Dog Training Collars – Controls & Transmitter Sizes

Perhaps the feature that draws most trainers or pet owners to electronic collars is the size. These collars can withstand all types of weather and most will even withstand being in water. Collars, transmitters, batteries and even required accessories are portable enough to be carried easily in a backpack or other small bag and transported anyplace. While portability often is what gains the attention first, size and function must also be taken into consideration when you are looking for a unit suitable for you and your dog.

Remember that your transmitter must have all of the features that you're going to need. The range needed for your dog will depend on a number of variables. These include whether you are using the collar specifically to train your dog at home, in your backyard, or whether you're out in a wooded area teaching your dog to hunt.

Those who are training a pet are likely to be able to invest in a unit that has a transmitter that can be as small as a key chain, while those who are training their dog for a hunt might need a range that is upwards of a mile. These transmitters will obviously be more bulky. Keep in mind that even if a small transmitter is easier to carry and handle, they do not have as much range - and they are far easier to misplace! When you're selecting the transmitter you should be taking into consideration things like range, weather conditions it will be used in, and even the size of the hand that will be using the unit the most.

When you are searching for a unit, make sure you also consider how the buttons and other features will work depending on the various conditions that will be in play during use. For example - if the person is going to wear gloves during training, you must be sure that the buttons and other features are usable with gloves on.

If the unit is going to be used in a variety of weather conditions, you'll want to verify if the unit is also waterproof. Making sure you carefully evaluate all these conditions will help you determine which transmitters are best suited for you and your dog as well as the environment that it will be used in.

Intensity levels:

Most electronic collars are controlled by progressive dials. These are also called potentiometers (rheostat controllers). These large dials increase correction levels using a continuous movement. Many of the more advanced transmitters offer LCD screens that will allow you to see what the intensity level is and how much you are increasing it. The other common control is called a 'progressive dial'. This unit issues a series of clicks to increase the intensity level and it is usually extremely accurate. One of the best features of this is it allows the person who is training to keep an eye on the dog - maintaining eye contact is often one of the best methods of training. If you are going to be using your unit in bad weather or if you believe you'll be wearing gloves, the larger controls typically will offer more control. Another feature to check for is those units which function equally well regardless of which hand you are using for the controller.

Correction Modes:

The basic correction modes are continuous and intermittent (momentary). Even those systems which offer continuous modes contain a safeguard that times out after the correction has been used for 8 -10 seconds. A momentary stimulation is generally less than one second regardless of how long you are holding the button down. Both types of stimulation are helpful - it depends on what training is being done. When you are testing your transmitters, you are looking for accessible buttons, buttons that are easily controlled and even more importantly buttons that are properly safeguarded from weather conditions. One other thing that should be reviewed is how easy the buttons are to operate if you are not looking directly at the transmitter - taking all aspects of a transmitter into consideration will help you find the best system for you and for your dog.

The Beeper function:

The beeper button has various functions, depending on the type of electronic training collar system you purchase. When you are reviewing beeper systems you have to determine what levels of alerts are available. Some units are used to let you know when your dog is running, on the ground, has a quarry treed or even if he's on point. Some features will allow you to track your dog if the beeper is also installed on his collar. As with all other features, you want buttons that are easy to operate, easy to control and have some weatherproofing features. Another consideration is 'lock-out' features and buttons that can easily be controlled without looking at the transmitter.

Toggle Switches:

If you are working with a multiple dog system, chances are you will be working with a transmitter that has toggle switches. While most of us never will need a unit that will train a hundred dogs at a time, if you're training multiple dogs you will want a system that is easy to use, durable and has all of the size, transmission levels and other features that you find important.

Since all training is different and all dogs are different, it's important to take into consideration the needs of you as a trainer and the needs of your dog as well. Collars are not one-size-fits every need - otherwise there would not be so many different systems on the market. Make sure before you actually invest in an electronic training system that you understand the options that are available to you and purchase the unit that best meets the needs of you and your dog or dogs

Geoffrey A. English is the Founder of GundogsOnline.com, the internet's premiere online magazine dedicated to hunting dogs. Their site has a wide variety of dog training collars such as the Innotek ADV-300P, Innotek ADV-1000P, and Dogtra 202 NCP GOLD.