Whether you’ve welcomed a rescue dog or a brand-new puppy into your home, obedience training might be the first challenge you and your furry friend undertake together.
The good news is this: For the most part (and with a few exceptions), most dogs want to please you. But it can take a little time and an intentional, consistent strategy to help your dog understand your expectations.
Dog training collars are one important tool to help your dog behave in a way that leads to less stress for both of you. We put together a list of the best collars on the market to jump-start your search.
How We Chose
It’s not easy to wade through all the dog training collars on the market. We carefully looked at what’s available based on honest reviews from verified customers, brand reputation (BBB, TrustPilot, and other consumer review websites), standout marks for dog safety, effectiveness for obedience training, and quality products that fit a variety of price points.
How to Choose the Best Dog Training Collar
There are several approaches to obedience training, and the one you choose should depend on your dog’s breed and the results you’re hoping for. Before choosing the best approach for you and your dog, you’ll want to understand the different types of collars out there.
- Static collars. “Static” is a word used to mean “shock.” Every static collar delivers an electric shock to the nape of your dog’s neck. Not everyone agrees with this method of training. Your dog will associate obedience with not getting a shock but may decide only to listen when wearing the collar. Shock collars are controversial and should only be used with consultation with your vet.
- Vibrating collars. These collars simply train your dog with audio and vibration settings, rather than static settings. Some dogs will respond well to vibrations, while others won’t.
- GPS collars. These collars have a GPS tracking tag in them to let you know where your dog is at all times. These collars sometimes operate off a cell tower instead of relying on remote coverage. GPS collars may be able to set up invisible fencing (geofences) and will vibrate or stimulate your dog when crossing the boundary.
- Halter collars. These collars will redirect your dog when they try to pull you along during a walk — instead of the other way around.
Top 10 Dog Training Collars
- Best Overall: Educator ET-800 The Boss
- Best for Puppies: Elecane Mini Training Collar
- Best Long-Range: PetSafe 900 Yard Remote Trainer
- Best for Toy Breeds: Wiggle Kingdom No Shock Dog Collar
- Best No-Shock: Wagz Freedom Smart Dog Collar
- Best With Tracking: The Link Smart Pet Wearable
- Best for Independent Dogs: SportDOG Brand FieldTrainer 425XS
- Best on a Budget: PD 523 Remote Dog Training Collar
- Best for Multiple Dogs: Huncho Electronic Dog Training Collar
- Best for Heel-Training: PetSafe Gentle Leader Headcollar
Best Overall: Educator ET-800 The Boss
What we like
- Long range
- Long battery life
- Lots of training options
What we dislike
- Expensive
- Design may not be user-friendly
This stimulation collar is designed to work for any dog breed over 25 pounds. There are over 100 levels of static correction, and you can set the collar to remember your preferred setting every time you train. You can also choose the “vibrate-only” setting to avoid static correction.
It’s also fully waterproof, making it perfect for trail adventures alongside lakes and streams. The battery will charge fully within two hours, and a carrying case for the remote is included.
Our main reason for putting this at the top of the list is simple: The collar gets results. Reviewers say this collar is highly effective at teaching dogs how to behave off-leash and that the results of training with this collar are long-lasting.
A two-year limited warranty protects your purchase.
Range: 1 mile
Best for Puppies: Elecane Mini Training Collar
What we like
- Waterproof and weatherproof
- Safe for toy breeds
- No risk of electrical shock
What we dislike
- Not for larger dogs
- Vibrations won’t work to correct every dog
This collar was made for puppies and adult dogs as little as 5 pounds. Most training collars aren’t safe or recommended for little dogs, but this one is perfect to begin the process of training your new pup. This collar is also relatively affordable compared to other dog training collars.
The Elecane Mini is a no-shock collar that uses sound and vibration to give correction when your puppy needs a redirect. That means it’s safer for pups with lower body weight.
Still, you should always check with your vet before you start any training collar program to ensure your dog is mature enough to benefit from obedience training. You should also know that some strong-willed dogs might not benefit from a no-shock collar; they’ll just get annoyed.
