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Category: Uncategorized

January 3, 2018

Behind the Scenes

DogWatch of the Twin Cities is owned by Guy Treanor and he employs his daughter Afton and her husband Jake. If you meet us, it’s almost always just for a few hours at your house. So what’s going on the rest of the time?

First of all, we’re on the road a lot. If you ever see a DogWatch vehicle, give us a wave. You can’t miss us! Our cars are stocked with DogWatch parts so we’re ready for anything. And they’re a little dirty from the mud on our boots and the dogs we cart around with us, but we wouldn’t have it any other way.

We work out of our houses. Most of our time is spent at customers’ houses and on the road, so there’s no need for a fancy DogWatch office. But we do have customers stop by Guy’s house in Eden Prairie once in a while to pick up a battery or have their collar tested. Since we work out of our houses, our dogs become our coworkers. Tripp is excellent in the car, and Moose is excellent on the couch.

DogWatch of the Twin Cities is a local dealer of DogWatch products, and there are dealers around the country and around the world. The DogWatch corporate employees and other dealers are a huge part of our life behind the scenes. The support we receive from DogWatch Inc. in Massachussets is amazing. That’s where all DogWatch products are assembled and tested.

Each February, the DogWatch dealers and corporate employees get together for an annual meeting. Lucky for us it’s always someplace warm, typically in Florida or California. We learn about new products and smart ways to run the business, and dealers receive recognition for their achievements of the past year.

Working at DogWatch of the Twin Cities is a pretty good gig thanks to nice customers, fun pets and support from DogWatch, Inc.

 

October 27, 2017

Dog Fence Training Tips

The most important aspect of a DogWatch hidden fence, or any electric pet fence, is the training. The steps are simple and it doesn’t take very long, but it’s essential that it’s done correctly. These small adjustments will help training go more smoothly.

TRAINING SESSIONS
A typical training session consists of two laps around the yard, depending on your yard size. A dog’s attention span is fairly short, so don’t walk for laps and laps at a time or continue a training session for more than 20 minutes. After that timeframe, the dog is no longer learning anything.

Before, after or in the middle of a training session, take some time to play with your dog on the leash. If outdoor time is all about scary flags and corrections, it can be overwhelming and make your dog more nervous than he needs to be. Throw a ball in the air or just lay in the grass and pet your dog to remind him that the yard is still a fun place.

Talk to your dog and praise him while you take your training laps. That will help keep your dog’s spirits up and make sure he doesn’t associate you with the corrections. It’s all about the flags.

NERVOUS DOG
If your dog gets nervous, that’s OK. It’s very normal for dogs to get a correction and want to head for the house. The main thing to do is keep walking. Don’t let your dog dictate when the training session ends. Walk fast so your dog has to work to keep up with you.

It’s especially important to play with your dog outside if he’s nervous. During training, and after training if he continues to be nervous, play with his favorite toy outside and spend as much time as possible out there with him. Give him treats and belly rubs, and even feed him meals outside. That will allow him to feel more secure and use his whole yard.

GENERAL TIPS
Put your dog’s collar on every morning and take it off every night before bed. You don’t want him to know what the collar means. If it’s part of his routine, he won’t associate it with the boundaries outside.

Get your family members and neighbors involved with training. You want to make sure all of his normal distractions are covered so you can trust him once he’s off-leash.

Let your dog get the correction! You may want to save your dog from feeling the correction from his collar, but let him take that step past the flags to feel the correction. If he doesn’t feel the consequence of leaving the yard during training, he won’t stay in.

Call us! We want the training to be successful for you and your dog, so do not hesitate to call us along the way. If you’re having an issue, we’ve definitely heard it before and we can help get things back on track quickly.