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Frequently Asked Questions - Radio Fence™ Dog & Cat Fences
Will it work in my yard?
YES. Radio Fence™ works in yards of all sizes, regardless of layout.
Is my dog too big (or little)?
Radio Fence™ has been proven safe and effective for all dogs over 5
lbs. The adjustable collar allows you to create a perfect fit for
your pet.
Will it hurt my dog?
NEVER. The mild “correction” pulses delivered when a pet approaches
the boundary are designed to get your pet’s attention, but not
punish him. This method has been proven safe and will not harm your
pet
Can my kids get hurt?
NEVER. The mild correction pulses are connected to the pet’s collar,
not the fence. So even if your child is holding the pet when it
crosses the boundary, they’ll never feel a thing.
I have a small dog and a large dog. Will this work for me?
YES. Radio Fence™ is effective for all the dogs in your family. The
kit includes one collar; additional collars are available
separately.
Is this complicated?
From installation through training, the enclosed easy-to-follow
manual walk you through every step. Plus, if you ever have a
question, our customer service center is here to help.
How old does a dog have to be before starting training?
This is somewhat breed dependent, but most breeds should be at least
16 to 20 weeks of age.
During training an owner observes their dog sitting in the
correction zone. The owner has touched the probes and has determined
the collar is working. The owner can see the dog's skin flinch, so
he is sure the dog is receiving the correction. What should the
owner do to prevent this from happening?
Retrain the dog by putting it on a long leash. As soon as the dog is
observed entering the correction zone he should be pulled out and
redirected to the "sit" and "stay" command.
Once a dog is trained to the system what is the best way to take
the dog out of the boundary?
Create what is called an "invisible gate" and take the dog out only
through this gate. This is covered in detail in the owners manual.
Once a dog is trained to the system how does the owner create the
"invisible gate" concept?
Place a long leash on the dog. Turn the system off. Remove the dog's
collar. Put the dog on the "sit" and "stay" command near the area
that will become the "gate". Owner walks out of yard and asks dog to
"come".
If a dog is running through the system at only one spot in the
yard, how is this corrected?
Set him up at this location. For example, have him on a long leash
and then have someone else walk by that spot or walk their dog by
that spot. When the dog attempts to leave - pull him back with the
leash and then redirect him to the "sit" and "stay" commands. Also
see our Re-Training Tips
Can an owner use the Radio Fence™ to train other dogs from coming
into the owner's yard?
Only if the other dogs are wearing a receiver collar.
What is the dummy collar effect?
This is a procedure where the collar is eliminated as a factor in
learning. In other words, the dog wears the collar without it being
activated for 3-5 days. This way the dog does not learn that the
collar causes the correction, but rather getting to close to the
yard boundary.
How long should an owner take to create the dummy collar effect?
How many days should the dog wear a deactivated collar before
receiving the correction for the first time?
On the average, it will take at least 3 days and as long as 7 days.
The first time the dog receives the correction should he be on or
off a leash?
On the leash. This way the owner can easily redirect the dog to the
appropriate behavior.
What is the purpose of having the dog on a leash the first time
he receives the correction?
In the event the dog becomes confused, the owner can easily direct
him to the appropriate behavior.
How long should the owner leave the flags up?
The flags should remain for at least 2 weeks, but in some cases as
long as 30 days.
What is meant by the "safe zone"?
The area where the dog can roam freely without getting a correction.
Does the correction cause pain or harm to my dog?
Absolutely not. The correction is safe, painless and humane.
Is this a humane way to train a dog?
Absolutely. While the correction is unpleasant, it is harmless to
your pet. Electronic training devices require interaction and
training from the owner to achieve desired results. Therefore Radio
Systems Corporation provides comprehensive training manuals with
each training product. These tools were developed with veterinarians
and animal behaviorists to ensure safety and peace of mind for you
and your pet.
Can I use this system to train my dog to stop jumping over or
digging under wood or metal fences?
Yes. In fact approximately 40% of those buying a Radio Fence™ already
own an existing physical fence.
How do I prevent one dog from chewing on the collar of another
dog?
If you see one dog chewing on the other dog's collar - pull him off
and redirect him to "sit" and "stay". Also, a daily spraying of
Lysol on the dog's collar will help repel the other dog.
Installation
Questions
How deep should I bury the wire?
We recommend that you bury the wire 1 - 3 inches underground to give
it protection from possible damage caused by small rodents or
surface traffic. It is not vital to the operation of the system that
the wire be buried, but it is highly recommended. You can also bury
the wire deeper, (up to 6-8 inches) if you are concerned about
damage caused by aeration, etc. The wire can be attached to an
existing fence, hedges or other items if it is not going to get
damaged. In wooded areas you can even run the wire through PVC or
rubber garden hose.
