FAQ's
Electronic Training

Vibration: Petsafe offers a vibration trainer for deaf dogs.

Compatibility

A transmitters compatibility refers to its ability to operate remote equipment. All transmitters operate at least one collar receiver, but some operate more than one receiver, and some operate other equipment such as the remote bird launchers and auto-backers as well.

In situations where one transmitter might interfere with another in the same field of response, most Innotek transmitters can change their frequency to avoid cross-reception.

For international customers, customs will require the frequency information. Call the manufacturer for that information.

Tone

The tone mode is available on some models. Some have a "manual tone"* button which sounds on the dog's receiver when you push the button. Others have the option of a tone which sounds simultaneously with the corrective stimulation, a warning tone which occurs with a 1 second delay to stimulation, or no tone at all.

*The manual tone can be used as a warning tone or as a silent recall, signaling the dog to return to you. It can also be used in place of a reinforcement, signaling the dog when an exercise has been successfully completed.

Some units such as the Smart Dog 100 have manual tones for different purposes. A "good" tone to be used for reinforcement and praise and a "bad" tone to be used for warning or negative reinforcement.

The Innotek Smart Dog 200 also has a clicker feature. Not quite a tone, the clicker is used to reinforce good behavior and signal the dog when an exercise is successful.

Synchronization

The training collar receiver and transmitter must be synchronized to work together properly. Synchronization means the collar receiver and transmitter are tuned to each other. The user must synchronize the receiver and transmitter after charging a receiver, replacing a battery in the transmitter or receiver, or changing the ID code.

Antennas

All of the collar receivers we sell are "antenna-less" meaning that their antenna is a built-in part of their internal make-up. This greatly enhances the snag-proof performance in heavy cover. It also makes them a "low profile" collar for working in populated areas where some people object to the use of e-collars.

All brands of transmitters have had their antennas reduced considerably. Normal 6" antennas have been reduced to 3" antennas, which allow them to retain all of their transmitting power with less bulk and inconvenience.

Longer range collars--1/3 mile and over--may have larger antennas on the transmitters and/or the receivers to give maximum range.

Waterproof or Water Resistant?

Most collar Receivers are waterPROOF, meaning they are submersible. If a collar receiver is merely water-resistant, it is noted in the owner's guide. Water resistant equipment can withstand rain, wet weather conditions and puddle jumping, but not submersion.

Most Transmitters are water RESISTANT. Care should be taken to keep transmitters as dry as possible.

Probes

Probes refers to the small metal skin contact points behind the collar receiver. It is through the probes that the stimulation is delivered to the dog. All collar receivers come with a set of short hair probes and long hair probes. However, dogs with downy or thick undercoats may benefit from the thick hair probes which are "pointier" and make a better skin contact (Innotek collars can use these points).
Necessary for all husky, collie, spitz-type breeds. Highly recommended for most long-haired breeds.

In lieu of thick-hair probes, a small 2"x2" patch can be shaved under your dog's throat where the collar will sit against skin rather than undercoat.

Dummy Collars

Dummy collars are used to "fool" the dog into thinking that he is wearing his "live" controller collar all of the time.

The secret of reliable performance is in the dog's internalization of commands. That means that he responds without evaluating options other than accurate response to your request. Dogs who start with and continue to wear their dummy collar when their live collar is charging will not develop the "smart" ability to judge when the trainer has control and when he doesn't by virtue of which collar the dog is wearing.

Consistently wearing a "training" collar ends the "option searching" behavior when a dog is given a command and promotes consistent response. A wise trainer will use a dummy collar on any dog that is being trained or is not yet 100% reliable.

Underground Fencing Wire

Hidden Fences use plastic-coated copper wire to transmit the radio signal to the collar receivers. The type and thickness of the copper inside the plastic coating depends on the quality of the fence and the number of splices that you need to "go the distance". The shorter the distance, the lighter the wire can be.

All brands sold by FuturePet.com use 18 or 20 gauge wire.

All containment systems require the wire to make a full loop.

How deep must the wire be buried? Although burying the wire a couple of inches protects it from the elements (lawn mowers, chewing creatures, tripping neighbors, or driving over it), it is not necessary to bury it at all. If you decide to leave the wire exposed, take care to "walk" the wire occassionaly to check against damage.

Driveways: To run the wire across a concrete driveway is usually only a matter of pressing the wire down into the expansion joints of the concrete. To run across an asphalt driveway can be more tricky. Optimally, it is best to cut a groove into which you can slide the wire. If that is not possible, you can run the wire through a heavy garden hose which lays across the driveway and protects the wire from the car tires.

Deep snow: If you live in an area of possible deep snow cover, purchase the larger fence systems. The same attributes that make those fences suitable for sending the signal a long distance (a more powerful transmitter) will also make them stronger when buried deeper in the ground or under snow. Snow cover (up to 10 feet) will not inhibit the signal.

Can the wire be strung along an existing fence? Yes, privacy and wood fencing is no problem. However, running the wire on or parallel (within about 10 feet) to a chain link fence may shorten the signal field which will shorten your warning zone. Experimenting with the collar and the wire will tell you what the warning zone will actually be.

To create a "dead zone" or an area where there is no signal in your Containment area, lay the wires in the same trench or twist them on each other. Two wires laid parallel closer than 6' or in the same trench will stop the signal and allow the pets to pass over.

Innnotek utilizes a "Double Boundary" protection in the Containment and Contain & Train Systems. When the dog approaches the boundary, he first receives a warning tone from his collar. If he proceeds, he gets a warning correction. If he ignores BOTH signals, the collar automatically re-sets to a maximum correction level and stops his run through the boundary with finality. Other brands use a rising correction with gets more intense as the dog gets closer to the boundary wire.

Do you already have an inadequate system from another manufacturer, but you can't bear the thought of burying new wire to change to a new system? Innotek Containment Systems, Invisible Fence™ and Radio® Fence, and Dogtra wire will all work with any of the systems. No need to string new wire.

Fire/Lightning Protection

All of our underground fences come with built-in fire/lightning protection. No wall-mounted transmitter can withstand a lighting hit. However, should lightning strike close enough to damage the unit, there is a fail-safe built into the transmitter that will prevent fire damage to the house or house circuitry. Please be sure to read the owner's manual (page 10 section1) carefully to understand what precautions you must take during these types of storms.

Uni vs Omni-directional Collars

Uni-directional collars contain one receiver and require that the dog approach the hidden boundary from a generally frontal angle. Dogs who approach from oblique angles or back over the boundary can find "dead" areas where no correction is administered.

On the other hand, Omni-Directional collars contain up to three receivers and respond to signals from any angle of approach, any direction. There is no possibility that the dog can find a way over, under, around or through the boundary without a correction.

Most of the Deluxe Containment models are omni-directional. Most of the Basic electronic fence models are uni-directional.

Containment Training

Since no two dogs are alike, your fencing system can be tailored to meet your dog's requirements. Using unique, positive training methods, your dog will easily learn the new customized boundaries you have designed. Most of our customers have found it takes a surprisingly little amount of time to train their dog to stay in the yard. With the proper methods, some patience, in about a week or so of training, your dog will be content, safe, and secure at home.

More dogs? Additional Collars