Posted by Paul Mallory on Tue, Aug 17, 2010 @ 04:11 PM
I remember arriving at a pet fence estimate in Olathe, Kansas years ago. After ringing the door bell and introductions I walked with the homeowner to the back yard. I will never forget what I saw....a 3 foot diameter hole in a 6 foot tall wood privacy fence.
Her Husky liked the Black Lab next door and thought the best way to ensure they got to visit was to chew a gigantic hole in the wood fence. I am always amazed at what dogs can do when they put their mind to it.
In many other instances I have seen dogs jump over fences or climb up wood fences and propel themselves over the fence. I have seen chicken wire attached to the top of fences, wood slats sticking straight up in the air, and hot wire electric fences attempting to keep beloved pets from scaling their domain walls.
A pet fence system is a great solution for stopping a fence jumping dog. In fact it is a dog proof fence solution. When a dog gets within a few feet of the buried dog fence wire they receive a short audible warning tone and then a mild or strong stimulation from the dog fence collar (this can be adjusted to 14 differennt correction levels). This stops them from jumping the fence and does not allow them to escape.
We have installed numerous pet fences for fence jumping dogs. We have had a 100 percent success rate using our Pet Stop pet fence buried right inside a conventional fence or stapled or tied to a chain link fence. Dogs no longer have the desire or will to escape their fenced yard.
Download our free pet fence brochure for more information.
Posted by Paul Mallory on Tue, Jun 08, 2010 @ 12:42 PM
There are many different dog fences on the market and a few sites giving reviews. There are multiple differences between all wired and wireless fence systems on the market. One thing is for certain. YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR! If you purchase a retail system or purchase a system on the Internet you are asking for trouble.
Our pet fence dealership (Four Paws Fence) in Kansas City has replaced hundreds of retail wired and wireless pet fences due to dogs escaping, collars shocking dogs in the house due to radio signal interference, and due to very poor quality lightning protection. Some retail or Internet pet fence systems have no place to run a ground wire from the transmitter to an outlet for grounding purposes. We replaced one retail brand pet fence in Olathe Kansas that took 4 lightning strikes in one year. The last time lightning hit the dog fence transmitter it blew it off the garage wall. This customer had us install our professional pet fence system.
One pet fence review website stated that Pet Stop Pet Fence Systems required proprietary batteries. This is incorrect. Pet Stop batteries can be purchased at Radio Shack, Batteries Plus, and some Interstate Battery Centers. However, consumers need to be aware that pet stop batteries purchased from these stores sometimes only last 1 to 2 months. If consumers purchase Pet Stop authorized batteries from their local dealers the average battery life is 6 months and they can last up to one year. Batteries are manufactured with different milliamp ratings so it is critical you purchase the right battery. Another problem is that when consumers buy their pet fence collar batteries at retail stores, sometimes the store clerks sell them the wrong battery which will cause the dog fence receiver collar to be inoperable and this can damage the receiver case.
Another issue with buying retail store batteries is that they can be twice as expensive than purchasing them from your local Pet Stop dealer.
So why is the Pet Stop brand the best choice for a pet containment system. Here are just a few reasons.
Pet Stop is the only system that has programmable modulation frequencies which allows it to work with competitive pet fence systems. So, if you have family members, friends or neighbors that have an electronic pet fence system, then the Pet Stop pet fence can be programmed to work with their system even if it is another brand. This means that you could take your dog to your neighbors and the pet stop collar will work in their yard or vice versa.
Pet Stop also has an option to program the receiver collar to actually continue activating beyond the pet fence boundary. Most systems will not do this. For a stubborn dog this option allows the dog to be contained while competitive systems would allow an escaping pet.
Pet Stop also has multiple frequencies to avoid interference between neighboring pet containment systems. Most competitive systems only have 2 frequency choices which is a problem if you have neighbors on each side of you that own a pet fence.
Pet Stop also offers indoor pet fences to keep pets out of carpeted rooms, cat litter boxes, out of the trash or off of expensive furniture.
