PetSafe Deluxe Big Dog Trainer, PDBDT-305

We have a border collie who is very smart, and generally easy to train. For some reason, though everytime the front door was open, he would RUN! He was so smart and so fast very difficult to catch. For him, it was a game. He loved being chased. A couple of weeks ago, I'd had enough and had to try something! I'd always thought of shock collars as cruel, but I was at the end of my rope.

We bought this collar, and after ONE TRAINING SESSION he stopped running off!! I'm not exaggerating.

Now, he goes outside with me all the time. He comes to me, when I call him and never even tries to run off. He is a happier dog now, too -because he loves going out in the front yard with his family.

This is how we proceeded: After putting the collar on him for the first time, my husband and I took Red (our dog) in the front yard. As he started to run, I would call "Red, come!" When he didn't respond, he got shocked (just a quick press of the button don't hold it down.) This got his attention. (We used level 10 the lower levels didn't phase him.) He turned around and came back to me. I praised him for coming to me. Then, I walked away and called him again. If he didn't respond IMMEDIATELY, he got a quick shock. He would turn and come to me. Pretty soon, he started coming as soon as I called. He got lots of praise and we were both very pleased.

We only turn the collar on for training sessions we don't leave it on, this saves on batteries.

A couple of hours after the first session, Red got out when my son opened the door. I called out "Red, come!" And he came!! The collar was not turned on!

We have refresher training sessions everytime we go out into the front yard. 99% of the time, Red responds immediately when I call him. If not, he gets a quick shock. I have no doubt that it will be 100% of the time soon, and the collar will no longer be needed at all. Look at how much progress we made in the first day and after just a couple of weeks, he is like a totally different (and very good) dog. Our neighbors can't get over the change in him. It used to be a joint neighborhood project to catch him now he stands outside in the front yard with me, and never strays!

Like I'd said before, I thought shock collars were cruel. This collar is a blessing. It is certainly no worse than spanking a young child who runs out into the road, in order to keep him safe. Everybody involved is much happier especially the dog.

I was very hesitant to use a shock collar on my dog so I tried everything else I could think of to control his jumping, barking and general disobedience. I worked with him myself, hired a trainer, and purchased an audio and spray correction device but nothing worked. With two small children in the house I could not afford to have an uncontrollable dog. Maybe if he were a miniature pinscher or pug it wouldn't be a big deal but Hades was going to be a 125 to 140 pound Rottweiler when he is full grown. That would be a recipe for disaster. I purchased the Deluxe big dog trainer from Amazon (at the best price available). Five days later when I received it I still did not want to use it. After trying each stimulation setting on myself (even at level 10 it is not painful but it does command your attention), I adjusted the collar and placed it on my puppy. Saying that there was an almost instant change in his demeanor would be an understatement. He was a different dog in just a couple of days. Within 2 days I only had to use the sound to correct him. And now, only a few weeks later, I don't even need to turn the collar on. He is a pleasure and I know that this product is the reason for his change. Thank you Petsafe for this wonderful product. I have already recommended it to my friends.

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Everyone knows that training a high-energy, excitable (large) pup takes patience.

However, I had no idea how difficult training this type of dog to heel could be.

Regular collars didn't work in the slightest. Every walk was a battle. Training went slowly... very slowly.

Choke collars did more harm than good. Every walk was still a battle, but now I was causing my dog to gag audibly loud. After a few weeks of trial I found I was wearing my dog's neck raw (to the point that there was a bald line across the front of her neck).

The gentle leader collar was actually quite nice for training, though it had its issues when just walking. The biggest problem with this collar-type was that my dog was somewhat averse to it (she didn't like wearing it and would try to bat it off every time it was put on her). Also, as an excitable pup, she loves to play, and this collar is, unfortunately, somewhat restrictive.

Enter the shock collar. I was hesitant to use any fancy gadgets with my pup, but after trying the alternatives I gave it a shot.

