Training your large dog can be a challenging feat that brings many owners to their breaking point, especially if your dog is constantly barking or doesn’t listen.
Some dogs are much better learners than others, being able to sit or offer their paw within a matter of days worth of training. However, other dogs are not as quick to change their behavior.
Instead, it could take them months to learn that bad behavior is not acceptable in your household. Barking, chewing, biting, or running away is among the most common forms of bad behavior for big dogs.
These are irritating behaviors. Barking can scare you and others around you. Biting and chewing might force you to purchase new items that you own. Lastly, running away can worry you and put your dog in danger.
You need to remove these behaviors from your large dog as soon as possible. Without doing so, your dog could get you or themselves in a tough situation one day. However, fast and effective training is difficult.
Fortunately for dog owners everywhere, e-collars have been storming the market to help this process go a little smoother for you. We’ve found the best e-collars for large dogs on the market and tested them on various dogs.
In a rush? Here are the top picks!
- Pros
- Included warranty, money-back guarantee, and customer service: Relax knowing your money is protected should the collar malfunction.
- Two types of static shock: Choose between momentary or continuous shock to discipline your dog.
- Quick-charging battery: Use the collar again in no time with an incredibly quick recharge time of just two hours.
- Cons
- The e-collar is constantly "on" and doesn't have a sleep mode
First up on our list of the best e-collars for large dogs is a model from Pet Resolve. The range of 3/4 a mile is incredibly impressive and allows you to train your big dog while at home, in the yard, or on off-leash walks.
There are three training modes that come with this training collar – vibration, tone, and shock stimulation. The latter comes with 10 levels of intensity making the e-collar more effective at training away bad behaviors. As a general rule of thumb, you should always start at the lowest possible setting and work your way up until your dog starts to react to the static shock.
You can remove the metal prongs from this collar to stop it from being able to shock your dog. Instead, you can replace the prongs with plastic which only provides vibrations but no shocks. This e-collar is also completely waterproof which is ideal for larger dogs who like to swim.
The collar fits dogs anywhere from 15 pounds and up, so it’s ideal for the majority of large breeds as well as small and medium dogs. One of the most differentiating features of this e-collar is that it automatically detects when your dog is barking and can apply a shock. Thus, you don’t necessarily have to around your dog to train them.
We tried this correction collar on our dog as well as several other dogs and it works great. It’s a fast and effective solution for behavioral training. After only a few days, our dog knew not to bark excessively which is why we believe it’s one of the best e-collar for a large dog.
- Pros
- Two options for contact points: Choose the correct length depending on the thickness of your dog’s coat.
- Not a shock collar: A more humane method of training your dog is vibrations.
- Small remote: The remote can fit in the palm of your hand to keep it discreet.
- Cons
- Poor instructions: A few customers could not understand the instructions supplied with the collar.
In second place, the Educator e-collar comes with plenty of options to choose from and easily fits any big dog breed.
You can decide how far you want the range to be, as well as matching the collar size with the correct size of dog. You can even opt for two collars for separate dogs which you can control from just one remote control.
This training e-collar is adjustable, so it works with all larger dogs upwards of five pounds in weight. This is not a shock collar, but rather delivers a tapping sensation that is just intense enough to be effective at deterring your dog from bad behavior.
With intensity levels from 1 to 100 and an additional boost stimulus of 1 to 60, you will get plenty of use from this collar.
The more levels there are, the more likely you are to successfully train bad behaviors from your dog. Larger dogs tend to not react to the lower intensity levels, so you’ll have to calibrate your dog appropriately by starting on the lowest settings.
- Pros
- Free e-book: Enjoy watching helpful videos about training with your e-collar with the included e-book.
- Easy to use remote: You’ll be able to find each button without looking in no time.
- Rubber caps: These protect your dog’s skin on their neck so that the shocks don’t leave any lasting damage.
- Cons
- Intermittent effectiveness: One customer found that their collar only worked intermittently.
The PetSpy e-collar comes with four different training modes which are continuous shocks, a momentary shock, vibration, or beeping sounds. There are eight adjustable levels of intensity for each of these correction methods, allowing you to train even the most resistant large dogs.
We like how simple the remote is to use with this shock collar, with large buttons that you’ll quickly learn to press without even looking. The dial is also easy to locate and use without looking, so you can keep tabs on your dog while disciplining them.