Pet Stop also developed the only professional pet fence brand to incorporate a remote training collar that works in conjunction with the pet fence collar.
Pet Stop also has a low battery indicator light on the dog fence collar so their is no guessing when to change the battery.
These are only a few benefits of the Pet Stop Pet Fence System. Their are many more like a battery backup option, Gentle Steps training program to ensure your pet does not get traumatized, audible warning time variation, and much more.
Suffice it to say that purchasing a professional pet fence system is a much wiser investment than purchasing other systems that come with very little customer support.
Please call Four Paws Fence Pet Fence Specialists at 816-454-7297 with any questions.
Blog Post by Paul Mallory, Owner, Four Paws Fence
Posted by Paul Mallory on Wed, Feb 24, 2010 @ 12:43 PM
There are multiple views on how to best train your pooch to a pet fence system. Some believe you start off with shock and get the dog’s respect. Others believe you can set the pet fence training flags and just let Fido run free while many consumers who purchase retail systems do not even bother using the training flags at all. They think, “surely Fido won’t leave the yard if he has been shocked a time or two.” However, these approaches are doomed to failure and the unfortunate consequence could be a pet getting scared of their own yard or much worse injured or killed on a busy highway.
Four Paws Fence training philosophy is a multi-faceted approach. We believe that the best approach is what we call tone only training. Dog’s are quick learners but there are many factors to consider such as breed, temperament, size, are they squirrel chasers etc. With tone only training you are assured of getting to know how your pet will respond to the electric dog fence before they are given a correction from the pet fence collar.
The tone only training process is very simple and it is the only training process we recommend (We have trained over 5,000 pets on our pet fence system). The collar is programmed to beep (audible) only. Training flags are placed about 4 feet (footage will vary depending upon size of property) from the dog fence boundary wire. This is where the pet fence receiver collar will start to beep. As you walk your pet around the flag perimeter you let them go past the flags and when the collar beeps you firmly say, “Watch It” or “Back” and then pull them back towards the house about 2 or 3 feet. This does several things. One, it teaches your pet to back up when they hear the beep, second, it keeps your pet from being traumatized by the shock from the collar and then never wanting to come outside for 2 weeks, and it is by far the safest approach for pet fence training both short and long term.
This training process should be done 2 or 3 times per day for about 3 or 4 days. This ensures that your pet will learn to hear beeping and back up. On day 4 or 5 you set the dog fence receiver collar to tone and low level correction. You continue to walk your pet around the flag boundary and let them go past the flags. They will then get an audible warning for about 1 to 2 seconds and then get the correction. You firmly say “Watch It” or “Back”. The next step is to provide your pet with temptation on the outside of the pet fence boundary. Training during this phase of tone and correction needs to be done with real life temptation. That way your pet learns not to challenge the electronic dog fence boundary even when tempted.
If possible have your neighbors walk their dog by your property on a leash. The stronger the temptation the better it is for your pet. If your dog ventures towards the temptation, let them get a correction then say, “Watch It”, or “Back”. On training day 6 or 7 you want to pay close attention to your pet’s reaction to the shock from the collar (Please ensure that the contact posts fit snug against the neck and that they make skin contact). Every dog’s pain tolerance is different so be sure that you have the collar fitted correctly. You want to make adjustments to the collar and increase the correction if you do not feel that your pet is respecting the boundary (ALL CORRECTION LEVELS OF OUR PET STOP® PET FENCE SYSTEM ARE APPROVED BY VETERINARIANS WORLDWIDE.)
By day 7 or 8 you are ready to go off leash, with supervision, if your pet is no longer interested in going near the flags. Before going off leash make sure adjustments are made to the pet fence collar so that, even with temptation, your canine companion will stay safe at home. Dog’s pain tolerance can double when adrenaline kicks in due to temptation, so be sure that the pet fence collar level is adjusted correctly. Supervise your pet for the next week and at the end of a 2 week training process Fido can be allowed to run safe and free in his own yard.
