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7 Best Dog Training Collar Options for a Mindful Pup!

Whether you have a pup that needs to stop barking, or a stubborn dog that refuses to obey simple commands, a training collar can be immensely helpful with encouraging a dog to obey commands and stay safely within its boundaries.

Most training collars include vibration and beeping as non-electric stimuli for dogs who are more easily trained or need a reminder to obey the rules.

So, what are the key features of a great training collar? We tested the best dog training collars to help you choose the right one for you and your dog.

Read on for the reviews of our 7 favorites, followed by 6 honorable mentions, to help narrow down your search!

Our Top Picks

  Product Details    
01 Dog Care Dog Training Collar Best Overall: Dog Care Dog Training Collar There’s no way you could go wrong with the Dog Care Dog Training Collar. It’s great for dogs from 15 pounds to 100 pounds. It is very affordable, which is probably why it’s frequently sold out. Check Price
02 SportDOG 425X Remote Trainer Best For Working Dogs: SportDOG 425X Remote Trainers This is a super-light and small dog training collar with simple remote controls that can be easily operated without needing to look. This collar is designed to be used during active training sessions. Check Price
03 NBJU Rechargeable Training Collar Best Bark Collar: NBJU Rechargeable Training Collar This super-fast charging collar recharges in just 30 minutes, and the battery lasts for about 12 to 15 days. It is waterproof and provides vibration and beeping as well as shock. Check Price
04 Dogtra 280C Best Long Range Collar: Dogtra 280C This field training collar has a ½-mile range and a pager on the remote so you can get your dog’s attention with a painless vibration, perfect for large properties, hunting, and long-distance training. Check Price
05 Pet Union Premium Dog Training Collar Best Budget Buy: Pet Union Premium Dog Training Collar If you’re looking for the best price to performance ratio there is, you’ve found it. Includes a training remote with a 1,200-ft range, 3 training modes, and is waterproof. Check Price
06 Educator E-Collar  Best Collar For Night Visibility: Educator E-Collar The Educator E-Collar uses intense tapping vibrations in a Pavlovian tone to help train even the most stubborn dogs. This is the most humane training collar we found, and it has an LED light for nighttime safety. Check Price

How We Picked The Best Dog Training Collars

Dog wearing a training collar
Dog training collars help your dog learn boundaries.

While we recommend attending professional dog training classes and teaching your dog basic hand cues, we know that some dogs need more intensive stimulation to make the lessons stick, so we looked into the companies that make the highest-rated dog training collars.

These included Dog Care, a company that makes automatic and remote-only training collars.

Another dog gear manufacturer, Dogtra, has over 30-years of experience with class-leading dog training tools.

We also considered dog gear from lesser-known companies, like Pet Union Premium, known for their lifetime replacement guarantee and extremely affordable products. 

Lastly, we researched the top-rated dog training collars from shopping sites like Amazon and Chewy.

We chose 17 of the top-rated dog training collars to test with our dogs to see which ones work the best. 

Our testing helped us rank 7 training collars among our top picks, with 6 more earning an honorable mention. 

Read our related article on the Benefits of a Dog Training Collar With Remote. Learn everything you need to know about training collar pros and cons.

Best Dog Training Collar Options

1. Best Overall: Dog Care Dog Training Collar

Dog Care Dog Training Collar

Product Ratings

Affordability5/5
Comfort5/5
Effectiveness5/5
Sizing5/5
Quality5/5

Dimensions: 8.98 x 5.12 x 2.24 inches | Weight: 10.55 Ounces | Brand: Dog Care | | Range: Up to 330 Yards | Features: Security lock, 99 levels | Dogs: Small to Large Breeds

What We Liked

  • Excellent option for training multiple dogs
  • Security lock on the training remote
  • Anti-jamming technology keeps you in control
  • Up to 330-foot range
  • Shock level adjusts through 99 levels
  • 3 training modes – vibration, sound, and shock

What We Didn’t Like

  • Doesn’t work very well with a dog leash
  • The battery in the collar discharges pretty fast during training intervals

This great all-around training collar fits dogs from 15 to 100 pounds. This is not the most technologically-advanced training collar, but we love it for its simplicity and ease of use.

