A proximity shock collar is a device designed to keep your dog within a certain proximity. The “how” is simple, all of these collars use “Positive Punishment” which means something is added to discourage the behavior.Â
The unwanted behavior here is going past a certain boundary, and even though it’s a punishment, these smart collars first warn your dog with a beep when they are close to the end of the boundary levels.Â
That beep is actually what makes these automatic training collars. They train your dog to stop at the beep and once they associate that ignoring the beep means they get the punishment. As long as they know when the stimulation will occur, they can avoid it.
If you want to keep your dog from wandering off your yard, we’ll show you five hand-picked proximity dog shock collars with different features to help you determine which suits your needs.
- Pros
- Has a Built-in Bark-Limiter
- Remote Supports up to 3 Receivers
- 3/4 Mile Range
- Cons
- Not for Dogs Below 15 Lbs
- Does not have an Automatic Standby Mode
This may not be a proximity shock collar, but one way to keep your dog from going past a certain point is to train them yourself.
Using negative reinforcement w/ shock collars, combined with positive reinforcement is the most potent way to solidify behaviors in your dog. This is one of the best mid-range electronic collars in the market, at least based on the value you’ll get from it.
Features:
- Training Modes: Static Shock, Beep, and Vibration Mode
- 10 Adjustable Intensity Levels
- Can be Switched to an Anti-Bark Collar
- 3/4 Mile Range
- Pair up to 2 Additional Collars w/ the Remote
- Remote Memorizes the Level of Each Receiver
- Remote-Activated Receiver LEDs w/ Strobe Mode
- 50-Hour Battery Life w/ no Standby Mode
- Rain-Proof Remote Transmitter
- IPX7 Waterproof Collar Receiver
- Uses a Durable Plastic Strap w/ Metal Buckles
- Includes 2cm Extra Long Prongs and Free Plastic Clicker
You can do the training by first teaching them obedience commands like recall, sit, and heel. The training process will also help you understand how your dog behaves and what their limits are.
Once you have those established or at least partially established, you can then train your dog not to cross certain places by placing markers, then commanding them to return when they go near them.
Once they have an idea of the boundaries, you can then reinforce that behavior using the training kit. This remote has 10 vibration and shock levels which gives a nice balance of flexibility and power.
It can be used practically on all dogs with the only limitation that the receiver may not align on the neck of smaller dogs.
It has a range of 3/4 miles in open spaces. The range may be excessive on paper, but since radio signal can be diminished by any obstacles like trees or walls, even behind a brick wall, you’ll still get half the range which is still around 500-600 yards.
This goes well with the fact that you can pair one remote with up to three receivers, and that the receivers have LEDs on them that have different colors based on which number they are paired to.
If you hold the number, you can make the LED strobe, which will flash every 3 seconds, letting you track them at night.
The remote will remember each receiver’s level too, so if you’re managing dogs with different sensitivities, you don’t have to keep switching the levels back and forth.
The remote controller can withstand rain and running water, but it’s only water resistant so don’t let it be submerged in water.
The receiver will fare better as it is IPX7 waterproof and can withstand around 1 meter of water for 30 minutes, which means it covers most of your dog’s water-related activities like hunting or having fun by the beach or lake.
The receiver has a battery life of around 50 hours and only takes 2 hours or less to charge the rechargeable battery to full. It doesn’t have a standby mode, so it doesn’t automatically turn off when not in use.
While that may be a con, the benefit is that the collar will always respond no matter how long it has been, as long as it has a battery charge.
When your dog has thick or long fur, it can often cause inconsistent shock intensity due to the fur actually blocking the prongs.
The included 2cm prongs make it easier for the prongs to make contact with the skin without needing to trim the fur or set the strap too tight.
The free clicker it comes with is invaluable, you can use it to signal your dog or mark any behavior, or just a consistent way to get your dog’s attention and help them focus on the training.
Finally, when you switch the receiver to bark-limiter mode, the receiver will start detecting the big vibrations in your dog’s throat when they bark.
When your dog barks, the receiver will send a warning beep 1 second after they bark. If your dog doesn’t stop barking for another 1-2 seconds, the receiver will then trigger a shock.
The static correction level is based on the level it was on when you set it. The receiver won’t respond to the remote in this mode, and the receiver is not sensitive enough to detect another dog’s bark, even if they are nearby.
- Pros
- Includes 500 Ft of 20 Gauge Wire (Expandable)
- Hub Supports Unlimited Receivers
- Covers a Maximum of 6 Acres
- Cons
- Does Not Include a Rechargeable Receiver
- Not as Effective on Larger and More Stubborn Dogs
Despite the brand name, this proximity dog shock collar is not only for the most extreme of dogs. It’s actually made for a wider variety of dogs, but with the con that some bigger and more stubborn dogs can withstand the sensation and go cross the boundary.Â
Since this is an underground fence, you need to do some planning and measuring around the area first before even buying one, that way you can determine how much wire you need.
