Dog shock collars are great for training your pet but like with everything else, there are pros and cons to using them. So, pet owners must use them correctly. It is very important to know when to and when not to use the collars. For example, when you want to teach your dog the command ‘Stay’ or ‘Wait’, you wouldn’t use the collar. This is because; shocking him while teaching him to stay could have the reverse effect as he’d run to you for protection. Also, you need to buy the right kind of collar; the kind that will come in handy for disobedient, aggressive, unruly or slow-to-respond dogs. So today we will review the best dog training collars in the market as well as some important things to know before you buy one.
Things to know before you buy Dog training collars:
Dog shock collars over the years
Earlier one could buy collars with only three levels of stimulation –low, medium and high. Unfortunately, even the so called low stimulation collars still delivered a very strong shock that would hurt the pets. We do not even want to consider what the medium and strong collars did. Thankfully, modern collars and anti bark devices have come a long way. Given the research and advances in the field of microtechnology and electronics, modern dog collars come with as many as 100 stimulation levels and different delivery systems like momentary and continuous.
Shock collar side effects?
Good quality dog shock collars will not have any side effects. Having said that; you must always start with the lowest stimulation. If possible, try testing the collar on yourself first. The ‘lowest’ setting such as beeps or sounds help disrupt unwanted behavior so you can redirect your dog’s actions. This way, you have a continuous game of redirecting your pet and he won’t even know you are doing it. Never use dog shock collar as a punishment tool and never let your pet understand that it is you who is pushing the button which is causing the shock. Shock collars or training collars are of different types: choke, pinch or prong collars definitely hurt the dog and have side effects. In fact; many trainers actually disapprove of their use and believe that if you train your puppy in the early age, s/he would not need a shock collar at all.
Don’t make a big deal out of using the collar
When using a dog shock collar for training, do not show your pet the collar, its remote or even the process of putting it. In fact; try not to make a big deal out of it. The key is to get the collar out of your pet’s mind. Try treating the collar like something as normal as petting your dog- you take it on and put it off. Make it repetitious so your dog does not think twice about it. That is the key to training with collars. Keep the remote in your pocket and tilt your body away from the pet.
For serious trainers- buy one collar more than you need
Collars need to be charged and that can disrupt your training. So if you have one dog, buy two collars. This way if one runs out and needs charging you can continue using the second one.
Ensure proper fit
A collar placed too tightly or worn for too long could cause skin damage.
Buy ones that last
Cheap collars will not last and some are not weather proof. So if you are a serious trainer, buy a collar that will last long.
Follow instructions
It is important to follow instructions that come with the product or better yet consult an expert or your veterinarian before you use them.
5 Best Dog Shock Collars
You can buy dog shock collars from Amazon, Petsmart or other online retailers. Here are the top 5 collars available in the market:
Pet Trainer Beep, Shock and Vibra Electronic collar
This is a bestselling dog shock collar Amazon and has over 8000 positive reviews currently. It has 3 modes of stimulation and is water proof and long lasting. It is perfect for behavioral obedience training and can correct barking, leash training/walking etc. Pet Trainer comes with a year’s warranty and you can also extend it to 3 years with additional purchase. It has an adjustable size to fit different breeds and sizes-small, medium or large. The LCD display makes it convenient for night time training.
- You need not shock your pet-the beep and vibration mode is enough.
- Has about 100 settings and 10 is pretty strong. Use the tool on yourself first before you use it on the pet.
- Has a 300 meter range
iSPECLE Dog training collar for medium/large dogs
An advantage of this collar from iSPECLE is that you can easily charge the collar and the device simultaneously- a feature not provided in the Pet Trainer above. For the price, this is a great training collar and works well for large and giant breeds to. iSPECLE collar comes with a detailed training manual. You can switch between sound, vibrate and shock modes. The light on transmitter is also a convenient feature.
Petronics Shock Collar
This rechargeable collar is ideal for training small, medium and large dogs and comes with static light, shock, beep or vibrate modes. Use it for unwanted behavior like digging holes, or under the fence, running away, pulling on the leash etc. You can also correct the behavior of two dogs simultaneously with it. Both the collar and the transmitter are rechargeable and water proof. It can expand and fit small and large dogs. Great value for the price.
ALTMAN shock collar
Altman shock collar is waterproof and rechargeable. It is a bestselling collar under $30. The remote access provides a range of 330 yards for flexibility. 100 different levels of stimulation cover static, vibration or shock for avoiding unwanted behavior. It is well suited for furry and long haired breeds. There is a channel system to help you train two dogs as each channel controls different collar. It is an ideal dog shock collar for deaf dogs and you can even use it for dogs who run, dig or bark excessively.
REGIROCK Bark control collar
This stylish dog shock collar Amazon has multiple training modes, high quality design and intelligent detection chip. It consists of 2 prongs for vibration and shock. Regirock is ideal for small, medium and large breeds that yap continuously. It is safe due to the in-built protection mode that deactivates the collar if it is continuously activated for 7 times within a minute. It is easy to use and comes with a warranty.
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