DogtraARC Slim Ergonomic 3/4-Mile Remote Dog Training E-Collar with 127-Level Precise Control via LCD Screen

Had it for two days battery life is still in green. Please use with guidance of experienced obedience trainer these collars are a useful tool when used correctly. This is the e-collar recommended by my obedience trainer because she has had hers years and it still works properly. I'm normally cautious when it comes to e-collars because people can use them to abuse animals however this was a last resort for me and my dog after his behavior progressed and he bit somebody. Our state has a 3 strike limit for dog bites and the possible court and lawyer fees for each strike made this option coupled with a muzzle necessary. It helps avoid the possibility of needing to put down my baby boy(dog). I love my boy and this helps me give him the best life while avoiding injuries to others. While his aggression is leash aggression and off leash at the dog park he loves everybody, dogs and people, it just gives me a peace of mind that if he ever rips the leash out of my hands I would still have control over him. I wanted to share a bit of my background with my dog Incase somebody is considering this collar and has a dog that displays some aggressive behaviors similar to mine. The collars are not evil just use proper guidance and ask your obedience trainer if this is the right fit for you and your dog.

This is the best training device for high energy dogs when used properly. After 2 years of ownership and daily use, it still works and charges beautifully. I acclimated Gracie to "the zapper" by letting her know that a very low level zap (this is why I love the Dogtra) could be stopped immediately by doing what was asked. This took 15 min of training total for 2 days. She now only requires the vibration, which she knows will lead to a zap if she doesn't recall when out of sight on the trail, or when she plays too roughly with other dogs. She wags and gets excited to get this collar on as she knows it means crazy running, fun times, and being the Trixie Belden hound dog she is in the wild. I paired the collar with the comfort adapter [ASIN: B004HDZP9M] without prongs so they don't dig into her neck. The collar still functions perfectly and provides a smooth point of contact. Overall, well worth the money if you educate yourself on how to use it, and you reliably know it's not going to short out or shock the dog without your knowledge. Do you homework, be kind and patient and communicative and start with the absolute lowest setting to get the response you would like.

I've been using Dogtra collars for about 10 years and have found them to be reliable and a great training tool. The recent switch to lithium batteries is a HUGE improvement as the old NiMH batteries tended to stop having any staying power after a year or two and needed to be replaced - a costly annoyance. The ARC is sleek and well designed and the added feature of being able to control two collars is great. The magnetic switch on the collar is a bit odd at first, but then there's one less point of failure or leakage with it not having the usual button switch, and a magnetic switch is less bulky.So, why 4-stars and not 5? Well, it has to do with power. It's very important to realize that this is a *lower* powered unit - i.e. the collar doesn't "bite" as hard as one of Dogtra's higher powered units. While with small or sensitive dogs, this collar will likely have plenty of power, with larger dogs or dogs that have a high pain tolerance, this unit may be ineffective. I have always used the Dogtra 1900 series collars and bought the ARC because of it's sleek design - but my 90-lb Malinois was *completely* unaffected by it. I had installed the longest probes (as I usually do) to get through the dense fur on my Mali's neck, but even at max settings, she would just look at me - confused at my consternation. I did confirm that the unit was working (definitely made me flinch) - so I was pretty stunned that my dog could just sit there completely unaffected. I contacted Dogtra and they confirmed that the ARC is a lower-powered unit, and suggested one of the higher-powered units, so, I returned the ARC and ordered a Dogtra 1900S which works as expected. A setting of around 31 is enough to get my dog's attention with the 1900S whereas a setting of 120+ had no effect at all with the ARC.In a way, it may seem unfair to dock the ARC a star because of this - after all, it functioned flawlessly - but if I had to defend my decision it would be based on the fact that I think they should make a bit more of a distinction between the power output of the ARC vs something like the 1900S - it would have saved me the whole return/re-order cycle. That's my excuse and I'm stickin' to it ;)

I love the small size of the collar and remote. Very well laid-out button functions. The smaller size of the arc unit fits my English cocker spaniel and the box inside the collar works well because it doesn't get caught in brush. We place the box closer to the side of her neck instead of the throat for optimal functioning. My only con for this unit is that I have to pay close attention to the level setting. Sliding it into a pocket on my vest or just brushing it against something will turn the dial. I run at different levels in different situations, so I don't want the band correction (putting a rubber band around the base of the dial), just be aware that you need to keep an eye on it! Levels run from 0 to upwards of 150 instead of the usual 1-6 on most collars. I like that the vibrate button is more prominent than the shock as I use this more often in the field for reminders to my dog. Our trainer, who has many old Dogtra collars, also really likes the arc.

I like how much information is available on the product and how well my dog is responding to the vibrate feature.