With a range of 3300 feet, you’ll be able to train your dog no matter how far away they are from you. This collar is ideal for dogs weighing more than 10 pounds, which is perfect for both medium and large dogs. If you’re on a budget, this is a cheap shock collar for large dogs.
- Pros
- Good customer service: You’ll always be able to call up for advice on your e-collar, training, and other issues you may have.
- Expandable remote: Two separate channels allow you to use the remote to train two dogs at the same time.
- Compact design: The small and thin collar remains comfortable for your dog to wear for hours at a time.
- Cons
- Intensity turns up on its own: The intensity dial is not locked into place and therefore can easily be adjusted while in your pocket or hand without you knowing, causing higher shocks than you intended.
Dogtra has created this small and lightweight e-collar with medium and large dogs in mind. It can be used on dogs upwards of 10 pounds and has a long adjustable collar.
We like the fact that it has been molded to small dogs but can work on large breeds, as this keeps the collar discreet and comfortable for your dog.
The remote control is just as compact as the collar and can fit in the palm of your hand. The buttons are simple and easy to find, allowing you to train your dog without constantly looking at the remote.
There are two training methods with this e-collar – “nick” for ½ a second shock, and constant shock for up to 12 seconds. The intensity can also be increased between 1 and 100 levels to allow you longer usage of the collar. This is one of the best dog shock collars for large dogs if you want something easy to use. The downside is that it does not come with an LCD display.
- Pros
- Two separate channels: Train two dogs at once with one remote control.
- LCD display: Easily ready the current settings and battery level thanks to the screen.
- Waterproof: Don’t shy away from letting your dog have a swim with this collar, and the remote even floats in case it gets lost in water.
- Cons
- Only one size of electrodes: You cannot change the electrodes depending on your dog’s coat.
Last but not least, this e-collar from Mini Educator comes with both a clicker and an electric dog collar. Clickers have also been shown to help training dogs, so we like that you’re getting two for the price of one with this kit.
The e-collar comes with two correction types, vibration, and tone, which both can be adjusted depending on the size of your dog. These are two more humane methods of training that might be ideal for people who want to train but not cause harm to their dogs.
The 2640 feet range is great for training on the go, and both collar and remote are waterproof. The e-collar remote is small enough to fit in your hand and the easy-to-reach buttons allow you to correct behavior as soon as it is being shown.
This e-collar can be used with any dog with a neck size of 6 to 30 inches, which is ideal for even the largest of breeds. This is one of the best extra large dog training collars since the collar is so big.
How to Choose an E-Collar for Large Dogs
Now that you’ve seen what the market has to offer, let’s remind you of what you should be looking for before purchasing an e-collar for your large dog.
Not every e-collar will work with a big dog, so it’s important to research the collars first before you make a purchase. Luckily, we’ve done the research and testing for you so you can make an easy decision.
Size
Of course, if you have a large dog, the main feature you need to look for is the size of the collar. Large dogs weigh between 60 and 200 pounds, meaning that this is a very broad spectrum to be looking for.
Unfortunately, the only other way to determine if your dog collar is going to fit your big dog is to measure their neck circumference. Most large dogs will have a neck size of at least 20+ inches.
However, the majority of e-collar brands and manufacturers do not measure their collars on neck circumference. They measure the collar based on your dog’s weight, so you won’t be able to use this information for much.
With that being said, many e-collars are adjustable and therefore suitable for dogs of all sizes. You can simply cut off the excess part of the collar to make the e-collar the ideal size for your large dog.
As long as the collar has a maximum weight capacity of 140 or above, it should be suitable for your large dog. Remember, the metal prongs need to touch your dog’s skin for the shock to work, but you don’t want the collar to be to tight.
Training Methods
E-collars are good tools for training your dog to unlearn behaviors using negative reinforcement. This means that once they begin showing this behavior, you will activate the collar and your dog will be met with a negative reaction.
The most common method of training for an e-collar is a static shock. This is where your dog will experience a small electric shock on its neck when you signal the collar to. This will stop them from displaying negative behavior.
Eventually, with continuous use, your dog will associate barking, for example, with an electric shock and not do it at all. Most large dogs learn quickly, so it’s relatively easy to train when used appropriately.
However, keep in mind that not all large dogs work well with shock collars. Some react badly to the shocks and show worse behavior than before. Other big dogs don’t even notice the shocks and continue as normal. Shock collars won’t always work for every dog and may cause additional stress.
