We started off with Dealers celebrating anniversaries, including six Dealerships who are celebrating a remarkable 35 years in business!

5 Years of Service

• Duane Arnold, DogWatch Hidden Fence of Central Maine
• Alex Austin & Gabe Baugh, DogWatch of Southeast Missouri
• Mike Cyrek, DogWatch of Eastern MA and DogWatch of the Ocean State
• Henk de Bruin & Jan Cornelisse, Dogdomijn (Netherlands)
• Neil Flowers, DogWatch of Arkansas
• Corrie Gizicki, DogWatch of Southeastern Michigan
• Daniel Groeling, DogWatch of Arizona
• Emily & Kelly Hatcher, East Texas DogWatch
• Blake Hessel, DogWatch Hidden Fences of Portland
• Tony Hoggarth, DogWatch of Idaho
• Kevin Leishman, DogWatch of Augusta-Aiken
• Liam McGinnis, DogWatch of the Coastal Bend
• Jennifer & Daniel Ochnich, DogWatch of Southeastern PA
• Jennifer & Casey Powell, DogWatch of Central Oregon
• Anthony Sorosky, DogWatch of Santa Barbara
• Megan & Jesse Storey, DogWatch of the Western Slope
• James Taylor, DogWatch of Northwest Indiana
• Jim Whitten, DogWatch by Arkansas Pet Safety Systems
• Richard Wilson, DogWatch Downeast

10 Years of Service

• Kerry Antonsen, DogWatch by Kerry’s Landscaping
• Amberly & Ryan Betz, DogWatch of Nashville
• Paul Cobb, DogWatch of Mid-Alabama
• Lance Flowers, DogWatch of Wichita Hidden Fence
• Rod Gravel, DogWatch of Peace Country
• Aileen & Bob Howard, DogWatch of Upstate NY
• Ed Johnson, DogWatch of Montana
• Fay and John Kennish, DogWatch of Delaware, DogWatch of Eastern Shore and DogWatch of Southern New Jersey
• Jim MacInerney, DogWatch of Northeast Iowa
• Katrina Manko & Phil Cerelli, DogWatch of Delaware Valley
• Teri & Jack Osantowski, DogWatch by K9 Fencing of MI
• Bill Randall, West Dakota DogWatch
• Lisa & Joe Rangel, DogWatch by Great Lakes Pet Fencing
• Amberlyn & Ryan Schatz, DogWatch of Colorado and Northern Colorado DogWatch
• Luke Simpson, DogWatch of Greater San Antonio
• Alex Vadenoff, DogWatch of Central Maryland

15 Years of Service

• Jay Blankenship, DogWatch of Central VA
• Beth & Travis Canty, DogWatch of the Triangle
• Tim Cline, DogWatch of Winchester
• William Coden, Fido’s Fences
• Kim & Roy Dusenberry, DogWatch of Vermont
• Shannon & Mark Mathews, DogWatch of the Gulf Coast
• Julie & Wade McCormick, DogWatch Hidden Fences of Utah
• Mary Jo Mentink, DogWatch of Northern Kentucky
• Ken Schnell, DogWatch of AB
• Tommy Sjorring, DogWatch Denmark
• David Szabolcs, DogWatch of Romania
• Dustin Young, DogWatch of Central Oklahoma

20 Years of Service

• Patti & Shane Brzezinski, DogWatch of Central WI and DogWatch of the Coulee Region
• Samantha Folley & Ward Chapman, DogFence UK
• Katie & Richard Gainey, DogWatch of Northern Florida
• Otto Hudra, DogWatch of Hungary
• Dana & Ron Lambert, DogWatch of North Central WV
• Yale Lynch, DogWatch of New Mexico
• Dan McConnell, DogWatch of Central PA
• Kyle Smith & Chandler Waite, DogWatch of Dayton

25 Years of Service

• Wayde Barnes, DogWatch of Southern Kentucky
• April & Rich Caron, DogWatch of Appalachia & West Virginia
• Jeremy Craig, DogWatch of Duluth
• Liz & Jack Goetz, DogWatch of Greater Pittsburgh
• Sarah & Peter Harvey, DogWatch of SE Wisconsin
• Heidi Powell & Jack Powell, DogWatch of Greater Cincinnati
• Chad & Lance Richardson, DogWatch of Southwest VA
• Ernie Roy, DogWatch of New Hampshire

30 Years of Service

• Robert Girolami, DogWatch of the Carolina Coast
• Jan King & John Townsend, DogWatch of Chillicothe
• Martha & David Roddenberry, DogWatch of Central Georgia
• Emily & Patrick West, DogWatch of Columbus

35 Years of Service

• Dave Acree, DogWatch of Burlington County
• Teresa & Dave Billone, DogWatch by Billone Fence
• Kimberly & Patrick Flader, DogWatch by C No Pet Fence
• Sarah & Andrew Royer, DogWatch of Northeast Indiana and DogWatch of Toledo and Northwest Ohio
• Leddy Smith, DogWatch Systems and DogWatch of the Maine Lakes Region
• Guy Treanor, Afton & Jake Steigauf, DogWatch of the Twin Cities

Next, we presented awards to the following Dealers, recognizing their achievements in sales and service in 2025.

