Blog

Category: Products

February 19, 2018

DogWatch Dog Story: Kipper

Kipper is a wonderful French Brittany Spaniel with a cool story. His family consists of two parents and three adorable kids from Canada. He was born in Canada too, and then the whole family moved all the way to Poland. Kipper spent three years there and learned all about a dog’s life in Europe.

And then in 2016 the family moved to Chanhassen. Kipper instantly loved the rolling grassy yard with the occasional squirrel. But sometimes he also loved following his nose and romping around the neighborhood while his family wondered where he went.

Not long after arriving on American soil, Kipper got a DogWatch dog fence. He continued sprinting across his yard and sniffing after squirrels, but his family could trust that he was just a call away. He is one of the most obedient dogs we’ve ever worked with. Like many Brittany Spaniels, he’s a very smart guy with a little streak of independence and stubbornness. Because of that set of traits, Kipper learned the boundaries of his dog fence in just a couple days, but he needed a high correction level to keep the stubborn side at bay.

He got up to level 4 like most dogs do, and then a squirrel tempted him through the fence. So he needed to be bumped up to a level 7. That way the family would be sure he wouldn’t leave the yard, even for the most mischievous squirrel.

February 5, 2018

Will it Really Work for My Pet?

Many of our customers are skeptical before getting their DogWatch hidden fence because they wonder, “Will it really work for my pet?” People wonder if their dog is too dumb or too stubborn or too old or too small. But all dogs and cats are capable of learning their boundaries with a hidden fence. In 29 years, we’ve never had a dog fence not work!

Our 4-day training plan teaches dogs and cats where to go and where not to go with their new DogWatch fence. The visual reminder of flags, starting at a low correction level, and teaching your pet with repetition allows her to slowly learn these things: watch out for the flags, the rest of the yard is safe, and if you feel a correction turn back towards home to make it go away. Sometimes dogs excel more in one of those areas than the others, but in time they all pick up all three. Old and less-smart pets are no exception.

If your pet is more stubborn or has a higher tolerance, there are higher correction levels to ensure she stops at her boundary. Most dogs end up at a level 4, but there are 7 levels in case you need them. For smaller dogs and cats, we have an R7 Mini receiver collar that is very small and lightweight. Smaller dogs and cats don’t usually have a lower tolerance, so there is no difference in the intensity of the correction, just the size of the box on the collar strap. In fact, cats tend to have a higher tolerance than dogs.

To help ease your mind even more, our receivers have AutoMemory and FastReact. If your pet challenges the boundary, the correction level automatically goes up for 24 hours to. And even if your pet is running, they receive a warning and a correction before he reaches the wire, not while traveling over it.

January 23, 2018

Will a Dog Fence Hurt My Dog?

We often get the question, “Can the shock from a hidden fence hurt my dog?” The simple answer is no. You don’t want to hurt your dog, and we certainly don’t either. Hidden fences are safe for all dogs and cats, and they won’t hurt your pet.

The correction a dog receives from a dog fence or other “shock collar” is actually not a shock at all. Unlike the shock you feel when you touch a physical electric fence, the correction from a dog collar is generated by a battery. The wire in the ground sends a signal to the collar, but the electricity in the wire has nothing to do with the zap.

Most receiver collars have different levels of correction – DogWatch has seven levels. The intensity gets higher as you go up, and the goal is to get your dog’s attention and startle him. But no matter how high you get, it can’t hurt your dog. His reaction will increase as the level increases, though. The feeling he feels is similar to a carpet shock or touching your tongue to a 9-volt battery.

The only way a dog’s neck can get hurt from a dog fence is if the collar stays on too long. Most receivers use metal prongs to deliver the correction, and the friction and pressure can potentially irritate your dog’s skin after prolonged wear. We suggest removing the collar each night and putting it back on in the morning to avoid irritation.

Feel free to test your dog’s collar on your own hand if you’re curious. We at DogWatch of the Twin Cities have all done it, but not always on purpose! It’s not pleasant, but it’s certainly not painful.

December 18, 2017

Teach Your Dog to Stop Barking

Barking can be one of the hardest dog problems to solve. The more you yell at your dog to stop barking, the more he barks. And unlike other pup issues, this one affects the neighbors, sleeping kids, and other dogs in the house.

The quickest way to quiet a talkative dog is with the DogWatch BarkCollar. It senses the vibration of the bark, and gets the dog’s attention with a correction zap. One of the reasons it’s so effective is because it’s immediate. The dog doesn’t have to think very much to make the connection between the bark and the zap. You can find the right level of zap that quiets your dog’s bark, or use our favorite level, Progressive. When you turn the dial to P, the first bark is corrected with a vibrate, and if your dog continues barking the level goes higher with each bark until he stops.

The other important training component of the BarkCollar is consistency. Dogs understand in black and white, so if every bark is corrected, they learn so much quicker. No matter who is at home with the dog, even if he’s home by himself, the BarkCollar will correct barking. That way your dog learns that ALL barking is bad.

Here are some tips when using the BarkCollar:

Charge it completely before using it for the first time. It has a rechargeable battery that lasts several months.
Make sure your dog doesn’t know it’s about the collar. For him, the problem is the barking. To do that, put the collar on him at a time when he wouldn’t bark, and then create a barking situation once he’s forgotten that he’s wearing it. For instance, a couple hours after putting the BarkCollar on your dog, walk out the garage door and ring the doorbell.
Start on a low level and work up to the level where your dog stops barking. There are 7 total levels, starting at a vibration.
Check out the Bark Counter feature. Learn about your dog’s barking patterns when you’re not at home, and address specific triggers if necessary. Lots of barking at 3:00 on weekdays? Could be that pesky school bus.

Read all about the BarkCollar here, and purchase it online here. Give us a call if you have questions or want to learn more.