The Best Dog Training Collar: Reviews of 2021’s Top Options

Written by Rick Allen

Using a training collar is a tried and true method of helping your dog to learn basic safety and to avoid problem behaviors such as barking. Unfortunately, there are so many useless dog training collars out there that the entire product category has a bad reputation. Fortunately, we have done our homework to show that there are some great products out there. If you are looking for the best dog training collar, you’ll absolutely find what you need here. 

Best Dog Training Collars of 2021

Given that all dog training collars are not created equally, it’s a good idea to know what to look for when you go shopping. Below are five dog training collars that are not only great for your pup but easy to use effectively. If you are using electric collars for dogs as a dog trainer, these are definitely the best dog training collars with which you can start.

Educator by E-Collar

The primary purpose of getting a dog a training collar is not to punish a dog for its behavior; instead, the goal of the device is to help your dog understand which behaviors are safe and which might end up harming the dog. This philosophy is at the heart of the Education by E-Collar, an excellent device that not only helps most dogs to control their own behavior, but that puts a lot of power in the hands of dog owners to ensure that the device remains both effective and humane for their dogs no matter what their size or their temperament. 

If you take a look at the control portion of this device from afar, you’ll probably be reminded of a child’s toy. The bright color and the big, friendly buttons are actually incredibly useful – they help to ensure that not only can every dog owner understand how to use the controller, but that it’s very hard to make any mistakes while it is being used. This is user-friendliness taken to an extreme level, but it’s also something that can make you feel much more comfortable when using dog training collars for barking with your furry friend. 

The actual corrective process is also fairly intuitive. The device uses a quick, blunt corrective measure to alert your dog. It’s certainly a bit of a surprise to your dog, but it’s engineered to ensure that it doesn’t actually cause pain. The quick stimulus is also made to ensure safety, as it does away with any longer pulses that could end up causing harm or irritation. This electronic dog collar really puts the dog first, giving him or her what he or she needs to be corrected while still making sure that the dog won’t suffer. It is, in short, what most caring dog owners really want from this kind of product. 

With a humane approach and a user-friendly design, the Educator is one of the best dog training collars out there. Though it might be a little low on the number of features, its simplicity is a plus for many. If you want a simple training device that you know will keep your dog safe, this is a great collar for you to consider. 

SportDOG Yard Trainer

One of the weirder things about trying to find a training device for dogs is that they tend to have trouble working with dogs who are more stubborn than average. As you can imagine, though, this is exactly the kind of dog that tends to need a little more help in the training department. That’s the best part about the SportDog Yard Trainer – it really feels like it’s meant for those dogs who need the added help that comes from a good shock collar meant to train your dog. 

The way that this particular device is set up is actually fairly simple. The control mechanism looks and feels a lot like a walkie-talkie, so there are no weird grip issues and all of the buttons are set up in a way that makes sense to the average dog owner. This means that you’re not going to spend much time messing around with settings when your dog needs you, which in turn means that you’re going to have fewer problems correcting your dog when he or she needs help. This kind of design really helps to reinforce the lessons that dogs need to know when they need to know them.

The corrective function of the remote dog training collar is also fairly advanced. There are eight different levels of correction, so you can dial in on the level that’s going to be the most effective for your dog. When most people hear that a system is made for headstrong dogs, they immediately start thinking of something that’s cruel or harmful – instead, this system works for that kind of dog by being more precise. This, coupled with a tone-only system that can warn dogs, really goes a long way towards ensuring that the system is very humane. 

Taken as a whole, this unit is a really great tool for those pet parents who want to help curb bad behaviors but who want to do so with a minimum impact on their dog’s mood or health. It’s a solid piece of remote dog training engineering that can stand up to big dogs and tough dogs without treating them like they’ve done something wrong – definitely a big improvement over some of the older models that have been on the market. 

PetSafe Big Dog Remote Trainer

When you’re training a dog of any size, it’s important to have options. When you’re working with a medium or large dog, you want to make sure that those options walk a fine line. On one hand, you absolutely want a training collar that is going to be able to get your dog’s attention. On the other, though, you want to make sure that the training collar doesn’t become a tool that’s used as a punishment. Your goal is to help your pet find a way to be his or her best self – and doing that often requires a tool like the Big Dog Remote Trainer. 