Range: 1,000 feet
Best Long-Range: PetSafe 900 Yard Remote Trainer
What we like
- Waterproof
- Customer service line for training questions
- Safety features
What we dislike
- Remotes may not be durable
- High static levels might be painful for some dogs
This remote training collar from the trusted PetSafe brand is designed to call your dog back when you’re out on an adventure. You can even buy an additional collar to train two dogs from the same remote. It’s meant for any dog over 6 months old who weighs 8 pounds or more.
You can choose from audible tones, vibration, or static to get your dog’s attention, and a safety feature keeps the collar from getting locked onto higher levels and hurting your dog. The collar and its remote are also fully waterproof.
Some reviewers did report that the remote stopped holding a charge after a short period of use, but it seems as though the PetSafe care team addressed these situations.
Range: 900 yards
Best for Toy Breeds: Wiggle Kingdom No Shock Dog Collar
What we like
- Remote and receiver charge simultaneously
- 1,000-foot range
- Safe for smaller dogs
What we dislike
- Doesn’t work for dogs over 15 pounds
- Might get lost easily due to small size
This collar is meant to be used on toy breeds and other small dogs. It has a vibration and an audible feature but no static. That means there’s no electrical shock to worry about, and it’s 100% safe.
The remote for this trainer is designed to slip into your pocket, and the receiver is tiny, so it won’t be a burden on a smaller dog’s neck.
Dogs who are more stubborn may not respond as well to collars that don’t have an electrical shock feature, but happy reviewers said it worked for their small breeds just fine.
A one-year warranty covers pretty much anything that can happen to this collar, so you can get a replacement if any issues arise.
Range: 1,000 feet
Best No-Shock: Wagz Freedom Smart Dog Collar
What we like
- Tracks activity data
- Instant geofences
- Syncs with your smartphone
What we dislike
- Expensive
- Requires an annual subscription
- Won’t work in areas with poor cellular network coverage
This state-of-the-art training device offers features of the most sophisticated static collars without any electric shock. It’s also an advanced containment and GPS tracker in one. It doesn’t come with a remote since location tracking syncs with an app on your smartphone and any correction will be initiated through that app. The device also collects your dog’s activity and health metrics and has a one-year warranty. There’s even a spare rechargeable battery included.
It’s pretty expensive, though. On top of the cost of the device, you’ll need to pay $99 per year for a Wagz subscription. Also note that the device doesn’t come with a collar but rather attaches to your dog’s collar of choice.
Range: Varies
Best With Tracking: The Link Smart Pet Wearable
What we like
- Tracks exercise goals
- Keeps vet records at hand
- Humane training tools
What we dislike
- No geofencing
- Monthly subscription fee
The Link Smart Pet Wearable is similar to the Wagz collar in that you clip it to your dog’s existing collar. It functions much like a fitness wearable for a human, tracking health metrics like calories burned and daily steps.
The wearable even has a thermometer to monitor the temperature wherever your dog is, and you can log your dog’s vet records, so they’re easily accessible at a moment’s notice. In addition to the tracking features, this wearable offers no-shock training tools to help build a trusting relationship — where your dog understands that you’re the boss.
Training is a feature of this collar, but not the only feature. In other words, if you’re looking to do a bunch of things with your dog, and obedience training is one of them, this is a great pick that’s affordable compared to competitors. If you only want to do obedience training, you probably don’t need all of this device’s features and can find something without a monthly subscription fee.
Depending on your subscription plan, this product has a two- or three-year extended warranty.
Range: Varies
Best for Independent Dogs: SportDOG Brand FieldTrainer 425XS
What we like
- Works with up to three dogs
- Waterproof
- Fully charges in two hours
What we dislike
- Too powerful for some dogs
- Designed to be worn only during training, not all the time
The FieldTrainer 425XS was made with working and hunting dogs in mind. It’s also an excellent tool for dogs who haven’t been responsive to other training methods.
