If your dog has successfully completed Phases 1 & 2, he is now ready to be off the leash while you are constantly supervising him. DO NOT leave your dog unattended during this phase. It is not uncommon for your dog to associate the training with his leash, or to the trainer, and he may leave the yard when these conditions change. If that happens, retrieve your dog, remove his collar and return to the yard. Many times, the dog will run back into the safe area of the yard by himself. If you are unable to retrieve him immediately, turn the transmitter off so that he can return without receiving a correction.
After six days of constantly supervising your pet while off the leash, you can begin to leave him unattended for short periods of time. Gradually, over the next week, begin building up the time your dog is left unattended.
Some dogs will want to stay near the house or may be hesitant to go outside. It may take a few days before your dog is confident to do so alone. If so, take your dog to the safe area and give him some meat treats, play with him and give him lots of praise to show him that it is safe to be outside.
Remember, if your dog is not properly and fully trained to the electric dog fence - it will not work. You cannot progress from one stage to the next without being certain that your dog has fully understood the previous stage. If you are unsure, spend the time to add a few extra days on a stage before proceeding. Remember - these electric dog fences are NOT a miracle cure, they cannot physically restrain a dog from leaving a yard. Your dog must be properly trained to the system (up to 30 days) for the dog fence to work. If you are hesitant or unsure about training the dog yourself, we recommend consulting a reputable Professional Trainer who has experence with electeronic dog fences. Or, your local PetSafe Professional dealer.
FINALLY - Two weeks after your pet can safely be left outside unattended, you may begin removing the training flags. Pull every other flag each day until all of the flags are removed. Once the flags are gone you can teach your dog how to safely walk over the boundary - this is called "Doorway training". Remove the dog fence collar and place him on a leash using a flat or slip collar. Encourage your dog to follow you by reassuring him and praising him. Most dogs will be reluctant, but you must be persistent. DO NOT allow your dog to "bolt through" the signal field. Teach him it is safe to cross with you while he is on a leash. Use a release word such as " FREE" . Be consistent and both exit the yard and re-enter it at the same point each time. Eventually your pet will associate the leash with leaving safely.