I need some opinions on the best e-collar out there, by brand, value, and useable features. Please post the model #. Thanks.

I too, would be interested in a discussion regarding the advantages/disadvantanges of the Dogtra models vs. Innotek models.

Any insights there, Lou?

I've been using Ecollars for about 18 years. For the first part of that I used TriTronics exclusively. Nothing else came close in reliability or features.

But a while ago Donn Yarnall had Dogtra send me a 1200NCP to test to see if I liked it. I put my TT's in the drawer and haven't used them since.

I'm a dealer for both brands but haven't sold many TT's in the past two years, or so.

Dogtra makes the only Ecollar that allows for stim to be applied continuously as you change the level. That allows for very clear communication to the dog.

They also make the only waterproof transmitters, the 1200 and the 2000 series. All of the collar units made by all the quality manufacturers are waterproof but Dogtra makes the only waterproof transmitters. This is only important if you work outdoors in all kinds of weather as some trainers do, and all SAR and police K-9 handlers do.

I can't speak to the Innoteks, as I've never used them. I know that they've come a long way in the area of reliability and offer several features that the other brands don't.

I did a review of the 1200NCP on this forum. You can see it at

http://www.leerburg.com/cgi-bin/UBB/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=23&t=000004

The only criticism I had at that time has been corrected. The movement of the dial, which used to be able to be brushed easily and change the level unintentionally, has been made much stiffer so it can't easily be moved accidentally.

I love my Dogtra 1200, and I train in total wet and shatty conditions for half the year so the water proof trans is a necessity.

I won't buy another brand for anything.

Thanks guys! Dogtra it is.

On the 1200NCP, I was wondering about the pager feature. Do I really need it?

No

So the Dogtra dial was made stiffer, huh?

That must be what that group of female trainers were talking about at the last Flinks seminar...."stiffer is better" , or something like that - they all shut up about when I walked by. Man, I hate people that hide knowledge from others.... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Mike Sanchez wrote: On the 1200NCP, I was wondering about the pager feature. Do I really need it?

VanCamp Robert wrote: No

LC: VanCamp don't make me come over there. You know how I get! LOL Actually Mike, only you can answer that question. I NEED the page mode because I train it as a silent recall. This is needed for the police dogs because it allows the handler to recall the dog without letting the crook know where the he is. I like it for the SAR dogs because even if they're out of hearing range or near a high noise environment (such as a waterfall or a brook) the handler can still get a recall.

LC: You can also train it as a "good boy" signal, letting the dog know that he's done the right thing, when he's out of earshot. But if all you're doing is using the Ecollar to proof behaviors that have been taught with conventional techniques or teaching basic OB, no, you don't need it. But you're the only one who knows how he's going to use it.

LC: But here's something interesting. It's the look on the faces of some women when I put the Ecollar into their hand, hit the pager mode, and tell them that it has a 1/2 mile range! Of course I have no idea what they're thinking, but they get the strangest look on their faces!

Will Rambeau wrote: So the Dogtra dial was made stiffer, huh? That must be what that group of female trainers were talking about at the last Flinks seminar...."stiffer is better" , or something like that

LC: Did they say anything about, "Size doesn't matter?" Never mind, that's a different forum. LOL

Now you jokers made me laugh out loud and my wife heard me. . .she knows I'm on the computer and I'll be in trouble cuz I'm spose to be asleep.


Ok, so Lou doesn't get any more twitchy than bill has already made him. . .I, as in ME, don't use the page for jack shiznit. I might think about the secondary reward thing now though. . .


Mike YOU might find a whole mess of uses for it. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />