How effective are the no bark collars.

I can't say that I've ever had to use one (we can go weeks without hearing Sally bark), but what kind of barker is he?  Does he bark just to hear himself, or is he seeing things that are triggering the barking?

I'd say it depends.  I had a complaint about my 2 labs last fall (barking when we're at work).   It worked on both of them initially, but my chronic barker (barks at a noise down the street), eventually became desensitized to it and would run it out of citronella constantly and then bark her little heart out  [:@].  We had no choice but to go with the shock collar and it seems to do fine (we tested it first and honestly, the little shock is nothing more than you'd get from the static shock on carpeting).  My other lab barked one time, the collar sprayed, she went back and laid on her bed and that was it.  She'll bark now and then, but if we think it's going to be a problem (i.e., gardeners are coming that day), we can put it on and she's fine.
 
My best suggestion is to get it from PetCo.  If you don't like it or it breaks, they've been awesome about taking it back and exchanging or refunding our money. 

I've been using the citronella collar with Loki for a few months and I think it's a great training aid. But it's not going to stop their barking. If I'm understanding you, you're looking for something to use while you're gone so he won't bark.
 
The way the citronella collar works is the dog barks, it sprays them. Most dogs don't really mind the citronella and if they're intent on barking, this is not going to shut them up. What it does is makes them pause and that gives you an opportunity to praise them being quiet. So for the collar to work, you have to be there to train them.
 
I've never used a shock collar, so I don't know how that would work while you were gone.

The way the citronella collar works is the dog barks, it sprays them. Most dogs don't really mind the citronella and if they're intent on barking, this is not going to shut them up. What it does is makes them pause and that gives you an opportunity to praise them being quiet. So for the collar to work, you have to be there to train them.

 
Actually, the citronella collars are primarily marketed as bark deterrents while you're away.  While I agree that your approach would work better, the collars were conceived as a hands-off solution.  Also, the citronella is not pleasant to the dogs. It has a very strong smell, and an acrid sensation to your dogs' highly developed scent receptors. If it were only meant as an interruption, plain water could be used instead.
 
My colleague uses one for his malti-poos, and swears by them. They still bark, but only once or twice and then they stop.  I am sure that some dogs would eventually densensitize to them, but if used infrequently, that could be minimized.  It's worth a try.  The citronella is certainly not toxic or harmful, and at worst, if you buy from Pet*mart, you can return the collar if it doesn't work.  The shock collars would probably flatten the learning curve faster for your dog, but as with all aversive methods, you just never know what effect it will have on your dog's psyche in the long run.
 
Good luck.

I have a friend with Am Staffs who swears by the citronella collars.
 
I use the static(shock). What I can tell you about them is it all depends on the dog. Markie is a fast learner. He wears his collar without it being turned on and no longer barks when outside..he is the dog who thinks being put in a dog run is beneath him and he will do his business and stand at the door and bark non stop at you until you remove him from the run
 
His mother on the other hand...she wears out her batteries turned up on the highest setting and still barks at NOTHING!!!!
 
I've used them on the Am Staffs and the Frenchies not constant and with those are excessive barkers I do use them more..some turned on and some turned off. I have not seen any adversed reaction even from Markie's mother Faith but if you look at my avitar you'll understand why...LOL!

See, what bugs me is that the punishment (citronella) doesn't go away.

I'd rather have them be shocked for 1/4 of a second, than be sprayed in the face with something that they HATE, and the smell never goes away. How does that teach them anything?

(in reply to amstaffy)
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ORIGINAL: chinook

The way the citronella collar works is the dog barks, it sprays them. Most dogs don't really mind the citronella and if they're intent on barking, this is not going to shut them up. What it does is makes them pause and that gives you an opportunity to praise them being quiet. So for the collar to work, you have to be there to train them.

Actually, the citronella collars are primarily marketed as bark deterrents while you're away.  While I agree that your approach would work better, the collars were conceived as a hands-off solution.  Also, the citronella is not pleasant to the dogs. It has a very strong smell, and an acrid sensation to your dogs' highly developed scent receptors. If it were only meant as an interruption, plain water could be used instead.

 
They may be marketed that way, but the instructions that come with the collar tell you to use it the way that I described. I'm not trying to be argumentative, just letting you know. []

I dont have collar advice, but I'd also look into determining who else's dog might be barking, or whether Xerxes is or isn't barking when you aren't there.  It would irk me to go through all the effort of collars and whatever just to continue to be incorrectly blamed.

Thanks for the info.  I am going to buy one tomorrow. 

As for why Xerxes barks:  It's because he hears or sees or smells something.  He has the nose of a scent hound, the eyes of a sighthound and the ears of a bat on .   There might be some seperation anxiety and also some boredom issues too.  I'll be investing in a treat ball and maybe some other mind game toys as well.

I do not know for a fact that he is barking when I'm away.  I do know for a fact that he is NEVER on the balcony unsupervised (he could jump over the rail without straining himself in the least.)  I also know that NO ONE has said a word to me until this official complaint and I'm quite miffed about that.  I will be working with him and the collar this weekend. 

I am also considering getting a "nanny-cam" just to see what he does all day long.  I want to see if it is really him barking "all night and all day" long.

A friend of mine used the citronella collar on her heeler and it became a game for him. He would bark on purpose, so it would spray. Weird dog.

ORIGINAL: Xerxes
I am also considering getting a "nanny-cam" just to see what he does all day long.  I want to see if it is really him barking "all night and all day" long.

 
I was just going to suggest that. I'm thinking of setting up a camera outside so I know how much my dogs bark while I'm gone. I've never had anyone complain, and hopefully won't. But if there is a problem, I'd like to know about it and also know what sets it off.
 
That's a great idea, though. Maybe it's not even him that's barking.

Firstly, the cit collars have been shown to be more effective than the shock variety.  Secondly, not all dogs are deterred - some will bark through either type collar.  Thirdly, the citronella does go away in a short time, and if the dog isn't chained to a tree or something, he can move out of the general area and won't have to continue to smell it - unless he barks, of course.
I have a friend with two Shelties (and we all know what the noisiest little dogs in the world are, don't we? []).  They are quiet with these collars on.
BTW, no one says you can't start using it on a weekend and be there to do some training. [8|]

Thirdly, the citronella does go away in a short time, and if the dog isn't chained to a tree or something, he can move out of the general area and won't have to continue to smell it

 
That's absolutely true.  I would watch my girl bark and then sort of run away, just like if someone blew smoke in your face.  This girl lives to bark and is smarter than the average dog, so it didn't take her too long to figure out that she could just move and pffffftttt, the smell went the other way [].
 

Firstly, the cit collars have been shown to be more effective than the shock variety.

I'm curious about this one, because my experience has proven the opposite.  Do you know which brands of citronella and static (shock) collars were reviewed?