Teaching Your Dog to Recognize Electric Fences Easily

Dog owners who are concerned about their pet’s safety choose to install electrical fences around their perimeters. They do this to ensure that their furry friends do not escape to another territory where danger from humans, other animals, and passing vehicles is certain.

 The installation of electric or underground fences is however effective only if your dog is trained to recognize the places he is not allowed to go to. It is important to train your dog to identify the the areas where the fence is active. This can help to protect the canine from electric shock.

Here are some of the ways to teach your dog to recognize areas where the electric fence is active:

  1. Understand how the electric fence works.

You won’t be able to give your puppy the training that he needs if you don’t have an understanding of how electric fences work. These dog containing devices are composed of wires that need to be installed underground. These wires are supplied with a transmitter that’s mounted to the collar that your dog wears. When your pet gets close enough to the fence for the wire to capture signal from the transmitter, the collar produces electric impulses that stuns the canine. The impulses become more intense as the dog gets closer to the fence.

 2. Don’t underestimate your dog’s capability to escape.

 Dogs are intelligent and resilient creatures. Some of them are stubborn enough to endure the shocks just to get past the fence. Do not underestimate their ability to withstand pain to find their way to freedom.

 3. Test the system.

 Once the installation of your invisible fence is completed, your next step is to test it if it works as you expected. You should also take note that the system is designed to be calibrated according to the size and personality of your dog. Another thing you must remember is some collars can be set to beep or vibrate to warn the dog, rather than stun him with electric shocks. This is an option dog owners can use just in case they don’t like their pets to experience electric shocks.

 4. Familiarize your dog with the boundaries.

 Once the system is installed, mark the boundaries with colored flags. Tie your dog with a leash and walk him around the flagged area. Teach your pet to move back every time a beep or shock comes about. Praise your pet or give him a treat each time the beeping stops.

 5. Do the training.

 First of all, you should see to it that the collar is set to produce a shock that is meant only to catch the dog’s attention and not to make him experience pain.

 Do your dog training in short segments. It should not be over 20 minutes per day for 3 days. When training, be sure to reward your pet for good behavior and don’t forget to praise him every time he obeys your command successfully.

 Part of the training is showing the dog the consequence of disobedience. If he attempts to cross over to the other side of the boundary, just allow him and let him experience the shock. If he moves away from the fence by himself, it’s a good sign that your training is working. You may now take your pooch back to the house and give him some praise for a job well done.

 6. Test your dog.

 Keeping your dog on the leash, you can check if he is learning by asking someone to place something enticing to him beyond the boundary. If he tries to cross the border, he will surely experience shock, repeat the process until he learns to stop. But if he stops, release him from the lease and repeat the process. This will be the ultimate test of his learning.

 7. Always check the batteries.

 Electric dog fences are mounted with batteries that provide them with power. The batteries will run low after some time, and when it happens, its signal becomes low and the electric impulses become intermittent even if your pooch approaches the fence. You need to observe your dog to see if he is still attempting to cross over the fence. If he still wants to go beyond the border, you should train him more, but if you see that he has learned a lot, you may remove the flags gradually and let your pet know the boundaries without the markers.

 These are some of the most important elements of dog fencing. Master it and you will become the master of pets that are sure to stick with you through time.

 You may also like:

 17 Mistakes To Avoid With Electric Fencing (ibiblio.org)

 How to Install an Electric Fence (wikihow.com)

The Pros and Cons of Electric Dog Fences (voices.yahoo.com)

Sound Advice on the Effective Use of Dog Training Collars

Dog training collars such as the electric dog collars have been sold in the market for some time now. This is evidenced by the number of raves and criticisms it is getting from the web. Like most gadgets and accessories, electric collars can be bad if they are not used the way they are intended to be. They can either be good or bad depending on how they are handled by the dog’s owner.

 Here’s a few advice that you may apply to get the full potential of the electric dog collar:

 1. Match your dog’s collar with his training needs.

 Dogs are not equal and their needs differ from one another. Before buying a collar, you should first determine the amount of training that your pooch needs to learn a positive behavior. This can help you to choose the right collar that your pet should wear. You should consult a vet or a dog training professional before buying the collar.

 2. Consider using a collar that uses the beep and tone.

 Not all dogs need electric shock to learn. There are lots of dogs that are intelligent enough to know that he is not behaving well through a sound that the collar produces. Dogs that heed the sound don’t need to be shocked with electric impulses no matter how mild. A collar that produces shock may be used only on canines that refuse to obey with the use of warning sounds and tones.