Four Paws Fence offers multiple training options when we install our Pet Stop Pet Fence system. Our installers and technicians have trained thousands of pets from 3 pounds to 250 pounds. Each pet is different just as people are different, therefore by training on tone only at the beginning and adjusting the pet fence correction level near the end of leash training, your pet will adapt quickly to their new found freedom without getting frightened of their yard. Call us today at 816-454-7297 for our free information email. We provide our services within a 100 mile radius of Kansas City, Missouri.
Paul Mallory, Owner, Four Paws Fence
Posted by Paul Mallory on Tue, Jan 19, 2010 @ 12:44 PM
WE’RE number 1! Four Paws Fence has held the highest Better Business Bureau (BBB) A+ rating in Kansas City since 1996. Even with 3,700+ customers, we’re number 1 due to zero complaints! We service a 100 mile radius of Kansas City and our company was a “Top 10″ dealer for Pet Stop Pet Fence Systems in 2008 and 2009.
IS OUR PET FENCE HUMANE?
YES! We personally provide GentleSteps™ training, which ensures your pet will not be traumatized. Our system has the lowest and highest correction levels compared to all other systems, which offers maximum flexibility for any pet personality. We also have Veterinarian approval throughout the KC Metro.
DO YOUR FRIENDS OR NEIGHBORS HAVE A PET FENCE?
We have the ONLY pet fence that works with 99.9% of your friends’ or neighbors’ systems. That means your friend or neighbor could be your pet sitter when you leave town!
DOES YOUR PET HAVE BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS?
We have the ONLY hand-held remote trainer that works with your pet’s fence collar AND other fence systems! Your pet gets the safety of our pet fence and you get the ease of our remote trainer all in one! We also offer indoor systems to protect your expensive carpet or furniture.
CALL FOUR PAWS FENCE TODAY AT 816-454-7297 FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO SCHEDULE YOUR FREE ESTIMATE!
Posted by Paul Mallory on Sun, Dec 13, 2009 @ 12:46 PM
So, which is better, a dog fence or a dog kennel? Numerous people and organizations debate on either side of this issue. And there are situations at many homes where both are needed. Some people prefer a dog crate or dog pen inside the house so their pet can be corralled when away from the home and some prefer an outside dog run so their dog’s have more room to run. Giving your pet the security of a dog kennel is a good thing in most cases.
While dog kennels can give a greater sense of security due to the visible chain link structure many dogs have around them, some dogs are still able to escape their kennel. We have installed our dog fence due to some pets figuring out a way to escape from their dog runs. We have seen dogs escape by pulling the chain link kennel wire up with their paws and teeth, we have seen them escape by climbing the dog kennel sides and jumping out of their kennel, and our company has seen them escape by opening the kennel door latch if it is not locked.
The security and freedom a Pet Stop pet fence provides, we believe, is more secure than any dog kennel or dog runs available today. There are many advantages to having a professional pet fence versus a dog run. Advantages include more freedom, room for a dog to run, and more security to keep your pet from escaping the front yard. Most pet fences circle the front yard, so if small children open the front door and your pet escapes they are safely contained to your property.
Other advantages of dog fencing versus dog kennels include: your dog gets more exercise which makes your pet healthier, there is no unsightly dog kennel in your back yard, your pet(s) cannot dig out of a pet fence or jump over it, you do not have to walk your dog to it’s kennel in freezing temperatures or pouring rain on a leash, you do not have to use a dog tie-out when you let your pet out the front door, and a pet fence is convenient because there is very little maintenance.
Dog fencing is a much better solution than dog runs or kennels. Be sure to have us, Four Paws Fence, install a Pet Stop® Pet Fence System which is the best professional pet fence brand on the market.
Posted by Paul Mallory on Mon, Nov 23, 2009 @ 12:54 PM
There are many pet fences on the market today including wireless and wired systems. Our focus for this blog post will be on wired systems. Four Paws Fence recommends installing only Pet Stop Pet Fence Systems.
