Generally speaking, you need to order different kinds of products from different places. Flea medication could come from 1800petmeds. Treats and such could come from Pet Street mall. If you are ordering a number of things, you may want to get them all from the same place, even if some individual prices are a little higher, to save on shipping. You just have to put a sharp pencil to it.

If you are ordering a dog training collar, I have found there is one place that beats the others hands-down. In fact, this place is where I order ALL kinds of stuff. And if you are an online shopper, you probably do to.

Of course, I’m talking about Amazon.com. People all over the country (actually the world) have come to trust Amazon because they really take care of business: great shipping deals, no hassle returns, great prices, etc. Plus, I can get input from other purchasers on individual products. The reviews give me great insight into how a product really works.

Even with Amazon, I’m careful about orders and order sizes – sometimes shipping can make a big difference. For example, when I order training collar batteries I try to combine it with other things I’m ordering to save on shipping. If that’s all I need, it might be just as economical to run down to Petco and grab them. (Cooper and Stella love to go shopping there anyway).

One alternative to save on shipping is to join Amazon Prime. It costs $79 but if you order a lot of stuff you could save that pretty quickly. It gives you unlimited free 2-day shipping and $3.99 next day shipping  privileges with no minimum order size. I guess I need to look at my order habits and take a sharp pencil to that! Oh, almost forgot – members apparently now get unlimited instant streaming of thousands of tv shows and movies.

So, what’s the bottom line? I choose Amazon but that doesn’t keep me from shopping around. That’s what I love about the interweb – I can shop a bunch of different places really fast and don’t use a drop of gas!

The best dog training collar for your dog depends on -  well, you guessed it -  your situation and your dog. You have to ask yourself, “What do I want to accomplish in training my dog?”  The best dog training collar is simply another tool we use to reach our goals and what works best for me might not work best for you.  As with all training tools, the collar itself won’t train your dog any more than, say, a clicker will train your dog. You train the dog and the tools just reinforce or aid in that training. Dog training should never involve harming your dog in any way and in extreme cases you should enlist the help of a professional trainer. (In fact, I believe professional training is a plus in training all dogs!)

When looking for the best dog training collar,  there are some obvious basics you need to keep in mind.  Make sure you select a collar that is specified for the weight range of you dog. Petsafe has collars specifically made for big dogs and little dogs (For example: PetSafe Deluxe Big-Dog Trainer and Petsafe Deluxe Little Dog Remote Trainer for Pets Under 40 Pounds) Matching the collar to the dog is very important so pay close attention to this factor.

Another important factor in choosing the right training collar is range. How far will your dog be able to venture and still have a collar that responds to the remote? Some sport dog collars (for hunting dogs) will work up to 2 miles away! You may not need that much range but is 150 yards enough? Keep in mind that too much range poses no problem but too little can be a big problem.

What type of stimulation works best? Again, this depends on your situation and your needs. Some collars provide  vibration, others tone or buzz, and of course most will provide the static correction or “shock”. Many will provide a combination; a tone used as a warning before a static correction can be quite effective. This is how a lot of wireless fences work. As the dog approaches the boundary the collar gives off a tone. Then, if the dog doesn’t go back into the “safe” zone, a shock is delivered.  This same concept can be used in other training situations.

We found that the best dog training collar for our needs is the Petsafe Big Dog Deluxe Trainer.  Cooper is big – and can be stubborn (but is oh-so sweet!). We took the approach to train first, then use the collar for reinforcement.  After he knows a command, sometimes he will disobey. (Your dog ever done that?) At that point we give him a tone as a warning. If that doesn’t work, he gets a short static correction.  Keep in mind, this comes after the command while he is disobeying. After a couple of times, only the tone is needed to get the desired response. Now, we rarely ever have to use a static correction; the tone is all it takes.

Best Dog Training Collar Resources

You can get some great information from manufacturers web sites. They usually provide specific instructions on how to best use training collars and some sites even have videos. Petsafe, Innotek, and SportDOG all provide great training information. You can also get information about specific collars right here on the TopDog site. Reading the reviews here and places like Amazon.com can give you great insight on how other dog owners have successfully found the best dog training collar for their situation.  For general information on the best dog training collars you can check Wikipedia but I would prefer to trust other sites for training information and help on picking the right trainer for my dog.

