Though still a highly controversial product, electric collars have proven they are a useful tool in many training situations, especially with the German Shorthaired Pointer (GSP).
For example, many dog owners see no better choice when they adopt a stubborn, untrained GSP. It’s when a high-quality product with proper use can help mold him or her into obedience. This is only possible when you know what to get from it.
Read on to find out what the best electric collar for GSP hunting dogs on the market, which is followed by a guide to help you pick up the right product for your dog.
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The Best Electric Collars for GSP Hunting Dogs
1. Dog Care Dog Training Collar – The Best Overall
There are multiple reasons why this electric collar from Dog Care is the first choice we want to introduce.
It comes with three different training methods: static, beep, and vibration. With those modes, you can teach your GSP dog obedience, basic commands, and get her or him under control.
Also, the Dog Care collar provides an extra keypad lock in the remote control. You can only use this remote control once you have bypassed this security protection.
But why do we need that?
One of the most common complaints about this electric collar is that dog owners may accidentally hurt their pets. This usually happens when they touch the remote control and activate its features without knowing. But with the locking feature, the Dog Care collar reduces this possibility.
If you have and want to train many GSP at the same time, this electric collar will be a godsend.
Coming with 9 separate channels, this Dog Care model allows you to work with multiple dogs with just a single control device. On the other hand, most electric collars on the market have only two channels, making this product a great value for your money.
The Dog Care electric collar has a range of 330 yards – not the most impressive but still enough for most training at home.
The collar and control unit both have quite durable constructions and long battery life. They are rechargeable, allowing 15-day and 30-day usage for the collar and remote control, respectively.
However, the lag when you change the intensity of the Dog Care electric collar may disappoint you. Though it offers 99 levels of static levels, the response time is quite big between the time you adjust it and when the intensity applied to your GSP actually changes.
If you often need to suddenly shock your pet to get it under control quickly, this might be the best choice for you.
Pros
- Three training modes
- No accidental shock with the keypad lock
- 9 channels for maximum control
- 99 different static level
- Rechargeable collar and control unit
- Long battery life
- Reasonable price
Cons
- Only a 330-yard range
- No on/off switch on the collar
- Lag when adjusting the static level
2. Petrainer PET998DRB1 Dog Training Collar – The Most Adjustable
Despite its low price, this electric collar may surprise you with its impressive features.
Like the model from Dog Care, the Petrainer PET998DRB1 brings 3 different corrective modes for pet disobedience: beep, vibration, and shock. With those built-in abilities, you can adapt to most situations and correct your GSP’s overwhelming behavior problems.
On top of that, the remote control offers 100 intensity levels for Shock and Vibration Stimulation.
No matter whether you are a casual pet owner or a professional trainer, there is always a safe yet effective level of stimulation that fits best for your training.
This electric collar is also quite adjustable with the size from 14 to 25 inches – a perfect range for GSP hunting dogs. The sensitive skin of your pet is also protected with the nylon strap in the collar unit.
It suddenly starts to rain when you and your beloved friend are outside? It’s not a problem as the collar is waterproof, making training in the rain even possible.
Thanks to its warranty policy, you will have peace of mind when buying this electric collar from Petrainer for your GSP hunting dog.
If you register your unit after purchase, Petrainer will extend the warranty of the PET998DRB1 to 3 years – an impressive duration that we hardly see on the electric collar market.
The Petrainer PET998DRB1 has the same control range as the Dog Care product – 330 yards.
This is quite enough for training your GSP in the park or in your backyard, but when you want to have a longer range than that, you may need to have a look at other models. Many trainers, especially who with a big farm or ranch, may prefer collars with a longer range – for example, 0.5 mile – for their activities.
Pros
- Cheap
- Three training modes
- 100 levels of intensity
- 3-year warranty if you register your purchase
Cons
- Just basic features
- Only a 330-yard range
3. Pet Union PT0Z1 Premium Dog Training Shock Collar – The Budget Choice
If you want a budget electric collar with a 400-yard range for your GSP hunting dog, this is your best bet.
With the Pet Union PT0Z1, your dog will be happy when he/she doesn’t need to be stuck in a small space. Now your pet gets all the room for his/her activities. This makes the dog healthier, and your training also becomes easier with fewer restrictions.
Whether you are a new pet owner or an experienced trainer, you can always benefit from the Pet Union PT0Z1 to correct behavioral obedience, aggression, sitting, leash training, walking, and barking of your GSP.
This electric collar offers a massive amount of stimulation levels (100) on top of 4 training modes.
With those modes, cautious GSP owners can become more relaxed as they know they can set the level of stimulation to their preference without worrying about unnecessary shock. Pet Union has also recommended that you should only use the shock mode only in emergency situations, not when you try normal behavioral training.
Although the PT0Z1 comes with a lifetime warranty, it’s not made from high-quality materials, making it prone to any heavy-duty tasks. But given the price, this isn’t really a surprise.
Pros
- 400-yard range
- 4 training modes
- Long battery life
- Lifetime warranty
- Waterproof
Cons
- Not a premium model for long term use
4. SportDOG Brand SportHunter X-Series – The Best Long-range Model
Though having some limitations and a high price, it will be an incredible collar if you can afford it for your needs, especially when you want a long-range collar.
