Follow these simple time-tested guidelines and your dog will respond to your electric dog fence
quickly and effectively.
Place your electric dog fence collar on your
dog and walk the dog to all areas of your yard, near the boundary flags, several
times a day for at least four to five days.
The leash is very important, because you
must be able to pull the dog back to safety and praise the dog for returning to
reinforce the training. The keys to successful training are consistency and
repetition. Praise the dog immediately upon re-entering the safe zone.
Do not allow your pet to run freely in the yard during the training
period, and avoid leaving the property for walks unless you leave by car and
carry the dog. This is to prevent confusing the dog about leaving the yard.
After the dog has a good understanding of the audible warning, release the
animal for short periods of time unattended. Observe your dog for these free
times, and be prepared to reinforce the verbal "Watch Out" should the dog
venture too near the boundary. Gradually increase the time your pet is allowed
outdoors unattended for the first few weeks.
Make sure the collar is snug enough to keep the posts in
good contact with the dog's skin. If your dog has a heavy coat, trim the fur
under the receiver. Longer contact posts are available for very heavy-coated
dogs.
Remove the collar after each
training session. After the training period, the dog may wear the receiver
collar during the day, but you should remove it at night and check the neck area
under the collar for signs of irritation. Should the neck develop a sore, the
collar is too tight. Loosen the collar to allow the area to recover and, if
necessary, apply an antibiotic salve.
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 receiver collar on your dog and bring him out to the
flags to remind him of the boundary.
The Seven Rules For Dog Ownership
Rule 1:
You must be responsible for learning to communicate with your dog.
Rule 2: You must be the leader and the dog the
follower - there's no room for equality in the dog's mind.
Rule
3:If you're not teaching the correct behavior, then you're
teaching the wrong behavior, because you're always teaching the dog
something.
Rule 4:
You must be consistent in
dealing with your dog.
Rule 5:
Don't expect
your dog to know the difference between right and wrong. He is not a little
person in a fur coat.
Rule 6: You must be
certain your dog understands why he is being corrected.
Rule 7:
Reward your dog for the proper behavior.
© 1988 Raymond J. McSoley. All rights reserved. Published by Warner Books Inc.