When I got the collar I wanted to make sure I wasn't going to be doing as much damage as the choke collar had done, so I went through the entire range of shock levels (there's 10) on both my arm and my neck. On your arm it will cause an electro-numbing sensation (if you've ever been shocked you know this feeling) and a muscle jump. On your neck it will sting and cause you to jump. On levels 1 and 2 I didn't feel anything. After levels 8-10 I wouldn't get myself shocked. Note that in both cases, though, no lasting damage is done (cept maybe a little muscle tightness like you just worked out).

So with that cleared up, I tried it out on my dog. After 2 tries she understood that she only got shocked when she did something wrong (note that this is a perfect time to find the right power level: enough so that they visibly react, not so much that they audibly react I trained "stay" while I did this). After 5 tries she understood that the sound meant a shock was coming (there's 2 buttons one sound, one shock). After the first day (2 hour long walks with leash and shock collar) she understood that she shouldn't get excited over dogs and squirrels or attempt to get out of leash range. After the second day (2 more hour long walks with leash) and a "heel" refresher course (taking 1 step and rewarding if she stays by me or correcting if she doesn't, then 2 steps, then 3 steps, up to 10 consecutive steps I always make her do 10 of each interval before moving on) with and without the leash, she was walking without a leash. And she's been walking without a leash ever since (the past month).

As mentioned, it can be used to train other activities other than walking.

Also note that it seems to be good in water. My dog's been completely submerged swimming multiple times wearing the collar with no problems.

Annnd the range really is nice. 100 yards may be stretching it (I don't let my dog get that far away), but I've had no problems with 30-50 yards (which is pretty far if you're just using it for playing while walking).

And last but not least, the only thing that may be a potential problem is the batteries. The collar batteries are tiny circle batteries that supposedly have 2 weeks worth of "on" time according to the manual. This made me hesitant at first, but as I only use the collar 2 hours a day, and the "on" time should last 336 hours, I shouldn't be needing to get replacements for about half a year. The remote, on the other hand, just requires a 9V battery which should last about as long as a remote control battery (a long time).

Either way, hope this all helps someone out there (and maybe even answers a question or two).

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I purchased this "waterproof collar" to assist in training my dog. He learned quickly that the tone was immediately followed by a shock if whatever behavior he was exhibiting did not stop. Sadly, I have a dog that enjoys the sprinkler system....and I found out that the collar was not waterproof. I now found myself out $130.00 for a training collar that only lived about two months.

I contacted PetSafe and braced myself for a fight while attempting to get them to honor their "Lifetime Warrantee," but was pleasantly surprised that they were both responsive and courteous. The support employee on the phone immediately stated that he was not comfortable with trying to repair a unit that had been wet on the interior, and he immediately shipped a new unit with a return postage label for the broken unit.

While I do not think this product is everything it could be, the warrantee and the support from PetSafe motivated me to change my initial rating from 2 stars to four.

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What an excellent product! My recent rescue, a 5-year old female Yellow Lab, came to us un-spayed, unhouse-trained, malnurished and sickly. After a couple of months of lots of love and good food, she became quite the athlete jumping over our wooden 7-foot privacy fence like she had wings! (The two little Yorkies next door were not impressed.) Desperate, I purchased this product in late June, and from the first day, I was able to stop her, not only from jumping the fences, but from barking, eating rabbit you-know-what and lunging after anything that moves, knocking me off my feet when we take our walks! The sound option is all we needed, I've never had to use the shock. After a month, it's hardly necessary to push the button at all! I've had to replace the batteries in the collar once, but well, well worth it. Save yourself, as well as your neighbors, lots of aggravation try this product!

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Jones Natural Chews Pumpers 1 per pack

Four dogs. They were hard pressed to keep these away from the cats. Had to break one up for the cats so the dogs could eat theirs. These are hard chews and I had to use a hammer to break it up for the cats.

