People use e-collars for many different reasons, usually to work on off-leash training. We started using e-collars 5 years ago to help improve off-leash recall around distractions! We worked with a trainer to learn the basics of e-collar training and began using it daily to get us and the dogs comfortable with it. Since then, we’ve been using them almost on a daily basis and can honestly say it is our most used training tool.

This blog post is a review of the Dogtra collars and not meant to be a blog on e-collar training. If you are new to e-collars, I recommend watching training videos and finding a trainer near you who can help introduce you to them. Dogtra offers many great training videos to help get you started.

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Shock Collar vs E-Collar

Before I get started, it’s important to clarify that e-collars are not shock collars. The key difference is the level of stim that is applied. With a shock collar, you typically have 1-3 shock levels, with the low level still being a relatively high shock and scaring most dogs. Dogtra e-collars have stim levels between 1-127, where the lower levels are more like a “tap” than a shock. The level where your dog can only just feel it is their base training level. Mid levels on the Dogtra are similar to strong “static shock,” like when you get shocked by a blanket or a plastic slide. High levels are rarely used and only for the most stubborn dogs.

The base training level I mentioned where your dog can just barely feel it becomes your second voice with your dog. It shouldn’t scare them or hurt them, but rather helps you to get their attention while they’re off leash. If your dog ignores your first command intentionally, you can raise the amount of stim by about 5 and repeat the command, essentially raising your “voice.” For reference, we typically have our collars set between 10-15 (out of 127) and very rarely have had it over 30.

Why we use e-collars

As I mentioned above, we use started using e-collars to improve off-leash recall. Today we use them to give our dog’s off leash freedom whether that be on our property or hiking where off-leash dogs are allowed. We currently have 7 large dogs in our home, and it would be irresponsible for me to walk all of them at one time without having complete control of them. What if they start chasing a rabbit or even the neighbors cat off our property? It’s incredible difficult to call off one high prey drive, not to mention a pack full.

E-collars give me full control of my dogs even when they’re all out together. They allow me to communicate instantly with them in a way they understand, even with a lot of distractions. When trained properly, it is a fantastic way to build and reinforce off-leash training.

Our Dogtra experience

The only e-collars we’ve ever used have been Dogtra. We bought our first one 5 years ago, and we’ve been nothing but pleased with them. Both the collars and remotes are durable and high quality. We’re still using the original units we purchased with absolutely no issues at all. If you’re looking for a high quality reliable system, these should be at the top of your list!

Phoenix wearing the 1900S Black Edition Boost & Lock

Dogtra has many different e-collar models on their website. You can use their E-Collar Finder tool to find their recommendation for you based on your dog’s weight and intended use.

We’ve used the following Dogtra collars over the years:

Dogtra 1900S
Dogtra 1900S Black Edition Boost and Lock
Dogtra 1902S (similar to above, but 2 collar system)
Dogtra 280C

Our current setup is four 1902S collars paired with a Dogtra Edge transmitter (remote), essentially turning the two 2 collars systems into one 4 collar system. This review is going to be on the 1900S Boost and Lock because I think it’s a great single collar option for medium to large dogs!

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Dogtra 1900S Black Edition Boost and Lock

The Receiver (collar)

Dogtra 1900S Black Edition Boost & Lock E-Collar

The collar itself is not overly bulky for larger dogs. It curves with their neck, and you can cut the excess collar strap to fit your dog. Overall, it has nice high quality feel to it. The power on button is on the bottom and there’s a covered charging port on the inside of the receiver. The collar is fully waterproof with a waterproof rating of IPX9K - our dogs have been swimming in their collars for years and have had absolutely no issues.

The website states that this collar is for dogs as small as 35 lbs, though I think it’s better suited for larger dogs (50 lbs and up) due to the size of the receiver. They offer smaller collars (like the 280c) that I think are great for smaller dogs!

This collar comes with 5/8” contact points by default. For short coat dogs, this is perfectly fine. For longhaired dogs, you’ll want to order either the 3/4” or 1” contact points. We’ve used both, and the 3/4” are totally fine for our longhaired dogs.

The Transmitter (remote)

The transmitter fits comfortably in your hand. It has a nick and constant button on the side and Pager (vibrate) and Boost button on the front. It also has a power button on the side that doubles as a lock to lock in the current stim level. This is a great feature if you’re worried about turning up the stim dial by mistake!

In my opinion, the star feature on this collar system is the Boost! It’s a newer feature where you can automatically boost the current stim by the desired amount. As mentioned above, typically in training you’ll raise the stim by about 5 if your dog ignores the first command. You can have the Boost automatically set to 5, so you can just push this button instead of fumbling with the dial up at the top. For instance, if your dog’s base level is 15, when you hit the Boost button, it’ll automatically raise it to 20 without you needing to touch the dial.

Dogtra E-collars have the highest waterproof rating.

Range

The range on this system is 1 mile, which should be perfectly suitable for off-leash obedience training.

Battery

The battery life on our Dogtra’s are amazing. They typically last a couple weeks with us using them once a day most days for a few hours, and often we even forget to turn them off. Even with our older sets, I haven’t seen any decline in battery life. The new Boost and Lock collars also have 2-Hour Rapid Charge Batteries, so you can charge them quickly!

Summary

Dogtra E-Collars provide our dogs with off-leash freedom

We’ve consistently used Dogtra e-collars for 5 years, and I can’t imagine using another brand. Dogtra is at the top of their class in quality. Their e-collars are durable, well-made, and have the highest waterproof rating available. The battery life is also very impressive with it lasting about 1-2 weeks with daily use (for a few hours each day).

Their new Boost & Lock series is an excellent choice for anyone looking for a new e-collar. It’s equipped with a Boost button that automatically raises the stim level to your set amount. For instance, you can raise the stim from 10 to 15 by clicking the Boost button if you have it set to increase by 5. You can also Lock in the stim so you don’t have to worry about turning the dial and raising the stim by mistake.

We highly recommend Dogtra e-collars to anyone interested in starting e-collar training! Use their E-Collar Finder to find the best collar for your needs. You can use code JAKOBA to save 5% on orders over $200.

E-Collar Review of Dogtra 1900S Boost and Lock