There are many different reasons why dogs bark, but if I'd have to sum it up with one simple sentence, I'd say – it's how they talk. Barking is indeed a form of language dogs use to alarm, greet, call for help, express anxiety and stress and more. In an ideal world, we'd all be in tune with how natural has made all creates be and there would be no need to control something natural and innately harmless. However, civilization has all of us in its strong grip and like it or not, as dog owners, we must be responsible enough to ensure that our enjoyment of having a pet isn't someone else's reason for stress and sleepless nights.
That is why using a stop barking device is a smart idea, especially if you live in an apartment where every little noise can be heard, especially at nighttime, or during more quiet hours in general. There are man people who don't like the idea of using a stop barking device since they consider it an inhumane way to deal with the problem. While it may not be the ideal thing to do as mentioned before, if you take into consideration how many times you yourself will yell at your dog when it bark excessively, it becomes apparent that the level of stress caused by using such device is significantly lower.
What furthermore fortifies my point is the fact that by trying to correct the dog's behaviour with yelling, or by simply ignoring it all you'll be doing is weakening the bond between you two, or failing to invest in correcting its behaviour. In the long run, this may turn into more frustration for both of you.
That being said, there really is no reason to consider these devices an inhumane way to solve this problem. The most common types emit a user selected level of static correction. There are also some models which begin with a warning beep only without static correction. Then, there's mode 2 which includes a warning beep plus low stimulation output.
Also, there's a common misconception that these collars may not stop emitting static correction if the dog persists and that may harm the dog. However, most collars are designed to stop if the dog's barking doesn't stop in 30 seconds. This proves the fact that your pet's well-being is a priority and there's no need to worry.