The SportDOG Brand SportHunter X-Series has an impressive range, from 1/2 to 1 mile, depending on your unit. This is significantly bigger than any products we have covered, making training your GSP dog in large areas like a farm possible.
And when you buy the extra Add-A-Dog collars, you can extend the number of dogs to three or six.
This is also a nice touch when you know that in case a collar stops working, you can always find a replacement part. Apart from the price, this is an obvious sign of a top-notch model.
The dial of the remote control provides 21 levels of stimulation in medium and low ranges, while with the buttons, you can switch between continuous or momentary stimulation modes. On top of that, the SportDOG Brand SportHunter X-Series also comes with the beep and vibration modes like other collars.
The waterproof feature also indeed belongs to a premium model.
The DryTek technology SportDOG Brand has equipped into this electric collar makes it waterproof up to 25 feet. This is an impressive feat that we can’t find in any budget or even mid-range products.
And not just water, this durable collar can also withstand everything in the training field: wind, mud, dust, snow, rain, cold, and heat.
The lithium-ion batteries are rechargeable, needing 2 hours to get the device charged fully. With a single charge, you can use it for up to 70 hours.
When you have any issue with our unit, you can always contact the Customer Care Centers of SportDOG Brand. They are helpful and available six days a week, providing support whenever you need them.
Pros
- Long-range
- Durable construction
- Impressive waterproof and weather-resistance capability
- Optional extra collars
- Customizable buttons
- Rechargeable batteries
Cons
- Expensive
- Only 21 levels of stimulation
5. PetSpy P620 – The Best Warrant
You can have total control in the stimulation with 16 different shock levels of the PetSpy P620. This makes sure you have no problem getting the right level in training your GSP.
PetSpy has shown that it wants to put some serious effort into making its products easy to use.
It has a fairly long range – 650 yards. And in the control unit, the buttons are touch-distinguishing. As a result, you can push the right button even without looking at the remote control.
But otherwise, it has no fancy features.
You can find all the features in the PetSpy P620 in other standard electric collars: rechargeable batteries, waterproof, and 3 training modes. That’s because PetSpy wants to make a reliable, long-lasting product instead of a model that has numerous features but breaks down easily.
This philosophy is proven again with its lifetime replacement policy and the 24/7 customer support service.
Pros
- 650-yard range
- Reliable and easy to use
- High-quality materials
- Lifetime replacement
Cons
- Only basic features
- More expensive than mid-range products
How To Choose The Right Collar for Your GSP
Training Goals
The first question you always need to answer first is what you’re going to do with an electric collar as there are many types on the market, each with a different purpose.
If you want to teach your GSP overall obedience and some basic commands, then one of the products above is what you need. They will provide total control in training, whether you are a new dog owner or an expert in hunting dog training.
Range
Determining the range you need will narrow down a lot of options since not every product has the same range. One may have a range of just 200 yards, while another model may help you control your GSP over 2 miles.
This all comes down to where the training takes place and what you want to teach your dog. If you still haven’t made up your mind, just get a long-range electric collar. Don’t be cheap and spend on a low-range model just because it’s cheaper.
A longer-range means your GSP has more room for running, covering any training exercises you plan on taking with him/her.
Level of Intensity
Most modern electric collars provide some form of control over intensity, usually using different levels that you can adjust with the control unit. Top products may even come with up to 100 different levels of stimulation. This allows you to pick the right level in order to get your GSP under control without hurting him/her.
They also include additional modes, such as beep and vibration, on top of the traditional shock method. This is incredibly useful for dog owners who are not entirely comfortable about shocking their pets.
All things considered, we recommend an electric collar with at least three training modes and a dozen of intensity levels.
Stimulation
Usually, electric collars offer two mechanisms of stimulation: continuous and momentary.
In the momentary mode, the stimulation coming from the collar unit only lasts for a few seconds. This is useful when you need your GSP to change his/her focus quickly. The stimulation usually stops even before you release the control button.
On the other hand, continuous stimulation is longer, allowing you to pick specifically how long they last. This is often used for untrained dogs.
Batteries
Since electric collars use only batteries as their power source, you need to know whether they are rechargeable, charging time, and the run-time with each full charge. The greater batteries capacity, the less you need to worry about running out of power in the midst of training sessions.
Weather resistance and Durability
Compared to other devices, this is an essential feature in electric collars since most dogs, especially GSP, love outdoor worlds. They want to play with sand, dirt, and water, whether it’s a hot or rainy day. It’s always advisable to go for a model that has this in mind.
The design of construction and materials play a huge role in this resistance against natural elements. Thick and tough plastics make both the collar and remote control unit more durable and withstand better against heat and water. If possible, always get a waterproof electrical collar for your GSP.
Warranty and Cost
Though there are many cheap and budget electric collars with low prices, high-quality models usually cost you more. More expensive collars often are made from durable materials, have longer range, more features, and better warranty and customer services.
Many reputable brands even offer a lifetime warranty and replacement. Always have them in mind when you need a long-term electric collar.
Final words
We’re confident that with the advice and recommendations above, you will have an easier time choosing the best electric collar for GSP hunting dogs. A high-quality model may become a handy tool in your training and getting your dog under control.
But remember not to use the shock mode as the first method when teaching your GSP obedience as there are better choices, like that beep and vibration modes, that you can use first in most situations. This makes sure you can have proper training without unnecessarily hurting your dog.