The big draw for this collar is definitely the sixteen different levels of stimulation. Having sixteen levels doesn’t mean that the collar goes up significantly higher in terms of the level of correction it gives your dog, but rather than you can fine-tune the collar so that does its job in the most efficient manner possible. This not only helps you to ensure that your dog still feels comfortable wearing the collar, but it allows you to gradually make changes in order to make sure that your dog understands what is going on

The multiple levels are great, but they’d be hard to use if the unit didn’t have an effective controller. The controller here is actually fairly nice, fitting into a user’s hand without any awkwardness and with clearly labeled buttons. It’s got a fairly generous range and it’s simple enough for any user to figure it out within just a few minutes. The ease of use is going to make it much easier for even a brand-new dog owner to figure out how to get the most out of the collar.

In short, this is a good choice for those pet owners who know that their dog’s going to take a little more attention in order to learn proper behaviors. If you’re willing to really work with your dog and use this collar to its full potential, you’ll almost certainly love the results that you get. This is really the ideal choice for those who have gone through more standard dog training collars and who are looking for something that’s going to help them deal with their dogs’ unique behavior issues. 

PetSpy M686 Premium

One of the tougher parts of getting any kind of dog training tool is figuring out how to get it to work with smaller animals. While there are certainly some great training collars out there for medium and big dogs, the little breeds tend to get left out. That’s one of the most impressive parts of the PetSpy M686 – not just that it works, but that it works for dogs as small as ten pounds. Small or not, though, your dog is going to end up getting a lot out of this collar.

The first place to look, as usual, is how this unit is controlled. While the other collars on this list have been very easy to use, this is the one that comes the closest to fool-proof. Not only is the design perfect for keeping in your hand while you’re outside, but it is so clearly labeled that you could figure out how to use the device without ever looking at the instruction manual. The clear labels make it easier than ever to make sure that you respond to your dog quickly and appropriately, helping to reinforce your training without any major delays. 

Of course, the way that the collars work also matters. This collar has four different correction modes, each of which can be modified to ensure that the dog gets the appropriate level of sound, shock, and/or vibration. Again, including the variable settings makes it very easy to ensure that your dog is actually getting the kind of feedback that he or she needs to actually learn from the collar, moving it from an exercise in punishment to one that can actually help your dog to learn. 

This is a fantastic collar for those who want to help train their dogs at a distance or who have smaller pets. It’s also an incredibly durable piece of technology, so it’s great for dogs who love to run and play. If you have an active, smaller dog who needs a little bit of extra help learning the difference between safe and unsafe, this might be the perfect collar for you. With its easy-to-use controls and great design, it’s definitely a contender for the best-in-show award. 

DogCare Shock Dog Training Collar

Every dog is different. Even if you know that you are going to use a training collar with a dog, you have to be aware that any given animal might react differently from his or her peers. That’s why so many modern dog training collars have extra options and why this collar from DogCare is so popular. Not only does it have three different training modes, but there are close to one hundred different static stimulation levels to choose from in order to give your dog the best training possible. 

The big selling point here is the multiple training modes. While many dog collars immediately go for the shock, this one has three different options from which to choose. For some dogs, having a single loud beep will be enough. Other dogs can be persuaded by the gentle vibration of the collar. Those dogs that do need a bit more of a jolt to stop a behavior don’t get a one-size-fits-all experience, though – the collar can be set to one of ninety-nine different levels, which ensures that a dog gets no more correction than it absolutely needs to stop a behavior. 

The other great thing about this unit is the control mechanism. Like most modern training collars, it is very simple to use and the controls are obvious. Unlike some others, though, it goes a step farther in ensuring that no miscommunications can occur. This unit actually has a security keypad lock to make sure that only authorized individuals can use the corrective functions and that no mistakes will happen during operation. This is a small bit of extra security for your pet, but it’s one that really does matter.

This is an ideal unit both for those who want to try multiple training methods and for those worried about the safety of their dogs. Being able to customize the experience to the dog is great and it makes it easier to move the collar from one dog to the next. If you are looking to train your dog and you want to make sure that you’re using a training method that is really right for him or her, this is definitely the collar that you need to give a try. 

