Garmin PRO 550 Plus Handheld, One-Handed, No-Look Dog Training for Up to 3 Dogs, at-a-Glance Tracking with a Range Up to 9 Miles

Excellent product. I would buy it again, if needed. Seems to be durable, so far, after more than a year of daily usage. For the kind of training I have been doing with my dog, this device is perfect. I have it paired with a TT25 collar, and I figured out how to link this combination to the Garmin Explore app on my phone. We are dabbling in the sport of scent tracking for big game recovery for hunters after the shot, in an “on-leash” mandated state. In the extremely rare event that I would ever actually need mapping, the Garmin Explore app negates the need for any of the more expensive Alpha series controllers with mapping on their screens. Of all the options Garmin has, this device is the best choice for training, in my opinion, with it’s capability to beep, buzz/vibrate, illuminate red in the dark, shock, and track via satellite. If you are working a dog off leash in some other sport, or an “off-leash” state for big game recovery, mapping with an Alpha series device might be more important and worth it for you.

It is easy to use in the field, you get a direction and a distance to track your dog. Very simple. I have a 7 month old border collie and live in a rural area with access to national forest land as well as acreage of my own. He stays neaby unless something scares him. So far he has been able to run for home, that only works when we are around home. With this I can keep a eye on him while I work on my land or anywhere else and not be wondering where he is. I also have a Tread GPS that this works very well with if I want to see him on a map or keep track of a friend when out on ATV's. So far none of our friends will wear the collar, but they will hang it in their side by side. We also use it when he rides shotgun in a friends side by side when my wife and I are out in a group. The vibrate, tone and correction functions are handy and easy to use. It takes just a few minutes to understand the functions and it connects reliably with the collar, is easy to pair and reliably reconnects after it has been turned off. Battery life is great. The only bad things I have to say about it is that the On/Off switch could be a little more obvous and accessible and the instructions in the box could be better. Go online and get the manual.

For reasons I cannot fathom as a software developer, the Garmin developers chose to program the handheld to wait for GPS lock before allowing you to control the collar. This is stupid beyond belief and causes frustration that simply shouldn't be. Look Garmin, the remote should be able to communicate with the collar first and foremost. I want to be able to power everything up, put the collar on the dog, and walk out the door. If my dog sees a rabbit or deer, I want to be able to remind him not to chase. I DON'T want to stand there staring at my remote greeted by the message "Waiting for GPS" with all the buttons non-responsive. Fix this! This should be super easy to fix with a firmware update. Fix it and I'll gladly give this unit 10 stars! GPS is way too finicky to have to wait for it before using the basic controls.

The Pro is simple to use and gives you the option to use vibrate or stronger signals. Dogs respond very well.

We love Garmin and their products, this will be the second handheld in a couple years. The last one would constantly drop collars previously synced until finally it just wouldn’t update. Overall we are happy I guess it’s just the normal wear and tear using a handheld for 3 bird dogs every day.

Simplicity!! A true bird dog locator/e-collar. Tritronics and Garmin perfection.

Perfect for what we do

I can’t believe Garmin engineers had any experience in the field. This is not a one handed operated unit. If you want to go from vibrate to shock. U have to turn a dial that’s not easy to get to and you have to turn it up to see dial settings. Go from momentary to continuous you first have to flip a switch. To me the Garmin Sport Pro with a dog locator screen like the 550’s would be perfect. Frankly the 200 and 300 are even worse. When the dog needs correction. It has to be instantaneously. There is no time for twisting knobs out scrolling through menus. .