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Tag: hidden fence

March 19, 2019

DogWatch Dog Story: Mudge

Mudge the St. Bernard from Chanhassen is a DogWatch dog, but his family didn’t always work with DogWatch of the Twin Cities. With their previous dog, Mudge’s parents bought a dog fence from another company and it worked well to keep that dog in the yard. When they got Mudge, though, they decided to call us at DogWatch to help train him.

We put up boundary flags to show Mudge the boundaries of his yard and got to work. Mudge’s mom told us from the beginning: “He’s the sweetest puppy ever, but he doesn’t want to walk on the leash. He won’t try to pull you around, he’ll just lay down and not want to get back up.” And she was exactly right!

We had to get creative to train Mudge. Typically, we bring dogs around the yard on a leash over and over to help them learn where the boundary is and to stay inside the flag line. But if a huge St. Bernard doesn’t want to walk, that doesn’t quite work. Instead we focused on showing Mudge one flag at a time, we got his favorite toys involved, asked the neighbors to let their dogs out, and walked around with him off-leash (not usually recommended!).

After four days, we were happy and Mudge was happy. Finally, he was able to just take a nap in the yard. And his owners were able to trust that he wouldn’t walk off, even if they went to get the mail or went inside.

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.

January 17, 2018

DogWatch Dog Story: Daisy

Daisy the black lab puppy lives on a corner lot in Edina. She’s a very smart girl who started learning commands and hunting basics when she was tiny. She is well-behaved so when she gets outside in the yard she runs and plays to let off some steam. And since she’s a DogWatch dog, she can do so freely.

Daisy is the only dog in her house, but she has two human siblings who keep her busy and cuddle with her. Her dad Mike has had dogs before, and is looking forward to get back into bird hunting with Daisy. She’s a fast learner, so she quickly picked up “heel” and “give.”

She also learned her yard boundaries fast. She was tempted at first by neighbor dogs and nearby crows, but after her training she just sits patiently and hopes they’ll make their way into the yard. One of her favorite things about her yard is all the trees – because in the fall that means leaf piles! She’s a wonderful, fun-loving pup and we’re glad she’s part of the DogWatch family.