The Garmin TT15 mini and T5mini collars are compatible with the following Garmin handheld devices:

• Alpha 100
• Alpha 200
• Alpha 200i
• Alpha 200 Plus
• Alpha 300
• Alpha 300i
• Alpha 10
• Pro 550 Plus
• Astro 430
• Astro 320 (Will work with older model TT15 mini/ T5 mini but training features will not be available for tt15 mini and you have to either track on the Astro 320 or Alpha Handheld you can not track on both at the same time)

The TT 15/T5 Mini is a smaller, lighter version of Garmin’s full-size tracking collars, designed specifically with smaller hunting breeds in mind. While it supports all the major features of the full-size TT 15, the Mini adds an extra Sleep Mode, which allows you to conserve battery life when the collar is not actively in use.

In terms of fit, the Mini is built for dogs with neck sizes as small as 9.5 inches up to about 14 inches, making it a much better option for smaller breeds like Beagles, Terriers, or young dogs that are not yet large enough for the standard TT 15. The collar itself weighs about 7.5 ounces with the strap attached, compared to the standard TT 15 which weighs closer to 10 ounces. That reduced weight makes a noticeable difference for smaller, more agile dogs, preventing the collar from bouncing uncomfortably or interfering with their movement during hunts.

👉 In short: the TT 15/T5 Mini provides all the core Garmin tracking and training capabilities in a lighter, better-fitting package for smaller dogs, without sacrificing performance

IPX7 Rating

The Garmin TT15/ T5 mini collars are waterproof with an IPX7 rating, meaning they can handle accidental submersion in water up to 1 meter for 30 minutes. Designed for rugged outdoor use, they perform reliably in rain, mud, swamps, and creeks, and will continue tracking even if your dog swims or gets caught in a downpour. While they are tough enough for wet conditions, Garmin does not recommend extended underwater use beyond the IPX7 rating.

1. Using a Handheld Device

• Power on both the handheld and the collar.
• Ensure the collar is paired with your handheld.
• Open the Dog List and select the collar/dog.
• Choose Show Info (exact wording may vary).
• Scroll to see the Software Version — this is the firmware version of your collar.

2. Using a Computer

• Attach the charging clip to the collar and connect it to your computer via USB.
• Download and open Garmin Express (available for Windows and Mac).
• Once recognized, the collar’s details will display, including the current Software Version.
• You can also update the collar directly in Garmin Express if a new version is available.

The Garmin TT15/ T5 mini collars are designed as full-size collars, so they’re best suited for medium to large dogs. Here are the key fit details:

• Strap size: 1" wide collar strap (standard full-size Garmin collar strap).
  
• Neck size fit: Adjustable to fit dogs with necks approximately 9.5" up to 24" in circumference.
  
• Dog size recommendation: Generally recommended for dogs 15 pounds and over (Small and Medium breeds).
  

How to Master Reset a Garmin TT15/ T5 mini Collar

A master reset can help resolve several common issues with the Garmin TT15/ T5 mini collar. It’s especially useful if:

• The collar is frozen or unresponsive
• Battery information appears incorrect
• The collar is not communicating properly
• You're preparing to sell or transfer the collar and want to clear all personal data and track logs

Steps to Perform a Master Reset

1. Connect to Charger

Plug the Mini collar into its charging cable and ensure it begins charging normally.

2. Initiate the Reset

With the collar still connected to power, press the power button 8 times in a row.

• Allow about ½ second between each press
• Do not hold the button—use quick, even presses

3. Confirmation Sequence

After the eighth press, the collar will go through a sequence of flashing lights and audible beeps. This indicates the reset process is complete.

4. Re-add to Handheld

Important: Once the collar is reset, it is no longer paired with any handheld device. You must re-add the Mini to your Garmin handheld before it can be used again.

How to Update a Garmin TT15/ T5 mini Collar

Keeping your Garmin mini collar up to date is important to ensure the device runs smoothly and performs at its best. Software updates often include bug fixes, performance improvements, and new features that help maintain reliable communication between your collar and handheld device. Regular updates also ensure compatibility with the latest Garmin handhelds, giving you the most accurate tracking and dependable functionality in the field.

