Setting Correction Levels on a Training E-Collar

Each Dog is an Individual

Irrespective of size, breed and type of problem, it is important before starting your first active training session, that you establish the most appropriate correction level for your dog. While it may seem logical to assume that a small dog will need less corrective stimulation (or strong vibration correction level on PAC Buzz collar) than the bigger dog, this is not always the case. There are many examples of large dogs, such as Great Danes, that are highly sensitive and of some smaller dogs, such as Beagles that require a much higher level of correction. Furthermore, among dogs of the same breed, and even among dogs from the same litter, there can be wide variation of reaction to a particular correction level. In addition, the Insulating effect of the fur on longhaired breeds will often require a higher setting … or the use of different probes (see the PACDOG instructions for use).

Certainly, since a dog’s ears are often blocked by adrenaline whilst chasing a quarry, it may well be necessary temporarily to increase the stimulation level (or strong vibration correction level on PAC Buzz collar). It is also worth bearing in mind that a dogs pain threshold is mostly, significantly higher than that of a human. Testing the correction level on yourself (e.g. on your arm) is not likely to be very meaningful, but it is as well that you should be aware of the sort of correction that you are administering.


To find the appropriate correction level for obedience training for your particular dog, select initially the minimum level of electrical stimulus (or strong vibration correction on the PAC Buzz collar), on your PACDOG handset. When you press the trigger you should see a mild but positive reaction. If this is not the case, gradually increase the intensity, a small step at a time, until you notice a slight movement of the head. This might cause the dog to be startled, but should not produce a greater reaction than this. Such a mild reaction should be sufficient in most cases to correct your dog’s disobedience.

However, when you press the button for the first time or two, the dog might well overreact not necessarily to the strength of the correction – but to the surprise of it. Thereafter, they should no longer be so astonished at the correction. Most dogs should change a persistently disobedient behaviour within a couple of training sessions – at a level hardly more uncomfortable for the dog than a pins and needles sensation (or a strong vibration with the PAC Buzz collar). For some of the more determined, headstrong dogs, however, the setting might have to be increased after a period of training as they become more tolerant to the correction and begin to ignore the low-Levels. On the other hand, however, if you notice that the dog is overreacting, you have clearly increased correction to a level that is too high. This must be reduced progressively, till it is just enough to get the dogs obedient attention.


If your dog enjoys plunging into water, this will increase their sensitivity. Although you can compensate for this by reducing the correction output, we would recommend that in the early stages most of your initial training be carried out away from water. But in any case, the PACDOG collars are waterproof to several metres, and should not be affected. But if the collar, and dog, have been wetted with salt water, avoid re-using till after a thorough brushing off (both collar and dog) to remove the salt water.

For correction of serious anti-social habits, such as sheep chasing, the intensity level should be chosen initially to be at least half strength – and if necessary, be prepared to select the maximum level. A short correction at such high levels often only need be one-off.

The stimulation correction level or intensity (or strong vibration correction level on PAC Buzz collar) is controlled solely from the handset. Depending on the PACDOG handset model this intensity is controlled from a dial on the handset whereas on others, it is controlled by pressing the appropriate, pre-set-level trigger.

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Watch our video to see how easy it is to set up a PAC Dog Training System.

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