SportDOG FieldTrainer 425X – Remote Trainer Designed for Off-Leash Control & Training – 500-Yard Range – Waterproof – Quick Charge-Collar with 21 Levels of Static, Tone, &… by SportDOG

Do NOT buy this unit.

UPDATED DEC 15 2021 USA.
I added the longer electrodes and they didn’t make any difference. The sportdog continues to UNDERPERFORM. Right now I have no idea what power setting is activaged. I thought it was set on #2 but the test put my puppy on the ceiling. This unit may have a short. Nethertheless it’s a POS.

This a review of the SPORT DOG E-trainer Model 425x, an electrical training collar designed for training animals, mainly dogs. This was purchased by me shortly after I adopted (purchased) my new 10 week old German Sheppard puppy with true blue bloodline documented by the AKC. The collar was purchased April 3, 2021 and put into use May 2021. The electrodes were 3/8. Extended 5/8 inch is a $10 option but back ordered 2 months+.
I never write a review when I’m mad, and finally after several months using the SmartDog 425X I decided to write the review mad or not.

Notes: 1) The extended electrodes are backordered 2 months…. Why?

• 500 yard range e collar that can support training 3 dogs with the same remote with purchase of additional collars (SDR AF)
• Choose to train with vibration (buzz), tone (beep), or 21 levels of static simulation in either momentary (nick) or continuous
• Waterproof and submersible to 25 feet using DryTek technology
• Lithium ion, rechargeable batteries feature a 2 hour quick charge, and a low battery indicator lets you know when to charge
• Fits dogs 8 pounds or larger with neck sizes 5 to 22 inches
• Age range description: All stages
• Included components: Basic training manual
•
The puppy, is an energetic male of 10 lbs as a puppy, and is still growing at 11 months and approximate 80 lbs. His dog mom (130 lbs estimated and dog dad 150 lbs. Due to breeder issues Yeti was not transferred to me until he was 12+ weeks old. That is on the further edge of the training age and to wait longer will make training more difficult. He is a smart dog and I enrolled him a reputable boot camp for 2 weeks. He came home with a good attitude. We have a lot of distractions (cats, snakes, horses, coyotes, wolves, cougars, etc. on a 10 acre ranch with a stocked lake and I was afraid that we may have issues with him chasing animals or cars. The additional benefits of the SmartDog is to further train him with obedience for his and my safety. However, it seems NOT TO WORK about 80% of the time. Perhaps there’s a Broken wire which may cause the malfunctions, or maybe a design issue.
The Good: Customer Service is very friendly and cooperative. I’d give them 5 stars.

2) The competitor’s devices are backorders 2 months .. that may indicate problems with this product forcing a purchase of the competition?
The Bad:
The E-Collar 425X is not reliable. My German Sheppard Puppy has thick hair so to get a electrical shock the collar has to be very tight making it hard to put a finger between the electrode and skin. The longer electrodes are ½ inch longer, but BACK ORDERED 2 months. Why? The Amazon advertising did not mention anything about dog size, fur thickness, etc. This may have affected the purchase decision.

The color of controller is battleship gray which is hard to see at night or low light. I see adds for the orange version but not listed in the options on the Amazon pages. I put on orange tape to increase the visibility. I painted the control buttons but the paint came off after a few days. The controller is very small but then I have large hands (large gloves are very tight). I didn’t see any dimensions for the handheld controller so I have these measurements: 3×1.75×1 inches shaped like an hour glass. It’s too small for my hand. It may be best for a small child.
The overall small size of the controller makes it harder to find the proper fit to a hand. The contoured unit is shaped like an small hour glass. The activation button is the same dull gray color and it’s only ¼ inch round . and it’s hard to locate and only on one side. It needs to be much bigger (the button ½ inch) and there should be 2 of them, and a neon glow color for rapid identification. The grey leash is accessing hanging from the necklace suspension, and about 80% of the time the palm of my hand wrapped around was totally out of place. It took 2 or more grabs to get the single activation button in an activation position. Larger and 2 extra buttons would be an improvement.
The collar is long and rubber with the standard belt buckle design, NOT Velcro. Velcro would be easier to put on a bouncing puppy. On the recommendation of the mfg I trimmed the collar but just few weeks later because my puppy rapid growth , I had to buy another collar ………. $20 with shipping, or buy 3 and get free shipping ($45 for 3). In my option Velcro would be easier to fit and adjust.
The batteries charge with 110 AC from a compatible sourse, like the wall. The charging light is steady during the charge and go to ”flashing” when charging is complete. The duration of the charge depends on frequency of the unit use. The zap is very short and has an aural beep when zapped. As the battery drains the flashing green changed to flashing red. The manual suggests that a charge will last 72 hours if not used.

