Best Cheap Shock Collar – Top 9 Picks!

General Use and Buying Guide

Now that you’ve seen the list of the best cheap shock collar, we can help you refine which shock collar is best for you. We can at least assure you that our list has quality collars, but if we’re looking to find the best bang-for-buck shock collar, we need to figure out what you need as well, but what should you consider?

What are your training needs and goals?

Do you need a shock collar to help reduce unwanted behavior? Modern Shock collars in general have basic features made for obedience training and reinforcing basic commands. You will then use the lessons taught in this training to help reduce this bad behavior. 

Another need is to help manage aggressive behavior. Dogs with problematic aggression need collars with strong or moderately strong collars, with features such as speedy ways to adjust the intensity. You won’t be directly punishing your dog, instead, you will be teaching your dog strong obedience commands and reinforcing them as they are showing aggressive behavior. 

You may have problems with nuisance barking instead. Some breeds are just so naturally expressive that they must learn how to bark minimally. Depending on the type of bark collars, some could be dedicated bark collars or hybrid collars which are both remote-controlled collars that can be switched into bark collar mode. 

Outside of training, electric shock collars have other features that help you manage them while they are outside without any leash. These can be the basic beep or LED in the collar that helps you see them from a distance. 

In terms of range, it depends on how far you want your dog to roam. 300-yard collars are decent for close range, but it never hurts to have a 1/2 mile range and more. You could do more with a higher range, especially when you’re trying to locate your dog in the dark. 

Another factor is how many dogs you’re going to handle. All shock collar shops that sell remotes with multiple collar support have ways for you to purchase additional collars, so when you buy one, don’t hesitate to ask where to get additional collars.

What are your dog’s needs?

A dog’s size is very important when considering a shock collar. If you have a teeny tiny dog breed, perhaps below 10 lbs, consider other training devices as it’s rare to find shock collars that fit them well enough.

If you have a dog that’s above 10 lbs and a neck size no larger than 24 inches, then all the collars in this list will fit your dog well. 

It’s pretty hard to tell if your dog is the sensitive type unless you actually buy a shock collar and try it. Some dogs may appear to be proud and tough, only to fold like origami on the lowest level of correction. Some dogs are cowardly but won’t bat an eye unless you use higher shock levels. All modern shock collars have ways to adjust the correction levels, either by a dial or by a button. The levels don’t really dictate the total strength of the collar though, just the in-betweens of each power level. 

Besides temperament, dogs have significantly different skin than humans, so what could be painful for us, could be more than tolerable to a dog and vice versa. The good news is that good quality shock collars are made with that in mind and companies behind the manufacturing already did their tests and studies for us and made adjustments on the product accordingly. You could consider this as the reason why some training collars have a high price tag on them. The ones on our list are, of course, collars that have gone through quality checks and research, hence the great reviews. 

General Guide For Buying a Cheap Shock Collar

How do I use a shock collar for dog training?

One of the most efficient methods is through the use of Negative Reinforcement + Positive Reinforcement. The shock collar’s role is to provide negative stimulation that pushes your dog to act, and the role of positive reinforcement is done by a soft and delicious treat. This is not a reward-and-punishment system, it’s fundamentally different. 

Before we start reinforcement, you must teach your dog the behavior you’ll reinforce, such as going back to you when you press the beep button. For this example, you can teach them by placing them on a long leash, then when they are a considerable distance away, press the beep button and lightly pull the leash. When they reach you, give a signal that they did it right, (like using a clicker or saying a keyword like “Good!”) reward them with a treat. Keep doing this until they reach you without having to pull the leash, then do this without the leash.

At this point, you may ask “Why should I use a shock collar if positive reinforcement/reward training already works?” This is true, if positive reinforcement works, then stick to it, but the true test is if they still obey you outside of controlled situations. They might end up chasing a small animal and no matter how loud you yell the commands, your dog may not follow. Reinforcement helps with this problem and shock collars are the most effective way to provide it.

Once you’ve taught your dog what you need to reinforce, set the shock collar up, then start the training by calling their attention. Activate the Beep and as soon as you do, activate the lowest level of continuous shock your dog responds to. As soon as they reach you, stop the stimulation, give the “Good job!” signal, and provide the treat. 

Timing is a bit important here, so you need to practice it with your dog. Do this around 5-7 times per training session, less if you start seeing your dog lose interest. You can do around 2-3 training sessions per day, but much sure you don’t keep the collar on for more than 8 hours. 

How do I keep my dog safe during shock collar training?

Here is a list of things you should do during shock-collar training to make sure that your furry buddy is safe and happy during your indoor or outdoor training sessions. 

1. Make sure the contact points make consistent contact with your dog’s skin. You do this by selecting the proper contact points. Longer hair= longer contact points. It also has to be tight, at least tight enough that you can snugly fit 2-3 fingers between the neck and the collar. 
2. Before you start the training, find out the lowest level of stimulation your dog will respond to. You do this by setting the shock collar to the lowest level, then while your dog is wearing the shock collar properly, activate the collar and watch your dog’s reactions. If they ever so slightly flinch or look confused, then stick to that level. If they literally don’t bat an eye to it, increase to the next possible level and try again until they react. If they yelp, dial the level lower. If you’re at the lowest level and they still yelp, it could be that they are simply surprised, or consider using vibration instead, as they are sensitive enough.
3. If you can rotate the collar every 1-2 hours, this way, the contact points don’t keep pressing on the same spot. This way you avoid the potential development of pressure sores, which can look like puncture wounds if they turn into ulcers. 
4. Do not keep the collar on for more than 8 hours. 12 hours would be pushing it. 
5. Never use the collar for punishment. Never trigger the collar while they are doing any kind of negative behavior. Instead, train and reinforce obedience commands, then use those to stop them.