Care and Maintenance Of Your Dog Training Collar

Some dogs are extremely gentle on gear and equipment. Chances are that your dog is not one of them. Your dog very likely tears through heavy woods at breakneck speeds. He crashes through underbrush, sometimes taking a chunk of it with him. He runs into trees, leaps gracefully into rotting bogs, and flies effortlessly through the air- only to come down in a stinking mud flat. Your dog is tough on equipment. Thankfully, your dog training collar system is as durable as he is. Like him, with the proper care it will provide you with years of lasting value and service.

The biggest menace to the proper functioning of your electronic training system is outside contamination. While it is designed to be rugged, water and other debris can still navigate the nooks and crannies and impede proper functioning. The first step to ensuring that your collar continues to work for you is to check that all components are dry after every use. Some units are waterproof, and others are water resistant. Regardless of how your electronic training system is described, each component should be removed and wiped dry with a soft cloth. The receiver should be removed from the collar and the collar should either be put into the washing machine or washed by hand. The receiver should be wiped dry by hand, especially around areas where there are seams or other weak points. The battery should be removed and wiped clean, and the battery compartment should also be dried. If you will not be using your electronic training system for a few days, store the battery outside the unit, so as to avoid leakage that could damage or otherwise ruin your receiver.

A similar course of action should be taken with the transmitter. Make sure that no debris (dirt, twigs, fur, etc.) is stuck in any part of the unit. Key areas to check are the holes on the speaker housing, around the switches/dials, and around the antenna. Make sure to also wipe the antenna clean, focusing on the individual joints. The battery and battery compartment should be cleaned as on the receiver. Additionally, as with the receiver, store the batteries separately if you will not be using the electronic training system for a few days or more.

It is also important to take care of your electronic training system in the field. Foreign objects, dirt, or other buildup on the stimulation probes can not only damage your equipment, but can also be very uncomfortable for your dog. Poorly maintained probes can even lead to injury and infection if not cared for. Most transmitters come with a spare set of nodules, but they can also be ordered from the manufacturer if this is not the case with your unit. Care should also be taken with the collar to make sure that it is in good condition. The smell of a collar can easily become unbearable if it is not properly cleaned. A dirty collar can also be detrimental to your dog's health and/or his training. If a smelly or an itchy collar distracts your dog, he will not be focusing on what he is supposed to be doing.

As with any other battery-powered device, the batteries in your electronic training system should be properly maintained. They should be replaced as soon as the performance of the unit starts to be negatively affected. This is typically three to five years for most rechargeable batteries. This is extremely important, as bad batteries can not only damage your electronics, but also negatively affect your dog's training.