Dogtra 1900s

Known for its durability and versatility, the Dogtra 1900S has been the preferred choice of trainers that work at extreme ranges and in extreme conditions. This unit has an IPX9K waterproof certification, which is the highest waterproof and heat level. Thanks to its long range and durability, the Dogtra 1900S features a premium black finish along with blue LED lights that enhance its tactical aesthetics and fit for the most demanding conditions during K9 training or in competition.

Slim and sleek, the Dogtra 1900S has a seamless design that lets the strap wrap around your dog’s neck and the receiver. With its ergonomic design, this collar will fit on your dog comfortably and make it a versatile choice for any occasion or activity. This durable collar has an IPX9K waterproof certification

The Dogtra 1900S comes with a ¾ of a mile range, which is enough to perform both simple and complex training commands with your dog and makes it ideal for K9 training, hunting, or serious obedience training. Giving you precise control, this collar has 127 stimulation levels, so you won’t have an issue finding just the right level for your pup using precise and gradual stimulation control. Easy to read, the bright LCD screen allows you to easily adjust the level at any point using the included Rheostat Dial.

PetSafe 900-Yard Dog Training Collar

Designed for dog owners that like to take long walks with their dogs, the PetSafe 900-Yard Dog Training collar is one of the longest-reaching trainers on the market. Basically covering a half-mile, this training collar is great for dogs that take a trail head-on, so you can still have control over your dog while he’s out of sight.

With its comfortable-to-use design, the PetSafe 900-Yard Dog Training Collar fits easily in your hand. It also features intuitively designed buttons that are easy to find and use. The display includes a large font and is backlit, so you can easily read it at any time of the day.

Durable and built to last a lifetime, the PetSafe Collar can survive your pup’s most rugged adventure. Made of a coated, ridged nylon that prevents slipping, this remote and collar are waterproof, which is great for dogs that love to jump in a pond.

Featuring three types of stimulations, the PetSafe Collar has 15 levels of static, an audible tone, and vibration to choose from allowing you to find the best fit for your pup. It also features an integrated safety lock that won’t unlock accidentally. Both the collar and remote only take two hours to charge and then last up to 40 hours.

Easily train two dogs at the same time using just one remote. The PetSafe Collar fits dogs up to eight pounds and neck sizes up to 27-inches, but it isn’t designed for dogs under six months old. This product also includes a quick start guide, test light tool, and USB charging cable.

Garmin Sport PRO Dog Training Collar Bundle

Compact and able to handle training up to three dogs, the Garmin Sport PRO Dog Training Collar Bundle is lightweight and features an ergonomic design. This collar set is intuitive and simple to use with just one hand. It is also customizable and uses a quick-turn dial that gives you positive clinks when you change in between 10 different stimulation levels or when you are controlling the auxiliary functions.

The Garmin Sport PRO includes four training buttons that offer momentary and continuous tones, vibrations, and stimulation. The collars and dog devices include replaceable and interchangeable short and long contact points as well. And the integrated BarkLimiter that features settable levels that keep everything quieter to help prevent unwanted barking from your pup.

Allowing you to always keep an eye on your dog, this device can be operated with one hand, even when you are switching between the dog and the stimulation levels. The included multiple dog toggle switch along with the color-coded buttons are lined up comfortably in your hand for easy fingertip control.

The Garmin Sport PRO features a fixed transmitter antenna that eliminates the possibility of a broken or lost antenna and also gives you up to ¾ of a mile range. It also allows you to operate the LED beacon lights remotely, so you can locate your dog in dark. And it comes with a rechargeable, long-lasting, and user-replaceable battery that indicates the life of the battery on the transmitter, so you know when you need to recharge it.

Durable and water-resistant, the device collar and handheld transmitter are designed to handle any type of bump, blow, or wet conditions as you train. It also includes two insulated, stainless, and removable contact points to ensure you have reliable performance in harsh conditions as well as extended your dog’s comfort. This device has an IPX7 water rating and will even float thanks to its 1ATM water rating.

Pet Union Premium Dog Training Collar

If you are looking for a training experience that is customizable, the PetTech Dog Training Collar is used by both new dog owners and top expert trainers. This collar will successfully allow you to train a dog that weighs between 10 and 100 pounds. Not only is this collar waterproof, but it features four different modes including shock, vibration, light, and beep, so you can choose the method that works best for your pup.