Larger dogs will go through these pretty fast, but they are worth the pleasure I know they had munching on them. My smaller guys chewed 5-10 minutes.

For a long chew, the Tendons are one of the best, but I will order these again since all my fuzzy friends flipped over them...

That should say it all.

Company shipped promptly and product arrived in perfect condition. Pumpers individually shrink wrapped.

I have a picky rottweiler mix who, despite her rottie heritage, really isn't a tough chewer. She won't even carry something in her mouth if it's "too heavy" and she won't chow down on something if it's too tough. I bought one of these at a local pet store just to see if she would eat it, and I was totally shocked when she wolfed it down. I have drawers full of various bones and treats that I end up having to donate to charity so I had pretty much given up on trying new things, but I'm glad I found these!

I can't find them anymore at the local store so I'm left ordering them on Amazon..started giving them to her after dinner and now that's all she wants! They don't seem to stain but they do break up into a lot of pieces, and she's not very "drooly" maybe it would stain the carpet if she was.

Also, these can be eaten pretty fast. They're more like pork ears than a rawhide or bone, they break up pretty fast once the dog starts eating them. All in all, though, I love giving them to her and I LOVE Jones Natural chews. We've tried a bunch of their bones and love them all! (well, most of them she's picky!) They also have good guides as to what kind of bone to buy for your dog based on their chewing preference and size.

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SENSE-ation No-Pull Dog Harness - Medium/Large (Wide) Red with Black

This product is very effective for walking with a strong young dog. We have a one year old, 50 pound American Staffordshire mix with a tendency to pull its person in different directions during a walk. This harness helps him stay on course and seems to fit him well. The design and product quality is quite sound.

D.T. Systems Soft-Mouth Trainer Large 3-Inch by 12-Inch Plastic Dog Training Dummy, Blaze orange, 3-

I bought several look alike training bumpers from Petsmart, same price. All three lasted a total of 6 training sessions. They cracked up and fell apart. This bumper made by D.T. systems can take a beating. My two labs play tug of war with it and they have done little damage other than pull the lanyard I attach through the hole in the tab.

It works in the snow and Ice. It works in the desert heat.

If my big dogs can't pull it apart it is strong.

I do not let my dogs chew up toys so I advise trainers to take this away when the session is over. My dogs idolize this toy, they know it is their fun toy. I may not buy another for a long time, because they last a long time, and I bought a 3 pack.

Wee-Wee Housebreaking Aid, pump spray

This item smells absolutely TERRIBLE. I opened it and sprayed a wee-wee pad with it and my whole house reaked like a zoo. The product smells aweful, even if sprayed outside. It was completely useless to me.

My puppy wasn't potty trained when I got him so I got this Wee-wee housebreaking aid spray along with training pads. It worked very well. It did attract my puppy to the training pad. However, my home stunk so bad, I couldn't take it. I bought the Out! spray that didn't stink, but my puppy could barely smell it. I ended up just doing closer supervision to train him to use his training pads. When he was starting to smell the floor and go in circles, I lure him to the training pad. Thankfully after about a week, he learned where to go even without any attractant spray or me telling him where to go.

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I bought the 1oz drops from my local pet supermarket for roughly $8. Before the drops, my shelter dog refused to go outside and used the wee wee pads about 10-20% of the time. I put the drops on each pad and she went on them within a few hours! The neighbor's dog also started uaing the pads after the deops were used. They do smell awful, but it is a tradeoff I'm willing to accept. 2 days later and she is finally making the connection between peeing on the pads and lots of praise/treats. I can't wait to see if she will pee outside if I put the drops there!!! Update to follow;)

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I guess I'm the deciding vote between the other 2 reviews. This product stinks! If you've ever driven by a farm in humid hot weather, you know what this smells like.

Furthermore, I don't think it did anything for my puppy.

For the price, I say, test it out because I think it's more case by case basis.