What is the best thing to use to dig a trench for my wire?
We have found that the quickest way to dig your trench is with a
straight edged spade or shovel or a power lawn edger or trencher is
ideal for larger installations or hard soil conditions.
How do I cancel the signal in certain areas of my boundary?
The Radio Fence™ signal can only be canceled by twisting wire
together. The wires must be part of your continuous loop, and must
be traveling in opposite directions. The tighter the twist, the
better your cancellation will be. However, you must be sure not to
over-tighten the wire and cause a break in the wire's outer
insulation. We recommend at least 10-12 twists per foot.
Example: Start with one end of the wire attached to your
transmitter. Take wire out to the edge of your boundary, make your
loop which encloses your property, then come back to the
transmitter. When you are coming back to the transmitter to close
the loop, twist the wire with the wire that you started with
initially. This will cancel the signal over the wire that connects
your transmitter to the outer edge of your boundary . This same
principle can be applied to enclose pools, ponds, gardens,
outbuildings, etc.
Does it matter where I mount the transmitter?
Yes. The transmitter should be mounted INDOORS ONLY in an area where
it will be dry at all times. This is because exposure to moisture
can damage the electrical components inside the unit resulting in
poor fence signal and risk of electrical shock or fire.
Why do I need to have rounded corners along my boundary?
It is important that the corners on your loop are rounded with at
least a 6' radius. Any sharp turns or angles in your loop can cause
complete signal failure, or just intermittent signal conditions
along your entire boundary. This is because the signal that is
radiated off the boundary wire cancels itself out if it crosses with
an opposing signal. Since wires in a sharp corner or angle allow the
signals to cross each other directly, they cancel each other out. A
rounded corner will prevent direct crossing of the signals and your
Radio Fence™ will function properly.
How can I install the wire across hard surfaces like my driveway
or sidewalk?
If you have to cross concrete, asphalt, brick or other hard
surfaces, either lay the wire in a convenient expansion joint or use
a circular saw with a masonry blade to create a groove. Place the
wire in the groove and cover with an appropriate patching compound.
Your local hardware store can help you choose the right compound for
your type of driveway.
What can I use to give the wire additional protection?
In areas that may experience particularly high traffic, or areas
prone to small animals digging or chewing, we recommend that you run
the wire through a PVC pipe or rubber garden hose, then bury it 3-4
inches deep. This will not affect the signal, but will give the wire
additional support in areas prone to breakage. NOTE: Do not
use metal piping or garden hose that contains metal strands in the
weave.
Why do I need those little flags?
The flags are absolutely vital to the success of your system. They
form the "visual boundary" that your pet will learn to associate
with the warning beep given by his receiver collar. Without a visual
boundary, your pet will only be confused by the warning beeps, and
training will take much longer. Once the pet is trained, you may
remove the flags. This is described in the training manual that
comes with your kit.
Where do I place the flags in relation to the buried wire?
The boundary flags must be placed on the inner edge of your
boundary, at the point where the warning signal on your pets collar
begins to activate. You never want to place the flags further into
the middle of his "warning zone", because by doing so, you are
telling him that it is OK to be in areas where the warning signal
and shock are present. The boundary flags should be placed a maximum
of 10 feet apart from each other along your entire boundary. Also,
it is important to make sure the boundary is at least 5' from the
buried wire.
HOW DO I FIND A BREAK IN MY WIRE?
(this one gets its own page!)
Can I splice the wire?
Yes. Splicing is not a problem as long as it is done properly. It is
vital that moisture be kept out of any splices or wire connections.
Be sure to always use the same type and size wire, and also be sure
that the splice is completely waterproof. To ensure a waterproof
splice we recommend the 3M-316 irrigation splice. We make these
splices available for $1.00 each. Click Here to order splices
Why is it vital that my splices be waterproof?
If moisture gets into your wire it will cause corrosion, resulting
in signal failure. Also, be sure to note the location of your
splices for future reference, because almost all breaks in the
system are located at splices.
Does my wire have to form a complete loop for this system to
work?
Yes.
What can I do to protect my wire and transmitter from damage by
an electrical storm?
Even though our systems have built-in lightning protection. we
recommend that you get our
Lightning
Protection Module if you live in an area prone to
thunderstorms. This is the only way to have 100% protection from
lightning damage.
Click Here for
more information.
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