Training Schedule

Training is an important part of the process. It is how your pet learns where the fence boundary is. After we install the hidden fence, we work with you to train your pet. We will initiate the training and provide instructions and support so you can complete and reinforce the training.

Important Notes

• For the first week your dog should NOT be off the leash while out in the yard
• DO NOT leave your dog’s collar on 24/7.  You should take it off every night.

Day 1

Step one: Walk your dog around your yard without him wearing the receiver. Go to a few flags at random, let your dog hear the warning tone and say “NO”. Immediately bring him back into the safe area and praise.

Step two: You may now put the receiver on your dog’s neck and again walk around your yard. Do not force him into the correction area. Do not even walk close to the flags in the yard. Allow your dog to walk wherever he wants. If your dog wants to wander into the correction area, allow it. As soon as your dog receives the static electrical correction pull him back into the yard and praise. You can do this around the entire containment area for about 15 minutes.

Day 2 and 3

While still on the leash repeat step two of day one. Remember, do not force or trick your dog into the correction area. Also, don’t hold your dog back from the correction area. He needs to learn that the sound and static electric correction means get back into the safe area.

Day 4 – 6

Your dog should still be on the leash. Repeat days 2 and 3, but this time, have someone assisting you. Whomever does not have the dog on the leash, have them walking with you. While walking, have that person cross the containment area in several places. This is showing your dog that even though someone or something is crossing through the containment area, he cannot follow.

Day 7 – 9

You may let your dog out without the leash. Stay out with him and supervise just like you would a small child. If you want, you can keep the leash on your dog and let him drag it on the ground to make it easier to stop and catch him if he gets too close to the barrier.

Day 10 – 13

You should be able to leave your dog out with limited supervision

Day 14

Congratulations! Your dog should be trained, and you should be able to let him out without supervision. If you are having problems at any stage of the training, please give us a call at 614-527-3799 or email us at info@dogwatchofcolumbus.com.

Flags

By the 14th day you can start to take every other flag out. Every two days after, repeat, until there are so few left you can pull the rest. By the beginning of the third week, all the flags shout be out.

The longer the flags stay in the yard, the worse it is for your dog, because he will become dependent on the sight, not the sound. When your dog notices the flags becoming fewer and fewer, he will transition from seeing the boundary to listening for it.

Taking Your Dog for a Walk

When you take the dog off your property, remove the collar and attach the leash. Always leave the property from the same spot in the yard, such as the driveway or sidewalk. Suggest that you "go for a walk" to encourage the dog to follow you.

The dog may hesitate the first few times you leave the yard. Another option is to set a towel or cloth down between the flags. Ask your dog to sit. Place the towel on the ground then cross through the flags with the dog on the leash. Give him a command to cross such as "good cross". Go for a walk. When you return, repeat the process and when you get to the other side of the flags, ask your dog to sit and pick up the towel. When you bring him in the house, snap the DogWatch® receiver collar on your dog and bring him out to the flags to remind him of the boundary.

In addition we are always available to help you and your dog make the most of your DogWatch® system.

Tips For Your Dog

DO NOT leave the receiver on your pet’s neck for more than 12 hours at a time. Doing so will result in Necrosis. This is the breaking down of skin cells (like bed sores) and is caused by constant rubbing.

• If you do notice sores developing, put Neosporin on the affected area, clean the metal prongs with rubbing alcohol and place the receiver in a different position on your pet’s neck.

If you forget to put your pet’s receiver on before letting him/her outside, do not panic

• If your pet has been trained, it is going to take some time before he/she tries to cross the boundary. However, do not make a habit of leaving the collar off as your pet will eventually forget the training without the receiver on to reinforce it.

If your dog receives a shock, do not bring him/her in immediately following

• You don’t want to condition your dog to retreat into the house for safety. You want him/her to learn to leave the correction area and continue playing in the yard.

When bringing your dog inside, do not take the collar off immediately

• You don’t want the dog to associate the collar with the corrections. The collar should be part of their daily routine.
• Since the doors can still be opened throughout the day, it is safer to keep the collar on to prevent the dog slipping outside without it.
• Don’t put the collar on immediately before going outside as this conditions them to believe the collar is the issue, instead of learning the boundaries of the yard.

What to do if your pet is not receiving a shock

• Check is if the collar is tight enough. Make sure the collar is snug enough to keep the posts in good contact with your pet's skin. A loose collar means your pet is not able to receive a correction.
• Check to see if the correction level has been changed.
• Use the magnet on the end of your battery tester to adjust the level of correction on your pet’s receiver. One long beep means the correction has been turned off and your pet is going to receive an audible tone only.
• Check to see if you have electricity running through the outlet that your transmitter is plugged in to.
• Check to see when the last time you changed your battery. You could have a dead battery.

What to do if you are having work done in your yard

If you are going to have work done in your yard and do not know where your wire is buried give DogWatch of Columbus a call and we can come out to mark your wire. This is much less expensive than having to repair and replace your broken wire.

• If you have a broken wire and do not know where it is please call and let us know immediately. DogWatch of Columbus has equipment to locate and repair broken wire. The longer you go without repairing, the greater the odds are that your pet may run through his/her boundary.
• If you have a broken wire and know where it is, you may want to attempt to repair it yourself. If doing so, please keep in mind that in Ohio, the ground expands and contracts during hot and cold weather and wet and dry weather. With this in mind make sure the wire is spliced properly and that no moisture can reach the exposed copper as this will result in corrosion and further complicate the situation.