2025 DogWatch Dealer Awards

2025 Dealer of the Year Award
Tony Hoggarth, DogWatch of Idaho
Chris Julian, DogWatch of Greenville-Spartanburg

DogWatch Dealers of the Year 2025: Tony Hoggarth of DogWatch of Idaho (left) and Chris Julian of DogWatch of Greenville-Spartanburg (right)

2025 Rookie of the Year Award
Nicholas Ludlow, DogWatch of Southeastern Ontario
Tim Manthorpe, DogWatch of San Diego & Inland Empire

2025 Service Excellence Award
Troy Dykes, DogWatch of the Bay Area and Northern California
Fay and John Kennish, DogWatch of Delaware, DogWatch of Eastern Shore and DogWatch of Southern New Jersey

Service Excellence Award winners the Kennish family of DogWatch of Delaware (left) and Rookie of the Year Nicholas Ludlow of DogWatch of Southeastern Ontario

DogWatch recognizes the following Dealers as leaders in their markets:
Fiona and Vance Plummer, Canine Containment Company
Britta & Jonathan Cantrell, DogWatch of North Alabama, DogWatch of Middle Tennessee, DogWatch of Central Alabama, DogWatch of Chattanooga and DogWatch of Knoxville
William Coden, Fido’s Fences
Shannon & Brent Potvin, DogWatch of Metro Atlanta
Samantha Folley & Ward Chapman, DogFence UK
Sue Marks & Mark Bridschge, DogWatch of Central CT
Curt Little, DogWatch of Central Indiana
Justin Henry, DogWatch Hidden Fences of Cleveland
Brittany & Josh Sexton, DogWatch of Central Kentucky
Alan Grammer, MetroEast DogWatch, DogWatch of Springfield, DogWatch of Evansville and DogWatch of Greater Kansas City
Alex & Dave Spain, DogWatch Hidden Fence of the Triad

DogWatch recognizes the following Dealers for exceptional achievement in 2025:
Patti & Shane Brzezinski, DogWatch of Central WI and DogWatch of the Coulee Region
April & Rich Caron, DogWatch of Appalachia & West Virginia
Tim Cline, DogWatch of Winchester
Matt Cormack, DogWatch of Greater Charleston
Mike Cyrek, DogWatch of Eastern MA
Rick Greene, DogWatch of Greater Baltimore
Tony Hoggarth, DogWatch of Idaho
Chris Julian, DogWatch of Greenville-Spartanburg
Ron and Karen Knight, DogWatch of East Coast Florida and DogWatch of Southwest Florida
Shannon & Mark Mathews, DogWatch of the Gulf Coast
Rob Mayne, DogWatch of Litchfield & Upper Fairfield County
Lee Myers & Phil Holmes, DogWatch of Charlotte
Fiona and Vance Plummer, Canine Containment Company
Angela & PJ Powers, DogWatch of the Blue Ridge Mountains
Leddy Smith, DogWatch Systems and DogWatch of the Maine Lakes Region
Marc & Theresa Sturges, DogWatch of Cedar Rapids
Robin & Tim Tomkunas, Jax DogWatch
Guy Treanor, Afton Steigauf & Jake Steigauf, DogWatch of the Twin Cities

Please help us celebrate these Dealers—and our entire Dealer network—for their outstanding hard work and dedication throughout 2025!

The post DogWatch Dealer Awards 2025 appeared first on DogWatch®.

We’ve gathered the facts below. Find out which solution is best for you and your pet, and learn how DogWatch® Hidden Fences and SkyShepherd® GPS Dog Fence stand out from the competition.

How Wired Underground Pet Fences Work

Most electronic pet fence systems (including a DogWatch® Hidden Fence, Invisible Fence® and other brands) feature a buried wire, typically two-to-six inches underground. The wire is connected to a transmitter mounted in your house or garage that sends a harmless, coded radio signal through this wire. Your pet wears a collar programmed to detect the radio signal (called a receiver collar.)

When the pet approaches the underground wire, the receiver collar emits a beep (or vibration) to warn them to retreat. If your pet ignores the warning and continues to move towards the boundary wire, the receiver collar delivers a brief static impulse (correction).

Through a simple training program using flags to mark the area where it is safe to play, your pet learns to recognize where it is safe and where the alert is triggered. Most pets quickly learn to stay within the safe area.

How Wireless GPS Pet Fences Work

Wireless GPS pet fences, by contrast, use satellites to map a specific boundary (geo-fence) for the pet instead of using a buried wire and a fixed radio signal. Mapping the fence boundary is often done by using cellular technology.

The receiver collar is connected to the GPS program that sends an alert to the receiver collar if the pet approaches the boundary and corrects the pet if it does not retreat from the boundary.

Choosing Between a Wired or Wireless Pet Fence

Wired pet fences that use a radio signal are a great fit for most if not all pet parents. They can work for yards of all sizes, and pets of all ages, breeds, and sizes (including cats)!

Wireless GPS pet fences can be a good fit for pet parents who are looking for a portable system, provided they meet the following three key requirements:

1. They have a yard over one acre in size;
2. They have a yard with limited tree cover; and
3. Their pet is at least 20 pounds.

Need more help deciding between wired vs wireless pet fences? Check out these key advantages below.

Advantages of a Wired Underground Dog Fence

There are five main advantages that wired underground dog fences have when compared to wireless GPS fences:

1. Precise Consistent Boundary

Hidden Fences with underground wires provide a consistent boundary that does not change unless the wire itself is moved. In particular, DogWatch’s patented SafeLink signal is highly resistant to interference, making it a secure and reliable choice.

GPS dog fences, however, do not provide the same consistency. GPS coordinates are more prone to shifting due to weather, trees, or nearby structures, and are not recommended for smaller yards or obstructed areas.

2. Longest Battery Life Available

Battery life matters when it comes to electronic dog fences. Why? Because a dead battery means no audible alerts or corrections. As a result, the pet is much more likely to run through the boundary.

Most wired electronic pet fences use a replaceable receiver battery, with a lifecycle ranging from 3 months to two years. DogWatch Hidden Fence receiver collars have the longest battery life in the industry, which means more protection for your pet and less hassle for you.

GPS pet fences typically use a rechargeable battery to power their receiver collars. These GPS collars need to be charged daily. The more often you need to charge the battery, the higher the likelihood of winding up with a dead battery, which in turn increases the chance that your pet will leave the yard.

