Training an Underground Fence Portal
Our last post outlined the safest techniques for training your dog to an underground fence as to minimize the risk of negative behavioral fallout and other concerns (you can read that post here). Now, we will outline how to train a “fence portal” which will allow an owner to walk their dog through their underground fence boundary without causing confusion or stress for the dog.
1. First, select two visual markers to represent your portal. Your portal markers should be very obvious to your dog and should be moveable (i.e. two traffic cones).
2. Place your portal markers on the ground about 6 feet apart. They should be fully inside the fence boundary at this stage, allowing your dog to move around them freely.
3. Have plenty of small training treats on-hand and leash up your dog. Ideally, put on all of the equipment your dog normally wears on walks.
4. While holding your dog’s leash, walk them between the portal markers. Reward your dog each time they pass through the portal.
5. At this stage you should control the length of your dog’s leash to ensure that they pass between the cones with you.
6. After several passes through the portal, pick up the portal markers and move to another area of the yard.
7. In the new area, practice the same exercise. Pass through the portal with your dog on leash and reward them for each success.
8. You may elect to add a verbal cue to the portal skill (this is optional). In order to do this, simply say the desired verbal cue just before you walk your dog through the portal. Be consistent in saying the cue every single time and using the same word or phrase.
9. After practicing the portal skill in two different areas you can graduate to crossing the fence boundary.
10. Remove your dog’s fence collar! Many problems can arise if your dog receives a shock in association with you leading them across their boundary.
11. Place the portal markers on the fence boundary. It is good practice to place them in the area that you want to walk through regularly.
12. Again, while holding your dog’s leash walk them through the portal. If you have done enough initial training of this skill, it is very likely that your dog will walk through without hesitation. If they do, allow them to walk around for a couple minutes, then pass back through the portal and deliver a treat once in the yard.
a. If your dog is hesitant to cross through the portal now that it is on the fence boundary do not pull them across with the leash. Instead, walk with them to the point where they stop and use a food lure in your hand to draw them closer to the portal.
b. Initially, reward your dog if they take even one more step towards the portal.
c. Continue to use a food lure in your hand to incrementally draw your dog through the portal.
d. Once they successfully walk through the portal praise them and walk around for a few minutes. You may find that you also need to use a food lure to help your dog re-enter the portal into the yard, this is okay. Be patient, and slowly work your dog back through the portal.
e. Repeat this luring exercise until your dog is able to pass through the portal confidently.
13. After several successful passes through the portal, put away the portal markers (they should always be kept out of view when not in use) and place the fence collar back on your dog.
14. You do not want your dog to pass through the fence boundary when the portal markers are not in place. Therefore, supervise your dog in the yard for 10 minutes after the portal markers have been removed to ensure that they do not attempt to cross the boundary. At most, your dog may approach the line, but should retreat when they hear the warning beep of the collar.
15. If your dog does pass through the fence boundary plan to continue practicing the portal training exercises And begin incorporating standard underground fence training exercises (outlined in this blog post) after every portal training session to reinforce the fence boundary when the portal is not in place.