Pet psychologists design Dog Care’s training collars, so you know that you’re using some of the best and safest training tools with your dogs.

Features

3 training modes include static shock, beeps, or vibration to find the minimum stimulation that works for your dog.

There are 99 progressive levels of static shock so you can find the minimum level needed to train your dog.

This collar has 9 channels so you can add extra collars and train multiple dogs with a single remote.

A security lock on the remote keeps your dog safe from inappropriate correction. 

Battery and Charging

The rechargeable receiver lasts up to 15 hours on a single charge, while the remote lasts up to 45 days on standby, so expect less longevity when used for training.

Range and Safety

The collar has a range of 330-yards between the remote and each collar and turns itself off after 8-hours to keep your dog safe and comfortable. 

The 3 training modes give you the option of using non-shock stimuli to remind your dog to obey the rules and stay safe. 

The collar is rain-proof so that your dogs do not receive a shock due to inclement weather, but these are not waterproof.

Size and Coverage

The collar completely covers the base of the neck and is adjustable to contour better to the dog’s body shape.

The nylon training collar is 27-inches long and can fit dogs from 15 to 100 pounds.

Ease of Use

The last thing we want to mention is how easy this collar is to use.

We’re able to easily train 9 dogs with 1 remote, and we have the option of only using vibration and beep mode! 

We appreciated the versatility of adjusting the shock and correction levels between our dogs and the ability to lock out the shock, so we never worried about accidentally triggering one of the collars.

SEE PRICE ON AMAZON

2. Best for Working Dogs: SportDOG 425X Remote Trainer

SportDOG 425X Remote Trainer

Product Ratings

Affordability4/5
Comfort5/5
Effectiveness5/5
Sizing5/5
Quality5/5

Dimensions: 2.6 x 1.2 x 1.3 inches | Weight: 1.76 Ounces | Brand: SportDOG | Range: 500 yards | Features: Submersible to 25-feet | Dogs: 8 Pounds or Larger

What We Liked

  • A good option for medium-sized dogs or larger
  • Waterproof and submersible to 25-feet
  • Quick-charging lithium-ion battery with a long battery life
  • Small and lightweight for comfort
  • 3 training modes – tone, vibration, and static shock
  • Made with working and training dogs in mind

What We Didn’t Like

  • The battery life wasn’t consistent throughout our tests, depending on how much we had to use it for training
  • We wish the range was more than 500-yards for field training

It costs a little more money, but the SportDOG dog training collar is completely waterproof, charges in just 2 hours, and lasts for 40 to 50 hours, depending on the discharge rate.

We think it’s well worth the cost.

Features

The SportDOG Dog Training Collar is made for all dogs and includes a basic training manual. 

We love that it is made for the needs of those who are field-training hunting and working dogs.

It’s lightweight and robust, with an easy fit for maximum comfort while dogs are working and training.

We love that this collar is waterproof and submersible up to 25 feet, making it perfect for wearing while retrieving, swimming, and training for agility and water-jumping sports.

The collars have 21-levels of static correction so you can choose the lowest-necessary level to train your dog to obey and stay safe.

The remote has a vibrating recall function to get your dog’s attention and encourage him to return to you in the field. This is perfect for field-training retrievers.

Train 3 dogs on the same remote by purchasing 2 more compatible collars.

Battery and Charging

The remote and collar battery life lasts 50 to 70 hours per charge, depending on how often correction is used.

We love that it recharges in about 2 hours, and it has a low-battery indicator.

Range and Safety

This collar works at a distance of up to 500-yards between the collars and the remote.

This is a good range for training, but we had a rough time keeping up with all 3 dogs linked to the remote during retrieving and wish it had more range.

The submersible collar gave us peace of mind for using these during field training and hunting.

We knew that our dogs would not receive a shock when wading and splashing through marshy areas.

Size and Coverage

The SportDOG Training Collar is designed for dogs 8 pounds or larger, with neck sizes between 5 and 22-inches.

The collar is made of plastic which is great for water sports and swimming, and it does not have any rough edges to rub on the dog’s neck. 

Ease Of Use

First off, we’re happy that the tone and vibrate function are separated. We use the vibrate for corrections and tone for praise.