3. Lightweight Collar

Most wired fence receiver collars are significantly smaller than the average GPS wireless dog fence collar. In fact, most GPS wireless collars are not suitable for dogs under 20 lbs.

DogWatch receiver collars fit dogs of all sizes. In fact, our R7mini receiver collar weighs only 1.1 ounces – perfect for small dogs and cats, too!

4. Lifetime Warranty

Most wireless GPS fences come with only a one-year warranty. Most wired underground pet fences come with a much longer warranty, and many customers report using the same fence system for over 20 years with minimal upkeep required!

DogWatch Hidden Fences are built to last. All Dealer-installed underground DogWatch Hidden Fences come with a lifetime limited warranty that is the best in the industry.

5. In-Person Training and Support from Local Dealers

Professionally installed underground wired fence systems come with personalized training from experienced pet professionals. In contract, many popular GPS pet fences come with only limited, online-only support resources.

Our DogWatch Dealerships are locally owned & operated by small business owners who live in your community. Our professionally installed hidden fences come with PetFriendly training that is customized for you and your dog. Our team will support you when you need it, even years or decades after your initial purchase. Check out our reviews for proof that our customer service is the best in the industry!

Why SkyShepherd is the Best Choice for GPS

If you meet the three requirements listed above, you may be a good candidate for a wireless pet fence system. DogWatch is proud to offer the SkyShepherd® GPS containment system along with full-service setup and personalized training from our experienced network of DogWatch Dealers.

There are six main advantages that SkyShepherd has when compared to other wireless GPS fences:

1. In-Person Training and Support: SkyShepherd comes with setup help and expert dog training from your local DogWatch Dealer.
2. Smallest GPS Fence Collar: SkyShepherd offers the smallest and lightest collar in its class for your dog’s comfort.
3. Patented Shepherding Technology: This exclusive, patented safety feature delivers smart, real-time feedback to gently guide your dog within their safe zone.
4. No Subscription Fees: Enjoy 24/7 yard monitoring, alerts, on-demand location lookup, and battery level notifications—without any subscription fees you’ll get with other GPS collars.
5. Extended Warranty: Every SkyShepherd GPS system purchased from a DogWatch Dealer includes a two-year warranty—double what the other brands offer.
6. Engineered in the USA: SkyShepherd is proudly designed, engineered, and assembled in the USA for top quality and durability. And it is sold and supported by local DogWatch Dealers in your community.

For more information about the latest in electronic pet fence technology, contact your local DogWatch Dealer. And if you’re ready to get started today, click here to request a free quote!

* Invisible Fence® and Invisible Fencing® are Brand names, products and registered trademarks of Radio Systems, Inc.

The post Which is Better For My Dog: a Wired Underground Fence or a Wireless GPS Fence? appeared first on DogWatch®.

When herding dogs aren’t given enough to do, they become anxious, resulting in excessive barking or destructive tendencies such as chewing or digging. Due to their genetic makeup, herding dogs also possess a high prey drive and desire to chase, which can sometimes make keeping them on your property difficult.

Due to these factors, herding dog owners often assume that a hidden fence is not an option. However, a DogWatch® Hidden Fence won’t only keep your herding dog safe, the freedom to roam their yard will keep them happy. Here’s how!

Any Size Dog, Any Size Property

This Turkish Boz from DogWatch of Montana, is one of the largest herding dogs in the world! This breed can withstand extreme temperatures of any kind and excel in herding large livestock.

This pup spends her day herding horses and ten border collies on his family’s 40-acre farm. The issue with such a large property, and a dog with a high prey drive, was frequent escapes. Her parents would spend a tremendous amount of time searching the 40-acre farm for this gentle giant, and eventually, she had to spend portions of her day hanging out in the horse barn for her own protection. However, a herding dog made to stay inside for extended periods doesn’t make for a happy pup.

DogWatch of Montana was contacted for an install, and they were on it immediately, allowing this lovely lady to run free and safe on all 40 acres!

Big Dogs And Big Families

Michelle and John Stewart, and their three children, run a progressive family farm in Illinois. Their farm, which offers locally grown fruits and vegetables, locally raised meat and frequently hosts public events, is always busy. The farm is also home to Paloma, Finn, Jerry, and Jessie, all herding breeds. That’s a lot of dogs with a lot of high prey drives!

These four pups are always working, carrying out different jobs on different parts of the farm. With all these moving parts, it’s not always easy to keep an eye on them. Michelle decided that an underground hidden fence was the solution she needed, since installing a physical fence around the entirety of her farm was not an option. She first attempted a DIY solution, but found it unreliable, both in performance and customer service. She eventually contacted Stateline DogWatch Hidden Fences and had a DogWatch SmartFence® installed. Her four pups have stayed safely on the property ever since!

Busy Streets

Even herding dogs who don’t live on farms or have the daily task of keeping a flock in line will still seek an outlet for their instinct and prey drive. Magnus and Kiva from DogWatch of Mid-Canada had just that problem. Magnus, a Belgian Tervuren, and Kiva, a German Shepherd, are genetically dispositioned to chase and herd!Their parents live near a busy road and were becoming increasingly worried about their instincts getting them into trouble. After a period of chasing cars, deer, and even tracking down their neighbors to say hello, Magnus and Kiva’s parents decided to give DogWatch a call. These two beautiful pups haven’t had any unplanned off-property adventures since the install, but are still able to run freely in their yard and burn off any extra energy they might have.

Puppy Party

Working dogs and dogs in residential homes are one thing, but what about daycare dogs! Victoria from DogWatch of Upstate NY, runs a daycare and is also a breeder. She regularly has more than a dozen daycare dogs on her property. These pups range from Boston Terriers to American Bullies, and also include several herding dogs such as German Shepherds, Dutch Shepherds, Belgian Malinois, and White German Shepherd.

