9 Best Shock Collars for Golden Retrievers [Sep 2023]

Golden Retrievers are adorable pets. They are my favorite breeds because of their malleable nature. I’ve had a good time training them.

Short on time? Take a moment to check out my top recommendation.

There were a few hiccups along the way where I had to intervene with shock collars. The following list of the best shock collar for Golden Retriever contains almost all of the products that have helped me so far.

From Retrievers too stubborn to recall to Retrievers that wanted to be Labradors, I’ve corrected most of their behaviors successfully. The good news is that you don’t have to worry about correcting a Golden Retriever’s behavior if you own one. I’m here to tell you how.

However, before using the collars, make sure that you train yourself first and understand the shock collar side effects. You should understand how it works and what could go wrong if you overuse it or use it.

What to look for in a shock collar for Golden Retrievers?

Goldies are one of the most happy-go-lucky dog breeds you’ll find. They easily adjust to a household with kids or more members but that doesn’t mean that they don’t require training. 

In fact, they are positioned with breeds requiring more training than usual. Yes, they offer ease of training but at the same time, they are highly intelligent to pose hurdles in between.

To make things foolproof, you’ll need a shock collar, and here’s what to look for in one you choose from the list.

1. Stimulation Types

You should go for a collar that has all three major stimulation types: Beep, vibration, and static stimulation.

Why am I asking you to do that? Because some Golden Retrievers will be phased by vibration and beep only. They won’t need static stimulations at all or maybe just a low level. For double-coated puppies, you need to increase the shock levels.

2. Stimulation Intensity

The second thing to look for is the intensity of the stimulations. This breed is not too stubborn to ask for hot levels of static correction.

So, you should choose a product that has soft levels, meaning, they shouldn’t scare the soul out of your pooch. But in case you like a premium collar from a trusted brand to keep for future pets, then follow the rule of thumb to select the right level. 

It goes like this:

• Put the collar on the dog and select level one. 
• Look for a change in his reaction such as twitching his neck, jumping, confusion, or showing signs of distress.
• Apparently, most dogs don’t show any reaction on level one. In that case, gradually increase the levels until there’s a reaction. 
• Go on to increase one level above the one where the dog shows any reaction. See if there’s an increase in his agitation. 
• The level below it is the right one. Choose that level. 

3. Battery life

Golden Retrievers do not need a lot of corrections per day. So, you don’t need a product whose battery lasts for a lifetime. Usually, most collars’ batteries last for a few days, so you should be good to go.

However, if you don’t want to spend your time charging the device daily, look for one with more battery juice. I’ve included such products in the list.

Also, try to find a product that has a single charger for both the receiver and transmitter. 

4. Collar Type

It doesn’t matter which type of material the collar is made from. Typically, it’s either nylon or biothane. You may even see leather collars. All these materials are good to go for goldies.

However, considering a dog’s chewing habits, you may choose biothane. It is waterproof and takes a beating from your dog to some extent. But when you have a shock collar, you could easily get rid of the chewing, too! 

Start with introducing it to the dog instead of surprising it with a new product at hand. Then, when it’s comfortable enough or when it understands that it’s your part, you could easily use it without seeing teeth marks on it.

When you do that, all the types become available to choose from. Your choice is not limited.

5. Ease of use

Since you’d be using your collar’s transmitter more often, it’s paramount to choose a collar with an easy-to-use remote. You should look for a convenient button layout with the stimulation buttons laid out for blind usage.

There should be a clear distinction between each key, so you don’t accidentally press the wrong key. I’d also recommend one with a key lock to keep your children from unnecessarily zapping the dog.

6. Range

Look for products whose range is anywhere between 200 to 1760 yards. Goldies do not have a lot of wanderlust potential, so you don’t need a collar with miles of range.

The List of 9 Best Shock Collars For Golden Retrievers

Here’s the list you can use to choose your product!

