SportDOG FieldTrainer SD-400

[winger7mm]

Does anyone use one of these? how do you like it, what could you change about it if you could??

[ksteed17]

I use a dogtra and it's worked great for me. I use the vibrate 95% of the time as all she needs sometimes is just something to break her focus. It's a great tool when used properly or when used in correctly can ruin your dog. Mine is jumping off the walls as soon as I pull it out cause it means fun time not punishment. My only advice would be to get one with more range. I've got a GSP as well and she's quite often way passed 400 yards.

[winger7mm]

Originally Posted by ksteed17

I use a dogtra and it's worked great for me. I use the vibrate 95% of the time as all she needs sometimes is just something to break her focus. It's a great tool when used properly or when used in correctly can ruin your dog. Mine is jumping off the walls as soon as I pull it out cause it means fun time not punishment. My only advice would be to get one with more range. I've got a GSP as well and she's quite often way passed 400 yards.

Well I know that i need to use it correctly, Im not gonna zap the sh1t out of her all the time, like I know some people do. Its to help her focus and well corrected. I know a few guys that use e-collars and alot of guys bash them for that but the guys that use them there dogs are super well trained. So im not afraid to use on. Haha the last time I was in contact with one my, hunting partner bought an older used unit and we were trying to figure it out, and it wasnt working so we put the alligator clips and the light on it cranked it up to full power and like a tard for some reason I help the clips down, well full power is too much I can tell you that bzzzzap lmao it hurt haha. But I know when I get my own I will do the same, slap it on and try it out to see what feels like what. So one with a 1/2 mile range would be best your saying ksteed??

[ksteed17]

Originally Posted by winger7mm

Well I know that i need to use it correctly, Im not gonna zap the sh1t out of her all the time, like I know some people do. Its to help her focus and well corrected. I know a few guys that use e-collars and alot of guys bash them for that but the guys that use them there dogs are super well trained. So im not afraid to use on. Haha the last time I was in contact with one my, hunting partner bought an older used unit and we were trying to figure it out, and it wasnt working so we put the alligator clips and the light on it cranked it up to full power and like a tard for some reason I help the clips down, well full power is too much I can tell you that bzzzzap lmao it hurt haha. But I know when I get my own I will do the same, slap it on and try it out to see what feels like what. So one with a 1/2 mile range would be best your saying ksteed??

Ya that should be fine. Get on as many birds as you can and you'll have an amazing season. I don't hunt birds to shoot anymore I hunt just to watch my dog work its awesome. Good luck.

[winger7mm]

Originally Posted by ksteed17

Ya that should be fine. Get on as many birds as you can and you'll have an amazing season. I don't hunt birds to shoot anymore I hunt just to watch my dog work its awesome. Good luck.

I will be going out to watch my dog work and bagging birds is just a benefit. I hunted over a wiemeriner this past season and 2 Gsps, and well I have a gsp now if that says anything. I have never seen a dog work like that. a police dog aint got sh1t on a good pointer

[densa44]

I need the collar, dog is still going to trials and we are getting a tri tronics. It is more expensive but they are the standard against which the others are measured.

I'm going to add the beeper technology so when she stops in heavy cover I know that she is on point not still looking.

[K44]

Tri Tronics don't waste you money on any thing else

[elkhunter1234]

Hey winger, I have a used Sportdog 1200 upland you can have, the wife got me a new DT 2 dog unit with locators for Xmas so I don't need the old one anymore, I replace the transmitter a few years ago but it might need another one (30 buck, poor setup) I keep braking the fixed antena.

Jim..

[baydog23]

I've owned several sport dogs and they're junk. Go with dogtra or tritronics.

[Pudelpointer]

I had horrible luck with DT Systems. Listened to those in the know and got an older refurbished Tritronics from the Collar Clinic online.

I know a couple pros that use Dogtra.

My old one had the vibrate mode and it worked good for re-enforcing behaviors you want or to break the dogs concentration, as Steed mentioned. The Tritronics I have has a beeper instead, and I like it more as it lets me "talk" to Parker without telling every pheasant in the country I am coming. It isn't an upland type beeper (loud) it is just a little beeper built into the collar. I can beep him to turn or come in from a long way (500+ yards line of site) where he wouldn't even be able to hear a whistle.