Steps For Updating Mini Collar using Garmin Express

1. Download & Install Garmin Express

• Go to Garmin’s official website and download Garmin Express.
• Install the program on your computer.

2. Connect the Collar

• Turn the collar off.
• Attach the charging clip to the collar.
• Plug the USB cable from the charging clip into your computer.

3. Launch Garmin Express

• Open the Garmin Express program.
• Select Add a Device if this is your first time connecting the collar.

4. Detect the Mini

• Garmin Express will automatically find your collar.

Click Add Device to register it.

5. Check for Updates

• Garmin Express will display available updates.
• Click Install to download and apply the latest software.

6. Complete Update

• Keep the collar connected until Garmin Express confirms the update is finished.
• Disconnect the collar and power it back on.

Why Change the Update Rate?

The update rate determines how often your collar sends location points to your handheld. A faster rate (e.g., 2.5 seconds) gives more frequent location updates but reduces battery life, while a slower rate (e.g., 30 or 120 seconds) extends battery life but provides fewer updates. Adjusting the rate helps balance tracking accuracy with battery performance based on your hunting or training needs.

1. Power On Both Devices

• Make sure your handheld and collar are turned on.

2. Access Dog List

• On your Garmin handheld (Alpha 100, 200, 300, etc.), open the Dog List menu.

3. Select the Dog Collar

• Highlight the dog/collar you want to adjust and press Enter/Select.

4. Find “Update Rate”

• In the menu for that collar, there will be an option labeled Update Rate.
• Select it to open the update rate settings.
  

5. Choose Update Interval

• Select your preferred interval (2.5 sec, 5 sec, 10 sec, 30 sec, or 120 sec).

6. Confirm & Save

• Confirm your choice.
• The collar will now report location at the new interval.

Steps to Turn TT15/ T5 mini Lights On or Off (Using a Garmin Handheld)

1. Power On Your Devices
Make sure the TT15 collar and your Garmin handheld (Alpha 300, 200i, or Alpha XL) are both turned on and paired.

2. Access the Dog List

From the handheld’s main menu, press the Dog button or go to:

Main Menu > Dog List

3. Select the Collar
Tap or scroll to the collar you'd like to adjust.

4. Open Light Settings

Navigate to:

Adjust Collar Light > Blink Mode

Choose a Light Mode

You can choose from the following settings:

• Continuous
• Blink Slow
• Blink Fast
• Off
  

Steps to Change the Collar Name

1. Power On the Handheld
   
   Turn on your Garmin handheld (Alpha 300, 200, 200i, or XL, etc.).
   
2. Go to the Dog List
   
   From the main screen, press the Dog button or navigate to:
   
   Main Menu > Dog List

3. Select the mini Collar You Want to Rename

Scroll through the list and choose the dog/collar you'd like to update.

4. Change The Name

You will now be in the dogs collar info/ setings. In the Top of the screen you will see the dogs name. Tap the name > Edit The Dogs name using Keyboard < Select ✅ (Checkmark) in the bottom right corner to save change.

Steps to Change the Collar Name

1. Power On the Handheld
   
   Turn on your Garmin handheld (Alpha 300, 200, 200i, or XL).
   

1. Go to the Dog List
   
   From the main screen, press the Dog button or navigate to:
   
   Main Menu > Dog List

3. Select the TT15/ T5 mini Collar You Want to Change the track color on.

Scroll through the list and choose the dog/collar you'd like to track color update.


4. Change Track Color

To change the track color look at the top of your dogs info/ setting screen you will see the dogs name and next to it will be a colored box this is your track color.

To change this select track box < scroll select your new color < repeat this process for all needed collars

Dog Tracks on Garmin Alpha Handhelds

Dog tracks are the colored lines that show each dog’s path on the map in real time. Each dog is assigned a unique color so you can easily see where they’ve been. This helps you retrace steps, spot patterns, and check how far a dog has traveled.