The collar battery lasted about 2-weeks during training.

The SportDOG Dog Training Collar was easy to put on our test dogs, and it was rugged even though it’s very lightweight. 

SEE PRICE ON AMAZON

3. Best Bark Collar: NBJU Rechargeable Training Collar

NBJU Rechargeable Training Collar

Product Ratings

Affordability5/5
Comfort5/5
Effectiveness5/5
Sizing5/5
Quality4/5

Dimensions: 2.76 x 1.46 x 1.57 inches | Weight: 4.8 Ounces | Brand: NBJU | Range: Any Range | Features: Waterproof | Dogs: Small to Large Breeds

What We Liked

  • Sleek, lightweight, and high-tech design
  • Charges in 30 minutes and can last 12 days on standby
  • 3 modes of correction – vibration, beeping, and static shock
  • 7 shock levels
  • Bark collar doesn’t respond to loud noises, like car alarms
  • LED interface makes setup much easier than other collars

What We Didn’t Like

  • This collar can be triggered by another dog barking next to yours
  • The prongs are a little long for the smallest dogs

This is one collar that smaller dogs may experience slight discomfort with. The prongs are not outrageously large, but they may be bulky for dogs lighter than 20 pounds.

Features

This device’s 3 basic training modes are beep, vibration, and shock correction. These training modes are supplemented with 7 sensitivity levels for static shock mode. 

The collar is rugged and durable, and the user interface is waterproof, so you don’t have to worry about inclement weather or letting your dog lounge in the pool with his collar on.

The collar is tuned to respond to barking, but no other sounds like growling, car doors slamming, nearby construction, or us calling our dogs indoors.

The last thing we want to point out is the “overlap” that can happen between the collars.

There were a few occasions where one barked and the others’ collar went off, but thankfully it was only a beep and vibration.

Battery and Charging

This unit runs on a single lithium-ion battery that takes only 30-minutes to charge. We love that it charges so fast because we have very little downtime with this collar.

The fully-charged battery will last for about 12 days on standby, but this length of time will diminish depending on how often the dog triggers it by barking.

Range and Safety

The bark detection sensor sits between the prongs on this collar, so there is no limit to the range on the collar as long as it is on the dog.

Rarely does it trigger from a different dog unless the dog is next to the collar.

Two silicone sleeves are designed to buffer the prongs and the dog’s skin so the shock can’t hurt the dog. 

Size and Coverage

This is a top choice bark training collar for small to medium to large and extra-large dogs and fits neck sizes from 8 to 25 inches.

This collar is perfect for training a dog that tends to yap indoors.

It could be triggered by a different dog barking near the collar, so we don’t recommend using it for dogs who bark together.

Ease Of Use

There is no leash ring on the collar, but we don’t use training collars for walking because it causes the prongs to press into the dog’s neck.

This collar can be worn as a supplement to a walking collar or with a harness without interfering with the straps.

If you want to learn more about bark collars, in particular, check out our review of the best bark collars.

The collar comes disassembled, but it’s easy to assemble.

Simply pass the nylon collar through the back of the bark unit, through the adjustment buckle, then the release buckle.

Fit it to your dog, and then trim off the excess collar length.

SEE PRICE ON AMAZON

4. Best Long Range Collar: Dogtra 280C

Dogtra 280C

Product Ratings

Affordability3/5
Comfort4/5
Effectiveness5/5
Sizing5/5
Quality5/5

Dimensions: 10.08 x 8.66 x 3.07 inches | Weight: 1.34 Pounds | Brand: Dogtra | Range: ½-mile | Features: Precise stimulation level (0-127) | Dogs: Large to Extra-Large Breeds

What We Liked

  • Illuminated LCD screen is easy to adjust in dark or low light conditions 
  • Fully waterproof collar, receiver, and transmitter
  • Great for dogs of all sizes, K-9 officers, and sport dog training
  • Nick and constant vibration modes
  • Non-stimulating pager vibration mode for dog recall

What We Didn’t Like

  • Some of the remote controls are tricky to use
  • Not effective for stubborn dogs
  • Pricier than others on our list, but we think it’s worth it

We realize that not everyone has a big budget to dedicate to dog collars, but for those who need a unit that can work from a long distance, this is a fantastic option.

