A transmission having an input shaft, piston, dog clutch, sensor sleeve and control system is provided. The dog clutch includes male and female members, where one of the members is coupled to the piston for common movement therewith. The sleeve includes a through channel and a reduced diameter sensor portion terminating at a shoulder. The control system is configured to: command a supply of hydraulic fluid against an engagement side of the piston, determine when a terminal end of the sensor portion contacts a control, and determine that the dog clutch members are in a predetermined partially engaged state less than a fully engaged state of the dog clutch members. A length of the reduced diameter sensor portion directly corresponds to the predetermined partially engaged state of the dog clutch that is less than a fully engaged state of the male and female members of the dog clutch.