It has tones, vibrations, and 21 levels of static stimulation to redirect your dog if they aren’t following your instruction. It’s also waterproof so that you can train your dog in the rain or snow.
The XS-level trainer should always be turned down to the lowest level your dog will respond to. For some, even the lowest level of static stimulation may be painful. Stimulation is meant to train, not hurt your dog, so speak to your vet before you invest in a trainer this powerful.
Range: 500 yards
Best for Multiple Dogs: Huncho Electronic Dog Training Collar
What we like
- Includes two collars
- Multiple setting options
- Train two dogs from one remote
What we dislike
- Expensive
- No warranty information
If you are training multiple dogs at once, the Huncho Electronic Dog Training Collar might be the solution you’re looking for. This kit comes with everything you need for obedience training, including two receivers and collars, a travel charger, extra prongs, and a carrying case to store it all.
This dog training collar is meant for training dogs who work or play outdoors. It’s a heavy-duty collar with waterproofing to help protect it in rugged settings. You can set the collar for beep, vibration, or a wide spectrum of static stimulation options while you train.
A warranty isn’t mentioned in the product listing, which is surprising because this product costs a lot of money. Since this training collar is new, there isn’t much customer feedback to go by when evaluating long-term issues with the device.
Range: 1.25 miles
Best on a Budget: PD 523 Remote Dog Training Collar
What we like
- Affordable
- Shock-free mode
- Works for a wide variety of breeds
What we dislike
- No purchase protection
- No app
Maybe you like many of the features in more expensive devices, but you aren’t quite ready to shell out over a hundred dollars for a training collar. If that’s the case, you might want to consider the PD 523 by PaiPaiTek.
This collar comes with tone-only, vibrating, and static modes. It’s waterproof, and the product claims to be safe and effective for dogs from 4 to 120 pounds.
There are some risks to choosing a budget-friendly option, though — there aren’t a lot of independent reviews online, and warranty information isn’t always readily available.
Range: 1,000 meters
Best for Heel-Training: PetSafe Gentle Leader Headcollar
What we like
- Safe for any dog
- Available in different colors and sizes
- Designed by dog trainers
What we dislike
- No other obedience features
- Can be chewed through
This collar is designed to curb the urge to pull. If your dog doesn’t let you take the lead on walks, this might be the collar you’re looking for.
It’s available in various sizes, depending on how much your dog weighs, and it loops around your dog’s nose, similar to a muzzle. When your dog strains to lead you forward, the harness redirects your dog so that they will heel.
Dogs can (and might) chew through the nylon material. If your dog chews through the collar, you may be able to get a replacement through the brand’s one-year warranty.
Range: N/A
Putting a Collar on It
Choosing a dog training collar is an individual decision. Not everyone will feel comfortable with collars offering static stimulation options, and that’s OK. It’s best to decide on one based on your dog’s training needs and what will help them to live a happy and stress-free life as a member of your family.
Plenty of collars offer vibrating or no-shock options that can redirect negative behavior, but those collars might not be as efficient at teaching obedience. You can even choose something simple and analog, like a harness leash, to introduce your dog to the concept of heeling.
Once you choose the dog collar that suits your needs, it’s up to you to train your dog effectively. Ultimately, your dog’s obedience level will be a reflection of their comfort level with you, as well as your ability to consistently set and reinforce boundaries.
FAQs
What’s the best dog collar for obedience training?
The best dog collar for obedience training will depend on your dog. No perfect one-size-fits-all collar will make your dog obey you. Building a strong relationship with your dog will serve you well, whether the collar is on or off.
What’s the best dog shock collar for training?
The best shock, or static, collar for your dog is one that’s safe and humane to use. Shock collars should always be used at the lowest setting that your dog will respond to. If you choose to use this type of collar, the goal should always be correction, not punishment. Be sure to talk to your vet before you start using a shock collar for training.
Who makes the best dog training collars?
There are several trusted brands in dog training collars. We think all of the ones on our list are pretty effective. If you want to go with a trusted brand name, consider PetSafe, Wagz, or Educator Collars.
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