Training Collars - Advice Requested

[Guest]

Does anyone have any first-hand experience with the PetSafe brand of training collars? I see one in Cabelas that has a 2 mile range, multiple stimulation levels, includes momentary and continuous, has a praise tone, and is $100. What's the catch? Other brands with similar features seem to be at least twice as expensive.

[LABS4ME]

After being involved with training dogs for the last 15-20 years, I've come to the conclusion these "cheap" brands that show up usually end up being junk. Back in the 80's it was pretty much tri-tronics and radartron. The guys who tried to save money buying radartrons usually had them in the collar clinic (check there web site for used and re-conditioned collar prices) at least once a year. I don't want to get into slamming different brands here but talk to several guys who have different brands and find out if they like them and have had any problems. I personally wouldn't own anything except tri-tronics if you're a moderate to heavy user...but if it's for corrections around the house and occassional field work you may get by with a cheaper brand. My sister in law bought a cheap model last year to use around the house to correct some problems they had with their lab and the dang thing lasted less than 2 weeks. I warned them. Needless to say when they brought it back they didn't exchange it...they upgraded it. Good Luck!....Ken

[Guest]

Thanks for the reply. In my case I'm looking to correct a few obedience issues that - strangely enough - only seem to occur when the mutt feels he has sufficient distance between us to get away with it. I'm hoping to correct these over the summer and go back to "collarless" when I feel comfortable that an understanding has been reached.

[Mille Lacs Guy]

If you want the best collar get a Dogtra. These collars are really nice. I was a big tri-tronics guy before but the Dogtra is much smaller and easier to use. Cabelas sells them as do many other places.

[Bird Dog]

In my opinion you are buying a tool.If you want a buy cheap tool that you only use ocassionally and it gets the job done then buy a cheap one.But if you are going to use it alot or if its going to get some rough field abuse, you would be better off buying the higher quality one.The first collar that I purchased had exposed wires woven in and out of the collar.It lasted about a week.I returned it and purchased a reconditioned collar from the Collar clinic and I still use it today,That was about 7 years ago.
Some of the collars out there are not even servicible the electronics are sealed in epoxy.The other issue is Range of the unit,if the dog is two miles out,I doubt that the dog is even going to know why he is being zapped especially when there are conditions of strong winds or in the case of older dog whos hearing is degrading.You really have to know how to read your dog.In my opinion shock collars are great,but alot of times they are over used and not used at the proper time or for the wrong reason giving the dog a mixed message. I hope this helps

Good luck

Birddog

[This message has been edited by Bird Dog (edited 05-28-2003).]

[Guest]

Thanks guys. Biggest issue has to do with a recent development in my lab, who has decided to lift his leg on the nearest bush and then carry on his activities when the whistle is blown to come back in. This is a clear case of distance correction - because when I trot out to enforce, he will instantly become submissive, and get that typical lab "Oh, you were talking to ME??" look.