So you have just bought an electric pet fence to help you in keeping your dog from running across and getting lost. In just a few hours, you will be able to experience why it is a better alternative to leashes, pens, or picket fences. In fact, you can immediately begin training your dog, so he can get used to your new invisible fence.

Check the contents.

The package usually comes with a transmitter, a single receiver fitted with short contact points, extra long contact points, boundary flags, power adapter, warranty card, and manual. There should also be a battery and test light for the receiver. One important reminder: ensure that your dog is over eight pounds and can perform the simplest commands. This will make wearing the receiver much more comfortable and the training faster.

Make a quick survey of your lot.

The transmitter will broadcast on all the directions; thus, the play area for your pet will be circular. This means you need to have a clear measurement of the open areas of your lot where your dog can play around. The size of your open areas will determine where the transmitter will be placed so that your pet can have the maximum play area possible. In general, you place the transmitter closer to the open yard. Also, make sure that the transmitter would not be adjacent to any metallic objects to maintain the signal. Then set the proper range in your transmitter.

Locate the boundary.

Using a battery-operated receiver, walk outward until you hear a beeping sound. This indicates that you are in the boundary zone. Plant a boundary flag on the spot. Use the same process to put as much flags as possible. The flags will remind your dog that the boundary is close. Should you want to push the boundary farther back, you will have to go back to the transmitter and make the necessary changes. You have to decide on this after only a few flags have been plotted, so you won’t have to replace a lot of flags.

Set the receiver. The receiver has a dial that let you set the level of static correction that will be applied to your dog when he crosses the boundary. Be careful in gauging your dog’s sensitivity and behavior so that he will not feel too much discomfort when wearing the receiver. Again, the static correction is completely safe and will not harm your pet. The receiver does not punish but only reminds your dog about his location.

Start training. It would be very cruel if you left your dog to figure out how the system works, as it will most definitely leave him stressed and physically drained. Help your dog associate the warning signs (such as the flags and beeping sound) to the need to go back to the play area. During boundary exercises, help him to get in quickly. Part of the training is teasing him to cross the boundary using food or yourself. Reward him if him can successfully control his actions. In less than a month, you may even just turn off the transmitter, and he will still just move within the boundary.