For this reason, it’s worth getting an e-collar with more than one training method. Other common types are vibrations, sounds, and lights. By choosing an e-collar with multiple training methods, you can find the best one for your dog that they react most to.
Intensity Levels
Following on from the multiple training methods, you should also find an e-collar that comes with varying intensity levels for these methods.
Intensity levels will allow you to adjust how strong the shocks or vibrations are to prevent hurting your dog with too strong levels.
Another great thing about varying intensity levels is that you can work your way up to the highest levels. Starting with one, your dog has a few days to get used to the shock.
Once they stop responding to the intensity, you can turn it up slowly so that they don’t get too comfortable with the collar.
The more intensity levels your collar has, the longer you can use it without your dog getting used to the maximum intensity.
Some offer 100 levels to work your way through, which are the best, although it could also mean that the highest levels are too strong for your dog.
Larger dogs should be able to withstand stronger shocks than smaller dogs; however, so this shouldn’t be a problem for your dog.
That being said, always make sure that your dog is not significantly uncomfortable when using these high intensities.
Battery Life
E-collars will come with a remote that you can use to send signals to your dog’s collar. These will both be portable and therefore rechargeable.
Noticing the battery life of each collar you consider will prevent you from choosing one that will need to be recharged every couple of hours.
The amount of time your e-collar will need to remain on charge for will depend on how long you use the collar each day.
If you’re going to be using the collar for long periods at a time, you will need a battery life much more impressive than if you were only going to be using the collar for an hour a day.
Either way, a battery that keeps running flat after a few hours after a full charge is annoying and inconvenient, so finding an e-collar with impressive battery life is important for most users.
Range
The range of your e-collar refers to how far away your dog can be from you while the collar still works with the remote control.
The more impressive the range of your collar, the more you can discipline your dog even when they’re too far away to hear you.
For owners who will only be using the e-collar in their houses and yards, 330 feet or more will suffice.
However, if your dog was particularly naughty during their walks when they run further ahead from you, you can get collars with a range up to 1000 feet.
Where and when you’re going to utilize the e-collar will determine how much range you’ll need to look for.
Comfort
While an e-collar is used for discipline, the collar should still be comfortable enough for your dog to wear it for long periods of time.
If it is made of uncomfortable material such as rigid plastic, or the electrodes are too long and stick painfully into their neck, your dog is not going to respond well to it.
A fabric band is much more comfortable than a plastic or rubber one. Again, a thinner collar is going to be more malleable than a thick band and less likely to interrupt your dog’s day.
The cell that holds the electrodes should also not be too large that it annoys your dog and stops them from completely moving their neck. Finally, the electrodes themselves should not be too long that they’re digging into their skin.
Dogs with thicker coats will need longer electrodes so that they can reach the dog’s skin through the hair, but dogs with thin coats will need shorter electrodes to remain comfortable.
Conclusion for Best E-Collar for Large Dogs
E-collars aren’t for every dog. However, for most large dogs that need to correct their barking, e-collars can be a fast and effective tool. Remember to always start on the lowest setting and gradually work your way up. We hope that you found our list of the best e-collars for large dogs helpful and you made a purchase!
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Frequently Asked Questions
What can e-collars do?
E-collars are beneficial for a number of reasons. For starters, you can teach your dog about boundaries and how far they are allowed to stray from you.
Discipline them every time they walk too far away from you so that they learn not to travel too far away from you during walks.
You can also teach your dog to stop barking or doing other bad behaviors such as jumping, chewing, and biting. Clear discipline will allow them to distinguish between bad and good behaviors, allowing them to unlearn bad behaviors more easily and quickly.
An e-collar can also work as a more effective method of communication between you and your dog. You can discipline them while on walks or while they’re further away from you without you having to raise your voice to get their attention – the collar will do it for you.
Finally, an e-collar can leave both you and your dog feeling better about your training session.
You won’t get so stressed out, and therefore your dog will still have a fun experience rather than feeling scared or stressed. An e-collar can help you train your dog without negatively affecting your relationship.
Still courious? Check out this video on how to train your dog with an e-collar!
Garrett loves animals and is a huge advocate for all Doodle dog breeds. He owns his own Goldendoodle named Kona. In addition, he volunteers at the Humane Society of Silicon Valley, where he fosters dogs and helps animals. Garrett enjoys writing about Doodles and believes that dogs can teach humans more about how to live than humans can teach a dog.
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