Hey, sometimes we are blessed and things go the smooth, easy way with little or no hassles. Of course, the exact opposite is usually the case, where no matter the effort we put in, things seem to go awry. Take dog training for instance. I guess in the past I had been fortunate in that I had one of those rare Labs that was not too head strong and usually picked up the basics of training quick and easy. It seems those dogs are few and far between. Most gun dogs and Labs in general are a bit high strung and can be a challenge for the novice to train properly.

My new pup, Elvis, is the classic male Lab. Smart but stubborn and hard headed, especially when off lead. I was having a terrible time getting him to follow any of my commands if he was not wearing the “choke” collar with a leash hooked on. I realized I would have to try something different and began to consider using an “E Collar”.

I knew Tri-Tronics was one of the original innovators and an industry leader in training devices. Thus, I took a serious look at their line up of collars and found one that appeared to suit my needs as a novice trainer.

The Sport Basic G3 model is aptly named, since it has just the ‘basic” equipment on it. First off, it is waterproof which is mandatory for any waterfowl type training. Also, it has plenty of power levels (10) for the average hunter/owner along and even has a button which produces a buzz sound for an audible alert. The transmitter has a one half mile range, which should be sufficient for most dog owners.

Heck, it can even be used to train a total of three dogs should the owner wish to. This can be done simply by purchasing additional receivers. The transmitter is already set up to control three receivers and has color codes to differentiate the particular dog collar in operation at the time. It is very simple to train multiple dogs. All that needs to be done is select the color code on the transmitter that matches the color collar that dog is wearing and that’s it! Pretty simple, yet effective.

One thing I personally hate is unnecessary gadgets and options on my equipment. I just want a simple, effective, user friendly tool, whether it is a pump shotgun or a training collar. Tri-Tronics has created the perfect set up for folks like me. As mentioned above, the transmitter has just a few controls incorporated into it. Three buttons, the top one (BZ) emits a “buzz” when pressed. The middle button (C) is the continuous mode, which allows the trainer to give a longer stimulation and the lower button is marked (M) for momentary stimulation. When the (M) is pressed, it will only provide split second stimulation no matter how long it is pressed.

Additionally, there are two small dials on the top right side of the transmitter. The top knob or dial controls the intensity of the stimulation. As stated, there are ten levels to choose from on the Sport Basic G3 model. So far, I have not had the need to go higher than “2”, so I imagine there is plenty of intensity left for most dogs. Oh, the first number on the top dial is “N” which means “Off”.

Below the intensity dial is the knob or dial for controlling which particular collar is in use. Again, it is determined by color choice. Only one collar can be used at a given time without switching the knob. That way multiple dogs are not “nicked” at the same time.

The package is shipped with three colored collars, one receiver which slides onto the collar of choice, a transmitter, charger, and lanyard for the transmitter. My unit came with the short prongs installed, but also had a pair of long prongs for dogs with thicker fur. Additionally, a short DVD and instruction manual are included. I had no problems following the easy to read instructions. The receiver and transmitter already come with batteries installed, which is very nice. Incidentally, the transmitter takes 9 volt batteries, which are cheap and easily obtainable anywhere. The receiver has recharge-able batteries inside it and is fully charged in two hours.

The main body of the transmitter is four inches long and two inches wide and fits easily and comfortably into the trainer’s hand. It is also rubber coated on the edges to prevent slippage. The one and a half inch antenna is molded into the transmitter and constructed of hard plastic, which is pretty durable. The receiver has no visible antenna like the old collars did, thus making it pretty durable and there are no parts to lose. Other than switching prongs (if needed), there really is nothing to do once the receiver is attached to the collar.

Once I got the collar, I read the manual and watched the video. Still, I was a bit leery about “burning out” my pup. I made the call to a professional trainer, Gordon Wiegel of Bur Oak Retrievers. Gordy agreed to introduce both my pup and me to the “E Collar”. He would give Elvis some initial collar conditioning and “show me the ropes” so to speak. This really made me more comfortable and confident with the collar and its effectiveness. Tri-Tronics does have an excellent book which covers just about any situation encountered when training with an “E Collar”. It is highly recommended and can be ordered direct from Tri Tronics.

After a quick hour learning session, I took the collar and pup home and began to utilize the tool in my own yard. I was amazed at how effective it made our training sessions! Now I could teach Elvis at a distance and correct the un-wanted behavior at a moment’s notice. Previously, I could not correct him, since the correction would not occur fast enough for him to relate it to what he was doing. Hey, this was just what I needed! Sure we had a brief period of adjustment, but after the first or second session we both figured out what was acceptable and things went very smoothly there after.

One nice benefit of the collar was that I found other applications for it besides the yard work. My pup would get pretty rowdy inside with our young daughter. Once he got wound up it would be hard to grab him fast enough to prevent the unwanted behavior. That is where the Sport Basic G3 came into play. I simply had to incorporate the same instructions indoors and his behavior began to improve.

I did do some training in a nearby lake as well and can attest that the Sport Basic G3 is indeed waterproof and effective in that environment. Additionally, all three colored collars are plastic coated so they do not absorb water nor do they rot or get that stinky smell some collars pick up when they continually get wet. This Sport Basic G3 also has a two year warranty to cover any issues.

Really, I don’t know how we would have survived at our home without the Sport G3 training collar. While it might not work miracles, it has made it obvious that even a stubborn, high strung male like our pup can be easily and effectively taught. I would highly recommend this Tri-Tronics collar to anyone who has a desire to train their dog, but might be on a budget or be new to the training collar world as I was. It might not be suited for daily use by professionals who need more range and versatility, but I think the average hunter or dog owner will appreciate simplicity and great value found in the Sport Basic G3 model. With the introduction of the Sport Basic G3, Tri-Tronics has proven they can offer a training system for every dog owner.

Recommended items include the following item from www.Tritronics.com:

• Retriever Training (book) TT item # 1038700
• Holster (Sport G3 model) TT item #1264400

Gordon Wiegel can be reached at www.buroakretrievers.com