You can control how long tracks stay visible by choosing: Show None, 5 minutes, 10 minutes, 30 minutes, 1 hour, 2 hours, or Show All. Shorter times keep the map clean, while longer times or Show All let you see the full trail history.

How to Turn On/Off and Customize Dog Tracks (Alpha 300 & Other Handhelds)

1. From the Main Menu, select Setup.
2. Choose Dog Tracking.
   
3. Select Dog Tracks on Map.
4. Pick how long you want tracks to stay visible: None, 5 min, 10 min, 30 min, 1 hr, 2 hrs, or Show All.

Quick Guide to Time Frame Options

• Show None – No tracks, clean map.
• 5–10 min – Best for handlers with multiple dogs to see recent movement without clutter.
• 30 min – Balanced history while keeping screen clear.
• 1–2 hrs – Great for tracking fewer dogs with more detailed history.
• Show All – Keeps all tracks until a new hunt starts. Ideal if you’re running just a few dogs.

Bonus Tip: No matter what setting you pick, the Track Manager saves the full history—so you’ll always have access to every track even if the map only shows a short timeframe.

Steps to Remove a TT15/ T5 mini Collar

1. Power On Your Handheld
   Turn on your Garmin Alpha handheld.

1. Go to the Dog List
   
   From the main screen, tap the Dog button or navigate to:
   
   Main Menu > Dog List
   
2. Open the Options Menu
   
   On the Dog List screen, tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines, often called the "hamburger" icon) in the bottom left corner of the screen.
   
3. Select Remove
   
   Choose “Remove” from the menu options.

What Is Rescue Mode on the Garmin TT15/ T5 mini Collar?

Rescue Mode is an automatic battery-saving feature that activates when your collar battery gets low. It changes the collar’s update rate to 2-minute intervals to conserve power and help you keep tracking your dog longer.

• Activates automatically at low battery (around 25%)
• Cannot be turned off or disabled
• Slows update rate to extend battery life

Tip:

If you have a lost or unreachable dog, we recommend manually putting the collar in Sleep Mode instead. Sleep Mode saves significantly more battery than Rescue Mode and helps preserve power until the dog comes back into range.

Steps To Put A collar in Rescue Mode

1. Power On Your Handheld
   
   Turn on your Garmin Alpha handheld.
   
2. Go to the Dog List
   
   From the main screen, tap the Dog button or navigate to:
   
   Main Menu > Dog List
   
3. Open the Options Menu
   
   On the Dog List screen, tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines, often called the "hamburger" icon) in the bottom left corner of the screen.

4. Select Rescue Mode

Select rescue mode and this will automatically put your collars into a rescue mode until it is turned off following the same steps.

Sleep Mode on a Garmin TT15/ T5 mini Collar is a power-saving feature designed to extend battery life when the collar is not actively being used. Instead of turning the collar off completely, you can place it into sleep mode to pause GPS tracking and communication with the handheld—while still keeping the collar ready to wake back up quickly.

What Sleep Mode Does:

• Stops GPS tracking

The collar pauses location reporting and tracking functions.

• Disables communication with the handheld

It won’t update or respond to commands until reactivated.

• Conserves battery power

Ideal when you're not using the collar for several hours or overnight.

When to Use Sleep Mode:

• While traveling to a hunt or event
  
• Between training sessions or hunts
• To preserve battery during downtime without powering the collar completely off

Steps To Put a TT15/ T5mini Collar In Sleep Mode

1. Power On Your Handheld
   
   
   Turn on your Garmin Alpha handheld.
   
2. Go to the Dog List
   
   
   From the main screen, tap the Dog button or navigate to:
   
   Main Menu > Dog List
   
3. Open the Options Menu
   
   
   On the Dog List screen, tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines, often called the "hamburger" icon) in the bottom left corner of the screen.

4. Select Sleep Mode

Select sleep mode and this will auto put your collar into sleep mode. This feature will not be turned off until you follow the same steps and turn it off.