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We had an old sick that couldn't help herself much and she wee wee'd on my hardwood floors and rug. Sprayed with WEE WEE, let sit as instructed with NO ODOR ! Mopped the floor and no smell since. This is my 3rd order. Maybe the Wee Wee sprayed on the pad caused the odor?

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CE Compass Remote Control + Electric Shock Vibrate Collar Dog Training System

tried this as soon as i got it, used vibration, works beautifully, and shock is just right, i tried it myself just to see if it wasnt too strong, id reccomend this. the whistle workes when u have a sore throat or just cant whistle. and i use the led light all over at night, no flashlight needed, this is def a 4 in one tool...

I bought this for my German Shepherd who is already trained but I needed something to help with obedience during distractions. The product works as advertised but can be a little annoying shutting off automatically every few minutes. to save battery usage. Also if you have a dog with long hair even with the long prongs that come with it you need to really make sure you put the collar on snug and adjust it so you know the prongs are touching the neck otherwise it will not work.

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D.T. Systems BL509 Bird Launcher, Black

This is a very sturdy remote controlled humane bird launcher. It also has a beeper so you can find it once you place it in tall grass. I train daily (pro) so have a lot of experience with launchers.

Pros:

*Sturdy metal frame.

*Opens on the end so you don't have to try to put the bird in as you close the top. Very easy to put the bird in the end.

*It has tabs on the bottom corners if you want to mount the launcher to something though that is not necessary.

*You can control the launcher from long distances. I frequently use mine at distances up to 700 yards.

*The remote transmitter has 16 settings so you can control up to 16 different launchers though I don't see a reason for more than 2 or 3. Additional launchers are available at most stores that carry D.T. as well as online.

*The transmitter is very small so it is easy to hang around your neck comfortably it comes with a lanyard.

*Very easy to set up and add more launchers.

*Easy to find after you have used it to train your dog since it has a pager/beeper function. Very important when training in tall grasses.

*Launches the bird humanely about 8 feet or so in the air so strong springs.

*Battery life is very, very, long weeks, even if used daily. The launcher and transmitter use simple 9 volt alkaline batteries. The launcher turns itself off after 2 hours if you forget to turn it off.

*It's very quiet compared to others launchers.

*Holds up to 2 quail if wanted or one pigeon. Get the pheasant sized launcher if you want to launch big birds.

Cons:

*The launcher nor the transmitter are water proof. They are water resistant it seems but don't leave it out in the rain. If you accidentally do, don't try to turn it on. Take the battery out and let it dry in a warm area for several days.

*Don't store the launcher in direct sunlight as the sun will cause the launching pad stitches to disintegrate over time.

Overall, it's very tough and if you take care of it, it WILL last for many years. Plus the D.T. systems service department is in Dallas and they have a fast turnaround if it ever breaks.

In an effort for full disclosure, I enjoyed this launcher so much that I joined D.T. systems as a professional equipment tester. You can see me use it a brittanys dot com free training tips web page

The DT 500 series launchers work very well.Easy to load birds and they have a nice beeper feature to find the launcher in tall grass. The launch is pretty quite and gives the bird a good toss. Only negative is it seems to eat batteries fairly quickly. Other than that no complaints.

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PoochieBells Premium Edition Leather Dog Housetraining Doorbell in Dark Walnut Leather. Endorsed by

Good quality and craftsmanship. Will buy again for another door. Worth the price!! Shopped around online until I found this on Amazon

This is a wonderful product that not only helps the dog but looks nice as well. We are considering getting another as I made the mistake of starting to train him at one door and then moving him to another. I wouldnt hesitate to place this on anydoor though as it looks great and is great quality

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Old Mother Hubbard Crunchy Classic Snacks for Dogs, Original Assortment

I have been giving these treats to my two shelties(Nina and Jacob) for 7 years now and they just love them. I used them for training and for "love you" rewards. They are just the right size for multiple treating and bed time snacks without creating an overweight problem. I purchase them in the 20lb boxes and transfer them to sealed dog food storage containers which extends there shelf life considerably.

