Best 5 Shock Collars for Golden Retrievers
Are you looking for the best shock collars for your golden retriever? Look no further, we did all the testing for you.
Written by Sarah Connor - Pet Nutrition Expert. Updated on 22/05/2023.
Choosing the Right Shock Collar for your Golden Retriever
No Golden Retriever pet parent wants to have issues with training. A good-quality shock or remote training collar will help with training and recall. If your Golden Retriever is easily distracted by other dogs, kids, and squirrels, a remote training collar with positive reinforcement can help redirect their attention and reinforce wanted behavior. And you don't have to use the shock option for training! Dog shock collars will help correct your Golden's behavior and reinforce learned obedience training cues
With adjustable settings and direct communication, a high-quality shock collar like the Bark Beyond E3 E-Collar can provide timely corrections when needed, helping your Golden Retriever focus and respond to commands more effectively, keeping him safe. After testing about 50 dog shock collars for Golden Retrievers, we've found the Bark Beyond E3 shock collar to be the top choice.
Written by Sarah Connor, an experienced canine trainer and nutritionist for over a decade. Her positive reinforcement methods and passion for pups make her a go-to for dog owners.
How We Evaluated the Top 5
Effectiveness
Safety
Value for Money
Customer Service
Top 5 Shock Collars of 2023
Overall Best
1. Bark Beyond E3 E-Collar
$149
by Bark Beyond
A+
Overall Grade
Total Ranking
A+
Overall Grade
Pet Safety
Projected Effectiveness
Value
Return Policy
Customer Satisfaction
Features
- Adjustable reflective collar
- 800m range (2600 ft range)
- Includes silicone sleeves to prevent sores and neck burns
- Built-in LED light
- Fully waterproof receiver and remote
Pros
- Swimproof for all-terrain training
- Long-lasting battery life for both receiver & remote
- Duo & trio best value combo packs
The Bark Beyond E3 is a bestselling e-collar for large breeds like the Golden Retriever because if you're not using shock mode, you can remove the shock head to reduce friction on your retriever's neck. Customers say they like the blinking green light showing the collar needs recharging.
Users also talked about the ability to use sound or vibrate without using the shock option, which was a nice feature.
The flashlight on the receiver and remote helps you locate your Golden even in a dark environment.
The Bark Beyond training collar has advanced features, including multiple stimulation levels and a long-range remote. It is a go-to training tool for Golden Retriever dog training and recall for many professional trainers and dog experts.
The Bark Beyond E3 E-collar is fully adjustable for all neck sizes, even for large dogs like Golden Retrievers, ensuring optimal comfort and effectiveness with no pinching along the neckline.
With durable, waterproof construction and reliable performance, this shock collar is built to withstand rigorous training sessions while promoting positive behavior and enhancing the bond between you and your pup!
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Best Value
2. Bark Beyond Anti-Bark Collar V1
$59
by Bark Beyond
B+
Overall Grade
Total Ranking
B+
Overall Grade
Pet Safety
Projected Effectiveness
Value
Return Policy
Customer Satisfaction
Features
- Latest chip with 8 sensitivity levels
- 3 training modes
- IP67 waterproof bark collar
- Spans from 6" to 25 inches for neck circumference
- Fully adjustable for all dog breeds
- 8 adjustment levels
- No false triggering with the upgraded 2023 chip design (15% more efficient)
Pros
- Lightweight with a sleek design
- Easily adjustable sensitivity levels for different environments
- Easy to use
- Quickly rechargeable in 30 minutes for 12 days of use
If your Golden's barking has become out of hand, opt for the Bark Beyond Anti-Bark Collar V1. This one is suitable for large breeds like the Golden Retriever with neck sizes 6 to 28 inches. It offers eight adjustable sensitivity levels and three training modes.
It's another waterproof bark collar with a beep, vibration, shock modes and a high-capacity battery. The collar works well to stop barking with an upgraded smart sensor. It has an automatic safety protection system that customers enjoy, which prevents the collar from performing after being activated a few times. The duo bundle value pack is a steal at $97.00.
