I've been debating between a TriTronics e-collar and a Dogtra 1202 (I figure might as well get the 2 dog model now since I'll eventually need it for my new pup when shes old enough and can use it as a dummy collar till then). Dogtra's 1202NCP has a "vibration" option for an extra $50. Is this option worth it for minor distractions as a "reminder" or is this a waste of $50? My Innotek collar had a beeping function that beeped with no stim and no vibration that was the most useless feature ever to me, but maybe a vibration on his neck will snap him out of minor disobedience?

So yeah, is it worth $499 instead of $449 to have the vibe?

Is there any reason I might consider a TriTronics collar over the Dogtra? Has anyone used the Dogtra "24 hour contact pad" that isn't listed on their site but can be ordered by calling them? Rumor has it that the contact pads make the fur-penetration problems go away, here's a pic of it if you've never seen one before:

24 Hour Contact Pad

The ability to use the contact pad is kinda swaying me over to the Dogtra's, but I do like the small size of the TriTronics collars. I like the TriTronics Field 90 too - but that's $540 instead of $449 (or $499 with the pager), has no vibe pager option that I am aware of, and can't use the 24 hour contact pad if I were to still have fur penetration problems.

Mike, I can not tell you if the vibrating would be worth the extra $50.00 but I just purchased the Dogtra from Ed without the extra feature and I wish now I had gotten it. With the amount of money we spend on our dogs what is an extra $50.00...

I have a question for anyone about the e-collar. Has anyone had to shave a portion of the hair from their dogs neck to make contact with the collar? My dogs fur is so thick I have not been able to get it to make contact. I have checked the collar and believe me it works, I have it tight on his neck and have tried to move it around to get through the fur but either it isn't getting through or he is totally ignoring it.

I had to order fur-penetrating tips from Innotek for my ADV-300 collar, the tips were very pointy to dig thru all the undercoat, and just strapping it on didn't work, I had to put the collar on about 10 minutes before wanting to use it, so my dog could shake himself out n let the probes settle into his neck properly. I've heard the 24 hour contact pad for dogtra collars that I mentioned above solves this problem for dogtra collars. I've also been told to buy thinning sheers if I can't get it to make proper contact.

i bought the dogtra 2000 ncp.... i love the vibration feture as both my female gsd's are soft and the vibration is enough of a correction for them to know i can reach you from here.....
before i bought my e collar i kept asking questions about them at the dog club i go to... the master trainer kept telling me you dont need a e collar... so i went and bought one anyway ... i was having trouble re-training my 7 yr old gsd to go from hand signals to just voice commands for her BH test this past october... and i can say i tried all the conventional methods of retraining her first (of course with the help of the master trainer)

i can not say enough how much the vibration feture helped her to relearn voice only commands....if i would have used the nick or cont... she would have definatly broken down as she is that soft of a dog... but with the vibration she almost seemed happy to clearly understand what the commands were....
vibration to me was worth every penny......and at 7 yrs old she passed her BH with 94 points......

OK! Vibration it is then <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> Congratulations on your dogs BH!

not to hijack but has anyone used the E-Collars tone to be the Come Command. I was thinking that would be beneficial if the dog/dogs are off playing in the distance and you wanted them to return to you. Just tone the dogs and they would know tone = come. Instead of shouting come

Mike - I just purchased a new Dogtra 1200 NCP from Ebay (only one dog unit) - still in box - for about $290...a heck of a lot cheaper than where I've seen them otherwise. I'm not a huge ebay user, but for that kind of price difference, I was for this unit! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> I was having the same sort of problem with my 15 month GSD...I knew the previous collar worked, but it was incosistently contacting her skin bc of her fur...I purchased the extra 1" contact points just in case with my new Dogtra collar...but I have trimmed her neck hair before with the previous collar and found it still wasn't the solution to the problem.

On another note...anyone have any bad experiences with these collars in saltwater? I know they need to be rinsed thoroughly, but is there a special cleaning agent/detergent that would help resist corrosion?

Thanks.

I'd be very interested in hearing anyone's experience with the "contact pad." This is the first I've ever heard of it, but if it solves the problem of making contact with dogs of the thicker fur variety...it could be worth a good look.

Yes, I have used the Tritronics model with the tone. It works great for "come". I used a long line, to train my dogs, and whenever they hear that beep, they come running. If you are a bird hunter, and you use dogs, that is the only way to go. I have very soft tempermented dogs, so the tone was very usefull to me. I will tell you , if you have a soft dog, you should purchase a Dogtra. The Tritronis Sport 50 model was too harsh for my Aussie. He would just cry if I had to correct him using the lowest setting. I then purchased the Dogtra 202 NCP model, because I could fine tune the settings. My Aussie doesn't cry anymore.

Post deleted by Ed Frawley