The brand name itself should already tell you what their electric training products focus on.
From hunting, to field herding, to sports competitions, shock collars SportDog sells are designed for trainers with quick reflexes, hunt with their dogs, or work with difficult breeds.
We’ll pick four of the best remote collars they have in their roster and explain why they are good at what they do. To help you understand how they compare to others, we’ll add one alternative pick we think can compete with these products in its way.
- Pros
- Performs All Kinds of Training and Outdoor Activities
- 3/4 Mile Range w/ a Strong Signal
- Built-in Anti-Bark Feature
- Great Quality for its Price
- Cons
- Not for Dogs Below 15 Lbs
- Remote is not as Ergonomically Designed
Our comparison pick comes from Pet Resolve which has just one electronic collar, but it’s almost like the one electronic collar to rule them all, because all its features are “good enough” for any kind of training.
From indoor training like reinforcing obedience commands, quickly signaling them to reduce unwanted behaviors, to going out hunting or any outdoor activities where you need high range and good waterproofing like when you’re going to the beach or camping.
Features:
- 10 Vibration and Static Stimulation Levels
- Soft Signal Beep
- 3/4 Mile Range
- Pair up to 3 Receivers per Remote
- Remote Remembers Each Receiver’s Levels
- LED Receiver Tracking Lights
- Automatic Anti-Bark Feature
- 50-Hour Battery Life
- Splash-Resistant Remote Transmitter
- 1 Meter Waterproof Collar Receiver
- Plastic Adjustable Collar w/ a Metal Buckle
- Includes Plastic, Non-Conductive Prongs
- Includes 2 cm Long Metal Prongs
- Free Plastic Training Clicker
This long list of features is the main point of this device. It has all training features a standard shock collar has plus some useful additions and accessories that further increase its compatibility with many dog breeds.
It fits necks of almost all range of sizes except for small breeds below 15 lbs. Its shock strength is moderately strong so you can affect even the most stubborn canines.
The static shock is not strong enough to cause actual pain, but some dogs may yelp in surprise because weak electrical stimulation is foreign to them.
You can change the level from 1-10, not so little that there are no big jumps in strength, but not so much that it takes too much time to adjust the levels from strong to weak.
Pressing the shock button once triggers a momentary stimulation and holding it down triggers a continuous stimulation. Changing the shock levels also affects the levels of vibration.
With a vast range of 3/4 miles, you can easily reach your dog to signal them. The higher range helps users compensate for the signal loss that happens when there are obstacles between the remote and the receiver.
You’re at least nearly guaranteed to have a range of 400 yards even behind a concrete wall.
With that range, you can easily manage up to three receivers paired to the same remote.
When you press the numbered buttons, it activates the tracking LEDs and if you hold it, the LED will strobe, giving you a different colored light depending on which number the collar it’s paired with so you can tell which dog is which in the dark.
When you turn the anti-bark feature on, the receiver will stop responding to the remote and will start listening to your dog’s barks.
The microphone has low sensitivity levels that it won’t trigger even when someone else barks in front of the wearer. When it does detect barking, the receiver will beep for 1-2 seconds.
If your dog keeps barking through that, it will trigger a shock based on the level of stimulation you set. It will then rest for a bit before listening again.
This program is fully automatic and should minimize any unwanted barking but still let your dog bark a bit when it wants to.
In terms of durability, the remote is coated in rubber and is lightweight. It’s weatherproof, so you can use it even in heavy rain.
The waterproof collar can resist up to 1 meter of water for 30 minutes, so it’s waterproof enough for your dog to swim with the collar, even in seawater.
Both devices have a rechargeable lithium-ion battery that only takes 2 hours to charge.
A full battery charge will last 50 hours and since the device doesn’t have a standby mode, so if you want the battery charge to last longer, turn the receiver and remote off when not in use.
The extra accessories are the plastic prongs that can turn the kit into a no-shock training device. The 3rd pair of prongs is 2 cm long and is perfect for dogs with long or thick fur.