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Features:
- 7 Correction Levels using Static Shock
- 1 Level That Only Uses Beep
- 6 Acre Maximum Supported Range
- Supports an Unlimited Amount of Receivers
- Unique Frequency Prevents Signal Interference from Other Devices
- Uses 6 Volt Replaceable Battery
- IPX7 Waterproof Receivers
- Easy-to-Adjust Nylon Strap
- Includes Marking Flags
Once you have the wires set up, you can start calibrating the range when the receivers will start beeping. When you’re satisfied with the warning range, you can start placing the marking flags.Â
This step is optional, but it does help your dog figure out that crossing the flags trigger the beep, and if they keep walking further after the beep, it will then trigger a shock.Â
The hub provides 7 adjustable intensity levels and it’s important to find the lowest level your dog will respond to. You do this by setting it to the lowest level, then watching your dog carefully when they cross the boundary.Â
If they don’t react at all, raise to the next level and repeat until you see the most minute reaction, such as head tilting, or suddenly stopping. If they start yelping, lower it. Once that’s done, you’re all set.
You can purchase as much additional wire as needed, reaching a maximum of 6 acres. You can also get as many receivers as needed and they will be supported by a single hub.Â
Some users even report saying that it’s effective at keeping goats, allowing them to manage a barn’s worth of them.
Despite not having a rechargeable battery, a single 6-volt battery will last around 3-4 months before you need to replace it again. You can purchase 3 and you should be good for an entire year.
The receivers are also waterproof for 10 feet. This powerful waterproofing ensures that it will never be water damaged with normal dog activity unless the receiver is accidentally dropped in deeper water.Â
The nylon straps that come with the collar are easy to place and tighten.Â
But the problem is that the plastic sliders may loosen over time, especially on more active dogs, so make sure to check the tightness every now and then since the tightness of the strap can also affect the shock intensity.
- Pros
- Hub Supports Unlimited Receivers
- 3/4 Acre Maximum Hub Range
- Shock-Free Re-Entry
- Cons
- Only Projects a Circular Boundary
- Slight Difficulty Finding the Borders
The third dog proximity shock collar comes from Petsafe, a well-known brand for its mild training collars meant for the common user.Â
Instead of using wires, the hub generates an adjustable wireless signal that causes the receivers to beep when the signal is low, then triggers a shock when the signal is lost, which happens when the wearer goes past the signal range.Â
Like the wired collar, this will also automatically train your dogs not to do past a certain distance from where you placed the hub. It comes with flag markers to make it easier for your dog to figure out where not to go.
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Features:
- 5 Correction Levels using Static Shock
- Soft but Audible Beep
- 3/4 Acre Maximum Supported Range
- Supports an Unlimited Amount of Receivers
- Receiver Uses a Lithium-Ion Rechargeable Battery
- 2-3 Week Battery Life Per Charge
- IPX7 Waterproof Receiver
- Easy-to-Adjust Nylon Strap
- Includes Marking Flags
The hub is the center of this entire wireless fence system. It has an LCD screen that shows you how far the signal is reaching, which has a maximum range of about 105 feet (3/4 Acres) and a minimum of 22 ft.Â
This hub works better on a level area so if you have a place with steep slopes, consider getting a different electronic fence system.
To help you figure out where to place the hub and how far it should reach, Petsafe has a website that has a Map-Assisted planner that can help you determine how much a certain range will cover.Â
Once the hub is set up, you can then go through the boundaries while holding the receiver to find the border where it will beep, then place the marker. It takes about an hour to fully set up, but it doesn’t require digging like ground fences.
One con of this wireless dog fence is the way you change the static stimulation levels. You have to press the power button repeatedly within 5 seconds to raise the level by 1 for every press. (refer to the manual.)Â
It has a maximum of 5 levels, with Level 1 being “Beep Only”. However, since you don’t need to constantly adjust the levels, once you find the lowest level your dog will respond to, you’re good to go.
You can purchase as many collars as you need, and the hub will support all of them even if you have a dozen dogs. Some users report placing the collar on bigger animals like goats, making it easier to manage them.Â
The rechargeable batteries will last about 1-2 weeks per charge and only take about 2 hours to charge back to full. Each receiver is waterproof but as much as possible, don’t let your dog place in the water too much.Â
Even though the receiver can withstand around 3 feet of water, there’s a chance that it goes beyond that and breaks the waterproofing. It’s okay being under rain or shallower water enough for your dog to wade in.
The nylon strap makes it easy to place the collar on your dogs and even easier to tighten them. The only con here is that over time, the plastic sliders will wear out, causing the collar to loosen ever so slightly when your dog does any significant activities.Â
Hopefully, by that time, your dog is already trained to stay within the border.
