How Old Should a Puppy Be to Train for an Underground Fence?

Puppies under the age of eight weeks are still infants and training of any type should begin after this formative age. While there is not a set age for training a puppy on the confines of an electric fence, it is important to realize that the younger the pet, the easier to train.

  1. Age

    • The leading electric fence company, Invisible Fence, recommends eight weeks as the general safe age to start slowly training your puppy. It is essential to remember that training requires patience and consistency. Also, the age of the puppy may vary depending on the personality and disposition of the animal. So, one puppy may be ready at eight weeks while another might be ready at nine weeks.

    Attitude

    • When a puppy is able to obey simple commands and can walk on a lead, underground fence training should be the next objective.

    Conditioning

    • Some puppies may learn early on to ignore the shock they get from running past the invisible line. They may view the escape as a reward for getting past the pain.

    Puppy Fear

    • Puppies go through different stages just like humans do. Owners should watch closely for any fear the puppy seems to have. Forcing a puppy to walk the boundaries of the fence when he is not comfortable with the activity may create fear, and this may derail the efforts to teach him.

    Appropriate Training

    • Training when the puppy is not overly tired or hungry will ensure a willing and able student. Walk her around the boundaries to get her used to the sound of the alerting "beep" that comes before the shock. Limit the training to the willingness of your puppy, which will typically be 20 minutes.

    Positive Reinforcement

    • Training a puppy appropriately and fearlessly requires ensuring that the puppy is receptive and ready. The goal is to encourage the puppy with positive praise for walking away when he hears the beep signaling the boundary line.