1. Educator Shock Collar for Golden Retrievers

Educator E-Collar is my number one choice for bigger breeds like Golden Retrievers. It has all the features and ergonomics to work as a correction device. 

The main highlight here is the stopwatch-shaped remote. With all its buttons on the periphery, you’d encounter fewer errors in operating the device.

There’s a stimulation button that delivers a shock to the dog but if you program it well with the pavlovian tone, it will first receive the tone and then the shock.

As a trainer, I can vouch for this method. 

I’ve trained many dogs this way. Their chances of learning through positive reinforcement double. They associate the beep as a warning as they indulge in the behavior and then the zap as a punishment for it.

Over time, they understand that to stop the uncomfortable sensation, they must stop repeating the same mistake again. 

Maybe that’s why this product has been a success with Golden Retrievers that I’ve trained. Even Rottweilers didn’t stand a chance with this one.

The stimulation boost helped me train many of them to obey their owners’ commands. 

The 100 levels on the device may put you in an awkward position. You might think that this device will zap the soul out of your pooch.

Only that’s not the case. I haven’t used level 100 on any Golden Retriever or other breed. Levels 10 to 12 would suffice even for a stubborn dog. 

However, before purchasing this, understand that you may have to trim the hair of your pooch a little to get the prongs well in contact with the skin.

Also, if your dog is for hunting, then you may want to go for a bigger brand with more features. Luckily, I have them listed here. 

Strengths

• Ergonomic stopwatch design 
• Many levels
• Light in the receiver 
• Easily programmable 
• Pavlovian tone works great as a positive reinforcement tactic

Weaknesses

• There’s vibration mode but working your way to it could be trickier

2. SportDOG Shock Collar for Golden Retriever

Well, I admit that the SportDog’s SportTrainer has awkward aesthetics but if you’re into hunting, that may come in handy.

Flashy colors out in the woods help in easy recognition of the dog against dull colors, at least, that’s how I put it. I have had my share of hunting with a previous Golden Retriever.

The remote and collar are well-built. You have to give it to SportDog for giving you bang for the buck as long as that’s concerned.

I have dropped the remote quite a few times, even sometimes in a puddle of mud or on rocks without causing it any harm.

Only one time, the left side of it chipped a little just below the antenna but everything was fine. 

The collar is a signature SportDog Hulk! It’s big and bulky, but not necessarily as heavy as you’d think. One thing’s for sure, it fits right on the neck of your dog. It is one of the best e-collars for hunting dogs recommended by many professional trainers.

And if you’re planning on taking 6 of them, then this is your product. 

I have tested and tried it on training 6 different dogs but not for hunting. They were on a farm and the owner wanted them to be trained for shepherding.

You guessed it right – they were a mix of German Shepherds and Golden Retrievers mostly. I was glad that the remote was programmable for each dog separately. 

You won’t be stuck in changing channels and then applying a correction to each dog manually.

Instead, you select the type of correction or mode for each dog, lock it, and then use it just by a simple press of the buttons to the right. 

There’s nick and continuous stimulation, which could be used for each dog separately. 

So, the remote is pretty simple, if you ask me. You wouldn’t be fumbling with things every time. I do hope that they make the manual a little easy on the eyes and the brain. 

A word of advice – be sure to unscrew the plastic screws before plugging in the prongs that come with the product. Also, to get the vibration, tone, and shock features altogether, read page 14 of the manual. 

Strengths

• Sturdy remote and collar
• Easy-to-read OLED screen with each indication
• Easy-to-use buttons 
• Trains 6 dogs separately 
• Highly programmable 

Weaknesses

• Poor manual 
• It May be tricky to find the modes for beginners. 

3. PetSpy P620 – Best E Collar for Golden Retriever

The PetSpy P620 stays one of the best collars for huskies, labs, and golden retrievers. It’s stylish, sturdy, and effective on dogs of any age. 

The company hates making things confusing. Possibly that’s why they’ve come up with such a convenient remote. Each feature has its own button with raised indications for perfect blind operations.

