2009 Dog Training Collar Buyer's Guide

Overwhelmed by choices? Jump over to my Dog Training Collar "Quick Picks" which will help you quickly decide which electronic dog collar you need based on price and range. Thanks! -- Steve Snell

	Read Steve's Quick Picks for Dog Training Collars Don't have a lot of time? Just look at these quick picks!
	Our Best Selling Remote Dog Training Collars Let the wisdom of crowds help you pick a collar. Collars are grouped by short, medium, long, and extra-long range and then ranked by number of units sold for 2008.
	What do you want to do with your dog? Correct your dog's basic behavior problems or teach your dog basic obedience commands.
	How much should you spend on a dog training collar? Price matters! There are several nice dog training collars priced under $200. You can get a great training collar for under $250, the SportDOG SD-1800, and you can get the collar I use for under $290.
	How much range do you need in a remote training collar? Short range collars may work on pets in the back yard, but not for working a dog off-leash. Most folks can get by with a medium range, 1/2 mile collar. Big running pointing dog? Stop chasing of unwanted game? You need a long range, 1-mile system. REMEMBER: Too much range will never hurt, but too little range can be a BIG problem.
	What training do I need to use a dog training collar? We recommend that you get some instruction whether from reading a training book, watching a video, or working with a professional dog trainer.
	What are the differences in types of stimulation? Most folks use Continuous Stimulation for training while Momentary Stimulation can be used to correct known commands with trained dogs.
	What about tone or vibration modes? Many of the collars that we sell have a non-stimulation communication mode which can be used to give the dog a warning, give the dog praise, or for issuing silent commands.
	What are the differences in transmitter controls? More than you ever wanted to know about transmitter controls: dials, rheostats, buttons, LCD screens, toggle switches and dog selector dials...
	What about collar fit and probe length? Dogs with short coats (English pointers, GSP, brittanys, beagles, hounds) use short probes, while dogs with longer, thicker coats (labs, goldens and Chessies) may need the longer probes.
	What are the differences in transmitters (remotes)? We sell remote collars with really small, keychain-sized transmitters (Innotek FS-25A) up to the largest on the market (SportDOG SD-2500). See what's right for you.
	What are the differences in stimulation levels between manufacturers? Most of the stimulation levels on these products tend to be similar, but the manufacturers do not number them the same. A level 3 on a Tri-Tronics is not the same as a level 3 on an Innotek, DT Systems, Dogtra or SportDOG collar.
	What kind of batteries are best for you? Compare dog training collar systems powered by rechargeable batteries for both transmitter/remote & collar/receiver to systems powered by a rechargeable collar/receiver battery with a replaceable transmitter/remote battery, usually a 9-volt.
	All About Multi-Dog Units (What if you have more than one dog?) Control multiple dogs from one transmitter! Toggle switches (or separate buttons) let you pick the dog to correct. Nowadays many systems are expandable, too, so you can add collars as you add dogs or your training needs change.
	What if you want a beeper collar and a remote trainer? Browse a number of collars designed for specific kinds of dogs and certain hunting applications.
	Where are these collars made? Tri-Tronics & Unleashed Technology are made in the USA. Dogtra and DT Systems collars are made in South Korea. SportDOG, Petsafe and Innotek collars are made in China.
	What if I don't like the dog training collar I ordered? Don't like it? Send it back! All of the remote dog training collars that we sell come with a 30 Day No Risk Money Back Guarantee.
	What kind of warranty do they have? Every dog training collar we sell comes with a 30 day money back guarantee, but after 30 days the manufacturer's warranty kicks in. Comparing warranties from one company to another is tricky, but here goes
	Customer Questions about Remote Dog Training Collars Generally, what you are doing with your dog determines if you really need a remote training collar or not. I feel that if you can't train a dog without an ecollar then you can't train a dog with one. It's just a tool. It's like saying "I can't believe they use nail guns now to build houses. This hammer does the job just fine."
	Will a cheap dog training collar do the job? All of the dog training collars we sell are good collars from manufacturers who stand behind their products: Tritronics, Innotek, Sport DOG, DT Systems, Dogtra, and Unleashed Technology.