Stay away from D.T. System training collars. Poor quality and short life span, especially when you consider the price. I paid premium price for a training collar and it worked for about 10 months. This collar was used on an inside dog. I returned to the manufacture for warrantythat's $25.00 for them to just check it. It worked for about another 10 months and not not serviceable again. I purchased a different brand collar.
My problems started when the screw that attached the lanyard to SPT2432 came out, leaving me with only the lanyard, and no transmitter.
My training partners and I searched for an hour but couldn't find the transmitter.
Giving up, I contacted DT Systems about purchasing a replacement. "Fine no problem, return both collars so that we can pair them with the new transmitter."
I returned the 2 collars and a week or so later received a call. They no longer had a transmitter that would pair with my 2 collars and only had a demo set that would work. I paid full price for a new transmitter, they kept my practically new collars and I received a well used "demo" set with a transmitter that only holds a charge for 30 min and one of the collars' locator beepers can only be heard from 30 yards away. I would have been better off applying my $250 to the purchase of a new system, but now I am disgruntled. They can have my $250 and my new collars but they will no longer have my business.
Buy D.T. Systems SPT2432 Training Collar, Black Now
I bought this training system because it is the more complete and with more features in the current market: includes an electronic/light tester to test signal, and you can test it on your own skin to see what your dogs will feel (in case is too strong, you can lower it), rechargeable and replaceable battery, more control on stimulation: 'nick' or 'momentary', and 'continuous' button , and Vibration, and Rising stimulation, and locator, waterproof , long range etc.. I also liked the D.T. Systems's idea of integrating a Remote training device with a No-Bark trainer. However, this device is not the one, and has some issues as all the other brands as well:First this expensive SPT2432 collar is not what DT Systems claims:
"The Super Pro Elite TM series is the very first and only electronic dog training system to integrate a Remote training device with a No-Bark trainer. Thus, eliminating the need for two separate collar systems."
FYI: The material of the orange collar is not the same as the black collar. I liked the orange collar more, as it is more soft and easier to put on the dog. The black collar is hard and seems to be different material.
1) The 2 point contacts / electrodes are like rounded nails (around 1 centimeter each), and with short term use can hurt/damage the dog's skin. The manuals of these collars including other brands clearly indicate that, and the name of the disease is: Pressure Necrosis. You have to clean dog skin regularly in case of irritation. The point is: as the manual indicates you can not leave the dog unattended when the dog has that collar (as no electronic device is perfect, as indicated in the manual). Whoever created those stainless steel contacts should try them on themselves for a few hours and see how that feels. This is not the only electronic collar with that nail type contact issue. All of the ones I saw including other brands have 2x very similar contacts on each collar (some brands longer than others). I would have preferred something like: multiple short rounded contacts around the dog's neck to ensure conductivity, or something else. I tried the collar with a proper snug fit (as indicated in the manual) on myself for less than a minute and the 2x contacts left marks on my skin. Imagine if you were to keep the collar on for multiple hours, and then look at the condition of your skin.
2) Deceiving advertising: Super Pro e-Lite is NOT: No-Bark Trainer and Beeper Locater in 1 collar. It is only a Beeper Locater.
I did some research and the only model that used to be 2 in 1 is the DT Systems SPT-7802. That collar is not longer available, not even in ebay nor in the manufacturer's website. It was released a few years ago, but the only online store that had it in their system indicates the following about that collar: Current Status: Unavailable / Discontinued. I did read the manual of the SPT-7802 and found out that you can have only 1 option active at a time. An expensive device that does not provide the option of controlling both modes at the same time becomes useless, considering the high price.
A collar claiming those 2 features should allow the user to have 3 options:
No-Bark Trainer and normal remote stimulation mode ON (barking is controlled + useful in cases were the dog is doing something that the dog is not supposed to do owner can send remote stimulation to dog)
only No-Bark Trainer ON
only Beeper Locater ON
3) The quality of the screen is not good at all. I tried to carefully clean the screen with just a microfiber towel that I use for my glasses because I saw a little bit of dust on it, and just by doing that it left small marks on the screen. I did not see a plastic cover on top of the screen that needed to be removed, but after seeing the mark on the screen I preferred to avoid more contact with the screen. Imagine a screen of that quality for a simple phone.. you would have to buy a screen protector for it prior to start using the device, otherwise it will have tons of marks that would not be possible to eliminate.
