Humane and Gentle Training Included

In our 2 decades of Dog Guard ownership, we have spent numerous hours learning how dogs most successfully learn the boundary area. We have a very specific approach to training with the goal of ensuring that your pet will fully know their invisible fence type boundaries at the end of the training period while receiving minimal corrections. Our gentle training approach means your dog learns the hidden fence boundary in a way that is not stressful to your or your pet. The result is a happy and safely contained pet that can fully utilize your yard in one to two weeks.

How Training Works

The boundary is marked off with flags, creating a visible boundary line for the pet. For two weeks, the dog owner should spend fifteen minutes, twice daily, walking the dog on a leash around the flag boundary. If the dog moves toward the flags, he should be told “NO!” The dog should then be moved away from the flags and given lots of praise.

By using this technique, the dog will quickly learn where the boundary is located. Once the dog becomes familiar with the visible boundary, the flags can be removed. After your system is activated, when your pet enters the reminder zone (3 to 6 feet from the signal wire) they receive your choice of an audio signal or a mild correction stimulus, warning that they are approaching the boundary.

Our highly-trained pet behavior specialists will work with you and your pet throughout the initial process to make sure training techniques and boundaries are clearly defined.

Problem 1: Home Bodies & Porch Sitters

If you have a dog that doesn’t want to go out of the house or is sticking close to the house, be patient; time is your best friend. The more sensitive your dog is, the longer it will take it to explore the yard. Eventually, your dog will grow more comfortable and use the whole yard.

The main problem with this scenario is that your dog’s enthusiasm is very low and its containment is very high. Your job is to get its enthusiasm back up. Here are some tips that will help you work through this challenge:

• Try not to worry about your pet. Picking up on your anxiety may hinder its learning. Again, time and use of the yard without corrections will solve this challenge.
• Do NOT take your dog on a leash near the boundary.
• Do NOT take the Dog Guard® receiver collar off the dog. If you do, the entire process will become inconsistent and the dog will become more confused and take even longer to settle in.
• Do NOT let the dog hide in the house. Make it go out even if it sits next to the door all day. The only way it will loosen up is if it is left outside to explore and learn about its surroundings.
• Play with your cat, dog or puppy in your yard. Introducing kids and other pets into the training helps expedite things greatly!
• Use food and water to encourage the dog to go away from the house. Start with small distances first.
• Try and limit the number of corrections when training your dog. Right now your dog is “over contained.” Don’t play with it near the non visible boundary or do anything to coax it towards the edge. Another correction at this point will only discourage it from using the yard. Because more sensitive dogs or cats can’t tolerate more than one correction every two days, try and extend the amount of time between corrections.

Problem 2: Proper Receiver Placement

To ensure a consistent signal, the dog’s collar must be secure. To do this, make sure the probes are closest to the dog’s chest so that the receiver hangs down at a slight angle.

IMPORTANT: It is important to periodically check the size and fit of your pet’s nylon collar. As it grows, the collar size will have to be adjusted to provide a secure, comfortable fit.