About Hunting Dog Training Collars

Training a hunting dog is never easy. Some are stubborn, some are forever in puppy stage, and others see no reason to listen to you once they are out and about. Then there are those who are veterans and know it all to the point where they can practically hunt without their handler. But one thing all hunting dogs have in common is the training collar. Training collars are used to help new dogs just starting out, and they are used to keep track of the old pros, too.

  1. Function

    • Some people can't understand why hunters use training collars on dogs, but for those who use their dogs regularly, they are a way of nature. Training collars--which deliver a tone and shock to get the dog's attention and motivate her to stop an unwanted behavior or perform a desired task--are not used for discipline but reinforcement, usually to call a dog back from a point, retrieve or flush. Training collars also are used to discourage dogs from chasing rabbits or playing with other dogs on the hunt.

    Features

    • While there are many brands of training collars, they all have basically the same features: a shock button, a tone or beep button, and a range of how far they will work (usually anywhere from a quarter-mile up to a full mile). Some are waterproof, some have lights to increase visibility, and some can be used for one dog or multiple dogs.

    Price

    • The price range of training collars varies widely. Some can be bought for as little as $50 with three tones and a short range. Others can cost up to $400 with all the bells and whistles: 10 tones, waterproof protection and the ability to be used for four dogs. It's all a matter of what you're looking for and how much you want to spend on your hunting companion.

    Benefits

    • Using a training collar helps prevent a hunting dog from running away or getting lost. If the dog strays too far, the collar is used to bring him back. Some pointing dogs can run all day, and when they get on the scent of something they may not be willing to give it up. A hunting dog training collar can help with that, too. Similarly, I have hunted with a few retrievers who are so intent on the retrieve that they lose their way back to their handler. A lost dog on a hunt is every hunter's worst nightmare, and a training collar can prevent it.

    Warning

    • Overuse of a training collar can deaden a dog's response. She might not respond when she hears the beep, or if the shock option is used, she might run away rather than return to her handler.