How to Train Your Dog on an Invisible Fence

The neighborhood is sometimes so unsafe for dogs. You must have heard scenarios where dogs disappeared without a trace while some pet parents discovered their favorite companions' bodies lying lifeless on the road after a tragic accident. Such stories are pretty heartbreaking. However, how do you solve the situation?

Confining your dog within the walls of his crate all the time isn't a solution since they also need room to play, sniff, and enjoy the beauty of nature around the yard. While fences can help minimize their movements, sometimes they aren't compelling, or you may not have a choice to erect a wall for various reasons.

Similarly, it may be hard to go in that direction since dog-proof fences involve heavy construction. Thus, you risk hiding your well-trimmed lawn from the street view.

An invisible fence, also called an electric or wireless fence, can help keep your dog safely and effectively within the confines.

Getting Started

Installing a dog GPS fence isn't complicated; you can get over it in minutes. However, your duty as a pet parent starts after the installation. You have to ensure that your furry friend understands the basic principles of the fence, the boundaries, and how to behave in his new environment. Before you get to training, you must ensure you get the best barrier from the supplier.

Invisible fences come in varying types. Ensure that you choose one that issues a signal before the corrective stimulus and allows you to use the alert independently. The fence's primary function is to guide your dog and safely and effectively contain him in the confines of your yard, not to punish them. Thus, you may want your canine to familiarize themselves with the alert, and refrain from the fence by the sign, without the corrective stimuli.

Similarly, ensure that you purchase a separate non-metallic collar to use with the leash when training your dog. Using the Response Collar to attach the leash isn't right, and a metallic one may affect the transmissions going through.While training progresses, they may outgrow the leash, but you should start them on it to be in control.

Additionally, you need patience and consistency to teach your dog to use his freedom. Dogs differ, and while yours may take two weeks or less to learn, some can go as long as six weeks. Don't hurry any step of the training. If there's a need, go a step back, or restart a whole session if that's what will make him comfortable.

As a result, you may want to be keen to notice any signs of stress and psychological distress in your dog. Invisible fence dog training can be a tedious process for your dog. If you don't pull it out correctly, you may end up with a canine that's even more scared of playing into the yard or one that aggressively goes past the fence despite the corrective stimulus. Some signs to check out for in your dog include:

• Not willing to go close to the flags
• Frantic/Nervous movements
• Lowering body or tail
• Stiffening body
• Tucking ears, etc.

Again, your dog fence training shouldn't feel like a burden on their shoulders. First, ensure that each training sessions are between 10 and 15 minutes. It is better that you include numerous training sessions per day, but ensure they're short.

Likewise, ensure your dog is comfortable with the boundary flags, and each session ends with high positivity and delight. You can do this by having your routine playtime (at least five minutes every session) around 10 feet away from the boundary to boost comfort. You can also incorporate many rewards and treats to bring more positivity.

Similarly, ensure that your dog completes the training even if he seems to respond well. That will help you reinforce the skills more and make the pooch accustomed to the fence better.

The next thing to look out for is your dog's collar transmission. You need to ensure that you're working with the lowest stimulation. While starting, set the collar to the slightest stimulus. If your dog doesn't respond to the weakest stimuli, pick the next one until you reach the lowest practical level. However, you should only choose one level at ago.

How to Train Your Dog on Invisible Fence

While training your dog, you need more consistency, firmness, and fun to pull it out well. Here are some training procedures you may want to consider. We acknowledge that pets are different and unique. As such, we offer a list of three methods that will probably work with any dog.

1. Understanding Signal

The electric fence comes with a collar that sends an audible warning to your dog every time he approaches the boundary. That makes it easy for you to teach your dog to use his new environment since the collar audio will always remind him. You can train your dog to listen to the signal and retreat every time the warning goes off. Here are some steps to follow in this training process:

• First, set the electric fence collar to signal only, without activating the static correction.
• Walk your dog around the yard on a leash. Go even close to the fence.
• Direct your dog to retreat when you hear the warning and reward him every time he follows your commands.
• After he learns to retreat at the alert of the signal, turn on the static correction to the lowest level that attracts your dog's reaction.
• Continue practicing responding to the signal, walking around the yard even close to the fence perimeters. Also, continue correcting your pet; if he ignores your directives, let him go past the boundary and receive the static correction.
• Introduce distractions on the other side while directing your dog to stay within his boundaries at all times. Let him cross over and get the mild static stimuli if he ignores them. Also, reward him every time he responds to your commands.
• Once your dog understands how to listen to the signal, retreat, and resist distractions, you may consider training him off-leash. Even then, continue observing, directing, and rewarding him where necessary.