If You Are Adding a New collar That Belongs to You

If the interfering collar is yours (like a newly purchased or backup collar), then it’s safe to resolve the conflict by changing the ID—but the handheld will do this automatically as long as you follow the proper steps.

Steps to Add a New Collar Without Interference:

1. Make sure all your current collars are turned on and active.
This is critical so your handheld can detect their IDs and avoid conflicts during setup.

2. On your handheld, go to: Dog List > Add Dog.

3. Choose how you want to add the collar:

• Manual Collar Pairing
• Wireless pairing
• Manual code entry

4.When prompted, select “Track Both Devices.”

This tells your handheld to automatically change the new collar’s ID to something unique and non-conflicting.

Once added, the new collar will work alongside your other collars without tracking issues or ID interference.

If You Are Adding Someone Else’s Collar

If you try to add a collar that’s already assigned to someone else’s handheld and you get the message:

“The new collar ID conflicts with [Dog Name].”

You will have two options:

Add the collar but do not track it right now

The collar will be added to your dog list as inactive. You won’t receive location updates until you choose to activate tracking later.

Track the new collar

This will activate the new collar, but your handheld will deactivate the other dog’s collar that shares the same ID (you’ll lose tracking on that collar unless its ID is changed or reset).

⚠️ Do not proceed unless you’re 100% sure whose collar it is and that it’s safe to override your other dog’s data.

What to Do if a TT15/ T5 mini Collar is Jumping Between Locations or Showing Incorrect Tracking

If your TT15/ T5 mini collar appears to be “jumping” between different locations on the map or is showing a spot where your dog clearly isn’t, the issue is most likely due to collar ID interference.

This happens when two collars in the area are using the same collar ID. Your handheld may be receiving signals from both devices, causing it to mix up the location data—leading to confusing or incorrect tracking.

How to Fix It

To solve this, you’ll need to assign a new collar ID to your TT15/ T5 mini. This ensures your handheld and collar use a unique signal that doesn’t overlap with any others nearby.

⚠️ IMPORTANT:

Do NOT change the collar ID while your dog is on the ground or out in the field.

If you change the ID while the dog is active and someone else is using a collar with the same ID, both of you could lose tracking entirely. Always wait until your dog is back in your possession and the collar is safely in hand.

Steps to Change the Collar ID:

1. Make sure the dog is with you and the collar is in your hand.
   
2. On your Garmin handheld, go to the dog list or dog settings.
3. Select the collar and look for the “ID” or “Collar ID” setting.
4. Choose a new, unused ID
5. Confirm and save your settings.
   
6. Let the collar and handheld resync.
   
   

What It Means if a TT15/ T5 mini Collar Has Lost Communication

If your TT15/ T5 mini shows “Lost Communication,” it means your handheld is no longer able to connect with the collar. This stops all tracking, battery updates, and command functions (like tone, vibrate, and LED). It’s as if the handheld can no longer “see” or “hear” the collar at all.

Why It Happens

• Collar is powered off or the battery is dead
• Collar is out of range (too far from handheld)
• Collar is under terrain blockage like hills or thick woods
• Collar is inside a dog box, metal crate, or vehicle
• Antenna is damaged, missing, or not connected (on collar or handheld)
• Radio/ ID interference or system glitch
• Software is outdated or corrupted
  
  Fixes to Try

1. Bring the Collar Closer

Move toward the last known location of the dog. If the collar is simply out of range or under terrain blockage, getting closer may restore signal.

2. Check the Battery

If you suspect the collar battery has died, power it back on or charge it as soon as you have the collar in hand. You can’t get communication if the collar is off or out of power.

3. Turn It Off and Back On

Once the collar is in your hands, power it down completely, wait a few seconds, and turn it back on. A quick restart can fix minor issues or reconnect a dropped signal.

4. Inspect the Antennas

• : Look for cuts, bends, fraying, or missing antenna wire. A damaged antenna can stop communication.
  
• : Make sure it’s securely screwed on and not broken.
  
  5. Replace the Collar Antenna (If Needed)
  
  If the antenna is badly damaged or missing, you’ll need to install a new one. The TT15 uses a user-replaceable long-range antenna.

