An invisible dog fence offers flexibility and convenience, but as your needs evolve—whether due to acquiring more pets or expanding your property—you may find it necessary to extend your existing system. Expanding your invisible fence system can seem like a daunting task, but with proper planning and the right tools, it’s entirely manageable.
In this blog, we’ll guide you through the process of expanding your invisible dog fence system, focusing on key aspects like system compatibility, adding more collars for additional pets, extending the boundary, and ensuring your dogs remain safely contained within the new perimeter. Mimofpet offers reliable and easily expandable solutions for pet owners who need a larger, more versatile containment system.
Why You Might Want to Expand Your Invisible Fence System
Before diving into the expansion process, it’s important to understand why pet owners typically expand their invisible fence systems:
1. Acquiring More Pets
If you’ve recently added another dog to your family, you may want to ensure they’re safely contained within the same boundary as your current pets. Most invisible fence systems, including those from Mimofpet, allow for the addition of extra collars to accommodate more pets.
2. Property Expansion
Perhaps you’ve recently purchased more land or have restructured your yard to give your dogs more space to roam. Expanding the boundary of your invisible dog fence can provide your pets with a larger area to explore while keeping them secure.
3. Training Improvements
Some pet owners expand their invisible fence boundaries after their dogs have successfully adapted to the smaller containment area. Once your dog is fully trained, you might feel more comfortable expanding the boundary to give them additional freedom.
4. Changing Property Features
If you’ve made changes to your property, such as building new structures, adding gardens, or redesigning outdoor spaces, you may need to adjust the boundary of your fence system to fit these new layouts.
5. Improving Coverage in Trouble Spots
Sometimes, wireless signals may have gaps in coverage due to obstacles like hills, trees, or metal objects. Expanding your system with additional transmitters or boundary adjustments can help close these gaps and ensure better coverage.
Step-by-Step Guide to Expanding Your Invisible Dog Fence System
Expanding your invisible fence system is a straightforward process, but it requires careful planning and attention to detail. Here’s how to do it:
Step 1: Evaluate Your Current System
Before expanding your invisible dog fence, it’s essential to understand the specifications of your current system. Consider the following factors:
- Is it a wired or wireless system? Wired systems may require additional boundary wires, while wireless systems might need signal adjustments or extra transmitters.
- How large is the current coverage area? Understand the size and range limits of your system to determine how much expansion is possible.
- How many pets are currently using the system? Some systems have limits on the number of collars they can support, so check if additional pets can be accommodated.
If you’re using a Mimofpet system, it’s highly expandable and can easily be adjusted to fit your growing needs.
Step 2: Add Additional Collars for New Pets
If you’re expanding your fence system to include more dogs, you’ll need to purchase additional receiver collars. Mimofpet collars are designed to sync seamlessly with our containment systems, providing you with reliable performance for multiple pets. Here’s how to add new collars:
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Purchase compatible receiver collars: Make sure the new collars are compatible with your current system. All Mimofpet collars are designed to work across our systems, making the expansion process smoother.
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Pair the collar with the system: Follow the manufacturer’s instructions to pair the new collar with your system. This typically involves syncing the collar with the transmitter so it can receive signals and provide correction if your dog crosses the boundary.
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Adjust correction levels: Each dog is different, so you may need to adjust the correction settings on the new collar to suit your dog’s size, breed, and temperament.
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Train your new dog: Proper training is essential to ensure your new pet understands the boundaries. Mimofpet provides comprehensive training guides to help pet owners teach their dogs to respect invisible fence boundaries.
Step 3: Extend the Boundary
Expanding the boundary of your invisible fence system is one of the most common reasons for system upgrades. The process differs slightly depending on whether you’re using a wireless or wired system:
For Wireless Systems:
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Assess the maximum range: Check the range limitations of your wireless system. Many wireless systems, including Mimofpet, allow for boundary range adjustments through the transmitter settings.
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Adjust the boundary size: Most wireless systems let you adjust the boundary by increasing the transmitter’s signal range. Mimofpet systems offer easy-to-use controls to modify the containment area based on your needs.
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Add more transmitters if necessary: For larger properties or uneven terrain, you may need to add additional transmitters to extend coverage. This helps maintain a consistent boundary, especially if your property has obstacles that might interfere with the wireless signal.
For Wired Systems:
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Determine how much more wire is needed: Measure the perimeter of the expanded area you want to cover. You’ll need to purchase additional boundary wire to extend the fence system.
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Splice the wire: Use wire splices to connect the new boundary wire to the existing system. Make sure to follow safety precautions and ensure the connections are waterproof to prevent damage.
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Bury the new wire: Once you’ve spliced the wire, bury it along the new boundary. This can be done using a trenching tool or by manually digging the trench. Ensure the wire is deep enough to avoid accidental damage from yard work or weather conditions.
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Test the system: Before allowing your dog to roam freely, test the expanded system to ensure it’s functioning correctly. Walk along the boundary with the receiver collar to make sure there are no weak spots or gaps in coverage.
Step 4: Retest and Retrain
After making adjustments to the boundary or adding new collars, it’s essential to retrain your dog to understand the expanded area. Even if they’ve been trained on the previous boundary, the new perimeter may confuse them initially. Here’s how to approach retraining:
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Introduce your dog to the new boundary: Start by walking your dog along the new boundary line. Allow them to experience the new space and hear the warning tone from the collar if they approach the edge.
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Use positive reinforcement: Reward your dog when they stay within the safe zone. Positive reinforcement, such as treats or praise, helps reinforce their understanding of the new boundary.
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Monitor their behavior: Keep a close eye on your dog during the first few days after expanding the fence. Some dogs may test the new limits, so ensure they don’t cross the boundary.
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Gradually give them more freedom: Once your dog becomes accustomed to the new boundary, gradually give them more freedom to explore the expanded area off-leash.
Common Challenges and How to Overcome Them
While expanding your invisible fence system is generally straightforward, some common challenges may arise:
1. Signal Interference
In wireless systems, signal interference can occur due to large metal objects, thick walls, or other electronic devices. To minimize interference, ensure the transmitter is placed in an optimal location, and avoid positioning it near potential obstacles.
2. Boundary Gaps
In wired systems, gaps in the boundary can occur if the wire is damaged or improperly installed. Regularly check the boundary wire for damage and ensure all splices are secure and waterproof.
3. Training Multiple Dogs
Training more than one dog on an invisible fence system can be challenging, especially if they have different temperaments. Be patient and ensure each dog receives individualized training to understand the boundaries.
Conclusion
Expanding your invisible dog fence system can be a seamless process with the right preparation and equipment. Whether you’re adding more pets, extending the boundary, or accommodating changes to your property, Mimofpet’s flexible containment systems make expansion simple and efficient. With the right approach, you can ensure your pets remain safe and secure while enjoying the freedom of an expanded space.
Investing time in proper training and regularly checking your system’s performance will ensure your expanded invisible fence continues to provide reliable protection for years to come.