With other shock collars, you may need to trim your dog’s neck fur a bit for the prongs to make consistent contact with your skin, but you don’t have to do that with the 2cm prongs.
The training clicker is a great extra tool to signal your dog for any purpose, like calling their attention or using the click to tell them they did the behavior correctly.
It’s filled with features that it’s difficult to summarize its potential. With these features and this product’s price in mind, you should be able to gauge how well SportDog’s collars are.
It still depends on what you need, but if you’re looking for a remote dog training collar that’s like a swiss-knife for dog training, Pet Resolve has you covered.
- Pros
- Great for Advanced Training
- 21 Total Shock Levels
- Three Shock Buttons and Quick-Adjust Level Dial
- Cons
- Requires Some Practice to Use
- No LCD Display to Show Status or Level
Our first SportDog shock collar review is for the 425X model, which is exactly like the 425XS model, but with weaker static shock strength.
If you think you have a dog with a strong prey drive or is very stubborn, consider the 425XS model. Everything we will say here applies to that model except that it has a stronger shock strength.
This remote’s button placement allows you to control it without looking at the remote. It also lets you change the strength of the stimulation quickly. It takes some practice to master it, but you can still use just 1 button for light or basic training.
Features:
- 21 Total Static Stimulation Levels
- Three Shock Buttons w/ Different Strengths
- Audible Vibration/Beeper
- 500-Yard Range
- Pair up to 3 Receivers per Remote
- 50-Hour Battery Life
- High Waterproofing on Both Devices
- Plastic Adjustable Collar
The dial itself only has 7 levels and a Vibration and Tone Mode, but the remote has three buttons for a shock with low, medium, and strong levels so it gives you 21 levels in total.
The dial is easy to flick back and forth and the button placement is readily accessible with your index finger and thumb.
Once you get the feel of what level the dial is on, you can use the lighter stimulation for reinforcement, then when your dog suddenly does unwanted behavior that could endanger them, you can command them and use the strong-strength button to interrupt the behavior.
Speed is key when your dog suddenly starts chasing something they shouldn’t or run somewhere dangerous like a busy street, thought it may seem like you’re using the stimulation as punishment.
You can circumvent this by shouting your command first, this way, your dog knows exactly when the stimulation will occur and they can act accordingly.
It has a range of 500 yards, which is not as far as our comparison collar, but is more than enough for wide-range field training like training herding dogs and used for hunting activities where you’re likely closer to your dog like letting them help with retrieving your prey.
If you need to manage more than 1 dog, you can pair up to 3 receivers on this remote and switch between them with a press of a button.
Though the lack of an LCD screen makes it hard to determine which dog you’re currently controlling with enough practice, you can quickly tell which one will respond.
Thanks to their patented waterproofing, both the receiver and remote controller can resist being underwater for about 25 feet, so even if you drop the remote somewhere deep like a lake, it will still work once you get it back.
The device has a 50-hour battery life on a single 2-hour charge.
Since this is geared for outdoor work, it doesn’t go to sleep mode, so if you leave the receiver on, it will last for 2 and a half days, less depending on how much you use its features, so turn the devices off when not in use.
The 425X and XS are designed for dynamic training, but that doesn’t mean you can’t use them for lighter training. It may be confusing to use in the beginning, but won’t take that much effort to understand the basics.
- Pros
- Designed for Outdoor Activities
- High-Visibility OLED Screen
- High Waterproofing for Both Devices
- Easy-to-Use Design
- Cons
- Not for Dogs Below 15 Lbs
- The shock Button Can be Accidentally Pressed in Pocket
Our second Sportdog brand shock collar has a simpler design to make it easier to use.
While you lose out a bit on the quick level change mechanics of the earlier kit, this one provides a similar “no-look” design and an OLED that’s visible and readable in just about any light condition.
Despite being designed as a hunting collar, it’s still great for training. This kit has 8 different training programs that change the function of the buttons so refer to the manual on what program does what.