The Best Dog Training Collar For YOU

Only you know your dog and his/her personality. Only you really know how to best train your canine friend.  Yes, you can use some instruction and help. Maybe even some professional training (I highly recommend it!).  Train your dog with love and care. Use the tools at your disposable to insure the best behavior and safety for your pet and you will both be better for it. Remember, the best dog training collar is just a minor tool to help you improve the relationship you have with your pet!

However, he was not always the obedient pet he is now. When he was a newcomer to your home, there were some issues that definitely needed work. Every trip outside for exercise and fresh air became a war of wills. You have to admit, his was somewhat stronger for awhile.

What made him change? How did you turn him into the well-behaved pet he is today? The discovery of the most humane way of training your dog was the turning point. The right collar to help train him to behave and follow your commands was responsible for the almost instant improvement.

The Types of Training Collars

There are several collars employed for training dogs, but there are a few that people are more comfortable with than others. In addition, the collars are safe and do not harm your dog. Let’s look at the types and what benefit they can provide.

Choke Collar – The choke collar tightens around the dog’s neck when they pull. The consensus is that this type of collar could potentially harm a dog’s wind pipe by pressing against it. The more the dog pulls against the leash or chain that is attached to the choke collar the tighter it gets.

Halti Collar – A halti collar fits around the dog’s head and may remind you somewhat of a horse halter. When using this type of collar, if the dog goes in the direction you want, the collar is not tight. If he tries to head in the other direction, it tightens around his snout. The more he tries going in the wrong direction, the tighter the collar will get. He will quickly want to relieve the pressure.

Some dogs respond well to this type of collar, but others never seem to get used to it. They will fight with the collar and try to take it off the entire time they are wearing it. There is also a small resemblance to a muzzle, which could cause some people to think your dog bites.

These two collars seem to be effective and are preferred by many trainers when teaching dogs the basic behavior expected of them.

Pinch Collar – This type, also called a prong collar, gives the dog a pinch when they pull against the leash or chain. Rather than focusing on the wind pipe, this collar delivers even pressure around the entire neck. There is a general feeling among some that this type of collar is not a good choice for an aggressive dog. But this type collar can be ideal for dogs that want to pull against the leash when the proper training is used.

Electronic Collar – This collar has had very good results with dogs that do not come when called or are just generally not very good listeners. The collar works by delivering small static shocks to the dog using a remote control when it does not respond to your commands.

There are many people who will tell you this is inhumane and just plain mean. The truth is this can be a very effective way to train your dog. If you perform a simple test, you can rest assured this is not harming your dog. Put the collar on your arm or leg and start with the lowest setting. Shock yourself using the remote and see what the shock feels like. Go to the next setting and try it. This will allow you to feel what the dog will feel.

Always Use Training Collars Responsibly

Remember one thing. The person in control of the collar is responsible for using it properly. None of the collars are meant to harm the dog. Used responsibly, they are effective for training your pet. This is the sole purpose of using any type of collar made for training. A dog should never be harmed in an attempt to try and make it mind.

If you are interested in the success others have had with training collars, you will want to check out some of the reviews on this site. They are written by people just like you who have used different training collars. You will be amazed at how quickly some have had a positive response from dogs that were totally out of control.

Initially I did not want to use one of these pet training collars.

I thought it would be cruel, dangerous, and/or harmful to my dog. Then I saw first hand how my dog was injuring himself pulling on a choke collar. And our trainers (George and Ace, great guys) taught us the truth about how the best dog training collars can actually be a lot more humane than other training tools or methods. Believe me – Cooper is a lot happier, more well behaved, and better adjusted, and it’s a real blessing for us.

So, join us here as we dig into the pros and cons of using a training collar and see real life examples as well as look at honest dog training collars reviews. And we would love to hear from you to find out how your experiences can help us train our dogs. It would be a help to everybody as we all work toward having well behaved, happy pets.

Thanks!

Top Dog (Cooper) and his Mom and Dad