If you are having trouble with your pet fence system there are several easy troubleshooting items to check.
1. Check your dog fence transmitter unit which will usually be mounted in the garage or sometimes in the basement of most homes. Most electric dog fence systems will have some sort of L.E.D. lights or digital display on the transmitter. If you see lights then you know you have power to the transmitter. If there are no lights try plugging in a corded drill to the outlet to make sure the outlet has power to it. If there is no power to the outlet then check your breaker box to see if a breaker has been tripped. Most outlets today by code are Ground Fault Interrupted (G.F.I.) outlets. They trip very easily during a thunderstorm or power surge. With Pet Stop Pet Fence Systems you should see a digital display number (0 to 32) if there is power to the transmitter unit.
2. If you have power to your transmitter unit and you have an audible alarm coming from the pet fence transmitter then this usually indicates that the pet containment wire has been cut in the yard. You can sometimes find a wire break using a Radio Frequency Choke Coil which can be purchased from Radio Shack. However, using this device can be very difficult and time consuming. The best option is to call a pet fence professional in your area who is willing to come locate a wire break. Most professional pet fence companies will have proper equipment to find a pet fence wire break. If you are in the Kansas City area please call Four Paws Fence at 816-454-7297. We provide service on all brands of pet fencing systems.
3. If the transmitter has power and there is no alarm but the dog fence collar is not activating on the boundary wire there are several things to check. Most pet fences have a range or signal width adjustment on the transmitter unit. This is usually a dial or turning knob. On Pet Stop Pet Fence Systems it is a digital readout which usually needs to read from 6 to 10 (this number tells you the radio signal width off of the pet fence perimeter wire) on most yards but will be a higher number on large acreages. If the radio signal field range is turned up and you still cannot get your electric fence collar to beep on the boundary wire make sure you hold the receiver collar by the strap down at the dog’s neck level. Most pet fence receivers will not activate more than 4 to 6 feet off the ground. If the collar still does not beep or activate then it is possible that the braided or twisted wire going from the house to the boundary wire could have bare copper wire touching each other before they reach the perimeter wire. If this happens then the dog fence receiver collar will only beep about 1 inch from the perimeter wire. It usually takes a professional service technician to find this type of situation or you can just replace the entire braided wire section going from the house to the perimeter pet fence wire but the splicing must be waterproof and done correctly to avoid future wire problems.
4. If the wire seems to be in good condition then the next step would be to make sure you have a good pet fence collar battery in your receiver collar. On Pet Stop Systems the battery should go in positive side up towards the battery cap on both our Ultramax and Elite receivers. A flashing low battery indicator light will come on with Pet Stop Pet Fence receiver collars when the battery is getting low. On competitive pet fence systems the batteries can go in a number of different ways. Make sure you have a new battery for your dog fence receiver and that they are installed correctly. If you pet fence battery is installed backwards your receiver collar will not work. Some battery stores will test your battery voltage for you, however this does not mean much. Most pet fence systems use lithium batteries which will test at full voltage when not under load. When they are placed in a working pet fence collar and the collar is activating they can be putting out ½ the required voltage. So, it is imperative that you use a new battery in your pet fence receiver collar to make sure you have a working battery. It is also important to make sure the shock collar has been programmed with the correction turned on. Some professional pet fence collars can be programmed to tone only with no stimulation.
5. If you have a good battery in the receiver, your wire is good, and you still cannot get your electric pet fence collar to function then the receiver collar may need to be replaced. If the collar is beeping and giving out a correction then make sure the receiver collar is tight on the dog’s neck. A loose pet fence collar means an escaping pet. Tighten the receiver collar so that the contact posts are making skin contact. If the collar is loose and the contact posts are just touching the hair coat then your pet will not receive any stimulation from the receiver. Pet Stop Pet Fence Systems come with many different sizes and length of contact posts to ensure proper skin contact.