 3. Don’t buy a collar before the dog’s arrival.

 Some dog owners keep a stack of animal toys, treat and some accessories that can be used for any dog regardless of size and breed. But buying an electric collar before the dog arrives is not an acceptable idea. As we have mentioned earlier, the collar needs to be matched with your pet’s personality and size. You also need to evaluate if the training collar is necessary for that particular canine before buying one.

 Using a shock collar can depend on your personality and your dog’s behavior. You cannot determine your new pet’s need for a collar until you see his real temperament which shows only after he has adjusted to his new environment.

 4. Don’t scare your dog with hand held devices.

 Canines are keen observers and they can easily learn by association. You should not let you pooch detect that the device you’re holding has some association to the shock that he receives. If he misbehaves, do not be tempted to use the remote in his presence. It will make him develop a fear on the gadget instead of the user who’s actually controlling it.

 5. Don’t tie your dog to a leash when using shock collars.

 Electric collars are intended for dogs that have the liberty to roam freely. They are not designed to be paired with a leash. If you want to take your pet to a stroll with a leash, you must use the appropriate collar. Using the electric collar to hold the leash can damage the collar or cause injury to your dog.

 6. Use the shock only if it’s necessary.

 Some people say that electric collars are harmless, but according to some observers, this device is the cause of negative dog behaviors including fear, shyness, anxiety and aggression.

 Another thing that you must remember is to avoid repetitive use of electric shocks. This can make your pet lose confidence to move. You don’t actually need to use that remote when a firm “NO! can make him behave.

 Electric or shock collars are designed for temporary use. They are intended to make your pet develop good habits. You must not use it to punish your pet for a wrong move he makes.

 If you want to know some more truths about dog behavior and electric dog collars, please feel free to inquire about it dogmaster.com.au.

 Related Articles:

 Dog Shock Collar – The Good and The Bad (shibashake.com)

How to Use an Electronic Dog Training Collar (wikihow.com)

Five Factors that Discourage Dog Owners from Using Electric Fence

Many dog owners have different views about the principle used in the electric dog fence. Some people embraced the idea while others consider it as a poor option.

 

A majority of articles on the web are promoting the advantages of these pet containing devices. This leaves fence-sitters wondering about the less desirable qualities of these invisible electric enclosures. All the positive points about the invisible dog fence have been said but nothing is almost said about its disadvantages. To give you a balanced outlook about these devices, I would like to share with you a few factors that discourage dog owners from using the electric fence:

 

1. The need to train the dog to acknowledge the boundaries.

 

A lot of potential buyers of invisible fence think that it is a “plug and play” device, assuming that it works instantly once you install it and put the collar around the dog’s neck. But it just doesn’t work that way. You have to train your dog to realize and accept its new boundaries before you will see results. If you are not willing to put in some dog training effort for it, there’s a big tendency that the device may not work as expected.

 

2. Electric shock is a big issue.

 

Electric dog fencing operates on the principle that the dog is made to wear a collar that produces electric impulses when the canine approaches the boundary line. For some dogs that are so determined to cross the invisible line, the shock level is high. The pain and trauma caused by the electric shock might be too much for the dog to take. This can change a lot in your pet’s attitude and personality.

 

3. Some dogs are really determined to go through an electric fence.

 

Most canines that are determined to cross the boundary often succeed, but the fear of getting another shock prevents them from coming back into your premises. Dogs learn by association. They can realize that once they got close to the boundary, a shock is sure to come. This makes them wander even farther away into the open where they are free to play with other dogs and chase other animals, cars, etc.

 

4. Electric fences cannot prevent other animals from entering your property.

 

An invisible fence is a containment device for your own pet. It cannot prevent other animals from entering your property. You will have no way of protecting your place from other dogs and stray animals with this device. If you have neighbors whose pets are free to roam, your place is not safe from them. It is your own dog that cannot go out of the invisible boundary.

 

These are some of the most common factors that make people hesitant to buy electric dog fence. Now that you know them, it’s time for you to evaluate whether this device is ideal for your place and your pet’s personality.

 

And by the way, have you seen this page? This can help you to learn more about the invisible dog fence.

 You may also like:

17 Mistakes to Avoid With Electric Fencing (ibiblio.org)

8 Dos and Don’ts When Buying an Electronic Fence System for Your Dog (ebay.com)

K9 Electric Dog Fence Frequently Asked Questions (k9electricdogfence.com)

Do You Have What it Takes to Own a Dog?

In some parts of the world where there are no strict laws on animal welfare, it’s easy to bring a dog home and eventually ignore it. Even if your country or government is not strict about laws that have to do with dogs, however, it would still make sense to make sure you are well capable of taking care of a dog before adopting one. Keeping dogs as companions or even as regular pets is no small feat. It requires that you are familiar not only with their needs, but with how they behave naturally as well.

