Training Questions

Home Bodies and Porch Sitters

If you have a pet that doesn’t want to go out of the house or is sticking close to the house, be patient, time is your best friend here. The more sensitive your dog is, the longer it will take him to explore the yard. Eventually, your dog will use the whole yard.
The main problem here is that your dog’s enthusiasm is very low and his containment is very high. Your job is to get his enthusiasm back up. Here are some tips:

• Try not to worry about your pet. Picking up on your anxiety may hinder his learning. Again, time and use of the yard without correction will solve this challenge.
• Do not take your dog on a leash near the boundary.
• Do not take the Dog Guard receiver off your pet. The entire process will become inconsistent if you do. Your pet may become more confused and take longer to settle into the new system.
• Do not let the dog hide inside the house. Make him go outside even if he sits next to the door all day. Play with your dog in the yard. Kids and other dogs expedite things greatly.
• Try to limit the number of corrections your dog gets.

Taking Your Dog For A Walk

If you walk your pet off the property regularly (minimum once or more a day) you should stay on the same schedule.

If you walk your dog 2 to 3 times or less a week, you should wait 3 to 4 weeks before acclimating your dog to the walking procedure.

Only attempt this if your pet has no unresolved issues concerning the boundaries. Your pet may be very hesitant to cross with you the first 5 to 10 times, so stay with it. He will eventually learn when he can cross over and when he cannot. He will learn to trust you.

You must create a “gate” that will allow you and your pet to leave the property under specific circumstances only. Stay consistent and follow the steps below unless otherwise instructed by your trainer. Failure to follow these steps closely could result in your pet leaving the property unattended and voiding any containment guarantees set by Dog Guard.

If any problems arise directly or indirectly from attempting this procedure, STOP immediately and call our office before trying this again!

• Remove the receiver collar and leave it at home
• Use a different collar and leash than the one you’ve been border training with. Always leave and enter your property with your dog ON LEASH.
• Pick one spot on the property, preferably one side of the driveway. This will be the exit and entrance “gate” for you and your pet EVERY TIME you leave or enter your property.
• Use an old towel, a large piece of cardboard or a mat and place on the ground over the wire at the designated gate area. This will serve as a bridge for your pet to cross over.
• Bring your pet to the gate and give him a safe word – i.e., “walk” “safe” or any word you like; be sure to use the same word every time you leave or enter the property. Keep your dog close to you and repeat the word as you walk him out of the property. Once you are out, praise your dog. Do this exactly the same way when entering the property.

Training Tips: BE CONSISTENT AND REPETITIVE

You can and should keep the same walking schedule that you had before the fence was installed. DO NOT walk your pet off the property immediately following a perimeter training, but DO follow up with a perimeter training as soon as you come back into the safe zone from a walk.

Make sure you pick up whatever you are using for the “gate” when you are NOT training or your pet is outside and off leash. You can eventually take away the bridge altogether once your pet is accustomed to the process of using the gate (usually 3 to 4 weeks).

The easiest way to get your pet off the property is to simply take the Dog Guard collar off, put them in a vehicle, drive out past the boundary, take them out of the vehicle and then go for your walk. Repeat to get them back into the property.

Always take the receiver collar off your pet before leaving the property, even in the vehicle.

Call our office IMMEDIATELY if something is unclear or you are having a problem!!