We’ve been getting a lot of questions lately about the right age to start a dog on a hidden pet containment system. The general rule of thumb is 4 months, but it really depends on the dog. Once your dog can follow the three basic commands – come, sit, and stay – he or she can be trained on the pet containment system. Puppies under 3 months typically don’t have quite the attention span they need to learn their boundaries. If you have any concerns, it can be a good idea to consult with a qualified obedience trainer.
Is My Puppy Ready for a Fido’s Fences Pet Containment System?
November 3rd, 2011Overexcitement
September 22nd, 2011Does your dog overreact when visitors come to your home? When you’re expecting guests, make sure your dog has gotten plenty of exercise that day. A bored or restless dog is more likely to overreact to a visitor. When your guests arrive, have your dog leashed so that you can control and correct any attempts to jump or rush at the visitor. If possible, ask your guests to ignore the dog and avoid eye contact with her until she is calm and ready to interact politely – attention from these interesting strange people in the house will likely escalate the excitement level!
Getting To Know You
August 18th, 2011Have you taken the Fido’s Fences survey yet? We want to find out more about our customers and your needs. We’re still accepting survey responses at www.fidosfences.com/survey, so stop by and check it out! The survey should take less than 10 minutes to complete, and you’ll be eligible to receive a free battery (limit one per household).
Note: Limit is 1000 free batteries total for the survey. Limit one free battery per mailing address.
Battery Shelf Life
July 18th, 2011Here’s a question from Fido’s mailbag:
How long can I store unused batteries?
Fido’s Fences batteries have a shelf life of several years, so go ahead and stock up now. We recommend that batteries be stored in the original packaging.
Remember if you leave batteries in the receiver collar, they will run down in about 3 months, regardless of whether you’re using the collar, so when you are storing the receiver collar for an extended period of time, remove the batteries to preserve battery life.
Introducing your Dog to a New Person
June 9th, 2011The same rules for when you meet a new dog apply for when a new person meets your dog. Make sure visitors know the house rules in advance so you can easily manage your dog’s behavior during the introduction. Do not allow the dog to bark or jump up on the visitor. Visitors should avoid greeting the dog verbally and should not make eye contact, instead waiting for the dog to get comfortable with their scent and approaching with a gentle touch or nuzzle. At that point, your guest may be affectionate with your dog – if your guest wishes to.
Keep in mind that your dog can remember many, many distinct smells, so they will form a lasting impression of a guest after just a few meetings. It’s worth taking the time to make sure the introduction goes smoothly.
Meeting a New Dog
June 6th, 2011When you meet a new dog for the first time, of course the impulse is to run up and pet him right away, and make friends. But a dog’s version of getting to know you is a lot different than a human’s! A pack leader never approaches followers, the followers should come to the leader. Don’t make eye contact right away, this is too much too soon. Let the dog approach you and sniff you, and wait for a signal such as a gentle nuzzle or rub as a signal it’s time to be affectionate. Then you can pet the dog and tell her how beautiful she is! Remember that taking the time to get acquainted on the dog’s terms will lead to a much better long-term relationship.
Happy Memorial Day
May 26th, 2011
Hey everyone, we wanted to let you know that the office will be closed on Saturday and Monday for Memorial Day Weekend. Enjoy the holiday, and remember our troops!
Rainy Days
May 4th, 2011
It’s raining today on Long Island, and most of the East Coast it seems! It’s been a long hard winter for much of the country and if you’re feeling a little stir-crazy, just imagine how your dog is feeling by now.
Dogs need exercise to be happy and healthy – just like we do. If you’re stuck inside because of the rain like us here at Fido’s Fences on Long Island, it might seem like the last thing you’ll want to do today but consider pulling on your rain gear and taking at least a short walk. Your dog will feel much better and likely be better behaved after burning off some of that extra energy.
If a rainy walk is just too much (we understand about wet dog smell, really), at least make some extra time for indoor play. You might have to get a little creative but your dog will appreciate it. If you have a treadmill at home and you think your dog is up to it, you can even train him to use that for an easy indoor exercise solution.
What indoor exercise solutions have you invented with your pets during the long winter and stormy spring? Share your best indoor exercise photo with us at mail@fidosfences.com! We’ll select our favorites to post here – winners will receive a 10% discount coupon for their next online order.
Communicating with Your Dog
May 2nd, 2011Ever feel like your dog knows what you’re thinking? That’s not exactly the case – your dog may not understand that you’re upset because you had a really bad day at work today, but he is likely to stay close by and try to comfort you anyway. That’s because your dog understands your emotions, and is always responding to them.
It really is a case of not what you say, but how you say it. Shouting at your dog is never productive because dogs tend to interpret loud, emotional vocalizing as a sign of instability. Since your dog can’t understand the words, he can only respond to the tone – and the most likely response to shouting will be fear. A frightened dog is not going to respond the way you want him to.
By staying calm and in control with your dog at all times, you will reinforce your status with the dog as a leader – even when it’s your dog’s turn to reassure you, after a rough day.
It’s Spring!
April 22nd, 2011
Happy Spring! It’s still pretty chilly at nighttime here at Fido headquarters on Long Island, but the days are getting longer, the pollen count is getting higher, and all of our dogs are getting a little cabin fever. Your dog is probably spending more time outdoors, and may be starting to test the fence boundary as they get distracted by the sounds and smells of springtime. Taking a few preventative steps now might help you avoid some headaches with your pet containment system.
1) Collar Adjustment – Make sure your dog’s collar fits properly. In our experience, 90% of the time when dogs escape their boundary, it’s because their well-meaning owner loosened the collar to keep them more comfortable. For your pet containment system to work properly, the metal probes of the receiver collar must be in contact with your dog’s skin at all times – even when he lowers his head to smell something.
2) Fresh Batteries – You might not have thought about battery replacement over the winter when you were not relying on your pet fence quite so much. Doublecheck your batteries by holding them close to the fence boundary (remember to hold it at dog-height, not your height!) and listen for the warning beep. That will let you know your battery is still working for now. In any case, if it’s been more than 3 months, you need a new battery. Contact us for a replacement or to sign up for our convenient battery subscription plan.
If you have any questions or if you’d like one of our obedience trainers to work with your dog, please call us! We’re happy to help with all of your pet questions. Monday through Saturday, you can find us at 516 922 7272 between 9am-5pm Eastern.