Photo Credit: epSos .de (Flickr.com)

A lot of pet dogs are eventually left ignored by their owners simply because the owners themselves do not fully understand their pets’ needs. You see, it’s easy to make a decision when all you see are those cute puppy eyes and cuddly appearance, but once they grow into full adults, the demand for caring for them also grows and that’s where the real challenge begins. The sad part is that many dog owners end up not taking the challenge, which leaves the dogs on the losing end.

The decision to own a dog, or any pet for that matter, needs to be carefully thought of. Before you even think about it, ask yourself first whether you honestly have the time to take care of one. Dogs need a walk in the park every day. They need special training, too. I often hear people saying that all dogs are the same. You need to realize, though, that not all dogs are the same. Different dog breeds have different needs, and you have to be prepare to meet whatever those needs are.

Another thing you need to ask yourself is whether adopting a dog would be ideal for the current family setup you have. How many children do you have? Are they not allergic to animal dander? Do you have enough space at home for an additional family member? Do you mind hearing barking noises in the middle of the night? Are you ready to teach yourself on how to stop dog barking? These may seem to be tiny details, but not dealing with them ahead of time may cause some serious problems in the future both for you and the dog.

I believe you already get the point – owning a dog is serious business. It’s may ruin your schedule and may inconvenience you. If you don’t think you’re ready for it, never buy or adopt a dog. If you believe you have what it takes to own one, however, go ahead and do it. Having a dog as companion and friend is very satisfying and you will never have regrets about it in the end.

 

Better Management of Dogs via Fences

Although domesticated dogs are used to living inside a man’s home, they still require a natural environment where they can just be, well, dogs. If you get them chained at home or kept on a leash most of their life, they may not grow up to be healthy animals. Just like their wild counterparts, domesticated dogs also need an open space where they can roam around for them to remain healthy.

 

One of the biggest concerns when letting our canine friends roam around is if they get lost or they get hurt. This then presents a dilemma: if you keep them inside your house, they won’t get to walk around freely; on the other hand, if you let them out, there are certain risks that go with it.

 

Dog Fence as a Solution

 

The solution to that dilemma? Dog fence. A fence will provide your pet pooch with a secure space where he can play all he want safely and freely. With this solution, your dog can still be the dog he ought to be, that is, walking around and playing in an open space minus the worry of getting hurt or lost. In other words, it’s a win-win solution both for you and your pet.

 

Image credit: Keith MacLeod (flickr.com)

Types of Dog Fence

 

There are two types of dog fence out there: visible and invisible. They also vary in terms of the materials used.

 

The visible type is the traditional dog fence we all know. The fence itself can be made of various materials. Depending on your preference, you can build a wooden or picket fence, or something with chain links. You can also opt for wire mesh fabric, although this type doesn’t last long.

 

Can a fence be invisible? Certainly. An invisible fence makes use of an electric wire that’s installed underground and a receiver collar around the dog’s neck. The boundary or limits of the animal is the perimeter along which the wire is installed. If your pet gets too close to the perimeter, the receiver around his collar will get a signal, which then causes it to beep. After this, and this idea may not sit well with you, your pooch then gets a mild electric shock. Electric dog collars can also be expensive.

 

Your choice of which dog fence to use will ultimately depend on you. If the idea of your dog getting electric shocks, even if they’re mild, doesn’t sound like a humane thing for you, then you can just go for physical barriers to fence your pet in (find out more about dog fence and how to teach your canine buddy to avoid overstepping electrical boundaries).

 

Exercise for Your Pet Pooch

Just like us humans, our canine buddies also need to exercise. In fact, it’s something they really must do, as dogs are born to work for a living. For thousands of years, they’ve been working alongside us, which means they’re not used to just sitting around doing nothing. Not getting their bodies at work can take a toll on their health.

 

Most dogs are bred for a particular purpose, including hunting, herding, or providing protection. Compared to our domesticated friends, their wild counterparts spend a good deal of their waking hours scavenging and hunting for food and defending territory, among others. And since our domesticated pets no longer have to go out and hunt for their food, they don’t get too many opportunities to work, which renders them idle and immobile.

 

When dogs don’t exercise or play

 

There are problems that can result due to lack of exercise and/or play. This is because dogs are like young children. If you don’t give them something good to do with their energy, they’ll find ways to do things on their own to use up their energy, and what they do with it is something you may not like. This is the reason why many of our pooches misbehave. They can do unwanted things like destructive chewing and digging, garbage raiding, hyperactivity, and other things that can cause annoyance and destruction, including excessive barking (you can curb this misbehavior with bark collars).

