Have you been experiencing major problems with your dog breaking out of your invisible fence? Electric fences have proven to be one of the most effective means of keeping your dog safely confined to a well-defined space in your yard.
However, it is true that even the most reliable methods have sometimes had their shortcomings revealed by a resourceful and determined pooch. A dog that has their mind set on running through the perimeter you have established can and will do if you have not planned for this by taking a few basic security measures.
This doesn’t mean that you should abandon the use of your invisible fence. But it does mean that you need to sharpen up your strategy concerning the use of this device. Here are a few handy tips that will enable you to solve this chronic issue in a safe and timely fashion.
Thin Out Your Dog’s Fur So Their Collar Will Fit Better
One of the easiest and most effective things you can do for your pooch is to make sure they receive a timely haircut. By thinning out their fur, especially in the area of their neck, you can ensure that the training collar associated with your invisible fence will be a more comfortable and more secure fit.
Since the training collar will now be much more securely in place, this will allow you to send your dog a series of more urgent and effective warning signals. This will urge them to think twice about transgressing the boundaries that you have set for them.
Another benefit of cutting your dog’s fur to a shorter length will be to save energy. Your collar will fit and work better, thus reducing the effort it has to make to do its job.
Increase the Width of the Boundary
The next thing you should consider doing is making a change in the width of the boundary you have established for your dog. Making it a bit wider will be a good move. The width of your boundary should be about as wide as your boundary will allow. The more space they have to run around free in, the less constricted they will feel.
A wider boundary will enable the collar you have placed on them to work more effectively. The wider you make your boundaries, the easier it will be to contain them and the less often you will need the collar to kick in with a warning shock.
Because your dog now has more free space to move about it, they will approach the limits you have defined for them much less often. This means that the collar will be forced to work less often, making the warnings that much more effective when they are triggered.
Retrain Your Dog to Respect the Boundaries You Have Set
One of the most crucial things you will need to do is to retrain your dog. This will be necessary if you want to give them a more healthy respect for the boundaries you have set for them. This is a compound proposition that consists of two equally important elements: training and correction.
It’s important for you to realize that the correctional collar by itself isn’t what trains a dog to avoid transgressing the boundaries you have set. The correct way to keep them safe is to restart their training all the way from square one.
Put down your flags to mark the new, much wider boundaries. Reset the correctional levels on their collar to a somewhat higher level if you feel the need.
However, it’s important to keep in mind that, since the boundaries you have set will now be much wider, the need for your dog to receive a high dose of correction from the collar will most likely be considerably reduced.
Watch What Your Dog Does When They Think You Aren’t Observing
Keep up the training for as long as you feel is necessary. Don’t let your dog out in the back yard without the use of a leash. Here and there, when you let them off the leash, make sure to observe their behavior.
Go inside for a while and let them cavort around the yard. Watching what they do when they think you aren’t observing them is a good way to learn their real intentions.
If they continue to transgress the boundary, keep up the correctional levels on their collar. Don’t wind it all the way up to the maximum at once. Find a level that seems to work most effectively and keep it there.
Sooner or later, they are bound to get the hint that staying within the boundaries of your invisible fence will keep them from getting these unpleasant zings. Just keep in mind that this may not be an overnight revelation for them. You’ll have to be patient and keep working with them until they finally get it.
Always Reward Your Dog for Obeying Their Limits
It’s a good idea to make sure that your dog is rewarded for obeying the limits that you have set for them. Give them plenty of treats when they stay inside the fence for a full day.
If you run around with them in the back yard for a few hours, make sure they get a nice treat when you finally come inside. This will help them to associate obeying the rules with receiving plenty of hugs, scratches, and yummy snacks.
Contact Us to Get More Info on Fence Training Your Dog
Don’t hesitate to message us with any questions, comments, or concerns that you may have on the subject of training your dog to obey the invisible fence you have set up. We will be glad to give you as much info as you need to make sure that your dog obeys the rules and stays completely safe. Feel free to contact us today to let us know what we can do for you.