I would have kept the device if it provided those essential options mentioned above, and had multiple or better designed contacts to ensure conductivity and most importantly a collar that does not damage the dog skin. These collars are supposed to help the dog's owner eliminate issues like bark, behavior, carrying 2 collars (1 for no bark, and 1 for training) etc.. not for creating new issues: skin irritation, Pressure Necrosis, 2 collars etc..
By the way, these are some of the instructions included in the manuals for these type of collars:
Place the collar high on your dog's neck close to the ears. Center the contact points underneath your dog's neck, touching the skin.
Note: It is sometimes necessary to trim the hair around the contact points to make sure that contact is consistent.
Check the tightness of the collar by inserting one finger between the end of a contact point and your dog's neck. The fit should be snug but not constricting
Check the fit to prevent excessive pressure by being able to insert one finger between a contact point and your dog's skin.
Examine your dog daily for any signs of a rash or sore.
A condition called Pressure Necrosis, which is a devitalization of the skin due to excessive and prolonged contact against the contact points.
If a rash or sore is observed, discontinue the use of the collar for a few days.
If the condition persists beyond 48 hours, see your veterinarian.
Your dog's neck and the contact points must be washed weekly with a wash cloth and mild hand soap, then rinsed thoroughly.
A loose collar can promote skin irritation from moving or rubbing too much on a dog's neck while they are running or training. The proper snug fit will help prevent this from occurring.
Read Best Reviews of D.T. Systems SPT2432 Training Collar, Black Here
I've used this model, and the generation model before it for many years now. Reliability is superb. The other review doesn't make sense. D.T.'s service Department coupled with the SPT 2432 lifetime warranty makes it a no brainer. Many times collars don't seem to work because they are misapplied to the dog, incorrectly positioned, heavy dog hair on the neck, etc. Yes, there is actually a correct way to put the collar on the neck as well as prepping the neck. You can actually do it wrong and not be happy. Seek the help of a professional dog trainer if you are unsure. Each collar has a 'how to' book in it.PRO's:
1. Has a 'nick' or 'momentary' button. When pressed it only delivers a fraction of a second stimulation. Very humane.
2. Has a 'continuous' button which when pressed and held can deliver constant stim up to 8 seconds until the fail safe kicks in which causes it turn off (in case you were to accidentally sit on it or something unknowingly).
3. Has Vibration. Just like the old pagers we use to carry around, it vibrates. Use this as praise or as a warning...very humane feature! See my how to train your own bird dog page at brittanys d0t c0m
4. Has Rising stimulation. Use this for avoidance training, i.e. chasing cars, deer, etc.
5. Has a beeper that works 3 ways. You can touch a button to cause it to beep so that you can find your dog or you can use one of two more settings in which it will beep as your dog runs about. This feature has a built in motion detector that lets you know when your dog has stopped by changing the beep duration.
6. Antenna is built into the dog collar so no problems losing/breaking external antenna's.
7. Has a rechargeable battery that lasts about 4 or 5 years of heavy use and is inexpensively replaced by DT when / if it does expire.
8. Waterproof! 100 percent.
9. 50, yes, FIFTY levels of stim. Most humans can't feel the first few levels and to the dog, it feels like a finger tap. I put it on my own neck to try.
10. Available in 2 dogs models and newer models have the 'add a collar' feature so your system grows with you.
11. One year bumper to bumper warranty, Lifetime Parts warranty.
12. D.T. is based in Dallas, Texas on Walnut Hill Lane.
Cons:
1. it is not a small lightweight collar for small dogs. Also smaller dogs may need the beeper moved closer to the receiver...free by DT. If you have a small dog, you should try their Micro IDT collar. It works terrific for small breeds and for trainers who want something lightweight that won't cause 'collar wiseness'.
2. with heavy use, you'll have to have DT replace the battery in about 5 years.
Note of Disclosure: I am on D.T.'s Pro Staff but used the product Prior to joining them. I believe in this product and train daily with it in Texas and 2 months every year in Montana from horseback. If it didn't work I wouldn't bother as I certainly don't won't folks thinking I endorse junk.
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