6. If none of these pet fence troubleshooting steps solve your pet fence issues, then the best solution is to call a local pet fence professional company. If you are within a 100 mile radius of Kansas City please call us, Four Paws Fence at 816-454-7297 or 913-381-7297.
Paul Mallory
Owner
Four Paws Fence
Posted by Paul Mallory on Sat, Oct 03, 2009 @ 12:55 PM
Sugar the hound mix was rescued from the Gladstone, MO pound at the approximate age of 4 months. When Sugar arrived at the Mallory home in the year 2000 there were only 5 children (now there are 10). Sugar was very cute and it was thought by all that she would make a great pet. Her bloodline was obviously unknown and it soon became apparent that she had plenty of hound in her. Based on the volume and length of her bark (howl) we knew we had rescued a hound dog. Her bark would reverberate through the neighborhood.
Since I had already been in the pet fence business for 6 years it just made sense that Sugar would get to experience the freedom a pet fence provides. So, the fence was installed by my employees at Four Paws Fence and Sugar was trained. Sugar, very quickly learned that the pet fence training flags were not something to go near. Soon the training flags were removed and Sugar was enjoying her new found freedom and the yard became her domain.
As Sugar grew she also developed some interesting idiosyncrasies. She became rather protective of her turf. Being the intelligent hound she would wait for the UPS or FedEx driver to drop there package on our front porch (all the while barking and carrying on at the front door jumping high up the glass) and without hesitation jump up and pull our all glass storm door handle down. The race was on! It was only about 30 feet to the pet fence boundary so the UPS drivers knew if they were fast they could make it. She almost got an ankle one day. Sugar would always skid to a stop right at the pet fence and the UPS and FedEx drivers could breath a sigh of relief while overcoming the adrenaline
dump there body just experienced.
Needless to say the front storm door was locked after several scenes of Sugar scaring delivery drivers. One day when coming home from a family outing I walked into our basement to find the basement sliding door (new triple pane glass door) open about a foot. Being the good Dad I quickly ran the entire family back out to our family vehicle (I think it was a Suburban at the time) while I checked the house for would be burglars. After searching thoroughly there were no burglars to be found. About a week later, while in our basement, I saw something I could not believe. Sugar, while barking ferociously at a squirrel in the back yard, was jumping up on the back of the sliding door frame and hitting it with her paw.
Each time she would hit the door it would move open an inch or two. I had found the would be burglar…..Sugar the hound. Sugar just wanted to chase the squirrels off of her turf. When one leaves your kitchen only to come back and find your food gone from your plate it can cause somewhat of a retributive feeling towards whomever or whatever stole your food. Well, as you can imagine the crafty hound Sugar was a master at food thievery.
Her best trick is when the door bell rings. She runs to the door barking and howling. As soon as the family heads to the door to see who has arrived Sugar slyly sneaks to the kitchen for a free meal. It was agreed by all that this could not go on. So, a Pet Stop Pet Fence Indoor transmitter was placed under the kitchen table.
When Sugar neared the indoor transmitter her pet fence collar activated and she jumped back with stunning quickness. The free meals came to a stop….or so we thought. Only one problem. When you have 5 kids in the house one never knows what might happen. Little hands decided that unplugging the indoor transmitter was the best thing to do especially if playing under the kitchen table was your main goal. Sugar, being the smart hound dog, figured out that if the digital display was not lit up on the indoor transmitter that the free food was hers for the taking. Being the crafty pet fence business owner I decided I had a solution.
I covered the digital display so Sugar the hound would not know if the unit was on or off. I was proud of this simple solution, however, it did not work. Sugar, having that hound bloodline, would stubbornly test the indoor transmitter. If she did not get shocked from her pet fence collar she would partake of the fine delicacies left all over the kitchen floor (and table) by 5 children. To this day Sugar enjoys finding whatever food in the kitchen she is crafty enough to get.
Sugar is now nine years old and slowing down a bit. She still loves to protect her turf and chase squirrels. She has enjoyed her pet fence freedom and never leaves her yard.