Winger, Dakota won't be ready for a collar for at least 3 or 4 more months. She should be so obsessed with birds and be %99 on her commands while on a check cord before you introduce the collar. However, IMO three is an exemption and good reason to put it on her earlier (but not use it for commands) an that is Porcupines, skunks and deer. I fully recommend helping your dog develop trauma/avoidance issues around these species.

That crappy DT collar failed me a few important times around deer, but a couple reminders with the new collar and Parker now knows that deer are among he most evil and painful of creatures. When he runs into them in the bush he stops dead and waits till they leave, or he beats a tactical retreat back to my side.

Porcupines are completely ignored now. He smells them and sees them, but pretends they don't exist. Skunks as well. This all started when he was about 4 months old (after he had an unquenchable desire for birds of all types). Just my opinion.

[Fry]

I have a tritronics, got the basic one from Cabelas, I think it was like $240 and had some 300 positive reviews for it. Its been outstanding, charge lasts forever and is really durable.

If you do plan on using one, I would get one immediately and strap it on him. Rooster has been wearing his on and off for a month and gets excited to put it on. It isn't associated with discipline.

One last thing, when you get it stick it on your arm and feel what each level feels like. If you can't take it don't think about giving your dog that level.

[Pixel Shooter]

Tritronics is the standard for good reason, reliability, it just works! Sportdog has good customer service but thats it. You can purchase a decent tritronics set up for $240. Really pay attn to the number of stimuations you can get in momentary mode, I personally never use continous mode ever. This is important to fine tune your dogs level that you will see a behaviour change, this is all you need for proper training, you dont need a dog to scream or be vocal to be effective. And understand this is not a teaching tool. I would never use a color unless I was confident knew what was asked of him, be fair and respectful! Its a tool that if used right can be very effective and a nightmare when not. Distance ratings are in perfect flat conditions, I would get one with atleast half a mile if not longer. the beep function is a novelty button for retriever training. some good dvd's out there to help you, providing corrections is all about timing. Agree with previous poster, dogs can get collar wise, put the collar on each and every time the dog goes outside so they see that as symbol of something positive. They should go nutz waiting for that collar to go on.

[winger7mm]

Originally Posted by Fry

I have a tritronics, got the basic one from Cabelas, I think it was like $240 and had some 300 positive reviews for it. Its been outstanding, charge lasts forever and is really durable.

If you do plan on using one, I would get one immediately and strap it on him. Rooster has been wearing his on and off for a month and gets excited to put it on. It isn't associated with discipline.

One last thing, when you get it stick it on your arm and feel what each level feels like. If you can't take it don't think about giving your dog that level.

I know that alot of people dont care to do that, but we did with my buddies new collars for his dog, its ignorant not to try it out on yourself first, by the way full power, is pretty intense

[winger7mm]

Originally Posted by elkhunter1234

Hey winger, I have a used Sportdog 1200 upland you can have, the wife got me a new DT 2 dog unit with locators for Xmas so I don't need the old one anymore, I replace the transmitter a few years ago but it might need another one (30 buck, poor setup) I keep braking the fixed antena.

Jim..

Jim that sounds great, Ill bring dakota along and you can see how shes turning out so far lol

[winger7mm]

Originally Posted by Pudelpointer

I had horrible luck with DT Systems. Listened to those in the know and got an older refurbished Tritronics from the Collar Clinic online.

I know a couple pros that use Dogtra.

My old one had the vibrate mode and it worked good for re-enforcing behaviors you want or to break the dogs concentration, as Steed mentioned. The Tritronics I have has a beeper instead, and I like it more as it lets me "talk" to Parker without telling every pheasant in the country I am coming. It isn't an upland type beeper (loud) it is just a little beeper built into the collar. I can beep him to turn or come in from a long way (500+ yards line of site) where he wouldn't even be able to hear a whistle.

Winger, Dakota won't be ready for a collar for at least 3 or 4 more months. She should be so obsessed with birds and be %99 on her commands while on a check cord before you introduce the collar. However, IMO three is an exemption and good reason to put it on her earlier (but not use it for commands) an that is Porcupines, skunks and deer. I fully recommend helping your dog develop trauma/avoidance issues around these species.

That crappy DT collar failed me a few important times around deer, but a couple reminders with the new collar and Parker now knows that deer are among he most evil and painful of creatures. When he runs into them in the bush he stops dead and waits till they leave, or he beats a tactical retreat back to my side.

