HOW TO INSTALL AN ELECTRONIC FENCE

STEP BY STEP INSTALLATION

STEP 1: Plan Your System Layout

This is the most important step. Be sure to take the time to plan carefully. This will avoid time consuming corrections to your installation. Before beginning installation of your system we recommend you make an aerial sketch of your yard. Your sketch should include all buildings, large plants, trees, walks, driveway, pool and other important details. Then sketch in where you plan to place the boundary wire and where you would like to place the transmitter (for example, in your garage). Make sure the wire makes a continuous loop. In preparing your layout, note that you will need to allow for a field width of at least 3 feet (preferably 6 – 10 ft.) on each side of the boundary wire. Your dog will need at least another 5 to 10 ft. for a safe roaming area. Avoid making passageways too narrow or your dog may be hesitant to use them.


For the system to work properly, the wire must make a continuous loop so that the signal is transmitted from one terminal of the transmitter through the wire and back to the other terminal. Twisting two adjacent sections of the wire loop cancels the signal along the twisted length. So use the twisted wire from the transmitter out to the exterior loop. This allows the dog to cross the area without receiving a correction. Use other lengths of twisted wire to connect smaller boundaries around plants, pools and other pet restricted areas.

As shown in FIGURE 1, calculate the total length of wire required to ensure that you have enough to complete the installation. Remember that twisted wire counts as twice its length since there are two strands.

STEP 2: Set Up the Base Station Transmitter

Most transmitters come with hardware kits and are easily mounted to your garage wall. If you have purchased a High Tech Pet model HC-8000, X-10 or X-22 electronic fence system, the TX-2 Base Station transmitter is sealed and may be mounted outdoors if desired. (This is not recommended for other brands.)

STEP 3: Prepare Twisted Wire Lengths First

Prepare the twisted lengths of wire. From your system layout sketch, determine the length required for each twisted pair. Cut two equal lengths of wire for each required twisted pair. With the pair of wires side by side, put one end of each wire in a power drill and spin the wires until there is approximately one twist per inch of wire. Do not over-twist because this could damage the wire. Repeat for each required pair. To eliminate this step purchase convenient pre-twisted ULTRA-WIRE.

STEP 4: Layout the Boundary Wire Above Ground

Referring to the sketch you made of your system layout, run and connect the wire loop above ground. Use High Tech Pet Boundary Wire Staples (or other rust resistant landscaping staples) every few feet to anchor the wire in place. (In a few weeks your grass will grow over the wire making it invisible from view. It is safe for you to mow over you properly anchored wire.)

Installation Tip - Give You Wire a Little Slack: Leave a little (about 15 inches) slack in the wire periodically along the perimeter and at the corners of the layout so you have a little extra wire when needed to repair a break in the loop. Wind the 15 inch slack into a 5 inch diameter coil and bury it with the wire. Choose locations for the slack that are easily identified by a terrain feature and make a map of them.

Installation Tip - Quick Splicing the Boundary Wire: High Tech Pet electronic dog fences come with custom engineered quick splicers that are silicone sealed to be waterproof and UV resistant. To use these connectors:

1. Push the two ends of the wires into the outer two holes in the splice. View from the bottom to make sure the wires are fully inserted.
2. Using pliers squeeze the top black button down solidly until it bottoms out.

Installation Tip - Easy on the Turns: Use gradual turns at the corners to produce a more consistent signal field. Stay at least six feet away from electrical, telephone, cable TV and other buried wires. These can cause attenuation or dead spots in your field. Large metal objects may create reflected signals from the boundary wire itself. You should avoid running the wire near such structures. If your neighbor happens to have the same brand of electronic dog fence keep your wires at least feet away from the neighbor's wire.

Installation Tip - Crossing a Driveway or Walk: High Tech Pet’s new optional Driveway Crossing Strip, lets you easily crosses driveways and walks with your electronic fence wire. This durable rubber slit attractively covers and protects the pet fence wire. You can drive over it, walk over it, even mow over it with no damage to the underlying boundary wire. Made of super durable elastomer, that will last years and years, it takes only minutes to install.