My only complaint here is the intensity level increasing buttons right above the tone button. With someone’s fingers as huge as mine, hitting these two unintentionally becomes a concern. 

I also love how the channel switch button is the way it should be. It’s literally a switch so you know exactly which channel you’re on.

This was particularly useful in training a Great Dane and a Labrador. Each dog has its separate shock requirements.

While both are strong ones and require higher settings, the lab couldn’t bear what the Great Dane could take. So, I had to manually change the intensity levels for both dogs. 

But channel switching helped me not mix up the two. 

Coming towards my experience with a Golden Retriever, the beeper worked on a pup I had trained with it. The beep was enough for most of the time. 

The 16 levels are enough for an adult, too. Training a 50 lbs lab golden mix for a 78-year-old client was a breeze. The dog wouldn’t pull on the leash when it received a level 6 zap.

The owner was afraid her dog would easily pull her with him but gladly, timely intervention with PetSpy didn’t make it possible. 

The collar could have been a little bigger for the bigger breeds. I do recommend shaving a little fur from the place you’re gonna put it on. 

Strengths

• Easy to use in the dark 
• Enough strap for a GR or any other big dog 
• Beep works on most dogs; effective beep 
• Consistent working

Weaknesses

• All the buttons on the front make it cumbersome for bigger fingers

4. Educator K9 Training Collar for Golden Retriever

Educator K9 takes a lot of features from the Educator E-Collar. However, there’s no match for the convenience the K9 provides when it comes to tying the thing around the dog’s neck.

Its bungee collar is a major plus that I’d like you to consider if your Retriever is skittish, playful, or a complete nuisance when you try to put this around its neck. 

It has the same ergonomic stop-watch design for its remote. But here, the ridges on the sides have been improved for blind operation.

I trained a five-month-old Golden Retriever puppy who had bad behavior towards other dogs. Thanks to its bungee strap, putting it on was a breeze.

While I had kept the stimulation lower because I didn’t want to hurt the poor thing, I didn’t have to do anything to the tapping sensation.

Mind you, however, that you may have a hard time wrapping your hand around the tapping option in the two-dog system. 

Since I used it to train the puppy only, it was easy to come up with. 

Okay, so the tapping sensation was more than just a short buzz of vibration. It was like a tap on the back, which worked well on the pup as it finally listened to us on destination walks.

I realized it may have the same effect as you petting the dog. 

I have to be honest, though, that sometimes, it became hard to deal with the running spree of the dog. I dropped the remote a few times but it didn’t budge. It was all in one piece, thanks to the plastic used. 

In all its benefits for the pup, I noticed that the receiver was too heavy. That’s the only thing to look out for. If there’s visible distention on your pup’s face, I recommend you go for a brand with a smaller receiver.

Also, since this model is also used by dog handlers, first find out if your dog’s personality allows such a huge inclusion in its routine. 

Strengths

• Brilliantly designed 
• Sturdy plastic 
• Blind usage made easy 
• Light in the collar 
• Bungee strap 

Weaknesses

• Big receiver 

5. DT Systems Collar for Golden Retriever Puppies

The DT Systems Dog Training Collar is compact with only a slight problem posed by the stiff collar.

It’s not pliable. You could guess that just by holding the strap in your hands. I bet it was uncomfortable for the golden retrievers I’ve trained it with, but most of them didn’t complain. 

The only reason I still used it was because it seems as if the company has built it for puppies. The remote is small, handy, and fits well in your hand.

There are only two buttons up front that work great, only if they had raised indications on them for proper blind usage.

Let’s be honest here, you’ve to keep an eye on the puppy all the time when you’re training it. 

One wrong move and it’s gone out of your hand. 

That’s where I’ve found the remote lacking. But gladly, you do get used to it over the long run. 

The collar isn’t flexible but it does its work perfectly. The receiver doesn’t bulge out too much. Maybe these aren’t what you’re looking for. You’re looking for a collar that works with your puppy once and for all. 