 

Why dogs need to exercise

 

There are many benefits that both you and your dog can enjoy if he can exercise regularly. First off, it’s an excellent outlet for their energy. This effectively hits two birds with one stone: they can stay in shape and reduce, if not eliminate their misbehavior. Also, when dogs exercise, they remain limber and agile. It can also help in digesting food and in keeping his weight under control. For nervous and timid dogs, exercising can help them build confidence.

 

Image credit: CapeK9Cardio (flickr.com)

 

Choosing an exercise program

 

Since dogs have different breeds, sizes, and ages, it’s not a one-exercise program-fits-all for each one of them. Breeds with short or flat noses may experience difficulty in breathing when doing intense exercises. For large breeds, sustained jogging can be harmful to their joints and bones since they are more prone to cruciate ligament injuries and arthritis. Be sure to talk your vet as to which exercise program is both safe and beneficial for your canine buddy.

 

Find ways for your four-legged to exercise and play on a regular basis so both you and him can reap the benefits they bring.

 

Understanding What Your Dog Is Trying to Tell You

Just like humans, dogs are also very expressive. In fact, if you look around you, you may not see a lot of very expressive people. Truth be told, some of our canine buddies are perhaps even more expressive than their human counterparts. You may not be aware of it sometimes, but your pet dog communicates when he’s feeling happy, sad, angry, afraid, and even when he’s nervous. He uses his face and some body parts to convey these emotions.

 

Since our four-legged friends can’t talk, it can be challenging for us as owners to understand what they’re trying to tell us. The body language of dogs is an elaborate system of nonverbal communication that can be hard to understand for some who do not know how to interpret it.

 

If you want to read the postures and signals of your pet pooch, it will be easier to understand what he’s trying to tell you. Here are tips on how to understand the meaning of some of the facial expressions of your dog:

 

The eyes – You can easily tell that your pet dog is happy and relaxed if his eyes are in their normal shape. ‘Normal’ is, of course, relative, as some dogs have round eyes, while others have almond-shaped pairs for seeing. If you notice when you go outside that his eyes appear larger than usual, he might be feeling threatened. The eyes also look larger when he’s in an aggressive state.

 

The ears – With the wide variety of dog breeds also comes a wide variety of types of dog ears. The size and shape of your canine companion’s ears are what determine how well he can use his ears to communicate. Depending on the breed, some ears pricked or semi-pricked, dropped, or hang long. If your dog holds his ears naturally, it means he is feeling relaxed and comfortable. Of course, any dog owner knows that the minute a dog holds his ears high on his head, it means he’s alert, and he’ll usually direct his ears toward the direction of whatever’s getting his attention.

 

The mouth – Despite not having the ability to talk, the way your pooch positions his lips, jaws, and teeth can tell a lot. Relaxed dogs usually have closed or slightly open mouths. To cool their bodies, he opens his mouth to pant. If they feel uptight or anxious, he may yawn in an exaggerated manner. If he barks a lot, he may be feeling afraid, protective, or even bored (you can use dog barking collars if his barking gets out of control).

 

These are just some of the ways to tell what your pet dog’s trying to communicate by using some parts of his head. Understanding what he’s trying to tell you will make it easier for both of you to communicate more effectively.  

 

Helpful Tips in Crate-Training Your Dog

Animals have their own habitats. Take them out of their habitats and they’ll start feeling uncomfortable, even become sick. This is why there are those who are strong advocates against keeping animals in captivity in zoos. For domesticated dogs, however, they’re used to being in a man’s house. They can freely roam around the property even without a leash.

 

For some well-meaning pet owners, they want to give their canine companion that feeling of living in a den by getting them a crate or a cage. Although cages are not necessarily substitutes for a dog’s lair, they can be the next best thing to it. The challenge for the owner is how to train his four-legged friend to be comfortable in a cage.

 

If you’re planning to get your dog a cage, here are some helpful tips on how to crate-train him:

 

Get a crate big enough for him – The size of the crate you’ll get doesn’t have to be very large, but it should at least allow your pooch to take at least a couple of paces inside it. It also has to be tall enough so that his head doesn’t hit the top part when he’s in a sitting position (compared to humans, dogs are taller when they sit).

 

Put something inside that will entice him to step in – It can either be his favorite toy or food. The key is to get him to walk inside the cage without forcing him. Once he’s inside, don’t close the crate door just yet. Allow him to get used to being there. It may take several attempts before he starts getting comfortable in it, so patience is one virtue you should really have while training him.

