Actually, it's not a nuisance, it's a surprise, and any unpleasant surprise will do. I like using something that isn't a collar because then your dog needs to wear a collar all the time to remind it.
I also insist that people use whatever they're planning on using on themselves first -- if it's a shock collar, they have to shock themselves on the neck once with it cranked all the way up, if it's citronella they have to give themselves a whiff of it, if it's a spritz of vinegar water then spritz some of that in your face...