Need Help Training Your Dog? Try Shock Collars
Some believe that an electronic collar is not safe for their dogs and in fact, believe they are inhumane. Before you make that decision you should do your homework and you’ll quickly discover that they are not only effective, but they are safe and a perfectly humane tool for training your dog. One of the most important considerations is choosing the electronic collar that works best for you and for your dog. We are putting together some brief reviews that we hope will help you make a decision on which of these popular models is the best choice for you and for your dog.
Containment Systems (“Invisible Fence”)
There are two types of these perimeter-sensing collars for teaching your dog the boundaries of your yard: electric and wireless. Electric systems work with a buried line that you install to establish the perimeter of your yard. PetSafe is a good model for this application with an easy-to-use setup for both the fence and the collar receiver. PetSafe comes just about right to fit any standard-sized yard. To fit a larger area than PetSafe can handle, we recommend Innotek’s containment system.
The Innotek system has several advantages that might be right for you, including expandability up to 25 acres and the ability to use multiple collars with the same fence, so if you have more than one dog, you’re covered. Both the PetSafe and the Innotek are great system for hidden wire fencing.
If you’re interested in a wireless system, we encourage you to investigate the PetSafe model which offers an innovative technology with no wires. This unit works by placing a transmitter in the middle of the area that you’re dog will be allowed to be free in. This central transmitter allows you to set the total radius of freedom and offers not just an easy set up but has the added benefit of being portable (i.e. you can take it to others homes when you travel with your dog!).
BARK COLLARS
If you have a noisy dog, the anti-bark collar can help. One reputable and popular brand is Innotek. They are fairly priced and are technologically advanced. The anti-bark collar utilizes a set of sensors that can tell whether the bark is coming from the collared dog or a different dog. When the dog barks, it releases a static charge to allow the dog to feel that it is wrong to bark. Amazingly enough, it will also auto-adjust the intensity of the charge if the dog is barking incessantly. When the dog stops barking, the collar will return to its normal setting and stop the static charges. Waterproof and lightweight, this is great for dogs who live in all types of environments.
BEEPER COLLARS
Known as more of a safety collar than a training collar, the beeping collar is controlled by the pet owner. The owner can send a beep to the collar so that the dog can be located. A brand called Dogtra is very well designed, with its ability to beep steadily or at intervals, allowing the owner to easily find his dog. The beeping collar works to about a mile away, and there are types available to owners of multiple pets or dogs. More advanced ones have a lot more features, like trackers that tell you when your dog is pointing, which means stopped, and flushing, which means moving quickly.
DOG TRAINING COLLARS
These are popular field training devices, whether you’re fielding, hunting, or just out in the big open spaces. The collars from TriTronics are the best, offering many system options for optimum training of your dog outdoors. They boast up to a mile range for many models and stimulation levels with twenty settings. They are waterproof and lightweight with long-life batteries for maximum use per charge and longevity. There are a lot of useful accessories as well, including holsters for the transmitter, field chargers for collar and battery packs, and even dummy collars so your dog won’t learn to only respond when the collar is in use. A comparable, less expensive, and shorter-options version of this training collar is available from SportDog as well, boasting very long ranges.
Discuss your electronic training needs with your veterinarian and your trainer and make sure that you ask for their advice. A good electronic training collar is one that is suitable for your dogs individual needs.
