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What you want to do with your dog determines what dog training collar you need.
"Most folks I talk with either need a dog training collar to solve basic behavior problems or to train their dog basic obedience commands. When you ask me about how to pick the right collar for you and your dog, I always ask 'What are you trying to do with your dog?' "
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'What are you trying to do with your dog?' "
Are you just trying to solve behavior problems?
Or do you ALSO want to do some dog training?
Problem Solving Goals
GOAL: Stop your dog's problem barking
FOR BARKERS ONLY - Many folks that are looking at a remote dog training collar to solve a barking problem may actually need a no-bark collar. You can use a remote collar to stop unwanted barking, but it requires that you be present to give the dog stimulation when he barks.
Most folks would be better off to look at NO BARK DOG COLLARS first. These products are activated when the collar senses the vibration of the dog's vocal cords. They are safe, effective, and humane. They are also consistent which helps teach the dog quickly to stop barking while the collar is on.
Look at these bark collars:
GOAL: Stop your dog's problem behaviors
Does your dog not behave the way you want?
Do you have any of these problems with your dog:
- jumping up on people;
- unwanted digging;
- chasing people, cars or animals;
- destructive chewing;
- jumping on furniture;
- eating what's not allowed;
- getting into the trash or the neighbor's yard;
- not responding when called;
You can cure most of these problems with every dog training collar that we sell.
The difference in the remote training collars comes from quality of the collar, range of the transmitter, and choice of stimulation levels.
- Range: Not an issue. Short-range will do.
- Width of STIM not an issue unless you're doing training
GOAL: Solve problems -- Stop your hunting dog from running trash
Example: NotClick ' You want your dog to stop running after trash ' non game wildlife. You may just need a PROBLEM SOLVER
Range ' You need a long-range collar
Width of STIM ' not really an issue
Recommended DTC this, that, other thing.
Might want to correct 2-6 dogs at same time? Get this: DTCABC2. Might also want to do some basic gundog training? Get this: DTCXYZ.
Dog Training Goals
GOAL: Basic obedience training AND solve problems
Basic Training includes teaching commands such as "Come," "Sit," "Heel," "Down," "Stay" and "Place."
These commands are the foundation of training a dog that does what he is told when he is told, and is an enjoyable companion. Basic obedience training generally requires a training collar with a wider choice of stimulation levels that can be adjusted at the transmitter.
When you are training your dog, you need to be able to increase the stimulation in small increments until you can find the level that will get your the dog's attention, but will not cause him to vocalize or overreact. As a general rule, I prefer a collar with more continuous stimulation for training.
Example: Lucy 'You want your dog to come when called by name or 'Here,' stop doing something when you say 'No,' sit when you say 'sit'
WHERE USED: You're probably working your dog on your property or on a leash when on walks.
RANGE: short to medium
RECOMMEND DTC: Sport Basic, or XYZ or ABC
GOAL: More advanced obedience training, solve problems
Example: Active K9 ' You want your dog to obey basic obedience commands, but you also want to train your dog to do more than sit, stay, or come here, especially when there are unfamiliar people, other dogs, traffic, or wildlife present.
WHERE USED: You're very active outdoors and your dog goes everywhere you go, many times off leash. You work your dog outside your property, in the neighborhood, in public areas like parks, and/or in the woods or fields.
RANGE: If you work your dog off-leash at a minimum you need a medium range collar, and
STIM LEVELS: Depending on how sensitive your dog is, you'll need a '
GOAL: Perform advanced gun dog training AND solve problems if they arise.
Example: NotClick ' Not only do you want to be able to stop your dog from running trash, or learning 'whoa means whoa!' -- you also want your dog to be steady to wing and shot, this, that, and the other thing'
WHERE USED: You're probably hunting here:__
RANGE: long range
STIM LEVELS: depends on the dog, but you want x,y, z and for more sensitive dogs, you might need a
RECOMMEND DTC: Pro X,Y,Z
Might want to correct 2-6 dogs at same time? Get this: DTCABC2
Might want a beeper? Look at this _____
Where you train/work your dog determines/affects the range of the system you need.
... but sometimes FEATURES trump range
In some cases range may NOT be the main reason for you to pick a collar. As the price increases, so do features, and sometimes you need the advanced features (expandable, programmable modes, or vibration) only available in a high-end/long-range collar that has way more range than you would ever need. Remember, too much range is NEVER a problem
Learn all about range here in our COLLAR CONCEPTS section
Where do you work/train your dog?
Mountains, or in the Hill country, thick timber, or even urban environments. How will the terrain of the environment affect the range of your collar?
How far away can your dog possibly get before you need to apply corrective stimulation?
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- In your yard? SHORT or MEDIUM.
- Outside your yard? MEDIUM or LONG RANGE.
Way outside your yard? LONG RANGE
Other Scenarios
- I work/train multiple dogs at same time: you need a multi-dog system / expandable system.
- Buy a 1-dog system now and add collars as you need them.
- Most expandable systems let you work up to 3 dogs at a time.
- Need to control 4, 5, or 6 dogs? You must choose between 70 and TB
- I have an extremely sensitive dog: you need a DTC with an extremely wide range of stim levels like the ___
- I have an extremely hard-headed dog: you need a DTC with higher stim levels
- I train different dogs all the time
-- you need a DTC with an extremely wide range of stim levels AND higher range. I recommend the ___
There are three or four different classes of dog training collars.
Low-priced / Short-range / Some Features
Lowest price (under $160), short range (400 yards or less) because you don't need long-distance or medium distance training, and you also don't need advanced features, including more levels of control over your dog.
Medium-priced / Medium-range / Several Features
Medium price (under $240), with medium range (1/2 mile) because you want to work and train outside of your yard, and you also need advanced features, including more levels of control over your dog.
Higher-priced / Long-range / Full features
Higher-priced, longer range (1-mile) because you want to work and train anywhere you want, and you also need advanced features including the widest possible range of levels of control over your dog so you can work and train virtually any dog in virtually any situation. Long range (1-mile). Prices used to be $400+ up until 2009 when SportDOG broke the 1-mile price barrier with the $299 SD-1825.
Extra Long Range TRASHBREAKER (exception)
Hound and Beagle owners need the trashbreaker -- a 2-mile range problem solver that lets you run up to 6 dogs at a time...
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