With all these high-energy pups in the same place at the same time, Victoria knew that security was key, especially when dealing with other people’s pups! She called DogWatch of Upstate NY for an install and now ten of her daycare dogs use the system. The dogs are able to run and play all they want and Victoria doesn’t have to worry about them journeying out into the nearby roads. She also uses her DogWatch Hidden Fence to keep the puppies she breeds safe, helping them understand boundaries from a young age!

Conclusion

DogWatch Dealers have successfully trained every type of herding dog from miniature Australian Shepherds, Corgis and Border Collies to German Shepherds and Great Pyrenees and everything in between. No matter your herding dogs size, activity level, or training level, a DogWatch Hidden Fence is the perfect way to keep them safe on any size property.

Do you have a herding dog that uses a DogWatch® Hidden Fence? Send us a message on our Facebook and Instagram with your story and a photo of your pet(s), and they could be a future DogWatch Dog of the Day on our social media channels! Or if your dog could use some boundaries, give your local DogWatch Dealer a call today!

 

DogWatch hidden dog fences are often mistakenly referred to generically as an “invisible fence” or “invisible dog fence.” Invisible Fence® and Invisible Fencing® are Brand names, products and registered trademarks of Radio Systems, Inc.

The post Herd That: Can a Hidden Fence Work for a Herding Dog? appeared first on DogWatch®.

DogWatch® Hidden Fence Dealers are often asked: “Can an electronic dog fence REALLY work for a hound?” The answer is yes! For over 30 years, DogWatch® Dealers have been training hounds and hound mixes to stay in their yards with our hidden fences. We reached out to our Dealers and customers to learn more about the process of training hounds, their unique personalities and how adding an underground electronic fence to their property helped their pups stay safe and do what hounds love to do – sniff, run and play!

Lisa White, co-owner of DogWatch of St. Louis, has had beagles as part of her family for most of her life. She invested in a DogWatch® Hidden Fence for her family’s beagle, Bogey, back in 1995, because her family lived in an area where physical fences were not allowed. “Growing up in the same area with two beagles as a child, I knew the wandering, hunting instinct and strength of the beagle nose to follow a scent and roam – sometimes very far from home. One of my childhood beagles wandered often and was hit by a car (and fortunately survived). I worried about her, so I was pleased to learn about hidden fences.”

The previous DogWatch® Dealer in the St. Louis area trained Bogey to the DogWatch® Hidden Fence system when he was 4 months old, and Bogey picked it up right away. “He loved the freedom to explore his (relatively small) yard, roam and sniff and still run after bunnies and squirrels, but now he magically stopped at his property boundary,” says Lisa. The Whites adopted Sampras (below, with Bogey) a few years later, and he also took to the fence like a charm. Lisa trusted the DogWatch® Hidden Fence so much for the freedom and safety of her beagles that she and her family decided to become a DogWatch® Dealers themselves!

Lisa’s son Billy White, who is the head trainer at DogWatch® of St. Louis, has worked with numerous beagles, dachshunds, basset hounds, Afghan hounds, plot hounds, greyhounds and more over the years. “Scent hounds generally take to fence very well: they love the freedom of exploring their yard off leash and tend to enjoy running and sniffing outdoors. When they can do this, they tend to be calmer inside.” Billy, like all DogWatch Dealers, uses both the visual flags and the audible signal of the collar to reinforce training. “We have found that, in general, hounds pay more attention to the audible training than the visual,” he says.

Lisa currently has two Beagles, Winnie and Peppy, and a grand-dog Gus. (Breaking from tradition, Gus is a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.) Her dogs have a pet door and a SmartFence so they have great freedom to use their beagle noses to explore and exercise and still stay in the yard. Here’s a picture of Gus and Peppy hanging out and having fun in their yard!

But what about the bigger hounds? We spoke with DogWatch of Tampa customer Richard Jackson, whose Bluetick Coonhound Maggie (below right) uses a DogWatch® Hidden Fence. “Bluetick hounds have noses stronger than most other breeds and it is exceeded only by their desire to hunt and that means roaming,” says Richard. “With her DogWatch® receiver and my hidden fence, I know she is safe to traverse my Florida farm property without fear of wandering. I know she is safe, even when I am not there. I rely on DogWatch products for all 4 of my canine herd!”

“People always tell me you can’t train hound dogs on an underground fence,” says Michael B. Shaffer, a DogWatch of Northeast Indiana customer. “I have trained four rescued hounds, and apart from an isolated incident that is very unusual, they have full access to our yard, much to the amazement of the neighborhood!” Michael, who shared the photo at the bottom left of his two rescue hounds, adds, “Thank you, DogWatch for a great product and great company.”

Do you have a hound that uses a DogWatch® Hidden Fence? Send us an email with your story and a photo of your pet(s), and they could be a future DogWatch Dog of the Day on our Facebook and Instagram! Or if your hound could use some boundaries, give your local DogWatch Dealer a call today!

 

DogWatch® hidden dog fences are often mistakenly referred to generically as an “invisible fence” or “invisible dog fence.” Invisible Fence® and Invisible Fencing® are Brand names, products and registered trademarks of Radio Systems, Inc.

The post Can Hounds Be Trained to Use an Electronic Dog Fence? appeared first on DogWatch®.

