"I'd like to use an underground electric dog fence, but I live in a cold climate. Will it work?"
It will be important for the control transmitter to be kept inside in a dry area like a shed or garage. Large amounts of snow can create interference with an underground electric dog fence system. You may have to change the signal to accommodate the interference. The underground system would have to be set up when you can dig a trench for the underground wire to be placed before the ground becomes frozen.
If you are looking for a more secure method for keeping the dog far enough away from an existing fence so he won't jump it then the wire can be attached by securing the wire to the fence with ties, no digging. You can also use staples to secure the wire to the ground if you don't want to dig a trench for the wire, but, again, this must be done before snow hits the ground.
"My system is suddenly sending signals to my dog when it shouldn't. What's wrong?"
If your system starts acting up in ways that are unusual, check out each part of the system.
1. Check that the dog is receiving the correction. Are the prongs touching the dog's skin? If not, then shave or trim the dog's hair around the receiver collar.
2. Check to see if the batteries are still working. Their life usually runs around three months.
3. Check the transmitter for proper power.
4. Look for a break in the wire system running through the yard. There is a dog fence wire break locator available (approximately ) that will help you detect a power break in the wiring. It makes a noise that you can hear on an AM radio. Walk around the perimeter and when the noise level drops you have found the break. Fix the break immediately or mark the area so when you return later for the repair it can be found easily.
5. I t might be time for repair if the collar, for instance, starts shocking your dog when there is a power outage or when farther away from the perimeter than usual.
You can have warranted items repaired, or you may have to replace worn out parts. Go back to the manufacturer and have the transmitter and receiver professionally evaluated if either seems to be the cause of the problem.
"I have a large yard, is there a system that can accommodate me?"
Some systems allow looping of the wire that can add extra space. Others provide extra wire (for a price) that will accommodate up to 100 acres. Look for a system that will allow multiple dogs to run in a large area.
"My mixed breed dog chases everything and doesn't seem to notice pain either. What will work for an exuberant dog?"
Dogs who have a high tolerance level may not feel the correction from low-level shock impulses. Look at getting a Stubborn Dog system that has five levels of correction. Again, make sure that the dog is feeling the prongs from the collar. After all, no shock, no response!
"I have a small Yorkshire Terrier. Is there anything special just for small dogs?"
There is a little dog collar from PetSafe that works great on small dogs under 10 lbs.
"I didn't train my pet in the beginning. She just runs through the boundary like it's not there. Is it too late now?"
First, make sure that the system is working properly and she is getting the shock.
To change bad behavior, you must start from the beginning as if you've never used the electric dog fence product. Set up the flags. Put the dog on a leash and walk the perimeter. Then let the dog enjoy short periods on a longer leash that still allows you to correct poor behavior. Give this training period time to work! It may take longer to retrain the animal. Never let the dog out alone until you are absolutely certain that your dog has learned respect for the boundary. Always be sure to give your dog positive feedback throughout the training period.
Training helps our beloved pets to be more comfortable in their space and therefore happier companions to us.