STEP 5: Test Your System

Switch the Base Station Transmitter ON. Take your Receiver Collar and walk the entire boundary ensuring that the collar continues to beep along the entire perimeter. Also check the lengths of twisted wire to make sure that the field is inactive in the areas where they are used. If the collar picks up a signal from the twisted length, the basic layout is probably incorrect -- review the discussion of single and double loop layouts. If you are using a single loop layout, twisted wire can only be used at the base station, or at the feed from the primary loop to another primary loop (example: small loop within a large loop).

THAT'S IT!
You just installed your electronic dog fence in less than one hour.   Now, on to training your dog.

TRAINING YOUR DOG

Training your dog will require use of a separate restraining collar and short training lead. Do not use the radio receiver collar as a restraining collar. Structure your training program to two or three, fifteen-minute sessions per day, EVERY DAY until your dog is fully trained. Stick to this program consistently but, do not train for more that fifteen minutes at a time or you risk losing your dog’s attention and the training becoming counter-productive. Remember that the most important elements in teaching a behavior are consistency and repetition.

Place the Boundary Training Flags

Boundary flags are provided so that your pet can easily see the boundary perimeter. This is especially important during training. Flags should be placed along the entire perimeter spaced no more than ten feet apart. Using a fully matching color. Use asphalt sealant for asphalt driveways.

STEP 2: Fit the Receiver Collar to Your Dog

For the receiver collar to properly apply the corrective shock stimulus, it is very important that the electrodes make good contact with the animal’s skin. Fur between the electrodes and skin can greatly reduce the amount of stimulus transmitted to your dog. For this reason, we recommend that you shave the fur under your dog’s neck where the electrodes contact the skin.

1. Place the collar around your dog’s neck with the receiver housing at the bottom.
2. Fit the strap as snugly as possible without restricting breathing. Make sure both electrodes are in good contact with your dog’s skin. Use of a little skin lotion on your dog’s neck will improve contact.
3. Once you have determined the proper fit, mark the strap and cut off the excess length.

STAGE 1 TRAINING

Stage 1 training takes place in the outer edge of the boundary field.

1. Choose a Command: You should choose a specific verbal command to instruct your dog to retreat, such as “Retreat,” “Back” or “Home.” Use this command exclusively and consistently throughout the training.
2. With boundary flags in place, field fully operational and a fully charged Receiver Collar on your dog, use the training lead to escort your dog into the outer edge of the boundary field. When you hear the beeping tone, utter the retreat command while firmly tugging on the lead and lead your dog into the safe zone. Use encouraging words such as, “Good Dog!” Praise and pet your dog. You may also wish to give your dog a food treat.
3. Repeat this stage for fifteen minutes each session until your pet instinctively and immediately retreats the moment the training tone is heard.

STAGE 2 TRAINING

In Stage 2 training you will lead your pet right up to a boundary flag introducing the most rapid pulse rate stimulus. As unpleasant as this stage may seem, it is extremely important that you teach your pet how to react to the intense stimulus. Otherwise, your dog may become confused and cower in the correction field or instinctively run the wrong way through the field. Bear in mind that you do not want to let your dog in on the knowledge that the stimulus field is only a few feet wide. Let him think it continues forever.

1. With the training lead tightly in hand, escort your dog right up to the boundary flag where the stimulus will be most intense.
2. The instant your dog reacts, utter the retreat command and escort your dog into the safe zone. Use encouraging words, praise and pet your dog and give the animal a treat as before.
3. Repeat this stage for fifteen minutes, three times per day until there is no doubt that your dog has “Got it,” observing your dog’s resistance to entering the boundary field or trying to retreat before the stimulus is received. These are good signs.
Observe your pet: Once you are certain that your pet will INSTINCTIVELY retreat at the first training tone, allow the animal to roam freely and observe his behavior. Make sure that you see him stop at the
4. boundary flags on his own. If your dog shows the slightest sign of confusion or stubborn behavior, continue the training program using the lead. It’s okay to return to Stage 1 training if you think it is appropriate.