoodle
Exhaust Better Options First
Let’s begin by stating that a bark collar shouldn’t be your first choice option when it comes to teaching a Labradoodle not to bark.
There are several other ways.
Your first option should be to try to help your dog learn to control themselves first. Having that kind of self-control will be fantastic in any situation where you don’t have the collar or you for some reason can’t use it.
In fact, your dog might not even have a barking problem, to begin with.
Labradoodles need a rather large amount of exercise and your dog might just be telling you that he wants to get outside more. A regular routine of exercise and obedience training will go a long way towards getting a Labradoodle to stop barking.
If your dog won’t stop barking even after a good run and some obedience work, take a look at these tips to get your Labradoodle to stop barking.
- READ MORE: HOW DO I GET MY LABRADOODLE TO STOP BARKING
Other Dogs Shouldn’t be Able to Set Off the Collar
If you have exhausted every other possible option and your Labradoodle is still barking all night long, you should make sure the collar you get won’t be activated by other dogs.
This is a very important detail when looking for bark collars. The purpose of a bark collar is to encourage your dog to stop barking, and if your neighbor’s dog can activate your dogs’ collar by barking, your dog won’t learn a thing.
In fact, it will only confuse your dog and make the entire process literally impossible.
The Collar Shouldn’t Give Wrong Signals
This is the same principle as mentioned above. If your dog gets a vibration when he/she isn’t barking it will completely confuse them. And they won’t associate the stimulation with the barking at all. Once again that’s a risk that means it will take a lot longer for a Labradoodle to learn how to stop barking, if at all.
There are numerous things that can trigger false signals in a bark collar. As an example, I’ve already mentioned the barking of another dog. Faulty products or random background noises are some other causes of false signals.
To avoid false signals, companies have begun adding a new type of sensor that doesn’t rely on the “sound” from a barking dog, but instead, these models use the vibration given by a dogs’ throat. In this situation, you won’t have to worry about some random thing setting off your dogs’ collar.
The Collars Must Fit Perfectly
If you get a collar that is too loose, it won’t be able to register the vibrations correctly and it won’t activate when needed. But if you get a collar and set it too tight, it can seriously damage your dog.
This is why the size of the collar you get is very important. Every collar on this list will be a great fit for a full-grown Labradoodle. Don’t use bark collars on puppies!
When placing the collar on your dog, check that you are able to get two fingers between the collar and your dogs’ neck to make sure it’s not too tight.
Besides ensuring that the collar has the right length, you should also make sure that you are using the proper prongs. Great collars will arrive with at least two sets of prongs. One of those sets is for short-haired dogs (like Boxers) and the other set is for dogs with long hair such as a Labradoodle. Always make sure that you get, and use the appropriate prongs.
This is the final point regarding how you should fit a bark collar for Labradoodles. And that is that you must make sure the device is located on your dogs’ throat. If you’ve placed the collar and the sensor is searching for vibration and you have placed it backward, it will never be able to register a bark, and you will think you’ve purchased a faulty product.
Bark Collars Are Only For Specific Situations
Bark collars aren’t meant to be used constantly, so you shouldn’t leave them on your Labradoodle at all times. You should only use the collar during the period when you need to control your dogs’ barking.
For some, these situations are during the night time, and for me and my family, that’s where we want our dog to bark. Other families can have a barking problem when children are waiting for the bus outside in the morning or again in the afternoon when the bus returns to drop them off.
On my drive to work, I go past a flock of sheep, and for some reason, my dog barks at sheep. He simply can’t resist those curly temptations. Maybe sheep are his spirit animals.
But on those drives, I have to put the collar on him and then remove it when we finally get to our destination. And that is exactly the point. Equip the collar only for those situations where you’re teaching your dog not to bark and then remove it as soon as the training situation is over.
Avoid Inferior Products
With the ever-growing popularity of Amazon and a lot of Chinese products made entirely for the Amazon marketplace, I won’t bother to even consider all these ultra-cheap bark collars. I know that it can be hard to resist a $25 version of a bark collar that would normally cost $75, but that simply isn’t worth it for me.
The reason why I won’t consider them is that I don’t really trust them. “You get what you pay for” is a saying that has proven to be true far too many times for me.
When shopping for a bark collar for your Labradoodle, you want to look for a company name that has some validity to it. You can always find a customer service number for SportDOG or Garmin where it is impossible to find customer service numbers for companies called something random.
You can find collars that have +200 5-star reviews on Amazon and not a single negative review. But what’s the chance that there might be something dodgy going on with those reviews? Even the best products have something that somebody won’t be satisfied with.
We’re living in the 21stCentury where people can, and will, complain about pretty much everything. And the reason why I absolutely don’t trust the reviews from these Chinese-made-for-Amazon-products is that I have seen just how easy it is for people to manipulate the system into getting those reviews.
Avoid Remote-Controlled Collars
Remote-controlled collars can have a place and time when training your dog, but in my opinion, they shouldn’t be used to teach your Doodle not to bark.
This relates to the fact that your Labradoodle will get confused if he doesn’t get the feedback instantly from the collar whenever he barks. If you are using a remote-controlled collar, you will have to be absolutely sure that you are giving your Doodle your complete attention constantly. If you miss just a single bark, your dog will get confused, and the training will suffer a setback. If you manage to time your push of the button with the bark, but with a delayed response, that’s also a step back in the training.
With that said, allow me to give a deeper explanation of all the different collars I’ve personally tested for the last couple of months.
Conclusions on the Best Bark Collar for Labradoodles
Your choice of bark collar is totally dependent on your budget and how much flexibility you want when you attach the collar to your Labradoodle. If you’re willing to spend a rather large amount (or if you’re planning to also get a remote training collar), then the Garmin Delta will be a great choice.
My personal favorite is still the SportDOG 10R, as it has pretty much everything you could possibly want in a bark collar for Labradoodles. It’s able to automatically adjust the intensity to make sure that your dog only gets the necessary stimulus to stop the barking.
So with all the models, I’ve tried myself, I would advise you to get either the SportDOG or the Garmin.
Hopefully, these suggestions allow you to have a better relationship with your neighbors, and your family, as your Doodle eventually figures out how to avoid unnecessarily barking.
Some of My Favorite Products For Dog Owners
I hope this article has helped you just a bit in everyday life as a dog owner. Being a dog owner for more than 25 years, I’ve tried many different products with varying success, but these products below are some that I can highly recommend to every dog and their owner without hesitation!
These links are affiliate links, so if you do end up using the links, I will earn a commission. But it’s products that I use daily myself, and I have the utmost praise for.
Dog Food: Every dog needs to eat correctly, and finding the best food for your dog can be challenging, as the market is absolutely flooded with products. But since 2015 when the company was founded, I’ve been using Ollie Petfood. With their product being tailor-made to suit every dog’s specific needs, and as my dogs absolutely love the product, I’m pretty sure I’ve found a product I will continue to use for many years more. If you use my link you can get 50% off your first order.
Dog Training: If you’ve ever owned a puppy, you know that it requires a lot of training to grow into a well-behaved adult. Brain Training for Dogs has helped me immensely with the mental training part of raising a dog, and it’s something I strongly recommend you consider.
Grooming: If you have a dog in your home, you’re going to need a brush, and for this, I recommend a Hertzko Self-Cleaning Slicker Brush. For that price, you simply can’t beat this brush for everyday grooming.
If you’re looking for the most up-to-date recommendations, check out my recommended products section that I’ve created to help every dog owner!
