Blog

Tag: dog

March 17, 2024

DogWatch Dog Story: Maggy

Maggy is a sweet, spunky English Springer Spaniel who has graduated from DogWatch hidden fence training. She’s so adorable and has such a fun personality, Jake and Afton with DogWatch are considering getting an English Springer puppy of their own. She lives in Mendota Heights where she loves running along as her parents and human siblings ride their bikes.

Before Maggy came into the picture, her family had a beloved Springer Spaniel named Angel. She was an affectionate and endearing girl who was so precious, her dad couldn’t imagine losing her. That’s when they called DogWatch to install a hidden fence. Angel was a little nervous at first and needed some coaxing to get her around the yard. But she learned her new boundaries and lived a long, happy life enjoying her freedom.

Maggy could never replace Angel, but she came into the house and revitalized the energy (and sometimes chaos). Unlike Angel, Maggy learned her boundaries very fast and never hesitated to use every inch of her yard. All dogs are a little different when it comes to acclimating to a dog fence and the new boundaries, even when being trained the same way. But in the end, they can all learn and enjoy the benefits.

March 12, 2024

DogWatch of the Twin Cities: a husband and wife team

Jake and Afton Steigauf are the owners and operators of DogWatch of the Twin Cities. They took over the business from Afton’s dad Guy, who started taking care of local dogs in 1991. Afton grew up around the business and learned all about the benefits of having a DogWatch hidden fence. She has been a dog lover since birth. Jake came in with a love of working outdoors and the ability to accomplish any physical task. He can install a dog fence wire in the most impossible places, and make a yard look better than when he arrived. He has become the biggest dog person in the family.

Jake and Afton have two small children. Who knows, maybe one day they’ll run the business! They also have a big Black Lab named Moose, and a small black and white cat named Murph. Both pets love the freedom of running around their yard in Chaska, and Jake and Afton love that they can’t get in trouble in the creek or on the road.

When he’s not working, Jake is a typical Minnesotan who loves snowmobiling, boating and fishing at the cabin, and deer hunting. Afton joins in on the outdoor sports, and also loves traveling, cooking, and paint by number. The whole family enjoys E-biking together all around Chaska and beyond.

The Steigaufs would love to work with you and your family.

January 31, 2019

Unique Dog Names – Part 2

One of our favorite blog posts is about our customers’ talent for naming their dogs. Here’s part 2 of the most unique dog names we’ve heard in the Twin Cities.

Big Al

Ditka

Geno

Hatchi

Houston

Mudge

Nigel

Nell

Nemo

Newt

Porter

Rookie

Rowan

Tuffy

Ursula

Vinnie

Wrigley

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.