In that, I can vouch for the product. Its 16 levels are appropriate for a dog in its wee years.

I don’t recommend going beyond level 4 because it may become too much for the pup. Still, you could check the intensity on your arm. 

Come to think of that, you may not have to use it every time you’re training your pup. I had to train a retriever and lab mix to stay inside the fence.

One step too close toward it and she’ll receive the vibration. That will send her running back to us. Maximum success guaranteed. 

Strengths 

• Works like a premium collar 
• Nick and continuous shock 
• Easy to use remote control 
• Flawless receiving signals 

Weaknesses

• Poor quality material used (you get what you pay for)

6. Dogtra 1900S Dog Training Collar

The Dogtra 1900S Black Edition is not just a gimmick for black lovers. It’s slightly different from the standard 1900S both in range and in materials used – of course, in color, too. There’s also another major difference. 

Dogtra has had my trust from day 1 of its use. The 1900S with its High-Performance Pager, which is more than just vibration, caught my attention right when a feisty Great Pyrenese was stopped dead in its track.

Its ¾ mile or 1320 yards range is more than enough for your backyard. 

However, if you want a longer range for your Golden Retriever hunting dog, the black edition would suffice with its 1-mile or 1760 yards range.

There’s no difference in the quality of the transmission you receive with both of these devices. Dogtra maintains it in both.

Maybe that’s why its users (who can afford it) don’t think of using any other collar 

The premium black matte finish with a blue LED on the collar looks aesthetically pleasing.

It caught my attention even though I’m not an aesthetic guy. I’m more into how the product works, or if it works for the owner or not.

The major difference that I talked about above is the absence of the hands-free device that comes with the standard 1900S.

That impedes the whole motive of using a hunting pack for a hunting dog as, by the looks of it, I think this is for hunters.

It would have been better if I could use the handheld pager and I didn’t have to look at the remote every time I was training a hunting GR.

The side buttons of nick and continuous shock do help in maintaining a balance between looking at the remote and using it blindly. I love the rheostat dial and the fact that one turn doesn’t mean 100 levels.

Strengths

• Increased range 
• Matte-finished and blue LED adds to the looks 
• Great feel and performance 
• Comfortable buckle 

Weaknesses

• Expensive 
• No hands-free tool

7. PATPET Dog Shock Collar for Golden Retriever

PATPET and PetSpy have something going on with their models. The PetSpy P620 and this one have many similarities.

It seems as if the companies created these products by getting “inspired” by one another. Or, maybe I’m wrong, they’re the same thing altogether. 

Whatever the case is, both the devices work wonderfully on Golden Retrievers, speaking from my personal experience.

I would recommend buying the PetSpy P620 for shorter ranges such as inside houses or backyards and the PATPET for vast ranges.

That’s in their capacity to be consistent over those ranges. PetSpy covers some 650 yards, while the PATPET goes far beyond 1000 yards. 

The remote controls are essentially the same. There’s more to the aesthetics of the latter with a premium finish. The PetSpy remote looks like a cheap knockoff. 

Both have dedicated buttons for the modes with level-increasing buttons right above the Tone button. Again, I’ll say here that I’m not a big fan of this arrangement because of my humongous fingers. 

The collars are stylish with an on-off button peeking right above that may become a nuisance if your dog is fidgety.

I recommend putting it on the dog’s neck where the movement essentially doesn’t press the button. 

The 16 levels of stimulation are not consistent in this product as it is in PetSpy for an unknown reason. You may want to be careful about zapping your pet beyond level 5. 

I have no qualms in accepting how waterproof this thing is. Training a 100lbs GR that used to swim every day wasn’t a problem at all. The tightly snug peripheries of the receiver held water away just fine. 

