Canadapets - Radio Fence® Training tips

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PetSafe™ Radio Fence Training Manual

It is important to have as little disruption as possible during your pets' training sessions.

ORIENTATION
During the training process it is VERY IMPORTANT that you do not let your pet run free in the yard with or without wearing the receiver. If you do, it will confuse him and you may have to re-start the entire training process. It would be best to keep him on a leash during the first week. But, DO NOT walk your pet over the boundary line on a leash. This may confuse him in the beginning. Eventually, you will be able to take him with you over the boundary on a leash - this is called "Invisible Gate" training and we will get to this later. But for now, if he needs to leave the yard, place him in the car, or carry him well over to the other side of the signal field. Don't forget to REMOVE HIS COLLAR before taking him from the yard by either of these two options, or he will get corrected as he leaves.

To allow your pet to become accustomed to the probes on his neck remove the receiver after each training session during the first week. After that, remove the receiver each night. Eventually he will be able to wear the receiver all the time, but it may take some time for him to develop a tolerance to the probes on the receiver. Clean both the probes and the dogs neck weekly.

The training flags are there for two reasons. First, to give your pet a temporary visual boundary and secondly to help you with the training process. The flags should be installed at the point where the warning beep starts. All of the flags will remain in the yard for about two weeks. Then they will be slowly removed until they are all out.

Remember training should be fun, fair, firm and most of all - consistent. If other family members are assisting in the training sessions, it is vitally important that everyone follows the exact same technique. Make each session short and upbeat (10 minutes). Many dogs have extremely short attention spans and training can be very tiring for them, so don't get discouraged if he doesn't "get it" at first - they will eventually learn.

PHASE-1 : Days 1 to 3
Place a leash on your pet using a flat collar or a slip collar, DO NOT place the leash directly on the receiver collar - they have probes! Prior to placing the receiver collar on your pet, turn the transmitter off so your pet will not experience a correction. Your pet needs to first be taught how to respond to the flags. Walk with your pet within the safe area of the yard and calmly praise and talk to him. Now, proceed towards the training flags. Before your pets head reaches the flags, give a quick horizontal or downward "jerk and release" correction on the leash. Bring your pet back about 15 feet into the safe area and praise him. The "jerk and release" is the only negative reinforcement your pet needs. There is no verbal correction needed. You should tailor the corrections to your pets' personality, temperament, size and breed.

Each training session should only last about 10 to 15 minutes. Enter the boundary at various places and focus on areas that the family typically would leave the yard ( ie: driveway, sidewalk or gate ). Soon you should see your pet begin to avoid the flags. This shows that he is learning. Make sure you play with your pet in the safe area of the yard to show him time spent in the yard is a pleasant experience. This will prevent your pet from becoming timid or tentative about going outside.

Remember, keep him on a leash during this phase, even to go outside to the bathroom.

Note: Some dogs will "pick up" the training faster than others. Before proceeding to Phase 2, be sure that your dog is happy to run and play in the yard, generally avoiding the flags. If not, spend an extra day or two on Phase 1. Training is simply following the building blocks - you cannot proceed to Phase 2 without first completing Phase 1.

PHASE-2 : Days 4 to 6
During Phase 2 your pet is still on the leash. Turn the transmitter on. Your pet can now experience the correction of the system. Walk your pet within the safe area of the yard and calmly praise and talk to him. Allow your pet to proceed toward the training flags. When your pet enters the signal field, he will experience an uncomfortable, but harmless, static correction. Since this correction may startle your pet, they may jump and/or yelp. This is normal. Make sure when this happens, you quickly pull your dog back into the safe area of the yard. The entire time you will need to have a smile on your face and praise him lavishly - make a really big "good dog" fuss of them. Play in the safe area and do not allow your pet to run back to the house. NEVER PULL OR CALL YOUR PET INTO THE SIGNAL FIELD. Let him decide to enter or stay within the safe area.