6. Try Another Handheld

If you have access to another compatible handheld, try pairing the collar to it. This helps confirm if the problem is with the collar or the original handheld.

6. Update the Firmware

Use Garmin Express or a compatible handheld to check for updates. Communication bugs are sometimes fixed in newer versions.

7. Factory Reset the Collar (Last Resort)

If everything else fails and you have the collar in hand, you can try a factory reset. This clears all settings and restores the collar to default—but should only be done after confirming the issue isn’t hardware-related.

What It Means if a TT15/ T5 mini Collar Has Lost GPS

If your TT15/ T5 mini shows “Lost GPS,” it means the collar isn’t receiving satellite signals. This stops it from tracking your dog’s location or updating its position on your handheld.

Why It Happens

• Collar is indoors or in a crate
• Collar is in a metal dog box or under metal roof
• Thick tree cover or steep terrain
• GPS Flexband wire is damaged
• Software glitch or outdated firmware

Fixes to Try

1. Take it Outside

Make sure the collar is in an open area with a clear view of the sky. GPS signals can be blocked by metal, buildings, dense tree cover, or even being inside a vehicle or dog box.

2. Wait 5–10 Minutes

After powering on, give the collar time to reacquire satellites—especially if it was just restarted, charged, or moved a long distance (like traveling in a vehicle while powered off). It’s normal for it to take a few minutes to lock back onto satellites.

3. Turn it off and back on – A quick reboot may fix the issue. Once the Collar Is in your hands turn it off and let it restart to see if that fixes the issue.

4. Inspect The GPS Locator/ Flexband- Make sure there is no nicks, rips, tears, bite marks, etc in the GPS Flex Band. If this is the case the Band is most likely permanently broken and will need replacement.

5. Update the Firmware

Outdated software can lead to glitches. Use Garmin Express on a computer or pair the collar with a compatible handheld that can push firmware updates. Updated firmware often fixes bugs that affect GPS performance.

6. Try a Different Handheld

If you have access to another Garmin handheld (like a different Alpha or Astro model), pair the collar to it temporarily. This helps determine if the issue is with the collar itself or your main handheld.

7. Factory Reset the Collar (Last Resort)

If nothing else works, you can do a factory reset. This will remove all settings, clear memory, and return the collar to default. Only use this step if you've tried everything else, and back up any data you need before doing it.

Lost GPS (Collar Lost GPS Signal)

This means the collar itself is turned on and connected to the handheld, but it cannot determine its location because it’s not receiving signals from GPS satellites.

What You’ll See:

• The dog is still listed as connected, but shows “Lost GPS.”
• The last known location is frozen on the map.
• Distance, speed, and direction stop updating.
• The collar still responds to commands (tone, vibrate, LED) because communication is intact.

Common Causes:

• Collar is indoors or in a crate
• Collar is in a metal dog box or under metal roof
• Thick tree cover or steep terrain
• GPS Flexband wire is damaged
• Software glitch or outdated firmware

Fix:

Go under the " What to do if a TT15 collar has lost GPS section for detailed help.

Lost Communication (Handheld Lost Contact With Collar)

This means the handheld can no longer connect to the collar at all—either temporarily or completely. The handheld isn't receiving any signals, including GPS data, battery status, or command feedback.

What You’ll See:

• A Question Mark (?) will show up in the place of the dogs status.
• Lost Communication” message next to the dog’s name.
• All collar data stops updating (no location, battery, or movement).
• You cannot send tone, vibrate, or light commands.
• LED command doesn't reach the collar.
• You may hear a warning tone from the handheld (depending on model/settings).

Common Causes:

• Collar is out of range (typically 4–9 miles line-of-sight, less in rough terrain).
• Collar battery is dead.
  
• Collar is turned off.
• Antenna on the handheld or collar is damaged or missing.
• Interference from terrain, buildings, metal structures, or other radio devices.

Fix: Please go to the " What to do if a TT25 collar has lost Communication" for a detailed overview.