The weekend began Friday evening with a Welcome Reception, which provided a good opportunity to connect and catch up. On Saturday morning, DogWatch President Fred King kicked off the meeting by recognizing Dealers in attendance who were celebrating significant anniversary milestones, including:

5 Years of Service

• Dave Wingfield, Hudson Valley DogWatch
• Britta & Jonathan Cantrell, DogWatch of North Alabama
• Niccolaus Hoy, DogWatch of Spokane & Northern Idaho
• Justin Henry, DogWatch Hidden Fences of Cleveland

15 Years of Service

• Alan Grammer, MetroEast DogWatch
• Calvin Noehring, DogWatch of Southwestern Ontario

20 Years of Service

• Jamie Foley, Ottawa DogWatch
• Shannon & Brent Potvin, DogWatch of Metro Atlanta
• Maryann Bean, DogWatch of the Endless Mountains

25 Years of Service

• Joyce & Randy Perry, DogWatch by Perry Fence
• Curt Little, DogWatch of Central Indiana
• Troy Dykes, DogWatch of the Bay Area and Northern California

30 Years of Service

• Lawrence Sowers, DogWatch of the Piedmont
• Lynne & Bob Leed, DogWatch of Susquehanna Valley

At the Annual Awards Dinner, Sales and Dealer Development Manager Scott Gannon and Director of Business Development Charlie King presented awards to the following Dealers, recognizing their achievements in sales and service in 2024.

2024 DogWatch Dealer Awards

2024 Dealer of the Year Award
Britta & Jonathan Cantrell, DogWatch of North Alabama
Corrie Gizicki, DogWatch of Southeastern Michigan

DogWatch of North Alabama’s Jonathan & Britta Cantrell and family (left); Corrie Gizicki and her team at DogWatch of Southeastern Michigan (right)

2024 Rookie of the Year Award
Chris Julian, DogWatch of Greenville-Spartanburg

2024 Service Excellence Award
Mike Cyrek, DogWatch of Eastern MA
Alan Grammer, MetroEast DogWatch

Alan & Rhonda Grammer of MetroEast DogWatch (left); DogWatch of Greenville Spartanburg’s Chris Julian and family (center); Mike Cyrek of DogWatch of Eastern MA (right)

DogWatch recognizes the following Dealers as leaders in their markets:
Fiona and Vance Plummer, Canine Containment Company
William Coden, Fido’s Fences
Britta & Jonathan Cantrell, DogWatch of North Alabama
Shannon & Brent Potvin, DogWatch of Metro Atlanta
Derrick & Rachael Woiderski, DogWatch by K9 Keeper Fencing
Corrie Gizicki, DogWatch of Southeastern Michigan
Heidi Powell & Jack Powell, DogWatch of Greater Cincinnati
Curt Little, DogWatch of Central Indiana
Brittany & Josh Sexton, DogWatch of Central Kentucky
Samantha Folley & Ward Chapman, DogFence UK
Justin Henry, DogWatch Hidden Fences of Cleveland

DogWatch recognizes the following Dealers for exceptional achievement in 2024:
Mike Cyrek, DogWatch of Eastern MA
Troy Dykes, DogWatch of the Bay Area and Northern California
Corrie Gizicki, DogWatch of Southeastern Michigan
Alan Grammer, MetroEast DogWatch
Justin Henry, DogWatch Hidden Fences of Cleveland
John & Fay Kennish, DogWatch of the Eastern Shore
Monica Love, DogWatch of Green Country
Martha & David Roddenberry, DogWatch of Central Georgia
Tammy & Joel Sams, DogWatch of Central Florida
Laurie & Mark Spain, Stateline DogWatch
Derrick & Rachael Woiderski, DogWatch by K9 Keeper Fencing
Mike Young, DogWatch of Acadiana

Please join us in congratulating these Dealers and all of our Dealer network for their hard work and dedication in 2024!

The post 2025 DogWatch® Dealer Meeting appeared first on DogWatch®.

Stay Home and Safe

Does your pup like to chase squirrels? Or trample the flower beds? Or visit the neighbor’s cat? DogWatch® Hidden Fences can help! Our hidden fences keep pets safe in their yards and away from potential dangers like roads, driveways, pools and other potential trouble spots.

What is a hidden fence? A hidden fence (often mistakenly referred to generically as an “invisible fence” or “invisible dog fence”*) is an underground electronic pet fencing system that uses a radio signal to keep your dog in a designated containment area, such as a yard; or out of an area, such as a swimming pool, patio, or garden.

Why choose DogWatch Hidden Fences?

• Professional Installation and Training
• Lifetime Limited Warranty (the best in the industry!)
• Longest Battery Life
• Exclusive Safety Features
• User Adjustable (no more expensive service calls)
• We’re Local!

Read more about the differences between DogWatch and Invisible Fence.

But don’t just take our word for it – read these reviews from our many happy customers across the country!

If you need help with your wandering pet, give your local DogWatch Dealer a call today or request your free quote online. Our Dealers will help you give your pets the freedom they crave, while giving you peace of mind that they will stay home and safe. And you can check this new year’s resolution off your list for good!

Stop Counter Surfing and Stop Scratching the Couch

Does your dog love to steal food from the kitchen? Or perhaps you have a cat who can’t stop scratching your new couch? Try our DogWatch Indoor Pet Fences!

Like our outdoor hidden fences, our Indoor Pet Fences use a radio signal to keep your pets away from certain areas in your home, including the kitchen counters, trash bins, furniture or any other area where they shouldn’t be. Plus, our indoor systems use the same collar as our outdoor fences, so you can easily add indoor products to your existing outdoor system.

Did you know that DogWatch works for cats, too! Find out more about our Cat Fences.

Learn more about our Indoor Pet Fences here, and call your local DogWatch Dealer or visit our store to order today.

Be a Better Hiking Buddy

Exercise is always a popular New Year’s Resolution, and including dogs is a great way to add a dose of fun to an old routine. Hiking with pets is a fun way to stay active, but before you go leash-free, you need to make sure that your dog has good recall.

Good recall is crucial to keeping your dog safe, as well as making the hiking trail accessible to all. An electronic dog training collar like our BigLeash® Remote Trainer can be very helpful in maintaining that connection with your dog and improving your dog’s recall. Our office dogs regularly wear the BigLeash when hiking at lunchtime in a nearby nature preserve, and it allows even our most stubborn pups the ability to run freely on the trail while remaining safe and connected to their dog parent.

