I'm looking to buy an e-collar for Kota's animal chasing. I was out on an off leash walk easter night when I bent down to tie my shoes and Kota saw a fox. If I can catch him in time (when ears first go up and he gets puffed up) he will listen to 'leave it'. I missed the signs as I wasn't paying attention and it was too late. This night, as usual he ran for a few blocks following the fox wherever it goes across streets, etc. I have stopped yelling/shouting after him as it means nothing to him once he gets in the zone. Once he decides the animal is too fast for him he will come running back.

He is a soft-medium dog as one correction and he will mind, but will turn his ears off when excited about foxes (and deer). I have stopped the cat and squirrel chasing, but foxes are a challenge as they are so interesting to him and often poop in our yard.


I plan on using the collar for his chasing, and to proof the recall (when the foreign poop is extra smelly ) .

I also plan to get another dog in the next few years who may need an e-collar.


I would appreciate any resources, or things to consider before I make a purchase.

eta: should I buy the e-collar video now, or when I buy the collar?

Hi Jennifer,

I have had the Dogtra 280NCP for Cleo for about 6 mmonths now and love it. It's the only e-collar I've ever used, let alone owned. Nevertheless, it's probably the best $250 or so (along with DVD) I've ever spent on my dogs.

If you are going to get an e-collar, buy the Leerburg DVD right away and watch it.

Here are the pros and cons of the Dogtra, from my prospective.

Pros:

--0-127 intensity range so there's no big jump if you need to increase or decrease the stimulation.

-- easy to see LED screen

-- Long battery life

-- Good battery life indicators on collar and remote

-- Good water resistance. Cleo has jumped in our pool with it on several times and it still works.

--Good range (1/2 mile, I believe)

Cons:

--The dial setting is difficult to move precisely in 1 or 2 degree increments (or maybe I just can't move my clumsy fingers finely enough)

--If you put the remote in a pocket, the dial setting sometimes gets moved inadvertently, thereby increasing or decreasing the stim level.

-- long (14 hrs) recharge time.


The Dogtra helped me take Cleo's training to the next level.

I take Cleo (now 1 year old and 102 lbs. Presa Canario) with me everywhere (my office, Home Depot, restaurants, poker games, construction sites, coffee shops, the bank, the mall, etc.). Thanks in large part to the e-collar, the LB DVDs and the training tips I got on this forum, I just about NEVER have her on a leash. When I do take her to crowded places, I have the Dogtra on her, but never need to use it. Cleo is a medium-hard (and very sharp, for what its worth) dog. At 1 yr/old, Cleo rarely disobeys a command and NEVER disobeys a recall, even when she is full stride chasing a cat or bird.

Hope this helps. Feel free to PM me if you have any questions.

Hi Jennifer,

I have been using a Tritronics Classic 70 for the past three years - my GSD always has his e-collar on if he is off leash anywhere other than home or yard. Things I like about it are the range (supposedly up to a mile, although I have never tested it that far!), it recharges quickly, has rugged construction (it has taken all kinds of abuse), and the non-stim signal tone (which I use as a "come" command - much better than trying to shout over a distance when we are hiking in the backcountry). Unlike the Dogtra it only has 6 fixed stim levels, but I find those adequate and I like the fact that I can feel the "click" when I adjust the level and that I don't have to look at a LED screen on the transmitter when I need to be watching the dog.

Some things you might want to think about:

Do you want a non-stim pager function? Vibrate (e.g. Dogtra) or tone (e.g. Tritronics)?

Do you need continuous and nick/momentary modes?

Will you need to get an expandable unit that can be used for multiple dogs in the future? (If so, it's cheaper in the long run to make the initial investment in an expandable unit now).

How important is transmitter size? Will carrying a larger transmitter be a problem where you plan to use the collar? (One minor downside of the Tritronics for me is that the transmitter is fairly large and I sometimes get odd looks - I probably look like I'm about to blow up a building or something).

Personally, apart from basic function and reliability, I think the most important thing is that you are comfortable with the controls on the transmitter, so that you can use them accurately and with split-second timing. I like the Tritronics in this regard because it's simple and tactile enough that I don't have to look at the transmitter when I am using it. Just my preference.

There is a useful guide to choosing amongst e-collar features at http://www.gundogsupply.com/dog-training-collars-buyers-guide.html.

I agree with Eric that you should buy and watch the Leerburg video first - it's very helpful.

Wow, thanks guys. You've given me a LOT to think about to help me do my homework! I won't be buying one for a few months but you've given me some great things to think about. I will buy the leerburg video soon though.

Eric, do you take apart the unit and let it dry after swim time, or does it do it by itself. Do the prongs (metal nubs, whatever) get rusty or show signs of wear?

Sarah, you said you've had yours for 3 yrs. What do you think a realistic 'lifetime' of the unit is?

I would buy the video and watch it before purchasing the e-collar. That way if, after watching the DVD and educating yourself, you decide the e-collar is not right for you and your dog, you will only be out the price of the DVD, and you might make a more informed decision about which collar to get after watching the DVD.

I have the Dogtra 1900NCP. My dog more or less trained himself to treat the pager function like a recall, though if he goes into drive I have to stim him before he'll respond to the pager.

I would favor a model that has user replaceable batteries.

I won't spoil it by telling you what happens, but the DVD is worth the money just for the entertainment value in one particular scene

 Quote: Rich Pallechio

I would buy the video and watch it before purchasing the e-collar.

Me too.

I will buy the video first, thanks for the decisiveness (that I lack ). I've been waiting to make a leerburg order that included new toys/treats and the flinks video. But after Sunday's four block chase and freak out, praying he wouldn't get hit by a car, I decided the e-collar is top priority if I'm going to do off leash time on walks in town.

 Quote:

I won't spoil it by telling you what happens, but the DVD is worth the money just for the entertainment value in one particular scene

now I'm excited for the video...I hope it is as entertaining as Ed's edible packing peanut video

Rich, do you mean AA type batteries replaceable? Or a unit where you can buy a new battery? Do you find the battery life diminishes greatly over time?

Thanks again!!

Jennifer,

I bought a Dogtra 1700NCP. For that collar if you needed to replace the battery you had to send it back to the manufacturer. It had a rechargeable battery and after a couple of years it just wouldn't hold a charge for very long anymore. Rather than send it in to replace the battery I bought the 1900NCP which says it the battery is user replaceable. I believe it is a NiMH battery. The 1900 superseded the 1700.

Has anyone here replaced a "user replaceable battery" on a Dogtra? If so, can you explain how that went?

 Quote: Jennifer Skeldon

Sarah, you said you've had yours for 3 yrs. What do you think a realistic 'lifetime' of the unit is?

Jennifer,

The manufacturer claims the Tritronics transmitter battery will last 3-5 years. You can order new batteries for Tritronics transmitters and receivers and replace them yourself. Mine shows no sign of failing yet, although I'm not a heavy user of the unit - the collar is on the dog maybe 15-20 hours a week, and I rarely use anything other than the non-stim tone function for recall.

Whatever you get, get one w/a pager. It's all I ever use. Mine never actually get corrected w/it; I only use it to recall them when they're far enough away that I don't feel like screaming. I never had to "teach" them the recall w/the pager either. From day one, when I paged either of the ones I use it on, they come running to me and stop in front of me like "Mom, there is this weird thing vibrating on my neck and I don't know why. Fix it."