This unit is made for trained dogs who simply need a reminder to obey or need to be recalled from fieldwork, retrieving or hunting.

Very stubborn dogs will not respond to this unit unless they are quite close to the trainer.

Features

Even in the darkest of light conditions, this LCD screen kept the correction screen fully visible and easy to read.

We also love the low-battery indicator light that reminds us to recharge the unit before we head out for training.

The collar’s fabric is of good quality, and it comes with a testing unit so you can verify the collar is functioning as it should, without having to test the collar on your skin.

Our only complaint is that the rubber flaps covering the charging ports tend to pop open, so double-check before sending the dog into marshy areas. 

We love the recall pager that lets us recall our dogs from up to ½ mile away, perfect for field training and hunting.

The system is expandable to control two dogs at once.

Battery and Charging

The unit runs on 2 rechargeable lithium polymer batteries that are included in the kit.

The batteries recharge in about 2 hours, which is very little downtime considering the incredible functionality and range.

Range and Safety

This collar and remote have a ½ mile range, which is not recommended for very stubborn dogs because they can get too far away to use alternate methods of correction and recall. 

127 levels of static shock lets you choose the lowest level of stimulation necessary to keep your dog in line. 

We love that you can send a small “nick,” or single shock to your dog to get his attention without having to send full-on correction.

Our dogs responded well to this because they usually just need a reminder to behave.

Size and Coverage

As with all of the collars on our list, we measured our test dogs according to each manufacturer’s sizing chart to get the best fit.

Dogtra’s waterproof, heavy-duty collar is fastened with a buckle, and there are enough holes on the collar to fit small to large dogs.

We tested this collar on our retrievers and it was a great fit with a lot of room to spare. We used sharp scissors to cut off the extra collar length.

Ease Of Use

This best dog training collar offers a whopping 127 levels of intensity adjustment for shock corrections. 

The remote is really simple to use, once you set it up and remember which buttons to use. It has a dial to adjust the intensity of the shock.

Some of our smaller test dogs easily learned to associate our commands with only a tap (or “nick”) from this collar.

However, for larger dogs, the higher levels of intensity are a huge benefit.

SEE PRICE ON AMAZON

5. Best Budget Buy: Pet Union Premium Dog Training Collar

Pet Union Premium Dog Training Collar

Product Ratings

Affordability5/5
Comfort3/5
Effectiveness5/5
Sizing4/5
Quality4/5

Dimensions: 7.36 x 5.79 x 1.85 inches | Weight: 13.44 Ounces | Brand: Pet Union | Range: 1,200 ft | Features: 4 Modes, 1-100 level of static | Dogs: Medium to Large Dogs 10 to 100 pounds

What We Liked

  • 7 color variations
  • Can be expanded to train 2 dogs on 1 remote
  • Remote range of up to 1,200 feet
  • Best for dogs that weigh between 10 to 100 lbs
  • 2 collars – a nylon collar for daily comfort and a waterproof collar
  • LCD Remote
  • Auto Power Protect Mode conserves battery life

What We Didn’t Like

  • Shock setting only recommended in emergencies
  • The collar can be hard to “wake”

This is a great training collar at a great price. We love that it has a nylon collar for daily training and a waterproof collar for outings or lounging in the dog pool.

It also has 3 training modes, beep, vibration, and static shock. We like to use the beep as a positive reinforcement during training.

Features

This nylon collar comes in 7 colors. We could easily retrofit a different nylon collar with the training unit. 

A waterproof collar is included that is secured like a belt buckle. This is the perfect option for playing in the water so the nylon collar isn’t soaking wet all day.

There are 3 training modes – beep, vibration, and static shock.

The vibration and static shock can be adjusted through 100 levels of intensity. We love this flexibility so we can keep training humane.

The remote is simple to use once you learn what each button means, and the LCD screen makes it easier to dial in the right settings.

Battery and Charging

The lithium-ion battery charges quickly and is protected by an auto-off setting to save power when the collar isn’t being used.

It can be a little difficult to wake the collar up, but we recommend removing the collar between training sessions anyway, to avoid neck lesions from the prongs.