I’m not happy with the unit. It seems they should of had an interview questionnaire to assist on making a purchase decision more informed, such as dog type, long or short hair,
The instructions are not simple. There are 3 plateaus for shocks at 21 level. I’m not clear how to change the settings. I think I’m on level 1.3 now, but not sure. I found the instructions confusing.
Not knowing where the zap setting is was poor planning. Why not an LED scale for rapid referral to set the zap?

The collar was purchased for training AND for safety interventions. My puppy is curious and is distracted when he gets close to a road with a speed limit of 25 (not the 52 everyone speeds at). It’s important to me that the collar can be used to change his run direction away from a danger. This unit seems only to work 20% of the time for a correctional change.

We were at a local farm store when an elderly man came out and my Puppy 70 lbs at the time, began to pull me flat footed on pavement toward this man. I’m 230 +gun & amo and he was pulling me. I was pressing the zap button with nothing happening. I was yelling for him to stop. Finally the man began to pull his pistol. When I was 30 I could draw and fire from the hip in .26/100 second striking center mass. I shoot competition. I’m 68 and have slowed down to .68/100s …….. the old man saw the business end of a 45 auto. He stopped. We talked. We understand that the puppy thought the guy was our neighbor. THE fact is the SPTDOG failed during a critical time.

SUNDAY DEC 12 2021 I’m sitting here with a pulled hamstring leg muscle. I can barely walk. I was taking my 85 lb puppy out for potty time. He saw a kitten on the front porch and puppy bolted through the screen door with my hand holding the leash, and other hand on my sportdog 425X shock button. Putty had the forward momentum and pulled me (220 lbs) off of my feet and across the deck. Down the steps in a single foot touching the ground 5 ft drop to the ground …… pulling my hamstring. THE SPORT DOG FAILED ……. FAILED TO SHOCK AND THE DOG DRAGGED ME DOWN THE STEPS AND ACROSS THE DIRT……….

Well documented and clear instructions. Good product.

This one is hard, I want to give it 3 stars, but I went 4 as it does work well, and my dog responds well to it. My issue with it is battery life is TERRIBLE. I must remind myself to charge it every day or at a bare min every 2 days. And if you go beyond that it shuts itself off without warning and this is with little to no use.

I mainly use this to monitor my dog off leash on our rural farm property to keep her out of zones I don’t want her in. I don’t use the static correction often if at all and mostly use the beep or tone. I use it maybe once or twice a day and it still dies.

I had an older version from the early 2000s (Same brand) that used the rechargeable NIMH battery, and you would place it on the wall mounted charger, and it was fantastic and would last weeks. This is not the same and I wish I could have found a replacement battery for my old one instead, but I opted or a new unit. Just beware of the very small and weak batteries in these.

This collar is fabulous. We actually have two of them for our two miniature dachshunds. They have worked wonderfully when training our boy to stay in our yard. We live in the country and there are all kinds of wild life around. They are both now trained when they here the beep or feel the vibration to come to us. You have had to use the electrical shock a few times but no more. I didn’t like to use it but i feel it has saved their lives.
We did have trouble with the remote control but customer servicee is wonderful. They sent us a new remote, pairing it with the collar you have is simple.
It fits them well with no issues that way, the vigration level is perfect for our pups and as for the range they always respond. Its also kind of funny our 2 year old responds when he hears our 1 year olds beep without even having his on.
The picture shows are 1 year old Toby resting comfortably with it on.

Don’t hesitate, if you need a collar, get this one or I imagine any of their collars.

This product worked great! Recharges quickly and I can get my teenage lab’s attention when she decides to play keep away in the field or is chasing the cats! Easy to operate too. I really like that I have so many levels of attention getting to choose from.