Learn more about the BigLeash Remote Trainer here, and call your local DogWatch Dealer or visit our store to order one today.

Stop Pulling on the Leash

Walking your dog shouldn’t be a drag, but let’s face it, when your dogs pulls on the leash, it can be downright painful. If you and your dog need to improve your leash walking in 2025, give the SideWalker® Leash Trainer a try!

The SideWalker is a unique electronic dog training collar with a “self-teaching” design that trains your dog to walk side-by-side with you without pulling on the leash. It has 5 adjustable settings from low to high plus a vibration option so you can select a setting appropriate for your dog. When the dog pulls on the leash, the pressure of the collar strap on the SideWalker activates either a vibration or a stimulation. The vibration or stimulation gradually increases as the dog pulls and resets when the pulling stops.

More walking, less pulling, and more time together side-by-side. That’s one more resolution to check off the list!

Learn more about the SideWalker here, and call your local DogWatch Dealer or visit our store to order one today.

No More Excessive Barking

We all know the type. The dog that barks at the mailman, the neighbors, the vacuum…on and on and on. This excessive barking can cause tension in relationships with your dog, family, neighbors and other pets. To help tame your over-enthusiastic barker, consider the BarkCollar No-Bark Trainer.

The BarkCollar is an electronic dog training collar that can help teach your dog to avoid excessive barking. If your dog barks excessively, the BarkCollar delivers a vibration or a stimulation at a level that is just enough to distract your dog and break the barking cycle. The BarkCollar has 7 adjustable settings from low to high plus a vibration option so you can select a setting appropriate for your dog. The vibration or stimulation gradually increases within the selected setting if the dog continues to bark. When the barking stops, the collar resets.

With the BarkCollar, your dog can play more, bark less and tackle this pesky New Year’s Resolution at last.

Learn more about the BarkCollar here, and call your local DogWatch Dealer or visit our store to order one today.

Good luck with your New Year’s Resolutions! We hope DogWatch can help you stick to them and make this new year a great one for you and your dog.

* Invisible Fence® and Invisible Fencing® are Brand names, products and registered trademarks of Radio Systems, Inc.

The post Does Your Dog Have New Year’s Resolution? DogWatch Can Help! appeared first on DogWatch®.

This September, DogWatch Inc. is launching a new program to help safeguard a special class of animals – Police K9s and other working dogs.

The DogWatch K9 Care Program provides Police K9 Units and other working dogs teams with K9 Medic Kits. These compact, specially designed kits give the dog’s handlers the critical tools needed to provide immediate first aid to their canines should they be injured in the line of duty.

The program was inspired by one of our DogWatch Dealers – Corrie Gizicki, owner/operator of DogWatch of Southeastern Michigan. Earlier this year, Corrie spotted a K9 Medic Kit from Dogworx at a pet expo and thought that the fully stocked kit would be a valuable tool for professional K9 handlers to carry with them on the job.

The K9 Medic Kits contain bandages, peroxide, clotting powder, tourniquets, syringes, nail trimmers, tick removal tools, and more. “There are 90 items in these kits, so they have everything covered,” says Gizicki.

In April 2024, DogWatch of Southeastern Michigan made their first donation of K9 Medic Kits to 14 Michigan State Police K9 Units. To her surprise, 7 officers and their canine partners showed up in person at their office in Brighton, Michigan to pick up the kits and thank Corrie and her team in person.

Gizicki’s donation inspired DogWatch’s Corporate Office to get involved and encourage similar donations to working dogs and their handlers across the country. Through the DogWatch K9 Care Program, DogWatch Inc. subsidizes the cost of the K9 Medic Kits to the DogWatch Dealer network, who in turn donate the kits to local police departments and other first responders in their community.

2024 DogWatch K9 Care Program recipients include:

Livingston County Jail K9s (donated by DogWatch of Southeastern Michigan)

Wayne County Airport Authority Police K9s (donated by DogWatch of Southeastern Michigan)

Oakland County Sheriff Comfort K9s and Tracking K9s (donated by DogWatch of Southeastern Michigan)

Avon Ohio Police K9 Units (donated by Justin Henry of DogWatch Hidden Fences of Greater Cleveland)

Goodhue County Sheriff’s Office (donated by Teresa and Jason Nelson of DogWatch of Southern Minnesota)

Chambersburg PA Police Department K9s (donated by Randy Perry of DogWatch by Perry Fence)

Franklin County PA Sheriff’s Department K9s (donated by Randy Perry of DogWatch by Perry Fence)

DogWatch Inc. encourages customers and pet parents in the United States and Canada to reach out your local police departments, search and rescue dog groups, and other working dog organizations to see if they need canine first aid kits. If they are in need, encourage them to to fill out the K9 Care Program Request Form. Or you can contact your local DogWatch® Dealer directly to suggest a donation.

“Not only do we take pride in keeping all the pups in our DogWatch Hidden Fence family safe at home, we work hard to make a difference in the community” says Gizicki. “An added thank you to all of the Police K-9 Units in our community for all you do. We appreciate you!”

The post DogWatch K9 Care Program™ Donates Emergency Medical Kits to Police K9s and Working Dogs appeared first on DogWatch®.

DogWatch Dealers adapt their training techniques to meet the specific needs of cats, most of whom do not use leashes and do not accept verbal training in the same way as dogs. Unlike dog hidden fence training, cat training typically begins indoors. The outside system is not activated for about 2-5 days while the cat adjusts to and learns the system on the indoor unit. Meanwhile, the system is installed in the designated outdoor area with careful consideration of the cat’s abilities to escape (for example, tree branches that they may climb).

Visual landmarks such as flags, which are used in the early training stages for dogs and removed once the dog is accustomed to the boundary, may remain in place slightly longer for cats using the fence, providing the cat with an easy way to identify the boundary during this introductory period.

