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How to Fit an E-Collar So the Contact Points Touch the Skin

By K9 Store

Educator ET-300 Mini Educator remote and e-collar receiver

Short answer: fit the receiver high on the neck, to one side of the windpipe, with both contact points pressing on the skin, not the coat, and room for two fingers under the strap (Educator ET-300/302, Dogtra 640X and 1200X manuals). Use contact points long enough for the coat, work them through to the skin and check with the test light. Then limit wear time and move the receiver as your model's manual says, checking the skin each time.

Key points

  • Fit the receiver high on the neck, to one side of the windpipe, not on top of it (Educator ET-300/302 and Dogtra 640X and 1200X manuals).
  • Both contact points must touch the skin, not the coat. The Educator ET-300/302 and Dogtra 640X and 1200X manuals say to leave room for two fingers under the strap.
  • For thick or long coats, brush the neck and use longer points (3/4″ points come in the Mini Educator box). The manuals we used don't ask you to shave.
  • Check the collar with the test light, off the dog. The light shows the collar is working, not that it reaches the skin.
  • Wear limits differ: the Educator ET-300/302 manual says no more than 12 hours in any 24, and Dogtra's 640X and 1200X manuals say take it off after 8 hours. Check the skin every time.

Last updated: 8 November 2026
Written by the K9 Store team, which includes World and National Champion trainers

This guide covers the Educator (E-Collar Technologies) and Dogtra remote trainers we stock. Every fitting rule comes from the manufacturer's own manual (with page numbers) or website, and we tell you where the two makers differ.

Anything else is marked as trainer guidance. Using an e-collar on a dog is banned in Wales, so read are e-collars legal in the UK? first.

On this page

Step 1: put the receiver in the right place

  • To one side of the windpipe. The Educator ET-300/302 manual (p. 11) and Dogtra's 640X (pp. 64–65) and 1200X (p. 64) manuals both say to fit the receiver on either side of the dog's windpipe, not on top of it.
  • High on the neck. Educator's fitting article says to fit the collar high on the neck, on one side of the throat, because a collar that sits low moves about. Dogtra's placement article suggests the upper third of the neck, with the receiver a little below the ear.
  • Why it matters. Dogtra explains that a collar fitted low slides forward when the dog lowers its head to sniff, so the receiver dangles and the points lose contact. You might then think the dog is ignoring the collar and turn the level up, when it simply isn't feeling anything.

For pictures, see Dogtra's placement article, which links to an image of the Atlas bone it uses as a reference point, and Educator's fitting article.

Step 2: choose contact points for the coat

Coat Educator Dogtra
Short or smooth Optional 3/8″ points (ET-300/302 manual, p. 11), or the CPAD-010 Soft Wing comfort pad Dogtra suggests the shortest points available
Most dogs 5/8″, the standard points (manual, p. 26) Points supplied with your collar
Thick or long 3/4″ points, supplied in the box (manual, p. 26) Longer points, such as 3/4″, worked through the hair

Contact points and pads we sell:

  • Educator CPAD-010 Soft Wing comfort pad (£33.99). E-Collar Technologies makes it for short to medium single coats, with two wings to reach the skin, and says it's less aggressive than its Ultra Wing to help avoid pressure sores. It fits the ET-300 and ET-302 receiver (RX-090), FT-330 and EZ-900 among others, but not the ME-300 Micro Educator.
  • Dogtra 25 mm (1″) contact points (£7.50 a pair). These are surgical steel female points for longer or thicker coats. Dogtra says they fit its models that take female points, but not the X-Series (640X, 1200X), which use male points. Check your model first, or ask us.

Dogtra's iQ Mini has conductive plastic contact points (manual, pp. 44–45). If your dog has a thin coat and irritated skin, Dogtra's placement article mentions comfort adapters, which allow a slightly looser fit but reduce the stimulation output, so the level may need adjusting.

Step 3: work the points through the coat

  1. Brush the neck first. Dogtra says loose or dead hair trapped under the points stops them making good contact, and Educator also recommends brushing.
  2. Work each point through the hair until it touches the skin. Dogtra describes longer points as letting you work them through the coat.
  3. Lift the fur and look. Educator suggests lifting the fur to check that both points are touching the skin.
  4. Don't shave. None of the manuals we used tells you to shave. Dogtra's manuals say that if the points are too short for a thick or long coat, you might need to trim the hair on the neck (640X manual, pp. 80–81). Try longer points first.

Step 4: do up the strap snugly

  • Educator ET-300/302: the points should stay in direct contact with the skin, and you should be able to fit two fingers between the strap and the neck (manual, p. 11).
  • Dogtra 640X and 1200X: the points should press firmly against the skin, with room to fit two fingers under the strap (p. 64).
  • Dogtra iQ Mini: the UK/EU manual says the points should press firmly against the skin, with room for one finger between the points and the skin (pp. 44–45).
  • Too loose: both makers say contact will be inconsistent. Dogtra adds that a loose receiver moves around and can rub the skin.
  • Too tight: Educator says this can cause skin irritation or discomfort, and its fitting article links over-tightening to collar sores, also called pressure necrosis.

