If you have a stubborn dog that acts aggressively around people, you know that it can be a difficult behavior to control. Many herding dogs, such as Border Collies and German Shepherds, are especially prone to this issue, and if you are an inexperienced owner or can’t afford a professional trainer, a collar can be your only effective tool. However, with so many different brands available, finding one that works well can be challenging.

We have reviews of several brands of the top training collars for stubborn dogs so you can see the differences between them. We provide the pros and cons of each one, along with a short buyer’s guide to help you know what to look for if you continue to shop.

A Quick Comparison of Our Favorites in 2024

The 7 Best Training Collars for Stubborn Dogs

1. SportDOG WetlandHunter 425X Remote Training Dog Shock Collar — Best Overall

The SportDOG WetlandHunter 425X Remote Training Dog Shock Collar is the best overall training collar for stubborn dogs. It has a long 500-foot range so you can control your dog while you’re on the trail and you are ready for any accidents. It is waterproof to 25 feet, so it’s perfect for dogs that like to get into the river or lake. It has 21 levels of stimulation, so you can use the smallest jolt necessary, and you can also switch to vibration and tone options if your pet is a quick learner.

The only problem with this product is that it is quite expensive, especially if you haven’t used one of these tools before and aren’t sure if it will work for exactly what you need.

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2. PetSafe Smart Dog Training Collar — Best Value

The PetSafe Smart Dog Training Collar is the best training collar for stubborn dogs for the money. It has a long 75-yard range and comes with a rechargeable battery, so it’s always ready to go. It works well for training your dog, and you can control the color using your smartphone, as it is compatible with the iPhone and Android operating systems.

The downside to the PetSafe Smart Dog Training Collar is that even though most people do, not everyone has a smartphone.The Bluetooth signal is also weak, and it doesn’t always effectively control the collar because you frequently have to unlock your phone before you can make any adjustments.

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3. SportDOG SportHunter 825X Remote Training Dog Shock Collar — Premium Choice

The SportDOG SportHunter 825X Remote Training Dog Shock Collar is our premium choice training collar for stubborn dogs. It features 21 levels of stimulation, so you can find the minimum shock required to correct your dog’s behavior. It has an extended range of ½ mile, so you don’t need to keep the dog nearby. You can also switch to vibration or tone once your dog starts to understand what the collar is telling them. It’s waterproof to 25 feet deep, so you don’t need to worry about your dog jumping into the water, and the batteries are rechargeable, so it is always ready to go.

Besides the high cost, the only downside of this product is that there is no automatic shut-off, which is a feature that some other brands offer. It shuts off the collar if the dog continues to bark, to reduce stress and prevent injury.

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4. Educator By E-Collar Technologies Mini 1/2 Mile E-Collar Waterproof Dog Training Collar

The Educator By E-Collar Technologies Mini 1/2 Mile E-Collar Waterproof Dog Training Collar is a fantastic training collar for stubborn dogs. It has a small, discreet design to help make it easier to put on and take off. Both the transmitter and receiver are waterproof, and it has a ½-mile range, so you can train your dog from a considerable distance away. It has 100 selectable stimulus levels so you can find something that trains without harming, and the video instructions make sure you understand all the features and how to use it correctly.

The downside to the Educator is that it’s extremely expensive and might be out of some new pet owners’ budgets. Also, the transmitter seems a bit flimsy and might break if dropped.

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5. High Tech Pet Express Train Remote Radio Dog Training System RT-1

The High Tech Pet Express Train Remote Radio Dog Training System RT-1 is an electric collar that has an easy-to-use transmitter that enables you to train up to three dogs at once. However, you will need to purchase additional colors to train more than one dog at a time. If your pup is a quick learner, you can switch to positive and negative tones instead of the electric shocks.

The downside of the High Tech RT-1 is that it doesn’t quite have the ½-mile range that it claims, and the transmitter works intermittently at much closer ranges. It also kills the battery in just a few hours, so you will need to charge it constantly so it’s ready to go when you need it.

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6. Frisco Trainer Dog Collar Waterproof & Rechargeable

The Frisco Trainer Dog Collar Waterproof & Rechargeable is an electric collar with a huge ¾-of-a-mile range, meaning you will have control over your dog farther than you can see them in many cases. It has 127 stimulation levels, so you don’t overdo it with the shocks, and there’s even a safety mechanism that prevents overstimulation. The LCD screen makes it easier and faster to make adjustments, and complete step-by-step instructions come with it.

Unfortunately, the long range of the Frisco Manger drains the battery quite quickly, so you can only train for short sessions before you need to recharge. Like other models with a range of ½ mile or more, it’s extremely expensive, and in many cases, you can’t even see your dog that far away.

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7. Herm Sprenger Ultra-Plus Training Dog Prong Collar

The Herm Sprenger Ultra-Plus Training Dog Prong Collar is the only steel-prong type collar on this list. This time-tested collar is extremely effective and costs very little. It’s a great choice for large dogs and for times when you can’t take any risk that your dog might misbehave. It’s easy to use, and you put it on like any other collar and attach a leash. It gives the dog a clear signal to stop doing whatever they’re doing when you pull on it.

While it is effective, the Herm Sprenger and other collars like it are easy to misuse, resulting in injury to the dog’s neck if you are not extremely careful.

Buyer’s Guide: Selecting the Best Collar for Stubborn Dogs

Steel-Prong vs. Electric Shock Collar

Unfortunately, both steel-prong and electric collars can damage your pet, altering their behavior toward you, the collar, and generally—and not always for the better. Therefore, we recommend using these devices as little as possible and only when necessary to convince your dog to act properly.

We recommend starting with electric shock collars because many of these devices have several levels to choose from, so you can pick something that isn’t too painful for your pet. It should be effective and work from a considerable distance, so your dog will know you’re watching even when they’re not by your side. The steel-prong collar is effective for large dogs that might not be bothered by the electric shock collars from many brands, as they cannot deliver the volts necessary to change their behavior. You attach a leash to a pronged collar, so your dog knows who is in charge, and you can manually adjust how hard you pull on it.

Always use caution when using these collars, and speak with your vet for additional insight on the best way to create behavioral change without negatively impacting your dog.

Range

You will see many brands discussing how far the range of their electric collars is. While it would technically be nice to control your dog from miles away, it’s not reasonable to deliver electric shocks to an animal that can’t see you. A small increase in the range can lead to a noticeable increase in cost, so we recommend avoiding any brands that promise more than about 1/2 mile of range.

Weatherproofing

Many of these collars do not have any waterproofing. If you are a long-time dog owner, you know that many breeds enjoy jumping into the water to take a quick swim. They may also find themselves in the rain and otherwise get wet quite often, so a collar that isn’t waterproof will likely not last long.

Conclusion

When choosing your next training collar for a stubborn dog among these reviews, we highly recommend our pick for the best overall. The SportDOG WetlandHunter 425X Remote Training Dog Collar has a usable 500-foot range, and you can select from 21 levels of stimulation, so you can provide just enough shock to change your dog’s behavior. We also recommend our premium choice if you need something with a bit more range. The SportHunter 825X has many of the same features as the top choice but extends the distance up to ½ mile.

• See also: Are Shock Collars Illegal?

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Featured Image Credit: sophiecat, Shutterstock