- Pros
- Uses GPS with no Subscription Required
- 3280ft Maximum Halo Range
- 1-2 Yard Accuracy in Open Areas
- Cons
- Only Projects a Circular Boundary
- Not Effective Indoors
Our 4th proximity dog shock collar is slightly different than the previous wireless dog fence system because it does not require a hub, and uses GPS to project a “Halo” around the device upon turning it on.Â
This halo has a massive maximum range and since it does not have a hub, there’s virtually no setup required, but you have to plan how far the halo has to be.Â
It’s extremely effective in places with lots of open space but it may lose connection once your dog is indoors. If you have a relatively small space with plenty of indoor access, consider a different device like an in-ground fence or manual training.
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Features:
- 6 Correction Levels using Static Shock
- Soft but Audible Beep
- 1000 Yard Maximum Range
- The Device Uses a Lithium-Ion Rechargeable Battery
- 36-Hour Battery Life Per Charge
- IPX7 Waterproof Receiver
- Sturdy Plastic Strap with Metal Buckles
- Includes Brightly Colored Markers.
The device has a pretty intuitive way to set up how far you want the halo to be. The collar can mark the center of the halo and you can start walking to the point where you want to set the boundary.Â
It will automatically track the collar until you’re at the chosen distance from where you marked it. Remember that it’s a circular perimeter, so if you set the distance to 100 yards in a certain direction, it will also be 100 yards in the other cardinal directions.
The big advantage here is that apart from setting up the optional markers, this is the only step you need to take before getting the device working.
Since the device needs to connect to a GPS, there may be some wait time, but you don’t need any sim card to let the device connect.Â
It has an accuracy of 1-2 yards in completely open spaces, but in more wooded areas, there may be a discrepancy of 5 yards. It’s this reason why you should not let your dog indoors with the device as it may get disconnected and lose track of the device.
If compared to the rest of the devices on this list, it has a relatively short battery life of 36 hours because it’s constantly communicating with a GPS satellite. But like the rest of them, they charge back to full in 2 hours or less.
It works as same as the rest of the proximity collars. Once your dog nears the chosen boundary it will start beeping, if the dog crosses the boundary, the device will trigger the stimulation.Â
It has 5 shock levels and an auto-rise program where it will keep the level low and automatically raise the level incrementally if they don’t return inside the Halo.Â
The collar will remember the last level for a while and slowly reduce the level if they don’t cross the boundary levels again.
- Pros
- Manual Training Device and Proximity Collar
- 1000 ft Maximum Proximity Distance
- Portable Battery Powered Hub
- Cons
- Only Projects a Circular Boundary
- Not for Smaller Dogs
The last on the list is a combination of a manual training collar and a wireless dog fence collar where the remote acts as the hub. It has fewer training features but still has the same function as proximity wireless collars.Â
Since you can carry the hub around, you can use it to limit how far your dog can be away from you, and with a range of 1000 ft, you can recall them from that far (assuming you’ve trained them).Â
When you’re done training, you can set the hub on the included stand to have it act as an invisible fence or use it chiefly as a hub and mount it on a wall using the included accessories.
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Features:
- 3 Correction Levels using Static Shock and Vibration
- Soft but Audible Beep
- 1000 Ft Remote Range
- Remote Supports 3 Receivers
- The Device Uses a Lithium-Ion Rechargeable Battery
- 36-Hour Battery Life Per Charge
- IPX7 Waterproof Receiver
- Sturdy Plastic Strap with Metal Buckles
The only con here is the limited adjustable levels because you may find yourself in a position where 1 level is too much, but the lower level is not enough.Â
If your dog properly reacts to it, you’re good to go for both reinforcement training and proximity training. It also has a vibration mode in case you have a dog with higher sensitivity levels and don’t want to use the shock during reinforcement training.
It has a range of 1000 ft or about 300 yards, which is more than enough for regular yard training and wide open spaces.Â
It’s worth noting that the signal is still subject to getting blocked, so unless you’re in a completely open space, consider that you’re only getting around 80% of the total range you set.
Unlike the other invisible dog fences, this remote can only support 3 receivers much like our recommended manual training collar. It does not memorize the levels per receiver but you only have three levels so it’s not much of a problem.
With a battery lifespan of around 36-40 hours, you can use it for around 4-5 days before it needs a recharge. Since the transmitter is both a hub and a remote collar, it takes around 4-5 hours to charge it back to full but the receiver only takes 2-3 hours to fully charge.
These receivers have the standard waterproofing of IPX7 which means they can resist up to 1 meter of water for 30 minutes before any potential water damage occurs.Â
This covers nearly all normal activities dogs do in the water, so water damage will be the least of your concerns. The hub is only splashproof though. It can withstand rain and running water but is not designed to resist being submerged in water.
Conclusion For "Best Dog Proximity Shock Collar"
We cannot say which is truly best, that’s why we made a list. Each of these devices has its own uses depending on what the owner needs, along with their own pros and cons.Â
But they can only do so much because a tool is only as effective as its user.Â
We hope that this helps you decide on what you need but one thing is for sure if you’re doing this because you want to improve the harmony between you and your dog, then it’s worth every penny and every ounce of effort you’ll place into it.
Last update on 2024-04-27 at 09:05 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
