Contact Point Length

Collar contact points are chosen primarily based on the type of coat your dog has. Longer contact points are required for dogs with long or thick fur because short points can't get all the way through the fur to make contact with the skin. Short contact points (also referred to as regular contact points or standard contact points) are designed for dog's with shorter or thinner coats. 

Types Of Contact Points

Collar contact points vary widely in appearance and even function depending on the manufacturer. Some manufacturers, like SportDOG, have only one type of collar probe and use it across the board for all of their collars. Other manufacturers, like Perimeter Technologies and PetSafe, offer a few different types of contact points. In addition to the standard metal bar type probes, these companies offer specialized contact points aimed at increasing the comfort of the electric fence collar. 

PetSafe FlexContacts are a flexible rubber contact point with a stainless steel tip. The flexible rubber body of the probe allows it to flex and bend as your pet moves. Another very popular contact point is the Perimeter Technologies Comfort Contact point. These collar probes feature a rubberized metal that is both conductive yet gentler on the skin than stainless steel. These contact points are highly recommended for dogs who will spend longer hours wearing their receiver collars. Perimeter Technologies also offers a universal retractable contact point that is designed to work with all coat types as it retracts or extends depending on the specific dog. 

Contact Point Maintenance

Contact points are quite durable and don't generally need replacing as long as they are the proper length for your dog. You should occassionally check your collar to be sure that the contact points are still tightly screwed in. The main reason for needing to replace collar contact points is losing one as they can gradually unscrew with your dogs natural movements.