Innotek did a good job with their top of the line IUC-5100 UltraSmart Contain N Train system. The Innotek IUC-5100 is quite similar to the highly recommended Innotek IUC-4100 with the addition of a remote training feature. The system includes a remote control that lets you give your dog a correction.

We like all the things we liked about the IUC4100. It has rechargeable, long-life lithium ion battery, fit detection feature, and is reliable.

The collar is approximately 50% larger than the IUC-4100 collar. The increase in collar size is due to the extra electronics needed for the remote training feature.

The remote correction feature is switched on by holding the remote near the collar and pressing a button to put the collar into ready mode. Once in ready mode the collar battery will drain quickly. Instead of lasting a month, the battery will drain in a few days so switch the remote training off when you aren't using it.

The Innotek IUC-5100 also includes 100 feet of twisted wire plus lightning protection for only $50 more than the IUC-4100. This is certainly good value for money.

Even with all these features, we don’t recommend the IUC-5100. Remote training is a serious endeavor. If you don't use it in a very specific and structured way you are going to confuse your dog and make them anxious. It is not enough to give a dog a correction; the dog must know what to do after receiving a correction. Training a dog what to do after a correction can be challenging, especially if your dog is not nearby. The remote training feature is really a tool for professional trainers attempting to teach a dog advanced skills such as field work or hunting.

The temptation for an amateur trainer, frustrated at their dog's perceived disobedience is to buy one of these thinking it will solve all their problems. We cannot over-emphasize that the remote training feature will not help unless you are already a good trainer.

Another issue with remote training is the confusion created by correcting for something other than straying past their boundary, especially in the early stages of training.

So while remote training is a good feature for a small segment of the world, for most of you it is overkill and you should stick to other methods of training like 'on leash' or 'clicker' based training.