SportDOG FieldTrainer 425XS - Remote Trainer Designed for Off-Leash Control Training - for Stubborn Dogs - 500-Yard Range

I was very skeptical about buying a shock collar. My first three days were great. I absolutely loved it, then the collar no longer lined up with my charger. I called the company instead of returning it to Amazon. I spoke to a customer service representative who made me feel very comfortable with their service. She was friendly and knowledgeable about the situation. I was very impressed with their service and would certainly recommend using their products. Within 5 to 7 business days, I had a new collar. I watched the video and read the training manual. Now my dogs all walk leash free. The durability, vibration level, and functionality are excellent for stubborn dogs. It’s waterproof and easy to use. I want to say that it’s a one size fit all so don’t be afraid to use it on a small to medium size dog. Read more

I have a Mini Aussie, now 6 months old. She's 99.9% of the time always with me, I bring her to work with me. I got her on this at 5 months and it has helped in more ways than one. She's super stubborn and her recall is very good without distractions. But if there are people or dogs walking around, she's so distracted - she doesn't hear my recall. So the beep / vibrations definitely help. She hears the beep and she immediately turns around. When she's so amped up, I boop her a few times and she's like 'Fine!' and immediately turns around back to her heel position. There are times when the boop doesn't work very well, even when the collar is securely on her. I have to turn it on and off a few times to get it working properly. The vibrations and sound work great - just not the boop at times. And it dies after 2-3 days, but I am using it practically everyday. Especially when we go to the dog park. Read more

I have been searching for a well balanced e-collar to add an additional level of training for my dog, especially for off leash work where I am attempting to move away from long leash training and still make my dog accountable for obedience. This collar is wonderful; I want to start with that right off the bat. I had originally tried the 425X model and then switched to the 425XS model after I noticed that my dog had no reaction to the max output on the 425X, so I tried the "stubborn dog" version. It most definitely works and gets his attention. However, that's the issue, is it is too strong. This e-collar sits at a middle of the pack price range compared to more expensive options like the mini educator and dogtra offerings and as such has some downsides. The only downside really in my opinion though, is the lack of true range. This collar only has 21 different "power levels" when on the low, medium, or high mode set on the actual collar. When compared to other brands which have over 100 settings often, this model can seem lacking. Ultimately, this collar did not work for my dog and my needs as a trainer. I find myself looking for something with more sensitivity adjustment to really work with my dog. As the manual for these say, you DO NOT want to be stimming your dog so hard they are in pain or uncomfortable. The goal is to get their attention using the bare minimum and to save the real high intensity modes for moments when they are extremely distracted. These are built well and seem like they would've lasted for a few years of heavy use. Easy and simple to use, three buttons for three powers, and a physical dial to switch between the varying intensities. Decent battery life and good signal between collar and controller. I say try this if you are curious or thinking of e-collar training and see if it works with your specific dog. For many, this will serve just as well as a $200+ e-collar. Read more

I’ve had several Sportdog training collars over the years. They had some quality-control problems many years ago but the last one I had lasted 10 years. One thing that surprised me was Sportdog has miniaturized the design. Both the collar and the remote are about half the size of my old ones. For those old enough to remember “beepers” that’s about the size and weight of the remote, excluding the short antenna. I usually carry the remote in my pocket and just press the buttons through the fabric, so the small size is welcome. The collar and “zapper” also disappear into my dog’s fur. Likes: -Small in size. -Many different power levels, so it’s easy to “tune” the collar to something that just gets the dog’s attention without causing unnecessary distress. -Many different operating modes including one that mimics the function of the older remotes. I don’t have to re-learn which button to press. -Adequate range. My dog always wants to be pretty near me anyway, so I don’t need the longer ranged models. Dislikes: -Euphemisms in the manual. “Static Stimulation” is baloney sauce. When you press the button, you are driving a very small electric current through your dog’s skin. Before you put this on your dog, you need to grip the “zapper” tightly with the electrodes pressing into your palm, grit your teeth, and press the buttons. It’s harmless, but the higher levels are quite uncomfortable. You just need to know. A word of caution: These kinds of collars are great for fixing minor misbehavior like nuisance barking, “selective hearing” of commands, tugging at the leash, etc. They are especially good for high-energy, driven, “hard” dogs. I would not recommend any kind of shock collar for a dog with serious aggression problems. You might only make him or her angry. I would also not use a tool like this on a timid or “soft” dog. It’s also easy to make mistakes like triggering the collar at the wrong time or with too much power. I have done both and felt terrible about it. If you are not already a well-experienced dog owner, I respectfully recommend you spend your money on obedience classes with a professional trainer instead. It will be far more productive. Read more