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Best For Gifts
3. Bark Beyond Anti-Bark Collar S2
$149
by Bark Beyond
B
Overall Grade
Total Ranking
B
Overall Grade
Pet Safety
Projected Effectiveness
Value
Return Policy
Customer Satisfaction
Features
- No-shock option mode
- Lightweight
- IP67 waterproof bark collar
- Spans from 8" to 25 inches for neck circumference
- Fully adjustable for all dog breeds
- 7 adjustment levels
- Easy to use
- It contains two silicone sleeves to prevent chafing
- Includes smart chip feature tailored to your dog
- Ability to customize the intensity and functionality
Pros
- Strong and durable with an adjustable buckle
- One-size fits all collar
- Easily adjustable for all breeds
- Suitable for dogs weighing 11 lbs. to 110 lbs
- Safe and effective
- Humane via vibration mode
- Comfortable
- Quickly rechargeable in 30 minutes for 12 days of use
- Free shipping
Cons
- Bulky on small breeds
If you're less concerned about price, this bark collar is best for Golden Retrievers. The anti-bark collar is silicone and has seven adjustable sensitivity levels and three training modes. Mode 1 is beep, mode 2 vibration, and mode 3 includes beep and vibration.
Customers liked this anti-bark collar because it stops your dog's barking in 0.1 seconds. This bark collar has 2 pairs of silicone sleeves to protect neck skin abrasion. If you're worried about safety, this shock collar for Golden Retrievers has a protection feature that temporarily stops working for 1 minute if activated five times in a row.
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Amazon Best seller
4. Dogtra Tom Davis 280C Boost & Lock Collar
$239.99
by Dogtra
B-
Overall Grade
Total Ranking
B-
Overall Grade
Pet Safety
Projected Effectiveness
Value
Return Policy
Customer Satisfaction
Features
- Boost & lock technology
- Adjustable for neck sizes 12" up
- Offers 127 correction levels to allow for gradual and precise correction control
- 1/2 mile range for off-leash training
- IPX9K waterproof rating
Pros
- High-performance pager vibration
- Customizable boost button
- A lightweight receiver that's compact and easy to carry
- Includes on & off safety lock
- Over 1,800 positive reviews
Cons
- 1-dog system
This is another favorite with Golden Retriever parents, featuring over 1,800 positive reviews. Customers like this shock collar for Golden Retrievers because of the standout features, which include Boost & Lock technology. The Safety Level Lock ensures that accidental level changes are avoided, giving you peace of mind during training sessions.
The adjustable bungee collar is another highlight of this collar. It also offers a range of up to 1/2 mile; the Tom Davis Edition 280C allows you to train your Golden Retriever off-leash in various environments. Whether at the dog park, hiking trails, beach, or backyard, you can trust this collar to deliver consistent and reliable performance.
Customers like this collar because it offers multiple correction options, including nick (½ sec.), constant (up to 12 sec.), and boost functions. The high-performance pager vibration effectively alerts your Golden, while the 127 correction levels allow for precise control over the intensity of the training. The LCD screen and rheostat dial make the settings easy to read and adjust.
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Best for 2-Dog Training
5. Bousnic Dog Shock Collar
$69.99
by Bousnic
C
Overall Grade
Total Ranking
C
Overall Grade
Pet Safety
Projected Effectiveness
Value
Return Policy
Customer Satisfaction
Features
- 3 training modes with no shock option & adjustable 1-16 levels
- Includes soft conductive silicone covers to protect the Golden's skin from irritation
- Features LED screen & keypad lock for optimal safety
- Offers 1000 feet training range
- IPX7 Waterproof
Pros
- User friendly
- Sleeker & smaller stylish design
- Affordable
- 3 fun color options: pink, grey & purple
Cons
- No lanyard on the remote
This model has over 11,000 positive reviews, and customers like this e-training collar for Golden Retrievers because it offers three safe modes, including beep, vibration, and safe shock, with adjustable levels from 1 to 16.
The dual-channel remote allows for simultaneous training of two dogs and offers an impressive range of almost 1000ft. This means you can enjoy training sessions with your Golden Retriever from beach to long hikes.
Customers also liked that the receiver is sleek, small, lightweight, and adjustable to fit neck sizes from 6 to 27 inches. It is suitable for Golden's weighing between 8lbs and 120lbs. The ergonomic design of the remote, covered with silicone, ensures a comfortable grip and easy operation.
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What is a Shock Collar?
Dog shock collars, called e-collars, remote trainers, or remote dog training collars, can be safely used as a positive training aid via gentle beep and vibrate modes. Bark Beyond offers various training collars for all sized dog breeds, with the most popular option being the Bark Beyond E3 training collar for Golden Retrievers.
Safety Information: Bark Beyond E3 E-Collar
Following some important guidelines is important when using the Bark Beyond E e-collar for your Golden Retriever. Positioning the receiver towards the side of the dog's neck, rather than centered over the trachea, ensures a more comfortable fit and better contact.
