Identifying the Goal
On a daily basis, your dog will be faced with different distractions that will get him excited. This may hinder him from being able to remember everything you have taught him about the fence. This is the point of distraction training, to fix this problem before it happens. Before going forward, be sure to read Step #1 Boundary Training and Step #2 Static Correction Training.
It is very important to never call your dog or use commands to get him to come up to the boundary line.
How long should I expect this training phase to last?
In general, this stage has no time limit. How long it takes will depend on a few different factors:
- Your dog’s temperament
- How your dog has done so far with the training
- What type of distractions your dog is up against
You should expect this phase to last at least a few weeks. Please remember, you should never have your dog receive a static correction more than once every couple of hours. By the time this phase has been completed, your dog will stay within the contained play zone even if a distraction occurs.
Preparing for Training
Everything that applied to the prior training phases applies to the Distraction Training as well.
- Be certain that the dog’s receiver collar fits properly. It should be snug, but not too tight. You should be able to fit a finger between the probes and your dog’s skin.
- Be certain that the static correction level is set at the right level, based on what you decided was appropriate during the previous training sessions.
- To avoid unnecessary distractions, only train one dog at a time.
- Don’t stress out your dog by training him too much.
- Remember to always reward your dog when he does what you expect of him.
- Keep things fun and positive. Enjoy playtime with your dog for a few minutes before and after each training session. This will help him to relax and focus on learning all the new things being taught.
Distraction Training: Step by Step
Step One
Start by fitting your dog with both the wireless fence collar and a second collar with a long leash on it. Do something you think will distract your dog, such as throwing a ball across the boundary line. Try to get your dog to become excited as possible, to see if he will cross the line.
Step Two
Should your dog follow the distraction, but stop before crossing the boundary line, reward him with a treat and lots of praise.
Step Three
If your dog follows the distraction and breeches the boundary line, wait 3 seconds to see if the dog will come back on his own or not. If he doesn’t come back on his own, pull him back into the safety area with the leash. Praise him and give him a treat anyway.
Next, continue to Part 2 of Distraction Training, where we identify the most common distractions your dog might come up against and train him to resist them.