Need advice buying a hunting dog shock collar.

[nybirdman]

I own a uplands preserve and have been running the same Tritronics collar for ten years.I can't imagine the miles/hours on that collar.It's the upland special.We have tried other brands and nothing comes close.
As stated the user must use common sense;all dogs are different in what they will tolerate.I have a friend that's a nationally known trainer and he puts the collar around the waist of his dogs.

 

[sixdogs]

I'm the OP on this and please know that I used the word "shock collar" because I don't know what else to call them. I would never actually shock my dogs unless it was a life or death situation and then would only be a tingle. I think they will respond well enough to a beep or vibration. They already know the drill and listen very well to me. I don't think I need a collar but am reluctant to go into field 20 miles from my house where I could lose a dog. I have seen it happen.

These dogs are too sweet and well behaved for very much discipline. They will already do whatever it is that I want as long as I can explain it to them.

 

[Larry Caldwell]

You are exactly right about the life threatening situations. E-collars are great for aversion conditioning. You can teach a dog to stay away from rattlesnakes or teach it not to run into traffic with an e-collar, but you can't teach them to hunt. A good field springer is a joy. I have followed 100 yards behind a party hunting two GSPs and my little springer was kicking up pheasants right and left from heavy cover that the GSPs walked right by. I have never had one run off, ever, but I have used an e-collar to teach all my dogs not to run into traffic. It's life and death.

 

[houstonscott]

I'm the OP on this and please know that I used the word "shock collar" because I don't know what else to call them. I would never actually shock my dogs unless it was a life or death situation and then would only be a tingle. I think they will respond well enough to a beep or vibration. They already know the drill and listen very well to me. I don't think I need a collar but am reluctant to go into field 20 miles from my house where I could lose a dog. I have seen it happen. These dogs are too sweet and well behaved for very much discipline. They will already do whatever it is that I want as long as I can explain it to them.

You are right about them being very sweet, a springer just wants to please and I wouldn't worry about them running off, thunder is about the only thing that would keep mine from doing what I asked of them. Once they are on whistle commands to come you are good anywhere. HS

 

[bucktaker]

I have owned and hunted with Field bred ESS my entire adult life. While I understand your concerns it sounds like you need to improve the training not replace it with something that might ruin the drive of these dogs.

I hate the thougth of losing my ESS while hunting but if she gets out of sight after a bird I know if I keep letting her know where I am she will come find me even in heavy cover, I just whislte and she comes running back.

 

[sixdogs]

You are right about them being very sweet, a springer just wants to please and I wouldn't worry about them running off, thunder is about the only thing that would keep mine from doing what I asked of them. Once they are on whistle commands to come you are good anywhere. HS

I have owned and hunted with Field bred ESS my entire adult life. While I understand your concerns it sounds like you need to improve the training not replace it with something that might ruin the drive of these dogs.

I hate the thougth of losing my ESS while hunting but if she gets out of sight after a bird I know if I keep letting her know where I am she will come find me even in heavy cover, I just whislte and she comes running back.

I agree with both of you and mine are trained well to a whistle. BUT, if I'm 20 or 60 miles from home and one gets separated or does something stupid in persuit of a bird I need plan B for that emergency. A little vibration on a collar would do the trick and save a little problem from becoming a catastrophic issue.

Here's some choices I came up with so far, referred by people that own them. I know they aren't $500 transmitters but it's a start.

Dogtra Element 300M Training System with Dog Collar: Training Supplies | Free Shipping at L.L.Bean

Sportdog 425S Training System with Dog Collar: Training Supplies | Free Shipping at L.L.Bean

Any thoughts, especially on the first one? I've decided one dog out at a time is enough for me until I get the

 

[Jeff F.]

I use the Sportdog 400. It's replaced by the 425 I believe. I have had no problems with it.

 

[Otto Syracuse]

I have had several brands, and the Dogtra Remote Training Beeper has been my best collar purchase. Triton is was very good too, but I had a couple of issues with the collar and remote losing contact. The Dogtra has better battery life too.

You will find better prices than LLBEAN for this purchase. Check out Ugly Dog Hunting, great site for dog supplies!

 

[nybirdman]

I see hundreds of dogs in the course of a year on my preserve;I have owned and trained my own.
Labrador retrievers for 30 years and pointing dogs for the last 15.The dogs that I see that are out of control could be easily corrected with the judicial use of an E collar.
I have heard all the excuses;she/he is my buddy,her hearing is bad,she is an Alfa female,well the bird moved so he broke,your birds run(wild ones don't?),he is a house dog,ect.
The proper use of an e-collar can correct most problems.Some Lab trainers are very harsh on their dogs,I certainly don't believe in this.
My two pointers live in the house and are my best friends and buddies but in the field they wear E Collars,seldom need to use it because the dogs are properly trained.
If you are going to be hunting unfamiliar country ,I would recommend an E_collar/GPS combination unit.We had our beagles pack busted up by a coyote pack and scattered the dogs for miles,without the GPS we would have never found them.
Again I highly recommend Tritronics;even if you purchase the lower end Tritronics they are better than the others.

 

[rrrkkk]

A good place to start is "Collar Clinic" they have all kinds I would like one controller for 2 collars. If the dog yelps when he is shocked it's set too high, you only want enough current to get his attention. It's especially useful in controlling intact males.