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Wear and Care Tips for Garmin Dog Training Collars

Wear and Care Tips for Garmin Dog Training Collars

Following the tips in this FAQ should help you avoid having an issue from your dog wearing a Garmin training collar. However, if your dog develops a skin rash, redness, or irritation, discontinue the use of the collar until the skin is healed.


Electronic stimulation (ES) training products should only be used with animals which are in good health and mature enough to start training, and never on sick or injured animals.


Proper Fit

In order to properly correct the dog the collar strap and training device must fit the dog properly. If the collar is too loose or positioned incorrectly, corrections may be inconsistent and could delay, or prevent, successful training.


  • Place the collar around the middle of the dog’s neck.
  • Position the device at the front of the dog’s neck with the status LED facing forward toward the dog’s chin, and the contact points against the throat.
    • For bark correction the contact points should be positioned near the dog’s vocal cords. This location varies based on the breed of the dog. If the device does not seem to detect the dog’s barks you should move the device closer or farther from the dog’s body to find the ideal location.
  • Tighten the strap so that it is snug around the dog’s neck and fasten the buckle.
    • The collar should fit snugly and should not be able to rotate or slide on the dog’s neck. The dog must be able to swallow food and water normally. You should observe your dog’s behavior to verify that the collar is not too tight.
  • Wiggle the device to work the contact points through the dog’s coat.
    • The contact points must have contact with the dog’s skin to be effective.
    • Collars with changeable contact points have long and short versions available to help ensure proper contact.
  • If the strap is too long, cut off the excess, leaving at least 3 inches (8 cm) to spare.
    • You can mark the hole used to fasten the buckle for future reference.

Keep Things Clean and Dry

Proper care and maintenance of your Garmin dog training collars will help ensure they continue to work properly and are appropriate for use on your dog.


  • Check for any cracks or missing pieces of the collar. Cracks or missing parts can cause water ingress and cause damage to the collar.
  • Check the collar for any physical damage.
  • Clean the collar often or anytime it gets heavily soiled.
    • With warm water and mild dish soap, and a brush if appropriate, scrub the parts of the collar.
    • Rinse and dry.
  • Ensure the collar and collar strap are clean and there is no damage.

Take a Break

Garmin advises all e-collar users to remove the collar for at least eight hours out of every 24-hour period. Some dogs are more sensitive to contact points or the metal used in e-collar contact points, and that sensitivity can lead to skin conditions if the collar is worn for long periods of time – the same way humans are sensitive to certain kinds of metal jewelry. It’s important to carefully fit the collar on the dog, and to monitor the dog for any irritation that could develop, especially in the beginning.


For Garmin collars with changeable contact points we have Domed Plastic Contact Points available made of conductive plastic. They provide a comfortable alternative for dogs who may be more sensitive to metal contact points.


Things to Avoid

Do not spray the collar device or collar strap with harsh chemicals, including but not limited to flea or tick spray. Always ensure any flea or tick spray applied to the dog is completely dry before placing the collar on the dog. Small amounts of harsh chemicals can damage the plastic components and collar strap laminate.


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