PROS:
- works consistently, every time, without having to guess if the stimulation was delivered (so far)
- rechargeable batteries with long battery life (battery powered models eat up a lot of batteries even in standby mode)
- simple to operate
- transmitter smaller than was expecting based on photo (size of the smallest flip phone)
- tone is NOT automatically sent with every "stimulation" but rather via separate button, which means if you never use the tone to correct BAD behavior you can train your dog to respond positively to tone signals, like coming to you when he's too far away to hear you calling his name.
CONS:
- packaging. Wrapping it in a sealed box is one thing. But inside that box, it's sealed up in plastic tough enuf you need tin snips to cut it open so don't buy except from trusted seller like Amazon that has a no fuss return policy.
SD-425 model or SD-425S model for "stubborn dogs"?
Owners use these collars mainly for 2 reasons: to train hunting dogs from a distance too far to always be shouting commands, or to correct unwanted behavior. I've trained dogs for 40 years. I can't imagine a stubborn dog would be a good candidate as a hunting dog. So I have to guess the "stubborn dog" model was invented to correct bad behavior.
Some reviewers have said the S model emits too strong a shock even on the lowest setting. I've tested it on myself so I know for a fact that it is equivalent to a hard tickle, unpleasant but nothing that would make a dog yelp in pain. If for some reason, the lowest setting is still too strong for your dog, you can always just use the vibrate mode but at least you have the higher intensity in case your dog develops new behaviors, like blindly charging out of the yard into dangerous traffic.
BTW, you owe it to your dog to test the stimulation level on yourself (unless you have a heart pacemaker) so you know what kind of jolt your dog is getting, that it is humane.
I've not trained sport dogs but have used these collars to correct unwanted behavior like random barking, digging, running along a fence barking at every pedestrian, getting them to stop sleeping on a certain pieces of furniture, etc.
Different trainers have different methods, but here's what has worked for me:
- dogs are incredibly smart and will learn quickly, literally in one day. If proper procedure is followed, I've never had to "stimulate" a dog more than 3 times to stop any bad behavior, and that includes dogs that their owners have said have been uncontrollable barkers for 6 yrs. In fact the older the dog, the easier it is to correct bad behavior.
- but they can also learn just as quickly that they only are getting zapped when the collar is on. I suggest you have the dog wear the collar a week before using it AND once ur dog has corrected his behavior be prepared to for the dog to wear the collar for several months afterwards, esp when you're not home or in situations that generally would trigger his bad behavior, to the point that he's long forgotten his bad behavior even though you no longer have to stimulate him.
- dogs are smart enough to even notice if you're wearing the transmitter around your neck. Carry it in your jacket pocket instead.
- anticipate your dog's behavior: if he jumps out of bed in the morning and the first thing he does is head for the front window to bark, put the collar on BEFORE he gets up.
- modify one behavior at a time.
- the instructions say to give a command followed by a "stimulation". The only verbal command that should be given is "no" or "stop". And then only if you or multiple members in a family have yelled "no" at the dog so many times for so long that he's learned there are no consequences to not listening to you.
- Although humane, a stimulation is at least irritating to mildly painful depending on the needed setting. A painful zap will never train a dog to respond positively (as in coming, heeling or sitting). That's like calling for your dog downstairs to come up to your bedroom and then yelling at him for chewing the shoes you just found -- trust me, the dog will think twice before he comes running next time you call him.
- my preferred approach is to NOT to give any verbal command. If you don't want the dog on the white sofa, watch him. When he jumps up, zap him, SAY NOTHING and just watch him jump off. He'll look confused, maybe shake his head but generally after no more than 3 attempts he'll realize that sofa is no longer a pleasant place to nap and will instead go sleep on the leather sofa. And don't let him in the room with that white sofa unless you are around to correct his behavior again if needed. That way, the dog is "tricked" into believing there's something suddenly uncomfortable about that sofa or his action is causing the zap, whether you are around or not.
Should your dog yelp or run to you confused wondering why he just got stimulated, just reassure him with comforting words, like "what happened baby?" He'll quickly associate the zap with the bad behavior and not because YOU issued the command and therefore will stay off that white sofa even if you are not around.
These collars are NOT a replacement or short cut for proper basic training. But if used correctly they are invaluable in correcting single or isolated bad behaviors.
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From the manufacturer
The SportDOG Brand Conservation Fund
The SportDOG Brand team and our families enjoy many of the same hunting opportunities and outdoor activities that you do.That's why we recognize the importance of wise conservation and habitat-enhancement initiatives. We support conservation efforts by contributing time and funding to projects that ensure hunters will have wild places to hunt wild game for generations to come.
Videos
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SportDOG Brand Family Remote Trainers
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SportDOG Collar Remote Trainer Unboxing/Demo
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Getting Started with Your Remote Trainer
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This Item  SportDOG Brand 425 Remote Trainers - 500 Yard Range E-Collar with Static, Vibrate and Tone - Waterproof, Rechargeable - Including New X-Series |  |  |  |  |  | |
| Price | Currently unavailable. | $49.99 | -17% $59.99 List: $71.99 | $179.95 | $49.99 | -10% $179.95 Typical: $199.95 |
| Delivery | — | Get it as soon as Friday, May 17 | Get it as soon as Thursday, May 16 | Get it as soon as Thursday, May 16 | — | Get it as soon as Thursday, May 16 |
| Customer Ratings | ||||||
| Vibration strength | ||||||
| Battery life | ||||||
| Remote Control | ||||||
| Easy to use | ||||||
| Water resistance | ||||||
| Sold By | — | Bousnic Pet Supply | PetSpy | ValueGroupie | Bousnic Pet Supply | Amazon.com |
| material | — | Dog Training Collar | TPU material | — | Dog training collar | — |
| pattern | — | Dog | Dog | Dog | Dog | Dog |
| closure type | Button | Buckle | Buckle | Buckle | Button | Buckle |
Reviews with images
Wow....its only been 2 days, but what a difference! A new life for our dog and us!
Ok, so my wife and I were really hesitant to buy/use and E-collar on our newly rescued 1 1/2yr old Shepard Mix, because we just didn’t feel good about it and didn’t want it to affect her in an adverse way. After much thought, reading reviews, talking with trainers, other dog owners and etc, we decided to try it.Wow...what a difference this has made in our life after only using it for the 2nd day! We rescued her about 4 months ago from the Humane Society and she’s a wonderfully sweet, loving, caring, super intelligent dog. She loves cuddling with us all the time, absolutely loves every person and dog she meets and is always happy and great natured, BUT, she has NO RECALL! :) We have another 1 1/2yr old GSM that we rescued when he was about 10wks and we’ve worked well with him and he stays and returns when commanded, but this little sweetheart, just won’t do it when she’s off leash. We’ve been working with her and trying everything we could to get her to listen and return when called, but it just wasn’t working.She’s not food motivated at all, so when off leash, we’d try to get her to return to us with positive commands and offering a treat, but she’d basically look at us with a smile on her face that said, “no thanks I’ll find my own treats” and off running she’d go! :)We lost her twice and thankfully nothing bad happened and after searching the neighborhood for hours, each time we got a call from the humane society saying someone had found her and turned her in. That stress alone was enough for my wife to say, she was never letting her off leash again, because she was too stressed, nervous and scared something bad would happen if she continued to run away. Ok, so we finally decided to purchase the collar and actually had it for over a month before finally using it. We were trying to go through the video instructions and teach her the way the video guide said, but even that wasn’t working well, so we finally just went for it and put it on her. We went to a really nice dog park, which is about 1/4 mile long in natural mountain terrain, but still fenced in, so she couldn’t get away. She was running all over the place, loving the terrain and exploring everything. We let her run for a little bit and then started to call her name and get her to return to us, but as usual, she just kept running. I first tried the tone button a couple of times, while commanding her to come here, but it did nothing. I then tried the vibrate function, and she seemed to ignore this as well.Ok, so now I set the shock on level 1 and hit the “single nick” button once, but this did nothing, so I went to level 2, but still nothing. As much as I didn’t want to, I bumped it to level 3 and this stopped her dead in her tracks! I watched her shake her head, so I knew that she had felt something. She stopped running, she turned back towards me and came running back, wagging her tail.She came right up to us! My wife and I were stunned and amazed. We pet her and praised her and then off she went running again. After a few minutes, I commanded her again, but she didn’t respond, so I “nicked” her again, but this time, I only needed level 2 once and she returned wagging her tail again.After about an hour of letting her run and only having to “nick” her on level 3 one time, level 2 twice, we were then able to use level 1 or just the vibrate function with the command! We were truly amazed at how she was responding! Each time I pressed the button, I commanded her with “here’” or “come” and she was getting it. I was so confident with her responses, that I decided to leave the fenced in dog area and venture into the “open mountain area” that is “off-leash” permitted for hiking(my wife was a little concerned about this decision). We couldn’t have been happier and more amazed! We went for a 2 mile hike in the mountains with both her and our other dog running all over the place, exploring, playing, chasing and etc, but anytime we needed her to come back to us, I’d command her and many times she was now doing it without me even pressing any button, but at times, I still only had to use level 1 or vibrate function and she returned! It truly changed our experience and pleasure for us with this dog and for her!The 2nd day I took her around a lake near our house(which is where I lost her once) and we had the same great experience. She’s running free having a good time, exploring, wagging her tail and if at any moment I need control and to get her back to me, I command her and press the button once and she’s right back to me.It’s only been 2 days, but if this is any indication on how well this is gonna work for us, then this well worth the money. The next test is an open park by our house, where dogs are allowed off leash. This is the 2nd place we lost her when she took off running down the street and disappeared, so if it works for this scenario, I’m truly gonna be happy and blown away!The only reason I didn’t give it 5 stars is because the collar itself is a little stiff and I’d prefer it be a little softer or nicer for her neck. Maybe in time, it softens up and is nicer for her to wear, otherwise, I may try to retrofit the “stimulator” to a nicer, softer collar? It doesn’t seem to bother her at all, it’s more of my personal preference to have a nicer collar. Sorry for long write up...hope it helps!
Top reviews from the United States
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Reviewed in the United States on June 19, 2014
Style: Original (Old Version)Size: Stubborn Dog E-CollarVerified Purchase
Reviewed in the United States on January 26, 2014
Style: Original (Old Version)Size: E-CollarVerified Purchase
Top reviews from other countries
JC
I highly recommend reading literature on how to use on how to ...
Reviewed in Canada on August 7, 2017Style: Original (Old Version)Size: E-CollarVerified Purchase
Ricardo Briceño
Super
Reviewed in Mexico on October 10, 2019Style: Original (Old Version)Size: Stubborn Dog E-CollarVerified Purchase
Chris
Range is excellent, and having the ability to customize the remote ...
Reviewed in Canada on May 26, 2016Style: Original (Old Version)Size: E-CollarVerified Purchase
mom
Would buy again
Reviewed in Canada on March 13, 2020Style: Original (Old Version)Size: E-CollarVerified Purchase
Janet Coy
It works!
Reviewed in Canada on February 5, 2018Style: Original (Old Version)Size: E-CollarVerified Purchase
