You’ve bought an electric dog fence, and soon your dog will have the freedom to roam your yard safely. Proper electric dog fence training is crucial to success. Most electric dog fences come with basic directions and tips. Here are some helpful tips to familiarize you with electric dog fence training.
Electric Dog Fence Training Supplies
You’ll need everything you normally use for training your dog, including a strong leash, a training collar, the electronic collar that came with your wireless fence, your dog, and a positive state of mind. Dogs can sense your mood, and the more relaxed you are, the more successful your training sessions will be.
Electric Dog Fence Training Takes Time
Your electric dog fence training will last about 2 to 3 weeks. Prepare to spend two to three 15-minute sessions per day with your dog. Track the progress of your training sessions on a calendar as you move through each phase. This will ensure that you don’t rush training. Moving at a slow, even pace helps your dog retain the lessons. The time it takes for electric dog fence training is small when compared to the lasting benefits.
Electric Dog Fence Training For More Than One Dog
Train your dogs independently. Dogs are pack animals, so they tend to pay more attention to each other than to you. Keep other dogs out of sight during training. This will encourage the dog you’re training to bond with you.
Pre-Session Electric Dog Fence Training Tips
Start each training session in the same manner.
1.) Put the wireless electronic collar on your dog.
2.) Fit the non-metallic training collar around your dog’s neck.
3.) Attach the leash to the training collar.
4.) Turn on the electronic collar and set it to the desired correction level.
5.) Before moving to the lesson of the day, review the previous lesson.
Post-Session Electric Dog Fence Training Tips
1.) Turn off and remove the electronic training collar.
2.) Spend at least 10 minutes praising and playing with your dog well within the roaming area.
Preliminary Phase of Electric Dog Fence Training
3 Days, two – three 15-minute sessions per day
In this optional lesson, you will allow your dog to get used to wearing the electronic collar and teach him not to go near the flags. Make sure the electric fence is turned off or take the battery out of the wireless collar. Walk towards the boundary with your dog on a leash, when your dog reaches the flag line, gently shake a flag while saying “Bad Flags” in a firm, disapproving tone. Do not yell or frighten your dog. Lead your dog back into the roaming area and praise him. Move to the next phase once your dog gets used to returning to the roaming area when you approach the flags.
Phase One of Electric Dog Fence Training
3 Days, two – three 15-minute sessions per day
In this lesson, you will begin the pertinent part of electric dog fence training by teaching your dog that a tone occurs whenever the boundary is crossed. Walk towards the boundary. When the sound occurs, gently shake a flag and say “Bad Flags” so that your dog will associate the tone with the flag. Then lead your dog back into the roaming area. When your dog comes back into the roaming area, praise him immediately. When you approach the boundary and your dog turns back to the roaming area without your aid, move onto the next phase.Best dog trainer Houston
Phase Two of Electric Dog Fence Training
3 Days, two – three 15-minute sessions per day
This lesson is similar to the previous phase with one exception; you will need to change the correction level of the electronic collar to the lowest static shock setting. Walk towards the boundary with your dog on a leash, when the short tone and static correction occur, gently shake a flag and say “Bad Flags” so that your dog will associate the short tone and static correction with the flags. Then lead your dog back into the roaming area. Praise your dog immediately when he arrives back in the roaming area. If your dog does not respond to the static correction, you should check to make sure the electronic collar fits properly and increase the static correction by one level if necessary. Move to the next phase when your dog avoids approaching any of the training flags.
Phase Three of Electric Dog Fence Training
3 Days, two – three 15-minute sessions per day
Now, train your dog with a variety of distractions along the perimeter of the fence. Dogs think every distraction has its own rules, so you must train your dog to override this belief. Train your dog not to cross the boundary for bikes, balls, children, cars, neighbors, animals and more. Remember to consider your environment carefully to determine what types of distractions are common in your neighborhood. It may be good to have an assistant for this part of the training. Walk towards the boundary with your dog on a leash and create a distraction on the other side of the boundary. If your dog moves toward the distraction, allow him to feel the correction. Gently shake a flag and say “Bad Flags” so that your dog will associate the short tone and static correction with the flags. Then lead your dog back into the roaming area and praise him immediately. When your dog can resist a variety of temptations by not crossing the boundary, move to the fourth phase of electric dog fence training.
Phase Four of Electric Dog Fence Training
3 Days, start with 15 minutes sessions and gradually increase the duration to an hour or more
In this lesson of electric dog fence training, your dog will be off leash. It’s important that you supervise your dog at all times. The more time you spend with your dog in this phase, the less likely he is to leave your yard. Repeat the distractions from phase three to ensure your dog is truly trained. Move to phase five when your dog is off leash and will not breach the fence boundary in your presence, even with distractions.
Phase Five of Electric Dog Fence Training
Until confident your dog is trained, start with short sessions and gradually increase duration
This is the final phase of electric dog fence training. Your dog is ready to begin unsupervised play in your yard. Start off with very short sessions and gradually increase the time based on your dog’s good behavior. In the beginning, it is recommended that you monitor your dog from inside your home.