There are a great product. I originally found them in the local feed store, but at a much higher price. I feel good about giving these to our four legged family member because the ingredients look much better than typical store bought treats. We have a larger dog, but use this size for training. I do recommend them.

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My postal carrier, the UPS man and so many more give my dog treats on our walks! I got a great price on this huge bag of treats and was able to put them into baggies for so many good hearted post carriers who pay for those treats out of their own pocket. Thank you!!!!

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First Impression: Old Mother Hubbard Dog Biscuits are a great treat for the value and are made with wholesome ingredients. A large bag of the small biscuits lasts for weeks. Dad puts them in my Kongs, Everlasting Treat Balls, and Gatorade Bottles.

Conclusion: Dad says they are well worth the money. They keep me entertained, they taste good, and Dad says they are healthy.

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Nice small size treat that helps my big dogs watch their waistline and stay healthy.

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Premier Gentle Leader Training Treats

I started to use a Gentle Leader head collar. As a Border Collie, she had a very strong urge to pull, protect and herd. This was very problematic since I live in a rural area with numerous dogs, people, trucks and DEER! I found myself pulled and yanked mercilessly. Neck collars and body harnesses did not work to control her. Obedience classes helped but not enough. So I tried the Gentle Leader Head Collar. My dog did not like it. She ran away as soon as she saw me get the collar. I purchased the treats and asked her to come to me and sit. I placed the treat in my palm and put the head lead on her head. She didn't struggle or run. When we walk and a pulling or barking situation arises, I give her a Gentle Leader training treat. She quiets down and we walk in peace with animal world. While she still resents the head collar, she tolerates it better. Did I mention she also became much more interested in agility training when I used these treats! I highly recommend GENTLE LEADER TREATS and the GENTLE LEADER HEADCOLLAR.

Flexi Freedom Leash, X-Small PK

Perfect for my three pound chihuahua to pull. The size is small enough for my purse or pocket. No complaints here.

Great for walking as it is the perfect length. Great for a small female dog! We love the bright pink color.

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Spray Commander Pet Trainer Collar

I am on my third one of these. I originally bought one a couple of years ago because my dog (an adult Rottweiler) was barking a lot. I live in a condo and I didn't want to call extra attention to myself and/or upset the neighbors. However, my experience with the shock collars is that they don't work, I didn't want to use one of those ultrasound devices because I thought it might upset my other pets, and I actually didn't mind if my dog barked when someone came to the door (since my doorbell didn't work). I figured this collar would allow me to teach the dog when it was OK to bark and when it was not OK.

And it really DID work. It was only a short time (a week or two) before the inappropriate barking stopped. What a relief! Without being prompted, two neighbors (one from next door and one from right above me) later complimented me on how quiet my dog was.

Unfortunately, the first anti-bark collar stopped working. It lasted maybe a year. So I bought a second one. It worked great, but the cloth band that made up the collar part wouldn't stay tightened. The darned thing actually fell off outside somewhere when I was walking the dog. I didn't notice right away (she was a black dog and the collar was black), and I lost it. That's a pretty expensive thing to lose, and is the main reason I took off a star. (That almost made me take off more stars, except that the collar really did work, and I'd been at my wits' end.)

So, I bought a third one and duct-taped the collar band together after I size-adjusted it for my dog. Now it can't slide off. (I'm using it for my 5-month-old Rottie puppy now, since the other dog passed away in December.)

These things do go through batteries quickly. There are a number of buying options at reasonable prices on Amazon. Order them in bulk so you'll always have some handy.

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AKC GOLD HOUSEBREAKING AID 4 oz.

Maybe this will work well for some dogs, but this didn't do a thing for my Bichon. She'd sniff where I put this product down, than walk away and pee somewhere else. I'd say instead buy some of the bells that hang from the door, they're called doggie doorbells. This was what saved us with potty training ultimately.