Thread: Tracking collars - what to get?

Going to get a gps tracking collar for my pooch, sooner rather than later, so: what to get and why? Only want to buy once and get it right first time.

Garmin really the only show in town and really great. Been using it since 2015.
Not cheap but buy the Alpha300 and collar of your choice and away you go.

Originally Posted by mikee

Garmin really the only show in town and really great. Been using it since 2015.
Not cheap but buy the Alpha300 and collar of your choice and away you go.

Off to visit google fu so it can tell me about Alpha300.

Originally Posted by 257weatherby

Off to visit google fu so it can tell me about Alpha300.

Just remember their handsets DO NOT come with any collars. They are a mix and match sort of thing.

Not cheap but worth it

Hunt with two different mates.both using same Garmin set up.they gone a long way in short time. You not only can see where dog is but with the other collar....the ones I have always hated.give a tone...beep beep,behave.... Then a vibrate.zzzzzzz oih behave,turn your ears back on. And finally the tickle through to zap if previous two don't work. Gone are the days of wondering where the heck the dogs are now,running to high point to try and hear them. I won't let mine out of sight full stop.different strokes.

Originally Posted by Micky Duck

Hunt with two different mates.both using same Garmin set up.they gone a long way in short time. You not only can see where dog is but with the other collar....the ones I have always hated.give a tone...beep beep,behave.... Then a vibrate.zzzzzzz oih behave,turn your ears back on. And finally the tickle through to zap if previous two don't work. Gone are the days of wondering where the heck the dogs are now,running to high point to try and hear them. I won't let mine out of sight full stop.different strokes.

Pippy likes high country hares, I mean really likes high country hares..... they don't share the sentiment but she is fast enough and quick enough in the turn to deprive them of choice.......

Originally Posted by mikee

Garmin really the only show in town and really great. Been using it since 2015.
Not cheap but buy the Alpha300 and collar of your choice and away you go.

Trying to figure out which collar, they offer choices but not a lot of information.

There is a choice of 2 really depends on whether or not you want/need the e-collar.
T20 non e-collar or TT25 for e-collar version. There is no difference in the Tracking part or performance of it, just one has e-collar feature and other not.
I would suggest non e-collar version if you are not sure how to use the e=collar bit as misuse will easily wreck the dog

Garmin are really good at supporting their gear. They did a fixed price replacement on one of my old collars that really was just a pile of bits and 8 years out of warrenty

I'm confident this dog loving gent has the nouse to be very careful in the usage of the beep,buzz,burn features. Also pretty sure he would strap it to his own leg first to make plurry SURE he knew what dog was getting. Heck I reckon he loves his dogs more than I do,and that's saying something.

What @mikee said.

Invest in the Alpha 300i and TT25. I've got the 200i and TT20. I wouldn't buy second hand as the battery life on the collars does reduce over time. Can get up to 4 days on the TT20 (bought new last year, my old one was getting down to 2 hunt days). @Micky Duck used the vibration function once over three days the other day, so yes, a well trained dog and the buttons really aren't required that much. But, so worth it for peace of mind, inreach, maps, not getting lost...

If you do get the Garmin, invest in a Twin Needle GPS pouch. https://twinneedle.co.nz/products/long-radio-gps-pouch

Get Garmin as others have said. I have the 200i and track/train collar. Originally wanted the train aspect as I wasn't sure what my dog was going to do seeing stock when she was young. Turned out I never had to bother with the train as she pleasantly surprised me by not even really looking at them.

Went through this myself recently.
As said above Garmin is the only viable option. I ended up with a T20 collar and alpha 10 handheld.
I use as an insurance policy when deerstalking, main use is mtb'ing, proven a great time saver when pooch has got separated from me. The ability to view tracking info on my fenix watch is also very handy. Don't have to pull the HH every time to get an idea of her location.

Bit the bullet this arvo, downloaded the manuals to figure out how to use and looking forward to having the baby shark along without worrying when she is out of sight.

If you are going to zap your dog, strap the thing to your leg and see what it feels like first.

Originally Posted by inglishill

If you are going to zap your dog, strap the thing to your leg and see what it feels like first.

This is true, both of my dogs will show a reaction at level 2 and 3 which I cannot even feel on the back of my calfs.

One thing and its important, On the Alpha 100 if you dont lock the keypad it is possible to alter the level of the "zapping" with out being aware of it with obvious results when you press the button. Not sure if Alpha 300 is the same?

Also train your mutt to recall to the collar "beeping" or vibrate, then you can get your dog back from miles away with no shouting or whistling.