Features:
- 10 Static Stimulation Levels
- Fixed Vibration Levels
- Hearing-Safe Beep
- 8 Different Training Modes
- 1/2 Mile Range
- Pair up to 3 Receivers per Remote
- 50-Hour Battery Life
- High Waterproofing on Both Devices
- Plastic Adjustable Collar w/ Metal Buckles
Instead of the quick-change level dial, you have the standard buttons to change the level from 1-10, not too little that there’s a big jump in level, but not too much that it takes too much time to change between the minimum and max levels.
This smart collar’s buttons depends mainly on the 8 training programs the remote has, so refer to the manual on how to change programs and see how each of them changes the functions of the buttons.
The OLED screen on the remote will show you all the information you need for the kit, such as which button does what, the current level, how much battery charge is left, and which receiver you’re currently controlling.
You can pair up to 3 receivers on this remote and you can change which receiver you’re controlling using the buttons below the level change.
This button placement was bothersome for some because they accidentally pressed a different button, but with enough practice, you’ll be able to tell which button is which by touch.
With a 1/2-Mile range and a strong signal, you can go into dense forests and reach your dog at least 300 yards away and you’ll get the most of that range in open spaces.
The receiver doesn’t have any tracking features, which would have been a nice touch, but if you’re using this in broad daylight, you wouldn’t get many benefits from receiver LEDs anyway.
Depending on how often you use the features, the device will last 50 hours on a full charge. Like all the collars in this list, it will only take 2 hours to charge it back to full.
This kit also has SportDogs’ “Drytek” waterproofing that gives it waterproofing for up to 25 feet, so no matter the weather and even if you drop the remote on a shallow lake or shore, water damage will be the least of your worries.
Though the collar can fit dogs with 5″ neck sizes, we recommend only use the device on dogs 15 lbs and above because the prongs may not align well with their necks.
All in all, it’s a standard training kit with fantastic features that enhance what it does.
The training programs change the button functions to something you need and once you master which training program does what, you’ll find this standard collar is far more flexible and accommodating for all kinds of activities.
- Pros
- Uses Unique Beep Feature to Locate and Track your Dog
- 1 Mile Range
- 21 Total Static Correction Levels
- Three Shock Buttons and Quick-Adjust Level Dial
- Cons
- Requires Some Practice to Use
- No LCD Display to Show Status or Level
Our third sports dog shock collar on the list is basically the 425XS model but with emphasis on the beep feature.
It has the same advanced controls that let you deliver different levels of shock very fast but still have the same basics you can use for standard reinforcement training.
It has an impressive range of 1 mile, far higher than our comparison pick, but belongs to the higher price ranges. Let’s find out if it’s boosted features and beep tracking makes it worth the price.
Features:
- 21 Total Static Stimulation Levels
- Three Shock Buttons w/ Different Strengths
- High-Volume Beep with Various Configurations
- 1 Mile Range
- Pair up to 3 Receivers per Remote
- 60-Hour Battery Life
- High Waterproofing on Both Devices
- Plastic Adjustable Collar
It has the same shock strength as the 425XS which is meant for stubborn canines or large breeds with high endurance. You can change the level of intensity using the dial which you can quickly change at the flick of your thumb.
It has 7 levels and an 8th setting for vibration and tone modes. The vibration mode is fixed and powerful and the beep can be configured depending on how you set them. (more on that later.)
The unique way to use the beep is where this training kit shines the most.
The beep has several settings from 1-9 and each number has a certain way the device beeps, from different beep volumes, rising and falling patterns, Hawk and Quail. Refer to the manual on which numbers correspond to each style.
Using the buttons on the back, you can set the receiver to beep to trigger when your dog runs. You can configure how each individual collar works and you can pair a maximum of three receivers on the remote.
It’s worth noting that the beep at high volume can be quite loud for your dog, but since it’s a directional speaker aimed away from your dog’s ears, it shouldn’t cause any long-term damage if used in moderation.
