Training Collars?

[coyote_out]

I looked quickly to see if there was already a topic on dog training collars and didnt see one.  Anyways, i was just wondering if you guys had any recommendations? Experiences with specific brands etc.  I was looking at Sport  dog and Dogtra, hoping to stay under 200 bones (no pun intended).

[Special T]

I havethe tri tronicssport dog G# and love it. It gets used EVERY day! Mutt knows to stay in the work yard... only took him 3 zaps even with the neighbors dog trying to entice him out to play... Under 200 no but damn close.  charge lasts close to a week with every day use and i'm still on the original 9 volt for the controller.... 

[flinger]

don't really care for them
never liked the idea,   kinda like kickin your best friend:twocents:
before ya decide to use one strap it around YOUR neck and hit the button
Then decide what kind of training is best for you

[Old Dog]

Tri Tronics.  Made in the USA!

[dontgetcrabs]

don't really care for them
never liked the idea,   kinda like kickin your best friend:twocents:
before ya decide to use one strap it around YOUR neck and hit the button
Then decide what kind of training is best for you

If my dad had a collar on me as a kid, I would have been much better behaved.    

[Stilly bay]

with the tri tronics new G3 exp line up you can really customize what collar set up you would like. plus if you out grow your transmitters abilities you can buy just the new/different transmitter and pair it with your old collar and save some coinage.

[NW-GSP]

Not trying to be rude but it seems like you really do not understand how to properly use a collar.

The idea is not to crank up the power and shock your dog, you use the setting that your dog reacts to and for my dog I have it on a setting that when I use to on myself it only feels like a tickle.
I really think that when a collar is used it takes less pain for a dog then someone who walks up with a newspaper and swats a dog. besides most all collars have a button that when you press it it just makes noise on the collar so after a while you never even have to shock them you just have it make noise and they know what it means. 
I hardly ever have to use the collar on my dog while hunting but I sure will be glad I have it on him if there is a dangerous situation

don't really care for them
never liked the idea,   kinda like kickin your best friend:twocents:
before ya decide to use one strap it around YOUR neck and hit the button
Then decide what kind of training is best for you

[flinger]

Not rude at all
I just happened to volunteer to have one demonstrated on me made me want to never use one on my dogs

[gasman]

Tri Tronics gets my money.

And I have had one used on me (long story), correctly, just like I use on my dogs.

[BallisticsNut]

Tritonics as well.  I mainly used main to train my dogs by a series of beeps.  They know short two beeps, to look back for a command.  Three beeps means stop dead.  Constant tone, means get your arse back to base!  Love the long range, tried others and failed.  I can set the dogs free in the woods, out of site and call them back without worry.  Great tool when used correctly.

[Special T]

I have shocked my self several times... I used to feel as Flinger does, and never used on on my last hunting dog. I use the 1.5-2 setting, and its like licking a 9 volt batterie not bad... The new G3 do have the beeper and its awsome! When using the collar properly  and training the dog with it you have to use the shocker much less than the beeper. IMO the beep is normally enough to get his attention, and if he is really stuborn only get a little nick after he has heard the Beep and done nothing.... My dog gets to roam 2 acres of fenced yard with an open gate because of this great product. I must also say that you cannot just slap this thing on and start zapping to get results... I kinda think of training like Army bootcamp. First they get broken down and then built up. After they understand the rules they come to love the communication. 
I really like the idea of using the beeps to train... Did you use that instead of whistle training???

[BallisticsNut]

I started off with whistle training, but my wife cant whistle.  So, she didnt like the idea.  So, I tried a couple different collars but none had the distance I needed.  I routinely send my dogs into the woods to "see" what is out there sometimes they get deep and I lose them until they were ready to come back.  Finally found Tritronics online and was able to purchase one controller for and two collars.  Huge plus!  Now, I can let them run and "see" whats out there and have no worries about calling them back.  I also trained them to stop and look back for a verbal or hand signal.  Consecutive tones (usually two) gets them to stop and hold.  Continueous tone is used to get them to return.   

[shoot-em-dead]

I had the tritronics for my shorthairs and they worked great. Like said above- the shock was the least used button. I did test it on myself and had to turn up the power three times over what worked on the dogs before I could even feel anything.

[Happy Gilmore]

Not rude at all
I just happened to volunteer to have one demonstrated on me made me want to never use one on my dogs

Obviously, you never learned to use one properly. A proper correction should not get much of any reaction from the dog. Why would you put it on your neck and burn to a level of correction you would never use?

[NW-GSP]

I agree with you, I had it on my dog for a week before even using it so that he would not figure the collar out. first step was to put it on the lowest setting and watch to see if he reacts ( ears purk up ect) my dog knows the command kennel so I held down the button told him kennel and as soon as he was in the kennel I let go of the button did this once a day for a week, the whole idea is to let them control the collar as in if they do what you tell them to the collar turns off. like if you tell your dog "here" you hold down the button until the dog is at your side. when I first did this with the collar I had him on a twenty foot lead

I have shocked my self several times... I used to feel as Flinger does, and never used on on my last hunting dog. I use the 1.5-2 setting, and its like licking a 9 volt batterie not bad... The new G3 do have the beeper and its awsome! When using the collar properly  and training the dog with it you have to use the shocker much less than the beeper. IMO the beep is normally enough to get his attention, and if he is really stuborn only get a little nick after he has heard the Beep and done nothing.... My dog gets to roam 2 acres of fenced yard with an open gate because of this great product. I must also say that you cannot just slap this thing on and start zapping to get results... I kinda think of training like Army bootcamp. First they get broken down and then built up. After they understand the rules they come to love the communication. 
I really like the idea of using the beeps to train... Did you use that instead of whistle training???