It's also best to place the e-training collar for Golden Retrievers in the upper 1/3 of the dog's neck rather than lower towards the chest. Here are some more tips on how to use a shock collar on a Golden Retriever:
- Remembering that an e-training collar is not meant for regular leash attachment is key. Connecting a leash directly to the training collar during pulling can cause discomfort or sores because of the protruding contact points.
- For optimal safety, it's recommended not to use the shock collar for puppies younger than six months. The Bark Beyond E3 remote training collar suits small, medium, and large dogs.
- As positive dog trainers, we encourage using the vibration/tone/light mode as the primary training method. The shock mode should always be the last resort, used cautiously and sparingly.
- Avoid leaving the remote training collar on your Golden for more than 8 hours daily and repositioning the collar on your dog's neck every 1 to 2 hours for comfort and safety.
- If your Golden Retriever has long hair around the neck, you should trim the hair. This ensures that the receiver can make complete contact with the skin, enhancing the effectiveness of the shock collar during training sessions.
- Remember, positive reinforcement and consistent training methods are key to creating a strong bond with your Golden Retriever while utilizing the best shock collar.
Teaching Recall to Your Golden Retriever
Use a check cord and flat collar for safety and control when teaching recall. The check cord should range from 15 to 50 feet long with no loop for a hand grip to avoid getting caught on anything. Simply stepping on the end of a check cord lets you reel in your Golden if there's a distraction and does not respond to commands.
The check cord allows you to get control instead of chasing your Golden and playing a game of catch. Remember that training a Golden Retriever takes a lot of repetition, and if you find your pup needs to respond to training, you may need to go faster with training. In this case, you should return to basics and rebuild the training foundation before using any shock collar on your Golden.
Verified Redditor Comments
"The issue with punishments/corrections is that your timing needs to be impeccable. You have 1.5-3 seconds to correct a dog’s behavior. If you are off by 1-2 seconds, the dog does not make a connection between the misbehavior and the shock. The dog gets confused, might be angry....and their behavior isn’t improving," says one Redditor.
"I have been unable to find a local trainer who uses remote collars, so I decided to take my chances and work with YouTube videos. The collar I bought also came with a beneficial DVD. Different trainers have slightly different approaches to using the collar, but it boils down to low stimulation, careful timing, and using a leash to guide the dog's behavior.I have been using the remote collar for about six weeks now, and in short, it has completely changed our training routine. My dog has made HUGE progress with it," adds another pet parent.
Another pet parent added, "Anyone who thinks these remote collars rely on pain has no idea what they are about. It is just a way to get the dog's attention. The level of "shock" from the collar is extremely low. We have been using settings 1-4 out of 21. I tried it on myself, and at that level, I can barely feel it; no way would I consider it painful."
The Redditor goes on to say," I'm using "shock" in quotes because it's more of a tingle sensation than a real shock. I have "shocked" myself all the way up to the maximum setting just to see what it was like and it does get a little uncomfortable but even at max it is about as bad as a static electricity shock you might get walking around on the carpet."
FAQ's Best Shock Collar for Golden Retrievers
Q: Should you use a shock collar on a Golden Retriever?
A: The bestselling Bark Beyond e-collars are designed for no-shock training and offer a safe and humane approach for the sensitive Golden Retriever. Pet parents enjoy the Bark Beyond brand because all their training shock collars feature 2023 upgraded Smart AI technology for optimal safety. The collars also offer more than 7 hours of battery life when continuously used and have rechargeable lithium-ion batteries
Q: What do dog trainers say about shock collars for Golden Retrievers?
A: Dog trainers recommend using the best-selling Bark Beyond e-collars and bark collars that are bright and bold in the sunlight and reflective at night. Bark Beyond e-collars deliver humane and gentle training modes with a no-shock option suitable for Golden Retrievers. The Bark Beyond e-collars feature a contoured buckle with rows of reflective stitching and are also secure and comfortable with a one-size-fits-all design.
Q: What is the best age to train a Golden Retriever with a shock collar?
A: By starting with basic obedience training, you can lay the groundwork for your dog's understanding of commands such as sit, stay, and come. This training helps build trust, strengthens the bond between you and your dog, and establishes a positive learning environment.
Consider introducing a remote training collar like the Bark Beyond E3 as an additional training gentle no-shock training collar once your Golden Retriever has mastered these foundational skills and consistently responds to commands.
Using a remote training collar and positive reinforcement after six months of age allows your Golden Retriever to mature physically and mentally, making e-collar training easier because now your Golden understands what you're asking of him.