 

Provide creature comforts inside – Depending on what your dog’s used to, you can lay a thick cloth on the floor of the cage and put pillows there as well. If you’ve decided that you’ll also feed him inside the crate, put his feeding bowl in there as well.

 

Make him get used to being carried while inside the crate – One of the reasons for getting a dog a cage is to make him comfortable being carried around while inside it. Therefore, part of your crate-training is to lift the cage with him inside it and transfer it to different locations in your house. By doing this, if you need to take him with you in a car, he will no longer feel uncomfortable or even disoriented.

 

These are the basic steps in crate-training your pet pooch (if he barks excessively during the training, you can stop dog barking by using anti-barking collars). You can also enlist the help of someone who has crate-trained his own dog to help you out in case your attempts are not too successful.

 

Ending That Incessant and Annoying Barking

Barking is something that comes natural with dogs. It’s as natural as singing for humans. Aside from their body language, barking is one of best friend’s most vital forms of communication. There are many reasons why they bark, from warning people and other animals to protecting their territory. They also do it when they are excited.

 

These types of barking are completely normal and are not always a nuisance. When your pet pooch a lot more than what’s considered normal, he could be telling you that he’s getting bored or is looking for something stimulating or exciting. However, some dogs can bark excessively not because of their own issues but (get ready for this) because of their owner. You read it right: the reason for the behavior may actually be caused by his owner. The human owner may not be doing its job well as the pack leader, so the dog reacts by barking to the point of being very annoying.

 

Providing Exercise

 

The first step in curbing excessive barking is by making him do certain exercises. Such exercises can provide physical and psychological stimulation that your dog may be lacking. It’s an effective way of directing his attention to something when he can’t seem to find anything to do. Yes, just like us, they get bored, too. You can find helpful exercises from various resources online.

 

Give Him the Affection He Needs

 

When your canine friend is in a calm, submissive state, you can also give him affection. By doing this, you’re reinforcing the behavior you want from him instead of rewarding the behavior you don’t. Simply said, you don’t give him affection while he’s exhibiting that unwanted misbehavior of non-stop barking. The minute he stops doing it, that’s when you show your affection. This is your way of letting him know that he’s going to get some love from you if he barks a lot again.

 

Provide Proper Discipline

 

Certainly, putting a stop to unwanted behavior can be done by disciplining him. Again, there are various resources online where you can give discipline to your pooch to control his barking. Never reward unwanted behavior and make sure there are consequences to unwanted behavior, which includes barking that’s out of control.

 

Finally, as an effective way on how to stop dog barking, you can use an anti-barking dog collar. It’s a device worn around his neck and delivers electrical shocks whenever he starts to bark excessively.

 

Combine all these tips and you’ll surely put a stop to this truly annoying behavior from your pet pooch.

 

How to Keep Your Dog Flea-Free

As the old adage goes, prevention is always so much better than cure.

The same thing principle actually applies when we talk about fleas. These parasites can cause serious health problems to your beloved dog and so it’s always better to take preventive measures than to worry about curing it when it’s already worse.

Here’s a list of things you can do to put off fleas from attacking your pet:  

1. Bathe your pet frequently

Washing your dog often can be a good way to avoid the flea problem. Use water and soap as you give your dog a bath. The good thing about dogs is that you can always take him to the yard and simply use a hose.

2. Clean your house regularly

Thorough house cleaning can also be helpful. Use a vacuum so you can clean even those corners that are normally out of your reach. Wash areas that your dog frequents such as the living room, the dog house, the garage, the yard, or even the vehicle. This is truly effective in minimizing the flea problem.       

3. Use sprays and foggers

In some instances, sprays and foggers are necessary in order to totally eliminate potential flea infestation. You can purchase these products from specialized pet supply retailers. You can find one in your area or you may also check out online resources. Be warned, however, to seek counsel from your veterinarian before using these products because they can be potentially harmful to other pets – or your children.   

In case your dog has already acquired fleas, this is what you can do:

1. Utilize flea treatment supplies

Anti-flea soaps and shampoos are very effective and affordable. You may also use spot-on medications or oral medications. If you want, you may purchase Frontline Plus for dogs – a product that many dog owners recommend.     

Another idea is to make your dog wear a flea collar to put an end to the problem. It is even okay to use sprays and flea powders as long as you read the instructions and exercise caution. The details on the labels are there for a reason so do not ignore them in any way.

2. Give your dog a flea dip

Finally, you may use concentrated chemicals and give your dog a nice flea dip. Unlike regular baths, dips do not require rinsing and so this can be very potent in eliminating flea for good. Again, follow instructions carefully in order to avoid any serious health risks.