For the rather steep price, you also get an incredibly high range of 1 mile and a powerful antenna to boot. The high signal means it can reach up to 80% of its total range even in areas with lots of trees or obstacles like hills and plants.
Since it has a high power speaker, the average battery life may be a bit shorter at around 40 hours per charge.
Depending on how you use it, you can get as much as 60 hours. Once you’re out of juice, the rechargeable batteries can be charged back to full in just 2 hours.
You also get what you pay for in waterproofing. SportDog has the best waterproofing among the various electronic collars out there, able to resist being under 25 feet of water.
This means it can resist any weather and practically any condition you and your dog will subject yourselves in.
Depending on your hunting needs, this training kit will let you track your dog’s location using the beeps and signal them in different ways.
It’s certainly not for the average user and takes a lot of practice and homework to fully utilize, but once you have all of those, it’s worth every penny.
- Pros
- Wand-Shaped Handheld Transmitter for Easy Grip
- 2 Mile Range
- 27 Total Shock Levels
- Pair up to 6 Receivers on the Remote
- Cons
- Requires Some Practice to Use
- No LCD Display to Show Status or Level
This is another version of the 425X but with boosted features. It also came with a redesign of the remote shape for better grip and easier access to the buttons.
It keeps the same quick-adjust level dial but now with 9 levels instead of 7, offering a bit more flexibility. It also keeps the same three shock buttons that deliver strong, moderate, and weak shock.
The linear position of the buttons makes it much easier to distinguish them by touch.
Despite the advanced design made for hunters and professional trainers, it’s still usable for basic training, but if you’re on a tight budget, then consider a more budget-friendly dog training collar like Pet Resolve’s.
Features:
- 27 Total Static Stimulation Levels
- Fixed Vibration Levels
- Three Shock Buttons w/ Different Strengths
- 2 Mile Range
- Pair up to 6 Receivers per Remote
- 60-Hour Battery Life
- High Waterproofing on Both Devices
- Plastic Adjustable Collar
- Collar Fits Dogs Above 15 lbs.
It has a powerful shock feature meant for more stubborn dogs, but even though we say it has intense stimulation, the shock strength is still not as strong as the usual static electricity zap you get from doorknob on a dry cold day.
The static causes the muscles under the skin to pulse and create a crawling sensation on their skin. The stronger the level, the stronger this sensation is, making it hard to ignore.
This is extremely useful when you need to stop them from chasing something they shouldn’t, or running towards something that could endanger them.
The range is twice as much as the previous collar, topping off at 2 miles, but like always, you won’t get the most out of the range when you’re in the forests where there’s trees and foliage that can block the signal.
With a range of 2 miles, you can reach your dog 1 mile away even when you’re behind a thick wall.
It will need that kind of range since the remote is designed to accommodate up to 6 receivers. You can manage an entire squad of dogs with just one remote and switching between dogs.
There’s a specific way to switch it to 4 and 6 dog management mode, so refer to the manual on how to set it up.
It’s a pricey remote training collar so it needs the best waterproofing it can get.
This kit still benefits from SportDog’s DryTek brand waterproofing that almost gives it 1 ATM of waterproofing, or precisely 25 feet of waterproofing, making it near impossible to get water damage even if the receiver gets accidentally dropped underwater.
This high-quality dog training collar is worth every penny because of its strong features, powerful range, and amount of collars it can handle, but given the investment you have to place in it, it has to be what you need, and if you do need it, it will definitely perform.
Conclusion For "Best Sport Dog Shock Collar Reviews"
Sportdog’s shock collars are all meant for high-grade use and they have the quality to back it up. Though they may be pricey, it’s likely because they, along with our comparison pick, don’t cut corners.
When you see a product out there that provides the same features but with a significantly affordable price, you can compare them to our list and help you decide it’s value.
Training is a commitment and part of that commitment is learning what you need to pick the right tool for the long journey ahead.
You can learn more about shock collar training by watching “E Collar Training HACKS For BEGINNERS” down below:
Last update on 2024-04-26 at 11:48 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
