I got a really good deal on the 400s at the time on Ebay, but don’t remember the seller - It was way back. Probably wouldn’t matter as he wouldn’t have them anymore anyway. I got the impression from the price he just had some sort of excess stock from somewhere. Somebody on E-bay will have them now, though.
I more 400 collars in the last couple of years at petsafe, only about $140 each.
There’s an important difference between the two. I got the 400s on the theory that the two dogs I had at the time weren’t exactly bred for following commands, or acknowledging discipline/pain (I had a similar “designer” dog who died which I was trying to replicate due to intelligence/bonding/personality/thoughtfulness - I should have known better, but didn’t).
They were pretty tough and I figured since they had just totally ignored the prong collar and the muzzles, and were designed for adverse, painful conditions, I needed the extra shock. It worked quite well to stop the fighting, and bring them under control.
I have since tried the 400s on more domesticated breeds, and it isn’t really usuable - even on average temperments in more aggressive domesticated breeds. Setting one produces an unnoticable shock they ignore, and setting two will have them jumping, yelping, and panicking. On the first two dogs, setting four produces a little neck twitch, so the collar really is for stubborn dogs who can’t be trained.
This effect on domestics is very pronounced, so be warned, if you have a normal pet dog, the 400 is definitely the only option for training. If you have a really violent predisposition in an aggressive breed, and it has not responded to pain in any other form, like here, my first concern would be to be sure I could get control during an attack, and worry about getting him to sit/stay/heel later.
I’ve had them for a couple of years now. All I need is tone IF IF IF IF IF someone decides to wander a little further than they should. AND, when Taffi takes off in high prey drive, after a coyote. (I up the ante, full bore in that case cuz I can’t see around the corner and don’t know if it’s a single coyote or a pack).
We’re TEMPORARILY living in a (stupid) place with no SINGLE backyard, so ... the stupid HOA, grumpy neighbor next door...I keep them on when they go outside for that reason...
I’ll never forget the first time I hit Taffi at #2 or 3 ....
Got her attention, right away. ;)