Cleaning and Maintenance of Your Garmin Dog Tracking Collars

Proper care and maintenance of your Garmin tracking collars will help ensure that they will continue to work properly.

• Clean the collar often or anytime they get heavily soiled during a hunt
• Check the collars for any physical damage. Remove the collar strap and check the rubber strap that runs from the main housing to the small GPS receiver box
• Ensure that the rubber strap is in good condition and that it is clean and there is no damage
• Check for any cracks or missing screws in the casing itself. Cracks and missing screws can cause water to ingress and cause damage
• Keep all device software up to date. Many problems can be fixed by software updates. Checking monthly will help ensure that everything is up to date

See the different sections below for guidance on these best practices.

Cleaning Your Garmin Tracking Collars

1. Remove the collar strap from the collar
2. Check for any missing screws or cracks in the casing of the collar. Make sure the contact points are screwed in tight
3. With warm water and mild dish soap, use a toothbrush or similar brush to scrub all parts of the collar
4. Rinse off the collar ensuring all the soap has been removed. Towel dry the collar completely before reinstalling the collar strap

Garmin tracking collars while considered waterproof are not able to be submerged for long periods of time. Garmin tracking collars have a water rating of 1 ATM. This is suitable for splashes, rain or snow, showering.

De-Skunking Solution

Depending on the severity of the spray the following cleaning solution can help remove some of the smell. Please note that you may need to do this several times. We also can not guarantee it will remove all the smell. The collar strap may also need to be replaced if the smell is not able to be removed to your satisfaction. It is NOT recommended to soak the collars in the solution. Use the following recipe with our instructions on how to clean a collar.

The following solution can combust if stored in a closed container. Dispose of any unused mixture after cleaning the equipment. 

Wash the waterproof parts of the equipment in the below solution. 

Recipe for removing skunk smell:

• 1 quart of 3-percent hydrogen peroxide
• 1/4 cup baking soda
• 1 teaspoon liquid dishwashing soap

Troubleshooting Dog Collar Tracking Issues

For guidance on physically inspecting the collar for damage, how to do software updates, and other troubleshooting concepts please watch this video: