Pampered Dog Blog

Electronic dog collars are a very effective way to discipline your dog.  No matter the size of your dog, they provide long-lasting training, whether it be a 2-pound Chihuahua or a 200-pound Great Dane.  Despite what some people may think, they are very humane in the way they work.

There are three basic types of electronic collars:

                Anti-Bark

Perimeter Control

                Field Training

Anti-Bark Collars

These trainers come in a variety of sizes and styles to fit the needs of your dog.  They work by sensing when your dog barks (or even whines, depending on the model) and issue a warning beep, vibrate, or a small static charge to associate the loud barking with negative results.  These collars have become highly sophisticated, knowing when it’s the dog and not another dog or another noise.  Trainers and owners can fully control the intensity and duration of the correction (within safety limits).  The core of most dog training is in immediate bad behavior interruption, which these collars provide all the time, every time.  These collars produce results very quickly, stopping the barking behavior with lasting results. 

Perimeter Control and Electronic Fencing

If you want to allow your dog some freedom in your yard, this could be the type of electronic collar that you need.  These collars are designed to work from a controller – signal emitters or even underground wiring – that allows your dog to “travel” a preset area without putting up an unsightly fence on your property.  If your dog “strays” from the perimeter that is pre-set, then he’ll get a short, static shock that will remind him he’s out-of-bounds. Returning to  an appropriate area will stop this shock.  Many dog owners find that after a dog is fully trained the dog will not likely stray out of the pre-designated area even when there is no collar or charge.  These collars also have safety features that prevent your dog from coming to any harm when you adjust the level of correction.  Not only are these collars safe for your dog, they are extremely effective in helping you keep your dog safe.

Field Training Collars

As with the anti-bark and perimeter collars, these also use an electrostatic charge.  However, it is controlled by a hand-held device that the trainer carries.  The trainer contols the correction, which could be a beep or a vibration as a warning for when the behavior is starting, and then a charge when the dog performs the unwanted behavior.  It is a huge advantage for long-distance field training and eliminates the need for long leads that can be awkward.  It is ideal for hunting, working, and herding dogs, as well as pets.  When your dog is off-lead, it is essential that he comes when called, or that he doesn’t get distracted when he should be doing his job.  When used correctly, this is a very useful tool that achieves excellent results.

New Developments

There are now ultra-sonic training collars that work the same way these other models do, but issue a high-pitched, ultra-sonic sound rather than a static charge.  This eliminates the argument about whether the collars are humane and testing shows that it can be just as effective as the other collars at deterring bad behavior and training good habits.

There are many electronic dog collars out on the market ranging from training collars to bark collars to tracking collars. Some great collars are the SportDOG Fieldtrainer 400 and the SportDOG 2500. Look into them and see which one is best for you