Many responsible pet owners have one thing in common. They are searching for the best way to keep their pets inside of their yard. No one wants their dog to become lost or hit by a car.
Some people have physical fences to try and contain their dogs. The problem is that some dogs are escape artists. Either they try to jump the fence or dig underneath it. Some neighborhood associations do not allow physical fencing to be put up. Not to mention, building a fence is a pricey endeavor. Luckily, there is another way, an electric dog fence.
I know what you may be thinking. Do electric dog fences really work? You bet they do, providing the fence you get is of a high quality. If you need some direction on that, check out Top Dog Hub’s electric dog fence recommendations.
The Factors Involved in Success
In order to have success with an electric dog fence, it is important to select the right fence for your situation. What are the factors involved?
Every dog is different
The first thing to look at is the size and temperament of your dog. The reason is that there are varying correction strengths of dog fence collars. For example, a Great Dane would need a stronger level of correction than a Chihuahua.
Collar Fit
Another key issue to successful containment with an electric dog fence is the way the collar is fitted to the dog. The collar should never hang loosely around the dog’s neck. You should not be able to spin the collar around the dog’s neck at all. Ideally, you should only be able to insert 1 finger in between the prongs and your dog’s neck.
Training is Key
Some people think that all you need to do is put the fence collar on the dog and let him outside and he will know what to do. However, this is not the case. Training is an imperative step in successfully containing a dog with an electric dog fence.
A Word about Training
Here is a quick rundown on the first step of how to train your dog on an electric dog fence.
In the beginning, you need to block the static correction. Some systems have a tone only feature, and others require that you block the correction by covering the contact points with plastic tips or electrical tape.
Next, you take the dog out on a long leash. Allow the dog to walk over to the boundary flags (but don’t encourage it.) When the dog hears the beep, shake a flag, say “no” and pull your dog back. When your dog turns around and comes back into the safe zone, reward him or her with a treat.
The next step involves adding the correction, so that the dog understands that there is a consequence for him going over the boundary. After that, you can add some distractions to the scenario to test your dog.
Conclusion
Choosing the right system for your dog is important in the success of an electric dog fence. With a bit of patience and proper training, most dogs are able to be successfully contained.