DogWatch Dealers report that cats trained in this manner can be fully competent with the system within 2 weeks, and that learning in small increments is the best way forward for the cat. Once trained, cats can roam freely in the yard and explore like they love to do, and their humans can rest easier.

Here are some additional cat hidden fence training facts and tips:

• Cats are the second most common pet trained to use DogWatch Hidden Fences and Indoor Hidden Pet Boundaries. Other animals trained include pigs, goats, sheep and horses – plus one fox and (believe it or not) one skunk.
• DogWatch’s smaller R7mini receivers are small enough and light enough for all breeds of cats.

• If a cat is not used to wearing any type of collar around its neck, DogWatch Dealers suggest slowly introducing a collar (without the Hidden Fence receiver attached) for 2-3 weeks prior to the start of Hidden Fence or Indoor Boundary training.
• Optional GentleFit Contact Posts are a popular choice for cats. These conductive plastic contact posts help minimize friction and provide a low profile for a comfortable Pet-Friendly fit that can help ease cats into the habit of wearing a containment collar.

• As a general guideline, cats should be at least 4 months old before beginning hidden fence training. For kittens especially, pet parents should closely monitor the fit of the collar on their growing cats, and adjust according. As we advise our dog parents, cat parents should remove their pets’ hidden fence collars regularly when not in use to prevent skin irritation.
• Hidden Fences not only protect cats by keeping them away from busy roads and other hazards, they also protect local wildlife populations by restricting cats (and their strong prey drive) to smaller, designated areas.
• Just like our outdoor dog fences, DogWatch Hidden Fences for cats can be adjusted for properties of all sizes, from small townhome patios to large farm properties. Cat parents can also adjust their fences to keep cats out of specific areas of their property, including driveways, pools or flower beds.
• Cats parents can use the same collars used for outdoor cat fences to set up indoor “no go” areas using DogWatch Indoor Cat Boundaries. Indoor Boundaries can help keep cats off kitchen counters, away from the new sofa or out of bedrooms.

• In an article published in the science journal PLOS ONE on September 7, 2016, a team of animal behavior researchers from the University of Lincoln in the UK studied the effects of long-term exposure to an electronic containment system (such as a DogWatch Hidden Fence) on the behavior and welfare of pet cats, and found that use of these fence systems “does not impair the long term quality of life of cats.” Click here to read more about this study.

Special thanks to Samantha and Ward Chapman of DogFence, our DogWatch dealer in the United Kingdom and Ireland, for contributing their cat training expertise to this blog post. Check out their cat-specific website, CatFence, for even more cat training info!

The post Cats And Hidden Fences: Yes It Works! Here’s How. appeared first on DogWatch®.

First, an Overview of How a Hidden Fence (or an Invisible Fence®) Works

The underground boundary wire is a key component of a DogWatch® Hidden Fence – or any other pet containment system for pets (including Invisible Fence® brand). The wire is connected to a transmitter, usually mounted in your basement or your garage. The transmitter sends a harmless, low level radio signal through the boundary wire, which is usually buried two to six inches underground. Your pet wears a special receiver collar that receives the radio signals. If your pet gets too close to the boundary wire, there is an audible alert from the receiver collar. If your pet does not retreat from the boundary, there is a brief static correction from the collar. With training from your DogWatch Dealer, your pet learns to stay away from the alert zone and remain within the designated boundary.

How to Identify a Wire Break in Your Hidden Fence

If there is a break in the boundary wire, you will hear an alarm coming from your DogWatch transmitter. If there is a wire break, the signal is interrupted and the fence will not work. If you hear this alarm, we recommend contacting your local DogWatch Dealer as soon as possible. He or she can then schedule a time to visit your property, pinpoint the precise location of the wire break and repair the wire. In the meantime, you can turn off or unplug the transmitter, which will turn off the alarm.

The DogWatch SmartFence® makes it even easier to know if you have a wire break. The DogWatch Mobile App sends SmartFence users a push notification and/or email alert if the boundary wire is disconnected or broken. The App also includes the local DogWatch Dealer’s contact information so you can easily schedule a service call. The DogWatch App is free to download from the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.

If there is a break in your wire, we recommend keeping your dogs on leash until the break is repaired. Most dogs who have been trained to avoid the boundary area may not notice any difference, at least initially. Still, the risk of your pet leaving the boundary area is heightened when the system is down, so we recommend erring on the side of caution.

How to Fix a Wire Break in Your Hidden Fence

The easiest way to fix a wire break in your DogWatch Hidden Fence is to call your local DogWatch Dealer. You can also request a service call via our Service Request Form. Our DogWatch Dealers and their installation teams are experienced in fixing wire breaks quickly and thoroughly. They have handheld tools that help them locate the break by scanning the area where the wire was placed, and they have the supplies and knowledge needed to properly repair the wire.

For the D-I-Y types who have experience working with electronics, here are a few tips if you wish to attempt the wire repair on your own.

• Some wire breaks may be visible above the ground, such as when a snow plow pulls up a piece of wire at the edge of a driveway.
• If the break is not immediately visible, try looking at potential trouble spots like gardens that have been recently landscaped or areas where critters have been known to dig or chew.
• If you still cannot spot the break, there are underground wire locator tools available on Amazon, similar to those used by our Dealers.
• After you locate the wire break, you will need to repair it using wire that is rated for underground burial and a waterproof splice. (DogWatch recommends using a 16 gauge or 14 gauge wire.)
• Some DogWatch Dealers have patch kits with wire and splices available for purchase. Give them a call to ask about their D-I-Y repair options.