Range and Safety

The 1,200-foot range between the collar and remote is great for training and reminding your dog to behave well while at the dog park. 

We love the variable vibration levels because they serve as a good reminder to our dogs without causing them any distress. 

Silicone prong covers to keep your dog from feeling any undue pain from the prongs and protect sensitive skin from rubbing.

Size and Coverage

The Pet Union Premium Dog Training Collar is an excellent choice for aggressive breeds, especially for small to medium short-haired breeds.

It is advertised for dogs from 10-100 lbs.

The manufacturer warns against keeping the collar on the dog for more than 12 hours per day and recommends re-positioning the collar on your pet’s neck every 1 to 2 hours. 

Ease Of Use

The nylon version of this collar goes on as simply as a regular collar.

We caution that it must be loose enough to avoid pressure necrosis from the prongs but tight enough to contact during training.

This can be a tricky middle ground, and occasionally dogs will figure out how to slip the collar off.

The lightweight collar is advertised to fit most sizes and breeds, but we found out pretty quickly that the collar comes undone on dogs with thicker necks if we didn’t double-check that the clasp had snapped closed.

We were happy to discover that free email training came along with this dog training collar, making it faster and easier to jump into training without perusing an in-depth dog training book

SEE PRICE ON AMAZON

6. Best for Night Visibility: Educator E-Collar 

Educator E-Collar 

Product Ratings

Affordability3/5
Comfort5/5
Effectiveness5/5
Sizing5/5
Quality5/5

Dimensions: 6.89 x 11 x 2.17 inches | Weight: 7.68 ounces | Manufacturer: E-Collar Technologies | Range: ½-¾ mile | Features: 1-100 Stimulation Levels plus a 1-60 Boost Levels | Dogs: Small to Large Breeds (5 pounds and larger)

What We Liked

  • Great for smaller dogs
  • Dependable equipment build
  • Discreet & small ergonomic design
  • Less sharp than other shock devices
  • This is the most humane training collar we found

What We Didn’t Like

  • Shock feature becomes intermittent for some devices
  • The clicker can be on while the collar is off, so it has to be double-checked frequently to ensure it’s working

With thousands of great reviews, we had to try this best dog training collar option for safe, humane stimulation, and it didn’t disappoint.

The unit is designed to train all dogs, including stubborn dogs, and works well.

Features

One of our favorite features is the bright LED light built-in to this collar. Some collars have a tiny red light, but this LED is nice and bright for low-light and nighttime visibility.

Unlike many competitors, the Educator E-Collar comes with various accessories and upgrades, including prongs, collars, and chargers.

The remote has one button for regular stimulation that can be set from 1 to 100.

A second button allows a progressive boost from 1 to 60 for quick correction if the dog fails to respond to the regular stimulus.

We love that the simulation level can be locked-in for quick use, and we didn’t have to worry about accidentally increasing the stimulus during training.

The tapping sensation is more intense than vibration but less intense than an electric shock.

This effectively gets the dog’s attention and pushes him toward obedience without delivering a full-on shock. 

The kit can be expanded to train two dogs at once by purchasing a second collar and a splitter to charge both collars at once.

The collar and receiver are waterproof, so you can train in or near water without worrying about malfunction or ruining the unit.

The Educator models can train dogs from ½ mile up to ¾ mile away. This is a fantastic range and perfect for training retrieving, hunting, and working dogs. 

Battery and Charging

This unit runs on rechargeable lithium polymer batteries that charge in 2 hours and run for around a week, depending on how many training sessions it is used for and how long the sessions last. 

Range and Safety

We love that this unit comes in versions that can reach up to a mile away and are strong enough to train stubborn dogs. 

This one that we tested has a range of ½ mile, which we chose because we wanted to compare it with the Dogtra 280C.

It was hard for us to pick a favorite between the two because they work a bit differently, with the Dogtra giving a more direct shock and this one using “tapping.”

Size and Coverage

This product is sized for dogs that are 5lbs and up. Like the collar, the remote is made to feel compact and lightweight. 

This remote is the micro version and easily fits in the palm of your hand. 

Ease Of Use

Many of our test dogs experienced drastic improvements in behavior after just 1 day of use.

