Best Dog Training Collar (Vet Recommended)
Last Updated 20 March 2024
Having a well trained, obedient dog that is a joy to take anywhere is the dream of every dog parent. Although this may seem like a daunting task when you first start, choosing the right training equipment will set you and your pooch up for success in achieving this goal.
Why is it important to choose the right dog training collar?
Every dog is an individual and needs a training program that takes advantage of their strengths and helps them overcome their weaknesses. Some dogs are born with a never ending supply of energy and enthusiasm but lacking in self control while others take a much more thoughtful approach to life. These differences must be taken into account so that you can choose the best training collar to meet your needs and those of your dog.
Head collars or halters are great for curbing the enthusiasm of dogs that love to make a dramatic entrance at the dog park and announce their arrival with an exuberant display of barking and bouncing. If you have a Houdini dog that has learned to back out of their collar and go adventuring, an obedience collar might be the solution.
Four factors to consider when choosing a training collar for dogs:
- Size and fit: Collars and head collars are ineffective and can be dangerous if they don't fit the dog properly. This is particularly true with head collars as a poor fit can lead to eye and mouth damage or excess pressure on the nose.
- Level of training: Dogs with little or no training are more likely to make mistakes and need more input from their trainer. As training progresses and dogs learn which behaviours are appropriate and which are not, so less interaction between dog and trainer is required. This means that different types of training collars can be appropriate during the various stages of a dog's training.
- Trainer experience: Just like dogs, trainers have different levels of experience and need different tools to communicate effectively with their dog. Inexperienced trainers may find a head collar more useful as it gives them greater control over their dog's movements, where experienced trainers can achieve the same results with an obedience collar.
- Quality and strength: A broken collar and a dog dodging traffic on a main road is every dog parent's worst nightmare. Choosing a high quality, well manufactured collar instead of a cheap and shoddily made collar could mean the difference between an enjoyable training session and a nerve wracking experience.
Results:
- Best Halter for Hard to Fit Dogs: Halti Optifit Dog Headcollar
- Best Training Collar: Rogz Obedience Collar
- Best Three Way Harness: Petsafe 3 in 1 Harness
- Best No Pull Harness: Halti No Pull Harness
- Best Front Control Harness: Halti Front Control Harness
- Best Collar for Sighthounds: BlackDog Wear Sighthound Collar
How We Review Our Products
Our Pet Circle Vet Squad comprises 30 vets with over 120 years of collective, independent veterinary expertise. Our Vet team use their health and husbandry knowledge, along with their own personal and clinical experiences to evaluate each product and provide detailed, informative reviews, free of any commercial bias. We then collate this information into our 'best of' recommendations.