You will need to begin to incorporate "set-ups" in your training sessions. A "set-up" is a situation that would normally tempt your pet to leave the yard, such as a family member crossing the boundary, or another pet outside the boundary. These will teach your pet that he needs to pay attention to his whereabouts, regardless of the situation. Until now, the training has not been tested under conditions where your pet has a heightened level of desire. You may begin this training by having a family member walk out of the safe area. Your pet should still be on a leash and wearing his receiver/collar around his neck. Remember, DO NOT call your pet out of the boundary! ( You may talk to him, but do not say "come" or entice him ). If your pet refuses to follow the family member, praise him warmly. HE IS LEARNING. If your pet decides to follow the family member, allow him to enter the signal field and receive a correction. Again, your pet may respond by jumping and/or yelping. Quickly move him back into the safe area of the yard while smiling and praising on the way. Repeat the process with other "set-ups" such as other pets, a ball, a stick, etc... in various places around the yard. Use something that really excites your pet. This process will cause your pet to make a choice and it is a critical point in his learning process.

If your pet is not responding when he enters the signal field, it is usually due to the collar being too loose. If the collar is fitting properly and your pet does not respond when he enters the signal field, this usually means that the correction level is set too low ( UL-275, RF-275 and PIF-275 receivers only ). See your owners manual on how to adjust the correction level or Click here.

Before proceeding to Phase 3, be sure your pet is happy to run and play in the safe area of the yard and is avoiding the training flags, if not, spend an extra day or two on Phase 2.

PHASE-3 : Days 7 to 14
If your pet has successfully completed Phases 1 & 2, he is now ready to be off the leash while you are constantly supervising him. DO NOT leave your pet unattended during this phase. It is not uncommon for your pet to associate the training with his leash, or to the trainer, and he may leave the yard when these conditions change. If that happens, retrieve your pet, remove his collar and return to the yard. Many times, the pet will run back into the safe area of his yard by himself. If you are unable to retrieve him immediately, turn the transmitter off so that he can return without receiving a correction. If your pet leaves a second time see our tips for "Hard-to-Train" pets - Click here.

After six days of constantly supervising your pet while off the leash, you can begin to leave him unattended for short periods of time. Gradually, over the next three weeks, begin building up the time your pet is left unattended.

Note: Some pets will want to stay near the house or may be hesitant to go outside. It may take a few days before your pet is confident to do so alone. If so, take your pet to the safe area and give him his favourite treats, play with him and give him lots of praise to show him that it is safe to be outside.

While this Training Manual states a training regimen for up to 14 days, we strongly recommend expanding this training to involve a MINIMUM training period of 30 consecutive days. Remember, if your pet is not properly and fully trained to the containment system - it will not work - regardless of manufacturer or claims to the contrary.
You cannot progress from one stage to the next without being certain that your pet has fully understood the previous stage. If you are unsure, spend the time to add a few extra days on a stage before proceeding. Remember - these systems are NOT a miracle cure, they cannot physically restrain a dog from leaving a yard. Your pet must be properly trained to the system (30 days) for the system to work. If you are hesitant or unsure about training the dog yourself, we recommend consulting a reputable Professional Trainer ( references from SPCA / Veterinarians ), many of whom have experience with these systems, even for a couple of sessions to ensure you start off on the right foot.

FINALLY
Two weeks after your pet can safely be left outside unattended, you may begin removing the training flags. Pull every other flag each day until all of the flags are removed. Once the flags are gone you can ( if needed ) teach your pet how to safely walk over the boundary - this is called "Invisible Gate" training. Remove the receiver/collar and place him on a leash using a flat or slip collar. Encourage your pet to follow you by reassuring him and praising him. Most pets will be reluctant, but you must be persistent. DO NOT allow your pet to "bolt through" the signal field. Teach him it is safe to cross with you while he is on a leash. Use a release word such as " Break" or "Good dog". Be consistent and both exit the yard and re-enter it at the same point each time. Eventually your pet will associate the leash with leaving safely. For Customer Support, please call 1-800-732-2677.

TRAINING A SCARED DOG
If your pet becomes scared after receiving a correction and will not come out of his safe place ( porch, house etc. ), the following tips have proven to be effective solutions:
1) When the dog is acting "fearful" the owner should NOT try to comfort him or reassure the dog. In other words, the owner should not reward the wrong behaviour.
2) The owner should allow the dog to wear the receiver in the house to get the dog used to wearing it in a situation where he has not received a correction before. Be sure to praise the dog for wearing the collar indoors and not being scared.
3) Before taking the dog out into the yard, place the collar on the dog while in the house. Place another collar attached to a leash on the dog also.
4) If needed, lightly pull the dog out into the yard.
5) If the dog resists in the yard, use the light pull technique in the yard also.
6) Once the dog is moving in the yard, redirect him to obedience.

It is important to have as little disruption as possible during your pets' training sessions.

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