Training your dog can often be frustrating for both new and experienced dog owners alike:
- leash pulling
- jumping
- growling
- barking
- and biting
. . . can all be extremely tough behavioral problems to correct, especially if you’re the proud owner of an older, but more stubborn dog. That’s where remote-activated training collars come into play. [1]
Best dog shock collars reviewed
By making use of these on a regular basis, in order to improve the obedience of their dogs, [2] owners can expect to experience extremely rapid, long-lasting results with fewer headaches associated with regular training schedules.
In this list, we’re going to focus on some of our favorite options that can help get you those results as soon as possible.
SportDOG | Brand Field Trainer SD-425
Another winner from SportDOG, is this remote-activated dog training collar which offers owners an unprecedented level of control over the discipline of their pet.
With its 500-yard range and ability to sync up to three collars at a time, even multi-pet households can benefit from one comprehensive training solution.
While it is on the more expensive side of things, you’ll benefit from some fantastic features such as a waterproof design, seven levels of correction, and – most importantly – the ability to choose between static shocks, buzzes, and beeps as aversive stimuli to better suit the discipline to each respective dog.
Pros
- Extremely flexible in the number of settings and features that it offers
- Rechargeable lithium-ion batteries
Cons
- The transmitter is not as reliable as the collar itself, as it occasionally stops connecting to the receiver during training
Customer Feedback
This product scored a rating of 4.3 out of 5 stars. Owners looking for some peace and quiet [3] are thrilled to have found this option, as most of them report that their dog has never been more obedient than after just a few sessions with the collar.
In particular, customers praise the versatility of this model which allows them to tinker with the settings until they find the perfect combination for their dog, which allows the training process to be much more efficient than if it only administered shocks or beeps.
PetTech PT0Z1 | Premium Dog Training Shock Collar
If you’re looking to dip your toes into the remote-activated dog collar world, then you won’t find a much better way to do it than with this model from PetTech. Coming in at just one-third of the price of the SportDOG that we just looked at, this collar doesn’t compromise on the available features to hit that price point.
Owners get four modes to choose from rather than three, and 100 different selectable levels of correction. It’s not as resistant to the elements as some other models, but it does a good enough job, and PetTech has some of the best customer service representatives around, who are happy to help you out if some accidental water damage does manage to get through.
Pros
- Extremely affordable
- Lifetime guarantee on defects and damage
Cons
- Tight fit on bigger dogs
Customer Feedback
Most customers agree that this collar has dramatically improved their dog’s disposition, as they are now more likely to listen to commands, stop barking, and behave, [4] and have rated the product with 4 out of 5 stars.
In that sense then, the collar is a wise purchase for owners who are willing to make use of every setting available to them. However, some owners report that the shock setting is far more effective than the beeps and lights, which dogs often ignore. So, if you’re not willing to go to those more extreme measures, then you might want to keep looking.
Pet Resolve | Remote Controlled Dog Shock Collar
If you have a lot of open ground on your property and want to make use of the great outdoors during your training sessions, then you’ll probably want to take a close look at this option from Pet Resolve. And it’s key selling point? A massive ¾ mile range of effectiveness, which makes this an excellent choice for hunting dogs.
On top of that, however, you’re also getting a slew of handy little features such as an extremely durable construction that will reliably stand up to the wear and tear of training life, and a receiver that is always ready to receive commands at a moment’s notice. This means owners never have to worry about the collar going into standby mode and failing to respond to their commands at critical moments.
Pros
- Waterproof and durable, making it the ideal choice for active outdoor owners and their dogs
- Massive effective range
- Memory settings save you from repeatedly having to reprogram the collar
Cons
- Can work with up to three dogs with a single transmitter, but additional collars are rather expensive at almost 50 dollars a pop.
Customer Feedback
The Pet Resolve collar earned a rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars. Owners with hyperactive dogs who simply can’t stop running are thrilled to have found this collar, as they now for the first time have an option that will keep them in line as the distance starts to increase between the two.
While it’s great for the outdoors as previously mentioned, even city-dwellers have found the range to be handy as they can fine-tune their control over their dog in parks or around the neighborhood.
The other important feature for owners is the heavy-duty construction, which has resulted in a product that almost never needs to take advantage of the two-year warranty offered by the manufacturer. However, some do note that the collar is quite big compared to models from other companies, which can limit the range of movement of smaller dogs.
Petrainer | Upgraded Model Remote Dog Training Collar
We understand that not everybody wants a product that has all of the bells and whistles – sometimes, you’re willing to compromise. Well, that’s precisely why we’re highlighting this model, which comes in with one of the best price-to-performance ratios of all of the collars on this list.
It features three corrective modes instead of the four that most models choose to include; has a splash-proof, but not entirely submersible design; and it comes in with a 900-yard range. We can say, however, that there’s no compromise on performance, which is probably what most of you are concerned about.
Pros
- Affordable and often on sale
- The company offers extended three-year warranties upon proof of purchase, which shows confidence in their product
Cons
- Advertised as waterproof, but this has some user error to it which requires proper sealing of vulnerable areas
Customer Feedback
This product earned a rating of 3.7 out of 5 stars, an the consensus seems to be that if this model is the ideal option for owners with well-behaved, but otherwise excitable pets. This is because the corrective measures available to owners are not always entirely effective, which means genuinely aggressive or angry dogs might ignore the stimuli.
However, for less extreme cases, they report that it works quite well—in the short term at least. Most of the problems with this unit surround its effectiveness after a few months of wear and tear, where the receiver will stop administering punishments properly.
This makes it inconsistent as a long-term training device, and while owners can always get it replaced thanks to the warranty, not many will want to go through with that process more than once.
iPets | Remote Dog Training Collar for All Size Dogs
No, it’s not made by Apple, but the iPets Remote Dog Training Collar is nonetheless quite premium in its feel and design. Its intuitive layout separates all the core functions of the collar to just three buttons and a dial, making it accessible for even those owners who lose access to the instructions included in the packaging.
All that’s required is a quick turn to your desired corrective level, and then press one of your three delivery options – shock, vibrate or beep. While it can only communicate with the receiver up to 220 yards away, (give or take a few yards,) its simplicity makes this an ideal choice for those looking for their first collar, who also happen to live in dense urban areas where the limited range won’t be much of a factor.
Pros
- Quite affordable
- Simple layout
- Truly waterproof, making this a good choice for owners with a pool
Cons
- Warranty terms can be slightly misleading and can result in you failing to get a replacement due to poorly worded terms and conditions
Customer Feedback
We think that accessibility is key, and it seems like most of the customers who purchased this model agree with this philosophy as well, earning this collar a 4.1 out of 5 stars rating.
While the minimilistic design are what draw most customers into this purchase, it’s the effectiveness that keeps them satisfied. They report that at low settings the collar delivers mild corrections that help keep young dogs in line without hurting them, while older, more stubborn dogs can benefit from the higher, more powerful range of the spectrum.
While some complain that the collar isn’t as durable as some other options, it’s also quite a bit cheaper, which makes replacing the product a simple task in the rare event that something happens to it.
Final thoughts on using shock collars for training
There are a lot of fundamental principles that you need to look out for when training your dog, and it can often become overwhelming when your dog isn’t listening to your commands. Thankfully, choosing a remote-activated collar can help strip training down to its bare essentials by offering you the ability to correct your dog’s inappropriate behavior at the press of the button.
These collars offer a ton of versatility and customizability by allowing you to choose the intensity and type of correction, meaning that every dog owner should find something that works for each of their dogs.
Take a closer look at each of the options on our list and choose one that has the features and fits the budget that you have in mind. You just may experience much faster results than you ever thought possible.