Trainer guidance: check the fit again after your dog has been running, swimming or rolling. A collar that was right in the house often works loose in the field.

Step 5: check it with the test light

  • Educator ET-300/302 (manual, p. 25): hold the test light directly against both contact points, use Continuous mode and start at about level 5.
  • Dogtra 640X and 1200X (640X manual, pp. 74–77): place the test light on the contact points. On Nick it should flash for a moment, and on Constant it should stay lit while you hold the button (it stops after 12 seconds as a safety feature). It glows brighter at higher levels, and Dogtra says it may not show below level 10.
  • Dogtra iQ Mini: the manual's list of what's in the box doesn't include a test light (pp. 38–39). Instead, it suggests testing with both points against your inner wrist (pp. 58–59).

Trainer guidance: test it off the dog. The test light shows that the collar is sending stimulation, not that it's reaching the skin. That depends on fit and point length.

Step 6: limit wear time, move it and check the skin

The makers set different limits, so follow the manual for your model:

Manual Maximum wear Moving the receiver Skin checks
Educator ET-300/302 (p. 11) No more than 12 hours in any 24 Shift it slightly from side to side each day Check regularly for redness, irritation or sores. If they appear, stop until the skin has fully healed.
Educator EZ-900 Quick Start (Important Notice) Not stated Not stated Check the skin where the points touch hourly at first, moving gradually to every 4 hours
Dogtra 640X and 1200X (p. 64) Take it off after 8 hours of use For long periods, move it every few hours so the points sit on a different spot Check for irritation every time you use it
Dogtra iQ Mini, UK/EU manual (pp. 46–47) Not stated (the US edition says 8 hours) For long periods, move it occasionally Check for irritation every time you use it

Dogtra's placement article adds that no dog can wear an e-collar all the time, because the snug fit can cause skin irritation and pressure sores. It says to check the neck before and after each use, and to take the collar off after swimming so the skin can dry.

Educator's manual (p. 11) notes that a wet dog may feel the stimulation more strongly.

Trainer guidance: put the collar on for training and take it off afterwards. If you're unsure, follow the stricter rule.

Signs of poor contact

  • Your dog doesn't react at a level that worked before. Dogtra's troubleshooting lists a strap that isn't tight enough and points too short for the coat as the first things to check (640X manual, pp. 80–81).
  • The response is patchy: noticed one moment, missed the next. Both makers link this to a loose fit.
  • The receiver has slid down the neck and dangles. Dogtra says the points then lose contact with the skin.
  • Trainer guidance: when you part the coat, you see hair flattened between the points and the skin, or the receiver has turned round towards the chin.
  • Rubbing, redness or sores where the points sit. Dogtra says this can come from a poor fit or wearing it too long, and to see your vet.

If the fit is right and it still isn't working, see our e-collar troubleshooting guide.

Common mistakes

  • Fitting it low on the neck, where it slides and the points lose contact.
  • Turning the level up when the real problem is contact.
  • Tightening the strap to make up for short points. Fit longer points instead.
  • Shaving the neck. No manual we used asks for it.
  • Buying the wrong Dogtra points. X-Series collars take male points, and our 25 mm pair is female.
  • Leaving it on all day, or in the same spot for hours.
  • Skipping the skin check after each session.

Shop the kit

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Related guides: how to introduce an e-collar and Mini Educator ET-300 vs ET-302. See also the ET-300 Mini Educator E-Collar Soft Wing Kit and our anti-bark collars.

FAQs

How tight should an e-collar be?

Snug enough that both points touch the skin. Educator and Dogtra (640X, 1200X) say you should be able to fit two fingers under the strap.

Where on the neck should it go?

High on the neck, with the receiver to one side of the windpipe. Dogtra suggests the upper third of the neck, a little below the ear.

My dog has a thick coat. What should I do?

Brush out loose hair, fit longer points (3/4″ on the Mini Educator, which come in the box) and work them through to the skin. For Dogtra models that take female points, we sell a 25 mm pair.

Should I shave my dog's neck?

No. The manuals we used don't ask for it. Dogtra's manuals mention trimming the hair only if the points still don't reach.

How long can my dog wear it?

Educator's ET-300/302 manual says no more than 12 hours in 24. Dogtra's 640X and 1200X manuals say to take it off after 8 hours and move it every few hours on long wear. Check the skin every time.

What does a comfort pad do?

The CPAD-010 replaces the standard posts with two wings that reach the skin. E-Collar Technologies makes it for short to medium single coats and says it's gentler than its Ultra Wing.

Shop and help

Educator: ET-300, ET-302, ME-300, EZ-900, EZ-902, FT-330 and FE-560. Dogtra: 640X, 640X two-dog, 1200X two-dog and iQ Mini.

For other Educator models, follow the fitting section of your own manual. Not sure which points your collar takes? Email info@k9store.co.uk with your model and a photo of the receiver, and one of our trainers will help.

Sources