[ghosthunter]

I have used a Tritronic  for 10 years . Sent in for repairs once in that time. Go on line and look at Collar Clinic You will find what ever you want. And they service them. Used models and trade in for upgrade credit if you do not like the one you buy.
The collar teaches the dog nothing. You have to teach  all the commands first. All the collar does is let the dog know you can reach him where ever he is. Any dog worth his salt will be non responsive once in a while , that's when the collar comes in. To me it is a life or death issue. If you are hunting rivers or open salt you need to call that dog off a cripple or away from danger and the dog needs to obey now or die. I almost lost my lab because she missed a bumper and got caught in current pulling towards a log jam. She wanted the retrieve and would not give it up. After that we worked on coming to whistle no matter what and the e- collar played a huge role in making her understand.
She is as happy a dog you will ever find. Sooner or later every dog figures out you cannot reach them when you give a command. That is when the collar comes into play.

[Special T]

Well said GhostHunter.

[Bluemoon]

 
Very well said Ghosthunter.   I use the collar for proofing
I only use Tri-tronics.

[freberd]

We had been using innotek loved it.  now have 3 dogs so bought innotek 2 dog remote  Hate it!  no tone and will not stay charged.  looking for a replacement  petsafe will trade our old one in for venture big dog 2 collars for $150.00.  not too impressed with reviews. 

About the shocking of your best friends.  We 99% of the time use the tone on the dogs.  Just having the collar on they seem to act better. 

Any ideas on a multi dog collar?  1000 yd and waterproof with tone.

I am tempted to just spend $150 instead of $400.  We only use it 2 weeks out of the year

[BallisticsNut]

We had been using innotek loved it.  now have 3 dogs so bought innotek 2 dog remote  Hate it!  no tone and will not stay charged.  looking for a replacement  petsafe will trade our old one in for venture big dog 2 collars for $150.00.  not too impressed with reviews. 

About the shocking of your best friends.  We 99% of the time use the tone on the dogs.  Just having the collar on they seem to act better. 

Any ideas on a multi dog collar?  1000 yd and waterproof with tone.

I am tempted to just spend $150 instead of $400.  We only use it 2 weeks out of the year

I have the tritronics sports with two collars.  The control will handle three dogs.  I have tried others but this one seemed to be the best. 
http://www.tritronics.com/content/products/comparison-chart/

[freberd]

Thanks I will check out website

[carpsniperg2]

tritronics all the way!

[Rowdy]

I had the tritronics for my shorthairs and they worked great. Like said above- the shock was the least used button. I did test it on myself and had to turn up the power three times over what worked on the dogs before I could even feel anything.

Ditto.

My dog damn near jumps out of his skin with excitement when I get the collar out. 

my dogs knows,
collar = fun!!!

Oh, I've used the collar on myself to full power.  It has 18 settings.  I use #3 on my pup and his tail keeps on wagging.  Collar conditioning is key.  Not a good idea to put one on and start hitting buttons, ease into it.

Jake

[jetjockey]

Tri Tronics gets my vote..   BTW.. My dog LOVES her collar.  There is three things that tells her we are going hunting and make her go crazy.  Getting out my shotgun, my Astro GPS case, or the Tri-Tronics case.  A dog who is introduced to e-collars the proper way will love their collars.  BTW.. It is hard for me to notice a level 1 low from my TT Pro 100.  I can usually feel a level 1, and a level 1 high is easy to feel.  It doesn't start to get your attention until I move up to the level 2 setting, and I rarely have to use a level 2 on my dog.  Between my TT and my Astro GPS, I don't know how we ever hunted without these gadgets.  I love knowing where my dog is at all times and having control over her.  Its REALLY nice when you hunt places that have lots of roads..

[Skyvalhunter]

Yea my Brit goes wild when he sees me take the shock collar off the charger. He hardly holds still enough for me to strap it on. Jetjocky how long have you had your Tritronics? I have had mine about 4 yrs but it seems like the range has dropped.

[jetjockey]

Ive had mine for 2 seasons.  I haven't had any range problems.  The Pro 100 is a 1 mile collar, so I shouldn't have any issues.  What collar do you have?

[Rhinoron247]

triton all the way.  In my household when the collars come out it means fun and my dogs go crazy and whiggle so hard you can't hardly get the collarson.  The tone is the purpose  of the collar,  its like having a walkie talkie with your dog in the feild.  My dogs rely on the training and the collars to do their job.  As for the shock feature it is a learning tool intended to place value on the tone.  I will say the shock feature has saved more than one dog for a speeding truck, porcupines and situations that make have resulted in a vet bill. 

[netcoyote]

I've used a Dogtra 2000 T&B on my English Setter since his first year in the field in 2004. I really liked the unit and found it very reliable. A couple years after I bought the collar, I thought about getting a backup unit. By then, Dogtra had changed the design of the 2000 T&B and moved the beeper from the top of the neck configuration to attached directly to the receiver box which is below the dog's throat and pointed down. This was a bad design and not an improvement as far as I was concerned. I found the old style collar on a closeout sale and bought it immediately.
My setter has worn one of the collars almost every day since I got the first back in '04. I put it on him for our daily runs in the woods and every day while in the field for hunting. Guess that speaks to Dogtra reliability.
Agree with the guys that use the shock minimally. It's a rare occassion that I resort to a shock and even then it is only a low setting and "nick" mode. I've used it to pull him away from mixing it up with coyotes and one time with a porcupine. That was worth the price of a collar alone.
He is a long range hunter which makes it difficult sometimes when hunting for grouse in thick woods. He is trained to return to me and start quartering on receiving a single beep.
All this is not to say that there are not other good collars on the market, just my experience with Dogtra.