How to Prevent a Wire Break in Your Hidden Fence

There are several steps you can take to help avoid wire breaks in your hidden fence. First, if you are planning any professional yard work or outdoor projects, let your contractors know about the buried boundary wire. Common projects that can result in a hidden or invisible fence wire break are:

• Lawn aeration
• Edging a lawn or garden
• Tree removal
• Snow plowing
• Sprinkler system installation or maintenance

Before you or your contractors begin this type of work, draw a map of your hidden fence boundary and highlight potential problem areas. Or better yet, temporarily mark where the boundary wire is buried using DogWatch flags or other similar small flags.

If you don’t know where the wire is located, you can trace it using your pet’s receiver collar as a guide. Here’s how:

1. Take the collar off your pet and keep him or her inside the house for the duration of the test.
2. Go to your transmitter and reduce the range to 1 foot by adjusting the dial on the right. (Range is the distance the signal is being broadcast from each side of the wire. The recommended signal range when the fence is functioning normally is 6-10 feet.)
3. Next, walk towards the boundary area holding your pet’s receiver collar in your hand at your dog’s neck level. Keep your hands away from the contact posts.
4. When you approach the boundary wire, you will hear the audible tone and the status light on the receiver will blink green. Place a flag at this spot.
5. Now walk from the outside toward the wire with collar in hand. When you see the flashing green status light again, mark the spot with another flag. The boundary wire will be between these two flags.
6. When you are finished marking the boundary wire, reset the range on your transmitter to the previous setting.

If you have any questions about wire breaks, please contact your local DogWatch Dealer anytime or call DogWatch Customer Service at (800) 793-3436 Mon-Fri, 9AM-5PM EST. We’ve been keeping pets safely contained since 1990, and we look forward to helping your pets enjoy the freedom, too!

DogWatch hidden dog fences are often mistakenly referred to generically as an “invisible fence” or “invisible dog fence.” Invisible Fence® and Invisible Fencing® are Brand names, products and registered trademarks of Radio Systems, Inc.

The post How to Find, Fix and Prevent Wire Breaks in Your DogWatch® Hidden Fence appeared first on DogWatch®.

The weekend began Friday evening with a Welcome Reception, which provided a good opportunity to connect and catch up. On Saturday morning, DogWatch President Fred King kicked off the meeting by recognizing Dealers in attendance who were celebrating significant anniversary milestones, including:

5 Years of Service
Laura, Pat and Jack Earl, DogWatch of Omaha
Angela & PJ Powers, DogWatch of the Blue Ridge Mountains
Karl Speich, DogWatch of Tampa Bay
Michelle and Jeff Keester, Quad Cities Area DogWatch
Rob Mayne, DogWatch of Litchfield County

10 Years of Service
Tammy & Joel Sams, DogWatch of Central Florida
Jordan Fetzer, DogWatch of East Central PA

15 Years of Service
Alex & Dave Spain, DogWatch Hidden Fence of the Triad
Glen Cyr, DogWatch of Southern Maryland

20 Years of Service
David Hudgins, DogWatch of the SC Lowcountry
Laurie & Mark Spain, Stateline DogWatch

25 Years of Service
Tom Gray, DogWatch of South Florida

Saturday concluded with the Annual Awards Dinner, recognizing Dealer Achievements in 2023. Here is a list of the 2023 award winners!

2023 DogWatch Dealer Awards

2023 Dealer of the Year Award
Jack Earl, DogWatch of Omaha
Jennifer & Daniel Ochnich, DogWatch of Southeastern PA

Jennifer and Daniel Ochnich of DogWatch of Southeastern PA and Jack Earl of DogWatch of Omaha, the 2023 DogWatch Dealers of the Year

2023 Rookie of the Year Award
Mike Young, DogWatch of Acadiana
Don Myers, DogWatch of Northeast Ohio

2023 Service Excellence Award
Jason Bouchea, DogWatch of Northeast Wisconsin
Guy Treanor, Afton & Jake Steigauf, DogWatch of the Twin Cities

Afton and Jake Steigauf, DogWatch of the Twin Cities and Jason Bouchea, DogWatch of Northeast Wisconsin, winners of the 2023 DogWatch Service Excellence Award

DogWatch recognizes the following Dealers as leaders in their markets:
Fiona and Vance Plummer, Canine Containment Company
William Coden, Fido’s Fences
Shannon & Brent Potvin, DogWatch of Metro Atlanta
Britta & Jonathan Cantrell, DogWatch of North Alabama, DogWatch of Middle Tennessee and DogWatch of Central Alabama
Carrie & David Tebbing, DogWatch of Southeast Indiana
Samantha & Ward Chapman, DogFence UK
Sue Marks & Mark Bridschge, DogWatch of Central Connecticut
Heidi Powell & Jack Powell, DogWatch of Greater Cincinnati
Jack Earl, DogWatch of Omaha
Aileen & Bob Howard, DogWatch of Upstate New York
Curt Little, DogWatch of Central Indiana

DogWatch recognizes the following Dealers for exceptional achievement in 2023:
Shawn Bader, DogWatch by PetWorks
Britta & Jonathan Cantrell, DogWatch of North Alabama, DogWatch of Middle Tennessee and DogWatch of Central Alabama
Walter Dembeck, DogWatch of the West Virginia Panhandle
Lance Flowers, Wichita Hidden Fence
James Job, DogWatch of the Red River Valley
Don Myers, DogWatch of Northeast Ohio
Teri & Jack Osantowski, DogWatch by K9 Fencing of Michigan
Amberlyn & Ryan Schatz, Northern Colorado DogWatch
Ryan Schatz & Derek Schatz, DogWatch of Colorado
Anthony Sorosky, DogWatch of Santa Barbara
Lawrence Sowers, DogWatch of the Piedmont
Richard Wilson, DogWatch Down East

Please join us in congratulating these Dealers and all of our Dealer network for their hard work and dedication in 2023!

The post 2024 DogWatch® Dealer Meeting appeared first on DogWatch®.