Very easy to set up and use, the Educator E-Collar comes with a free training video that allows you to learn how to best train your dog under the guidance of an expert trainer.

Although this device is named ‘mini’ it still packs a higher stimulation level suitable for stubborn breeds.

Very strong-willed dogs will benefit the most from their owners learning the ins and outs of this device through its thorough product manual and video training.

Even though this trainer is the most humane one we found, we always start on very low settings until the dog responds.

Attempting to use these tools without learning how to use them correctly may cause more problems and even trauma for your pet.

SEE PRICE ON AMAZON

7. Best Spray Collar: PetSafe Remote Spray Trainer

PetSafe Remote Spray Trainer

Product Ratings

Affordability3/5
Comfort4/5
Effectiveness4/5
Sizing5/5
Quality4/5

Dimensions: 5.88 x 2.5 x 8.19 inches | Weight: 12.48 Ounces | Brand: PetSafe | Range: 300 yards | Neck Sizes: Up to 27 in | Features: Tone, Vibration, & Spray | Dogs: Fits dogs 8 lb and up

What We Liked

  • More gentle than e-collars
  • Nice choice for sensitive dogs
  • Great alternative to static shock correction
  • Waterproof & lightweight
  • 300 yards range between collar and remote
  • Highly effective & 100% humane
  • Spray is only controlled by remote

What We Didn’t Like

  • Cost of spray trainer cartridges in the long term
  • Concern of whether the strong smell of citrus may temporarily ‘stun’ the dog’s olfactories, since dogs rely heavily on their sense of smell

The PetSafe Remote Spray Trainer is the most gentle option best for sensitive dogs.

Rather than using electric shocks or ‘taps,’ this collar administers a citrus-scented spray via a handheld remote.

Rather than giving the dog a traumatic bump toward good behavior, the quick burst of spray distracts them from bad behavior and serves as a gentle reminder once they are trained.

This method of training is effective for dogs of all temperaments.

Materials & Features

There are 3 corrective methods – spray, vibration, and tone. The remote is easy to use, and the collar comes with citronella or unscented spray cartridges.

The collar will let out a tiny spray aimed toward the dog’s muzzle when triggered.

We love that the spritz of citronella works to quickly distract the dog from disruptive or destructive behaviors and back onto the training session.

It is much more effective than yelling, clicking, or hand-clapping for highly-distractible or stubborn dogs.

We love that it also has beep and vibration functions. The beep can be used as positive reinforcement while the vibration is a non-spray correction tool. 

Waterproof, super lightweight, and with a 300-yard range, this gentle alternative is perfect for a day at the lake, and you don’t have to remove it before it soaks in the backyard pool. 

Size & Coverage

This collar is the best option for our test dogs who are too shy for static training. This option is already a big favorite because there are no harmful prongs or shocks.

The vibration mode was a plus for us, and you can add a second collar on the same remote to train 2 dogs simultaneously. 

That said, the little citronella cartridges are really small and easy to use up quickly, so the cost of replacing them is worth thinking about.

However, as the dog is better trained, the cartridges last longer.

The other consideration is the weight of the cartridges. While they only contain 35 sprays, it would be too heavy for the dog’s neck to make them larger.

This weight is a consideration for very small dogs. We don’t recommend leaving the collar on all the time.

Ease Of Use

The PetSafe Remote Spray Trainer features an easy-to-use remote that prioritizes ease of use.

We were ready to go after a quick run-through in the manual and fitting the collars to our dogs.

We would have liked to change the level of tone and vibration, but the collar is built around the spray function with the other features being added bonuses.

If your dog is tiny or a toy breed, this option may be too heavy and bulky for your pup.

Some dogs with thicker fur may drown out the sound of the tone, or the vibration may come off as only a small tickle. 

Medium-sized dogs are small and sensitive enough to feel the correction methods but large enough to bear the weight of the collar itself. 

Replacement cartridges are easy to get and refill, but the cartridge cover may wear out and be difficult to latch after prolonged use.