Strengths

• Longer range 
• Remote layout encourages blind operation 
• Enough strap for 100lbs+ dogs
• LED on the receiver indicates on and off well

Weaknesses

• Shock levels are not consistent 

8. DogCare E Collar

I recommend the Dog Care E collar for Golden Retrievers or any other breed’s puppies. It is small, intuitive, and well-built to last for other dogs as well.

You could even change the strap to let it fit a larger dog if you want to work around benign shocks as compared to the shocks from the big boys like Dogtra. 

The remote is weird, to be honest, but very much handy. Its one-handed use will make your days easier on you. There’s a small knob that changes the intensity levels and three buttons upfront for the vibration, shock, and tone.

If there has to be a new version of this thing, I want to tell the company to reduce the size of the remote but not touch the features at all. They work. 

How could I forget the key lock button at the side of the remote? It works for one because of the slide-up-and-down design. You won’t go wrong with that. 

The receiver is small for a puppy, which is a good thing. Thank God someone thought of appropriating the size. There are 10 levels of stimulation starting from negligible shock especially built for puppies or dogs with sensitive skin.

The thing works well enough to discourage the use of its very mild shock feature.

I had to use the level 3 stimulation only twice with a husky-golden mix when I was training it to respect the bounds of the fence and a 7 months old 70lbs puppy that had a bad rip for tearing down furniture.  

Surprisingly, the prongs were large enough to go through all that fur and transmit the stimulation to the dog’s skin.

Also, I only had to charge it after every two days to get the thing working, which is a plus when you’re working with a feisty puppy of a feisty breed. 

Overall, there are a few things to not like about the product. The quality is superior and the features are well-suited for puppies, hear me. 

Strengths

• Built for puppies
• Easy to use remote control 
• Superior quality product 
• Easily changeable nylon strap 
• The button lock feature works well 

Weaknesses

• The remote is a bit bulky. 
• The collar does not hold as much charge as compared to the remote. 

9. FreeSpirit Shock Collar for Golden Retriever

The FreeSpirit shock collar is for free-spirited dogs. Golden Retrievers are those dogs, aren’t they? 

Both the remote and the collar are designed to last. With their huge sizes, you couldn’t expect them to break even after strenuous usage.

They could easily replace the premium collars. However, you get what you pay for. There are certain caveats you should be looking for. 

The first one is the one-button function. Now, I do like remotes with separate buttons for separate functions, this one-button function had taken me by surprise.

It wasn’t a caveat for me, but most of the owners I recommended the collar to found it hard to deal with.

Some even said that the product didn’t have vibration or tone when it was their own misunderstanding of the manual or none thereof. 

Once you learn to program it for better usage, you won’t look back. 

The second one is the remote’s slippery nature. It’s maybe a little too free-spirited. I had a few times where it fell from me because of it.

It’s made from tough plastic, so it didn’t break. That I can assure you. 

The collar sits well under the neck of the dog. Its strap is huge enough to be used for bigger GRs. I don’t recommend this for puppies smaller than 4 months because the shock levels are more than what they could bear.

It worked well for the 8 months old I had trained. He was relentless. A furball of energy and vocal as hell. This collar, however, corrected his unruly behaviors within the first week of use. 

The vibration is stronger than most of the collars I’ve used, so you could expect your dog to respond to it without asking for the zap at all.  

And yes, the nylon collar makes putting on quite easy. You could even change it for a bigger collar if need be. I don’t think you’ll ever need to do that, though. 

Strengths

• Sturdy remote and collar 
• The Remote fits well on one hand 
• Comfortable nylon strap 
• Short consistent range 

Weaknesses

• Quality control

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some of the questions I’ve been asked during training.

Wrapping Up

Golden Retrievers aren’t bad boys at all. However, it depends on the dog’s personality if it’s going to lose its way or not. Also, we cannot deny external factors such as a bruised past.

So, if your dog hasn’t been behaving well lately, the shock collars I listed above could provide a better route to train it. I’ve used them and the reviews are thus, based on my experience with them.

Go along and buy one for the safety, betterment, and well-being of your dog. You won’t regret it for sure.