2. Positive Reinforcement

Positive reinforcement is one of the easiest and most effective ways of training your dog to use an invisible fence. In this case, you'll take your dog out to play in the yard, close to the wall, and call him back whenever he moves closer to the fence. Here are the steps:

• Install the fence and mark the boundaries using flags.
• Initiate a play with your dog and take him towards the fence. However, don't coerce him to go to the boundary or drag him there. It should be out of a free will.
• Call him back each time he approaches the fence and reward him if he listens.
• Let him walk through the fence and receive a mild static shock if he doesn't listen to your calls. If he still doesn't respond to the stimulus, you may adjust the transmission and try again.
• Over time, your pup will learn to refrain from the fence.

3. Signaling with Responses

This training process teaches your dog to respond to the collar audio warning first, then adjust to the static correction. First, you should teach your pup to come to you whenever you call him. And, remember to reward him whenever he responds positively. Here is how to train your dog using this method:

• Teach pup to respond whenever you call him
• Install your electric fence and set up flags along the lines of the boundary
• Walk your dog within or near the fence and on a long leash.
• Call your dog whenever the collar signal warning goes off as it shows he's close to the invisible fence line. As usual, reward if he responds.
• Wait until the dog grows conversant with the correct signal and learns to retreat from the fence. Reinforce his training with distractions on the other side of the boundary.
• Activate static corrective stimuli whenever he insists on moving past the invisible fence line.
• Allow your dog to play off-leash while you continue supervising until you're convinced he's gotten the idea.

Once he's learned to keep off the fence, start creating distractions on the other side of the electric fence. For example, you can ask a family member to cross over the boundary with a ball or any of his toys and entice him while you try to call him back whenever he tries to cross. Repeat this while rewarding him whenever he resists the urge to jump over the fence.

Also, keep making the distractions more enticing the more he resists going to the other side of the fence, and each time, reward him. You can praise or give him his favorite treats and toys. Once you're convinced that your pup has grasped the idea, consistently resists distractions, and avoids the boundary for at least four weeks, start removing the flags one after the other every two weeks.

You won't have to activate the static correction with time since he'll learn to remain within the boundaries.

How Do Electric Fences Work?

Photo by Luke Stackpoole on Unsplash

Every wireless dog fence comes with flags and a collar containing the static corrective stimulus. It adopts the name invisible or wireless because it leaves nothing visible on the surface. Once you buy the fence, your manufacturer gives you a wire you'll need to install underground along the yard's perimeter or anywhere you want to keep your dog contained.

The underground wire signals your dog's collar whenever he approaches the line. Most shock collars have warning alerts and will likely give an audio warning before releasing the corrective static shock, which your dog will only feel if he tries to go past the fence line.

When to Use an Invisible Fence

For different reasons, an invisible fence is an essential tool for people who can't erect a physical barrier. Similarly, these fences are typically more effective in deterring dogs from leaving the compound (almost more than their physical counterparts).

While they're invisible, the fences come with flags that you'll use to mark the boundary line for your dog, especially during training and before he understands the location of the barrier. Here are some of the scenarios where these types of fences apply more than the others:

• If you want to contain your dog within the yard but don't want to deface your home with a physical fence
• If your yard is small and leaves no room for a physical fence
• If there are strict rules about building dog-proof walls in your locality
• If your space is too ample and costly to border all round
• If you live close to the highway or streets

Are They Safe To Use?

Safety is a common concern for most dog owners aspiring to use the electric fence. The good thing is that these barriers are harmless. They only send mild shocks to attract your pup's attention without causing long-term damage or injury to the canines.

The shocks are shallow to cause any burns, start fires or electrocute your pup. However, your dog may sometimes develop behavioral problems, especially if you expose him to the fence without prior training. Consider training your dog to use the electrical fence before leaving them close to the barriers.

Working with a professional dog trainer is even better to help you get the process right. Again, sometimes your dog will pass through the fence despite the effort you've put in place. If that occurs, don't give up or punish the pup. Instead, involve a professional or ask for assistance where necessary.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Long Does it Take Train a Dog with Invisible Fence?

The duration your dog takes to learn not to go past the invisible fence depends on the individual canine and his learning abilities. Fast learners can take two weeks or less to understand the concept, while others go for as long as six weeks. Be patient and calm, and make the learning process fun, so your dog doesn't develop fear.

Can a Puppy Run Through an Invisible Fence?

While it's uncommon for dogs to pass through the invisible fence, others can be stubborn and cross the boundary despite the shocks in the collar. Trust it to deter your dog from going out, but consult your professional trainer in case of any emergency. Again, remember that the barrier only prevents your dog from going out but doesn't ban the other dogs from accessing your compound.