The Uses and Features of Electronic Dog Collars

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

Dogs that bark relentlessly can be a source of ear-splitting annoyance for an owner.  These collars effectively curb out-of-control barking by emitting a small electrostatic charge to the dog’s neck at the area of his vocal cords, within a safe tolerance of the dog, of course.  There are many different models of bark collar, but they all work similarly.  First, the collar gives a warning beep, then it vibrates, and then emits the charge.  Dogs quickly learn to stop barking when they hear that beep, before they get zapped.  Some models will emit a correction when the dog whines, before the behavior escalates to barking.  Trainers can control the features of the collar by adjusting the intensity and duration time of the correction. 

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

If you have a working dog or a hunting dog, you are looking for a collar that is effective in training them for hunting and working.  One of the most popular and most effective training collars are designed to be used with working dogs.  Trainers use a hand held transmitter to “warm” their dogs through use of vibrations or beeps when they are engaging is inappropriate behavior.  These warning beeps will help you train your dog to be helpful to you in hunting.  Field Training collar are designed to have a longer range then others, because they will be used for training your dog to behave while hunting, retrieving or herding.  This is an effective method of training your work dog, and allows you to do so without being weighed down by a leash.   These collar are not only extremely durable, but specially designed to be water and weather proof making them a very valuable training tool.

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 Field Trainer and the SportDOG 2400. Look into them and see which one is best for you