Remote Dog Collar Transmitter Features

Remote dog collar transmitters have many different control mechanisms. Some transmitters are designed with dials, others have toggle switches, buttons, or LCD screens. Transmitters designed to control more than one collar, usually have separate buttons or a toggle switch for each dog.

Dial-Controlled Transmitters

In the case of dial-controlled transmitters, the dial itself can be designed to spin smoothly through the various stimulation levels, or to provide a positive clicking sensation as the owner moves from level to level. Although both styles work well, there are advantages as well as disadvantages to both methods. In the end, choosing a dial style is a matter of personal preference.

– Rheostat Dials

Free-spinning rheostat dial transmitters are designed to work smoothly and are easy to use. However, some pet owners feel that this style of dial can sometimes make it a bit difficult to achieve an exact level of correction, especially without looking at the dial control. To address the need for more accurate control, many of the newer transmitter models combine a rheostat style dial control with an LCD screen. The LCD screen makes it much easier to see the exact level of correction that is selected, although it is still necessary to look at the transmitter. Depending on the exact model chosen, some rheostat dials require two hands in order to operate them accurately. Many people actually prefer this style of control for training their pet. However, a rheostat-style dial that requires two hands to operate can be a little more difficult to use when hunting in the field

– Positive Click Dials

A positive click style dial makes it easy to choose a precise level of correction, without having to look at the dial. Because there isn’t a need to look at the dial, this style of controller can be quite handy when working with dogs in the field or while hunting. Because it’s possible to feel the incremental clicks as the intensity level is increased, this style of dial can make it easy to achieve an exact correction level.

– Choosing a Dial Style

Whichever style of dial you choose, it’s important that it fits the way you plan to use the electronic training collar. For use in the backyard or even indoors, almost any style of dial will work equally well. However, if the electronic collar is going to be used during field training sessions or while hunting, it’s best to choose a dial that is easy to use even while wearing gloves. In most cases, the most desirable dials for field use are those that are thick, big and positioned so that they can be used with either hand. The dial should be designed so that it performs well under all weather conditions, such as hot and humid weather, below zero temperatures or even in wet and muddy situations.

Button-Controlled Transmitters

Buttons are also a popular control feature used on many electronic training collar transmitter units. Just as is the case with a dial-controlled transmitter, it’s important to evaluate a button-controlled transmitted to determine if it will suit your particular needs. Ideally, the best buttons should have a good solid feel and be easy to control, even when wearing gloves. Buttons that are too small or which push down too easily can be difficult to control, especially when weather or location conditions are not perfect. Buttons should be large enough to access conveniently, and spaced properly so that the transmitter can be easily used in a variety of hand positions. Ideally, the buttons should be able to be used without the need to look at the controller in order to find the correct button. The buttons should work easily in all kinds of weather conditions ranging from sub-zero to hot, humid temperatures, especially if the electronic training collar is going to be used in the field for activities such as hunting or training.

LCD Screen Transmitters

Some remote dog collar transmitters make use of LCD screens as part of their overall design. These screens can make it easy to see the correction level being used. Some units are also designed to display other useful information such as the battery life, stimulation type being used, and in the case of multiple-collar units, which dog is currently receiving the correction stimulation.

However, it’s important to note that although these screens do provide a lot of useful information, they require the dog’s owner to look at the screen instead of the dog. Although this might not be a problem in many situations, it could make using the system a bit more challenging in the field while hunting. However, many people actually prefer this style of transmitter instead of other unit styles. Many of today’s higher end electronic training collars now use an LCD screen as part of their design. Reviews of these units are generally quite favorable, and many people recommend them for all kinds of training and behavior modification. As is the case with other control styles, personal preference and convenience are what matters most.

Toggle Switch-Controlled Transmitters

Toggle switches are a common feature used with transmitters designed to control more than one dog collar. Although sometimes buttons are used for this purpose, a majority of the multi-dog electronic collar systems utilize either a toggle switch or a selector dial. Toggle switches work quite well for this purpose, allowing the owner to switch easily between two or more dogs, without experiencing a loss in features.

When choosing a multi-dog collar system that utilizes a toggle switch, look for one that has a well-positioned switch that is large and easy enough to operate, even when wearing gloves. The toggle switch should be designed to operate dependably under all weather conditions, and should be easy to grip without slipping. Ideally, it should be easy to tell by feel which dog is currently being controlled by the unit.

Ready to Buy? Head on over to our dog training collars page and use our new product filter to find the perfect collar for you and your dog. You can filter by Brand, Type, Dog Size, Price, Range and different features that you like.

Choosing Between Long and Short Probes