"How to stop my dog barking at night" Is a question we are frequently asked. Many people often suffer from interrupted sleep because their dog keeps barking through the small hours.

Obviously you don't want to keep running down the stairs and wagging your finger at your pet while you tell them to stop barking. The problem is they don't understand you and so start barking again as soon as you have got back in to bed!

In our experience, the best way to stop a dog barking at night is to use a bark control collar. There are lots of different anti-bark collars around, such as citronella sprays, ultrasonic units but we have found the most successful collars at stopping a dog's bark are the static shock bark control collars.

They are so good they often stop excessive barking within a few days, or nights, of wearing it. You put the collar on your dog when you go to bed and take it off in the morning; it's as simple as that. By the way, beware of cheap collars. The market is being flooded by these imports which are very poorly made and not very reliable at stopping a dogbarking. Plus, if it doesn't work you often have difficulty getting an exchange or a refund.

The cheaper models are also known to have a hair trigger so any external noise or when another dog barks, can set it off and so punishing your dog unjustly and confusing him.

An alternative to a bark control collar is a bark free ultrasonic unit. These would sit on a table or be fixed to a wall so when a dog barked, the unit would detect it with its in-built microphone and then emit an ultrasonic sound which pets do not like. It is not as good as a static shock collar at stopping a dog's bark but they do work for many breeds. We have had some breeders tell us that it is not that good for stubborn dogs but seems to work well for many other dogs. Plus it won't work if your dog is hard of hearing.

Again the main problem with this type of unit is that a loud noise or another's dog bark can set it off and so punishing your pet undeservedly. The upside is that some have a manual button which you can use to stop other unwanted behaviours, like digging a hole in the garden or tugging on the lead.

Remember when considering any anti-bark device, it is always a good idea to go for a well known brand from a reputable seller. You tend to get better instructions, tips and advice and should anything go wrong you get good service and support.

So now you know what to do, instead of getting stressed out wondering "How-to stop my dog barking at night", you can enjoy a quiet and peaceful night's sleep.