SEE PRICE ON AMAZON

Comparison Chart

ProductsAffordabilityComfortEffectivenessSizingQuality
Best Overall5/55/55/55/55/5
Best for Working Dogs4/55/55/55/55/5
Best Bark Collar5/55/55/55/54/5
Best Long-Range3/54/55/55/55/5
Best Budget Buy5/53/55/54/54/5
Best for Night Visibility3/55/55/55/55/5
Best Spray Collar3/54/54/55/54/5

The Winner

Overall, we loved the Dog Care Dog Training Collar.

This thing has excellent pet safety measures, is easy to set up and use, and works well for training dogs in all walks of life.

Combined with the affordability, we think this training collar will work in most situations.

Read More: How Long Can My Dog Wear a Correction Collar For? Keeping your dog’s collar on for too long could result in serious consequences. Here’s what to know!

Factors to Help You Choose The Best Dog Training Collar

Owner fastening a training collar on their dog
Choosing the right training collar depends on you and your dog’s needs.

We recommend thinking through these factors to help you choose the best dog training collar for your dog’s behaviors and needs:

  • Durability & comfort of the collar will it fit the dog and be a comfortable width and weight for your dog?
  • Waterproofing do the collar and remote need to be waterproof for inclement weather, playing in the pool, or training in wet or marshy areas?
  • Display size, readability, and backlight do you need to see the settings at night?
  • Number of dogs per remote how many dogs do you want to train with one remote?
  • Collar size is the collar long enough to fit your dog comfortably?
  • Wireless range between the remote and collar – will the range suit your yard, property, or training area?
  • Levels of intensity settings we prefer more intensity settings so we can fine-tune it for our dogs’ comfort. 
  • Remote control – Do you want it to be always on, remote-controlled, or a combination of both?

Read More: Best Bark Collars for Small Dogs. If you have a small dog, these bark collars may be a better choice for training.

Types of Dog Training Collars

Depending on the type of training you need with your dog, these are the main types of correction that are built-in to dog training collars.

  • Spray (citronella or unscented_
  • Static shock in variable intensities
  • Vibration that is stand-alone or can be combined with other training input
  • Beeping that is stand-alone or can be combined
  • Ultrasonic devices are sometimes placed on a collar to provide corrective sounds that are not audible to human ears. These can also be found as stand-alone units.

What is Your Dog’s Temperament?

The best dog training collar depends entirely on your dog’s personality.

One dog could respond excellently to an electronic collar, whereas another dog might respond better to no-shock dog training collars like the spray option on our list.

Dogs that are timid, shy, and tend to wet the floor when they are scared should never be put into a static shock training collar.

It is simply too much correction for this type of dog. They will respond better to positive-reinforcement beeps and gentle vibrations.

An especially stubborn, distractible, or hard-to-train dog will need more corrective input that may have to include shock to get the dog to pay attention and understand the difference between desirable and undesirable behavior.

Read More: At What Age Can I Use a Shock Collar On a Puppy? If you plan to use a shock collar during training, here’s what age you should wait to begin!

Ultrasonic Device

Ultrasounds are undetectable to the human ear but emit an intense piercing sound for dogs.

Handheld ultrasonic devices can be found in your local pet store, sometimes in the form of dog whistles, anti-barking yard units, or on a bark collar. 

Vibration Collar

Vibration collars have sensors that “feel” when your dog is barking too much and vibrate to interrupt your dog’s behavior.

This form of training is completely humane and pain-free, however particularly aggressive or stubborn dogs may not respond to gentle vibrations.

Static Shock Collar

For most dog collars, static shock training is popularly chosen for its middle ground between results and comfort.

It sacrifices a bit of comfort to ensure you see improvements in your dog. 

A well-trained dog is safer for itself and others. Knowing that your dog knows boundaries and good behavior gives you much peace of mind.

We only use collars that allow us to fine-tune the shock to use the minimum level needed to get our dogs’ attention.

Read More: Radius Shock Collar for Dogs With Remote. We tested the top radius shock collars for dogs 10 pounds and up!

Disclaimer

Before opting for shock collar use, we suggest obedience training as your initial response to bad behavior.

Training your dog can prevent the potential stress of a shock collar, and is a more positive way of preventing unwanted behavior. 

Shock collars should be a last resort and only considered if obedience training fails or if you have a stubborn, large, or aggressive dog.

