Dog owners or trainers who are considering an electric training collar to correct negative canine behavior or to reinforce commands often ask how they work. This article is only a summary of how e collars work, however, when you purchase directly from EducatorCollars.com you receive a free copy of our exclusive, step-by-step, 40 page e-collar dog training guide that will show you its correct use in much greater detail.
The eBook includes how to properly introduce your dog to the e-collar (collar conditioning), finding the perfect level of stimulation for your dogs specific temperament and chapters devoted to basic obedience and solving behavioral issues, and finally phasing out the e-collar.
How an Electric Training Collar Works
Electric training collars employ a radio signal to deliver a mild stimulus sent via remote control (transmitter) to a receiver collar worn on the dog’s neck, either to discourage negative behavior or to encourage compliance with commands.
The stimulus distracts the dog with an unpleasant sensation, similar to the static shock you feel when you make contact with a carpet and touch a metal surface.
The sensation startles and is briefly unpleasant, but it does not harm you. Nor does the sensation from the remote training collar harm the dog. The stimulus is designed to get the dog’s attention to help the dog refocus.
The stimulation is administered to reinforce commands the dog already knows, such as Sit, Stay, Heel or Come. The dog learns to stop the unpleasant sensation by responding correctly to a command.
The stimulus is also applied to correct behavioral issues such as nuisance barking, digging, jumping up, chasing and destructive chewing. The canine learns to associate the unpleasant stimulus with its own negative behavior.
The administration of an unpleasant sensation can be said to be a “negative” stimulus, so some trainers and dog owners may be opposed to it. However, correction with a leash, choke or pinch collar may also be considered “negative” training, and unlike these other forms of training, electric collars deliver a humane correction similar to tapping the dog on the shoulder, from a distance, without the use of brute force that can damage the dog’s spinal cord and larynx.
The trainer’s goal should be to achieve results with the lowest level of stimulation that the dog responds to, one that may be hardly perceptible to humans. All Educator E-Collars come with 100 levels of static stimulation that allows fine-tuning to the dog’s specific temperament. Always start at the lowest level and work your way up. Educator Collars also come with a vibration and tone only modes that can be used as a warning feature to get the dog’s attention before static stimulation is needed.
Summary
Sometimes, desperate dog owners turn to an electric training collar as the last resort to correct bad behavior, incessant barking or some other behavior that may make it impossible for the owner to keep the dog.
Electric training collars, used correctly and responsibly, are a valuable tool for communicating with your dog, and ensuring pet owners and pets can live together in happiness and harmony for many years.
I have a 302 Educator Mini system that is about two years old.
A few times when charging the transmitter and the two receivers of late the red constantly on while charging battery lights did not turn green when they had charged for up to four hours. I had been charging all three units every one to three days. Most days did not use stimulation at all or not more than few times. Off the charger the units when turned on initially always show the green blinking lights. Wondering if batteries are needing replacement.
Also question on the 802 Educator e collar, the boss. If the boss unit is not turned up higher than a 50 level, is the amplitude and width, etc. of the simulation wave exactly the same on the 302 and 802 units? Or does Boss have less of a spike? Hopefully I am making some sense.
The increased range of the 802 would somewhat be helpful for me.
Thank you.
Hi John,
It sounds like you need to replace the batteries in the Mini Educator. Its recommended every couple of years. Look on the back of the handheld transmitter for the model/version. If you have had it only 2 years you probably have the newest version: “ET-300” which uses the 400 mAH. The receiver collars are probably the RX-090 (check between the contact points) that use the 300 mAH.
So, the Mini Educator ET-300 is a low to medium power unit and the ET-800 is a low to high power unit. They both have 100 levels and up to level 50 are about the same (low range). However, after level 50 the ET-800 jumps up about 40% more powerful (high range).
Hope I was able to answer your questions correctly 😉
Also, if you ever need any help, we have an awesome product support team and their number is on the back of all educator collar handheld transmitters and they are available to you every day except Sundays 😉