With the shock and vibration modes, you can adjust the level from one to 100 to personalize your dog’s training to the best level to get him to respond. The light mode helps you to train your dog at night while the beep mode is perfect for beginners to train a dog to walk on a leash correctly.

The PetTech Dog Collar also comes with a remote that features an LCD screen that is easy to read. The remote has a range of up to 1000 feet, and it also comes with a fast-charging battery that has super long battery life. It also comes with an Auto Power Protect Mode, which will help the device conserve its battery when you aren’t using it.

PetSafe Remote Spray Trainer

Featuring a handy remote control, the PetSafe Remote Spray Trainer allows you to always stay in control. An effective choice for dogs of any temperament, this trainer is perfect for sensitive or shy dogs that may find static training too much for them. So, you don’t have to constantly refill the trainer, this product has a specific design that gives your dog a quick spray instead of the long spray settings seen in other collars.

Easy to refill, this collar features recyclable cartridges that are pre-filled, so you don’t have to deal with refilling canisters. Both the remote and collar are waterproof, which makes them great for dogs that like to roll in puddles are get stuck in the rain. It also comes with rechargeable batteries that have about a 40-hour lifespan.

The unit comes with three training options including spray, vibration, and audible tone, so it’s easy to find one that works the best when training your pup. You get two cartridges with the collar including one that is unscented and one that has a citronella scent. And each of the cartridges will give you about 35 sprays.

Featuring a 300-yard range, the PetSafe Remote Spray Trainer fits dogs that are eight pounds and larger and will fit neck sizes that are up to 27-inches. You also get a quick start guide and a USB charging cord.

Considerations When Choosing a Dog Training Collar

When choosing a training collar for your dog, look for a waterproof, durable, and reliable product that has a manufacturer warranty. Typically, a training collar will have a tone, vibrations, or shock feature, and it should be completely rechargeable. It’s important to ask yourself if you are using the collar for behavioral issues or basic obedience training, and what are your dog’s temperament and approximate weight?

Types of Training

There are two types of training that you would use a training collar for, either basic obedience training like teaching your dog to come, stay, or sit, or to solve some behavioral issues like chasing cars, digging up plants, chewing on shoes, or eating something he shouldn’t. You also need to consider the range of the collar, since working to break a bad habit will probably need to be done at close range, so a long-range collar probably won’t be of much use.

Typically, a dog training collar has a range of about a half of a mile, but they begin at 100 yards and go out as far as two miles. A remote dog training collar works using a radio signal similar to a walkie-talkie. Its range is affected by different factors like the weather and terrain. If the manufacturer states a ½-mile range for a training collar, then you should get the full range if you can still see your dog clearly across alike or fields on a clear day.

When you factor in dense woods, snow, rain, and hills, it can cut down the transmit range a lot. So, when you choose a dog training collar, it is better to have a longer range and not use it than choose a collar with less range and find you need it. When your dog runs out of the transmission range, the collar is basically useless.

If you live in the city, and you have a dog that pulls a lot on his leash as you walk, you can use the training collar to give your pup so more freedom as you safely walk him off his leas at the dog park, so a range of a half-mile or even less should be fine. But if you live in the country or even the suburbs, your dog will have more room to run. If your dog likes to chase animals or run a long distance from home, then you will need a training collar with a longer range. Wherever it is that you live, it is best to think about the following consideration when you choose the best training collar for your pup.

Dog Temperament and Weight

You will find that remote dog training collars fall into one of these two categories.

Low to medium power output – This is a good choice for a sensitive dog or a dog that has a normal temperament.

Low to high power output – This is a good choice for a tougher dog that is stubborn.

Usually, a large breed dog will need a collar with a higher output, but that’s isn’t always the case. Always consider both your dog’s personality and weight to choose which category is best for your dog.

How Do Training Collars Work?

Using a radio signal to give your dog a mild stimulus sent using a remote control, a dog training collar is worn on the dog’s neck and will help to encourage your dog to be compliant with your commands or to stop negative behaviors.

Using an unpleasant sensation, the stimulus will distract your dog using something like the static shock that you feel when you touch a metal surface or any carpeting. While this is a briefly unpleasant and startling sensation, it doesn’t hurt you. Neither does the sensation that your dog receives from the training color. It just makes your dog pay attention and refocus.