Porcupines are completely ignored now. He smells them and sees them, but pretends they don't exist. Skunks as well. This all started when he was about 4 months old (after he had an unquenchable desire for birds of all types). Just my opinion.

Shes got a pretty good want of birds going now, when we were training with the bumper 2 pigeons landed on the edge of the field and started eating grain. I set her up on them and she chased them around in the air as they kept flying in circles untill they realized they could not land again and took off with dakota in tow haha, she loves them birds

[PFKGSP]

Stick with the Tri Tronics and spend the money on the good ones. Get the mile range. When they chase a deer or rabbit as they invariably do they will be past the 1/2mile in a hurry. Deer are the worst as they have the lungs to go a long way.
Personally I love the tone feature for training. I use it a lot to turn the dog or as a reminder. It works great.
Don't think that because it hurts you it will hurt the dog worse. I have had dogs that will cayay on a 2 and some that run right through a 6. They are all different and have pain thresholds the same as we do. Find out what works on your dog and go from there.
Whenever you go training put the collar on whether you need it or not. He will as others have said get to the point where the collar means fun not pain.

[dfrobert]

TRI TRONICS!!! that is all.

[Okotokian]

Originally Posted by winger7mm

Does anyone use one of these? how do you like it, what could you change about it if you could??

I have that model. Works fine. easy to use, durable. Range is quite good. I does take a really long time to recharge, but then the battery also lasts quite a few outtings between charges. Totally waterproof.

Things I would or did change:
1. after I had it for a while I bought the camo collar for waterfowl hunting. I use the blaze collar for upland.

2. Would be nice if the tone was a little louder so I could also use it for locating the dog. But you can still hear it from a ways away.

3. My Britt has thin hair so shorter electrodes would be good, but not the end of the world. The collar does come with two different lengths supplied.

Overall the price was good and I'm satisfied with it.

[winger7mm]

Originally Posted by Okotokian

I have that model. Works fine. easy to use, durable. Range is quite good. I does take a really long time to recharge, but then the battery also lasts quite a few outtings between charges. Totally waterproof.

Things I would or did change:
1. after I had it for a while I bought the camo collar for waterfowl hunting. I use the blaze collar for upland.

2. Would be nice if the tone was a little louder so I could also use it for locating the dog. But you can still hear it from a ways away.

3. My Britt has thin hair so shorter electrodes would be good, but not the end of the world. The collar does come with two different lengths supplied.

Overall the price was good and I'm satisfied with it.

Hmm, I will have to talk to the wife, If I can ill buy the sport dog and try it out for what I want, if it dont work I can sell it and step up to the tri tronics. If the wife dont like that plan Tri tronics is what I would use, due to the longer distance, knowing dakota the first deer she finds she wont know what to make of it, but the next deer she will chase till the deer gains to much ground. Dakota can rip it pretty fast so I think she can make it pretty far. lol.


Thanks guys for the tips

[ten point sammy]

have owned a sportdog now for about 8 years and have had no issues with it performing well. we use our collars almost every day. Just bought the new 1825 sportdog model with 1 mile range and quick charge charger. for the money it seems to be a good buy.

[Whipper Billy]

I picked up a D.T. Systems Super Pro Trainer (SPT) 2430 collar in 2007.

It's was a great collar for training my Brittany and everything I wanted in a hunting collar. The feature I liked the best was the vibrate capability so I didn't have to use the stimulation (shock) buttons. At the time I think this was the only device that had that vibrate feature.

The 2 beep buttons are great when she goes for a run in the bush. I push one beep button and I immediately hear a single beep and know where she is. The other beep button will keep beeping until she physically stops.

Like my Motorola radios, the range depends on the terrain. However she's never got out of range for us in the bush. I estimate she's been as far as 350 yards away with a hill in between (too far!). It would extend much further out pheasant hunting but I've never tested the 2400 yard range.

The one hunting weakness to the unit is the controller's layout. The "Rise" button when pressed sends a continuous stimulation/shock signal starting at level 1 and rising up in intensity until you stop pressing it. It's located in the middle of the front. I've found that if I have it in my pocket and lean over to clean a grouse I can activate the button. So I now carry it where it doesn't get bumped.

As mentioned in other posts, 'Champ' gets over excited every time I take it out! She starts 'talking' if she sees me pull it out to charge it up and not put it on. Haven't noticed any changes to the batteries yet.