While shock collars aren’t considered harmful, and have been used by trainers to get the attention of tough cases for decades, for some dogs they can cause emotional distress.

Brain training techniques are a science-backed way to improve your dog’s behavior without the use of force or dominance!

Read More: Can Shock Collars Cause Seizures? If you’re concerned about how a shock collar could affect your dog’s health, this guide is for you!

Spray Collar

Usually accompanied by a remote, a spray collar releases a short burst of citronella or unscented liquid.

These cartridges are small and need room in the budget to be replaced when empty.

Most unacceptable behaviors ended pretty quickly when we tested our spray collars.

We’ve determined that dogs must hate the smell of the citronella and the mist on their muzzles.

Always-on or Remote-controlled?

Proactively training your dog means that remote-controlled access is a must-have.

The handheld remote is usually small and ergonomic, with buttons that are easy to memorize and use without looking.

Choose the wireless range that best suits your dog’s roaming area and the type of training you need to do.

Collars that are always-on administer correction automatically and only correct barking.

If your dog needs barking correction and other training, choose an always-on collar that includes a remote for in-person training. 

Read More: The Best Leather Dog Collars. Give your dog a classy look with these leather dog collars! We tested the top options for quality, appearance, size, and more!

Honorable Mentions

Here’s a brief look at the 3 options that didn’t make our best dog training collar list.

1. Garmin Delta Dog Training Device

This is a lightweight and waterproof collar that is great for outdoor training in all weather.

We love that it comes with a robust remote control, has 3 correction settings, 18 levels of single-tap or continuous shock, and can train up to 3 dogs per remote. 

While the Garmin is a little cheaper, we liked the overall feel and features of the Dogtra 280C.

It has the same range, but it can be adjusted through 127 levels of stimulation so we can fine-tune it for our dogs.

2. Petrainer Shock Collar

This lightweight dog training collar is comfortable, has 3 correction modes, 100 intensity levels, and is 100% waterproof.

Overall we liked the Pet Union Premium Dog Training Collar better than this one, so we chose to recommend it instead, though you can’t go wrong with either one for a good budget buy.

3. Dogtra IQ-PLUS Remote Trainer

This trainer has a 400-yard range, 100-levels of static correction that can be administered as a ½-second “nick” or more continuous pulse.

The buttons are easy to use, and the front dial makes selecting the right shock level easy.

We tested a lot of Dogtra training collars and found this is a reliable brand that we feel comfortable recommending.

We chose to recommend the Dogtra 280C because you get a better range for just a little more money.

4. Garmin Sport PRO Bundle

Garmin is a serious contender in this space with robust and technologically-advanced dog training collars and remotes.

This one has 4 training buttons to activate the static shock, vibration, and tone. 

Our main problem with this dog collar is that it has only 10 static shock levels, so the difference between each level is remarkable.

We prefer the Dogtra 280C because it has similar functionality with a huge range of 127 shock levels.

5. Dogtra 1900S

This collar is hard to beat. We had a rough time picking between it and the other Dogtra versions to include on our list of top picks.

This collar has 127-levels of shock control, a ¾-mile range, and a vibration pager so you can recall your dog.

We didn’t pick this version for our top picks because it only has shock correction.

We like to have other options for our dogs to make sure they get the point when we’re training without going overboard.

We chose the Dogtra 280C, which has better overall training options.

6. Petronics Rechargeable Training Shock Collar

This trainer has 4 training modes, vibration, light, shock, and tone. The remote can activate the collar from up to 330-yards away.

We like that the collar has 100 levels of shock control and a backlit screen on the remote. 

Our main drawback is that we got one to test, but they seem to be out of stock all the time, so we recommend the Dog Care Dog Training Collar, which is similar in design but easier to get.

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Jesse Hopping, CCDT

Jesse is a natural-born dog-lover certified dog trainer (CCDT), dog foster, and former volunteer at Richmond SPCA and surrounding dog shelters for over 10 years. Her pack includes a Bernedoodle and 3 Boston Terriers. She’s sipping caramel coffee and watching her pack play in the sun when she’s not writing blogs. Jesse has her Certified Dog Trainer designation from CATCH Canine Trainers Academy since 2018 and and majored in English from the University of Virginia.

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