Used to reinforce commands like Come, Sit, Stay, and Heel, the stimulation helps a dog learn to stop feeling the unpleasant sensation when he responds correctly to commands. When used to correct a behavioral issue like jumping, digging, and barking, a dog will learn to associate this unpleasant feeling with his own negative behavior.

While using this unpleasant sensation may be considered a “negative” stimulus, which causes some dog owners and trainers to dislike it, the same can be said about using a pinch or choke collar during training. The dog training collar simply gives a dog a humane correction that is similar to just tapping a dog on his shoulder, but from a distance, and not using force, which can damage a dog’s larynx and spinal cord.

When training your dog, the goal should be to get results using the least amount of stimulation that your dog will respond to, which may even be hardly perceptible to you. A dog training color will come with levels of stimulation that you can choose from to customize the setting for your specific dog’s temperament. It’s important to start at the lowest level and then go up from there.

A dog’s training collar will also have a tone and vibration-only mode that you can use as a warning to get your dog’s attention before you need to use the static stimulation. Using a training collar will bring out the best behaviors in a dog. It is designed to focus your dog’s attention instantly on your, which can help you to teach him basic commands like Come and Stay, or it can help to stop behavior issues like jumping on guests or digging up plants. A training collar can benefit a new dog owner or professional trainers as an effective form of communication with a dog.

Selecting The Right Size Training Collar

When you choose the right size training collar, it’s important to consider the size of the dog that you are putting it on. A large dog will need a more substantial collar that has a wide width where a small pet will require something a little more delicate that won’t weigh him down.

When you buy a dog collar, first measure your pup’s neck. Always pay very close attention to the width and length of the collar. If you can, use a tape measure or ruler to help you visualize the right side of the collar if you are shopping online.

Remember that the measurements that are listed online refer to the actual length of the collar itself and not the size of the dog’s neck that the collar fits. If your dog isn’t quite fully grown yet, it may be a good idea to get something that will adjust to fit him as he grows.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best dog collar for obedience training?

The Garmin Sport PRO Dog Training Collar Bundle is compact and able to handle training up to three dogs. This collar set is intuitive and simple to use with just one hand, plus it’s also customizable and uses includes replaceable and interchangeable short and long contact points as well. And the integrated BarkLimiter that features settable levels that keep everything quieter to help prevent any unwanted barking from your pup.

Durable and water-resistant, the device collar and handheld transmitter are designed to handle any type of bump, blow, or wet conditions as you train. This device has an IPX7 water rating and will even float thanks to its 1ATM water rating. The Garmin Sport PRO Dog Training Collar Bundle is a great choice if you need to obedience train your new dog or stops bad behavior.

Are our training collars bad for dogs?

No, the dog training collar is not a bad training tool for a dog. It just grabs the dog’s attention so that his behavior can be corrected.

If you use a dog training collar and decide to use a level of the shock option, test it against your arm first to make sure it isn’t too painful. Remember that the shock will be something that the dog has not felt before, so it can be a very effective and quick tool to correct or change his behavior.

In fact, a dog will come to quickly associate the vibration or warning beep before the shock comes, which will help him correct the unwanted behavior without having to use the shock level. Remember that as your dog becomes focused, you can lower or turn off the jolt so that he only hears the warning beep or feels the vibration. you are trying to correct.

Do dog trainers recommend shock collars?

Some trainers do use dog training collars and understand how to use the different intensity levels and the modes that they offer. It’s possible that just using the vibration will be enough to dissuade the dog from his aggressive behavior. Always test the training collar on your arm to see what stimulation level you feel comfortable with using on the dog you are training.

Remember that the goal of the training collar is to get the dog used to the collar’s training techniques. This means that they will learn that the vibration mode is a part of a trigger to do a particular behavior and not as a punishment. So, you should use the trigger, then the command, and then the praise.

Any time you use a dog training collar, use it in combination with treats and praise. Only use the low-level shock for sharp punishments when he misbehaves. But if he exhibits good behavior, then he should be rewarded immediately. Overall, the dog training collar should only be used as a training trigger, and it should not be used as a punishment for bad behavior.