1. How does Zone Protector® work ?

Zone Protector® consists of three primary components: transmitter, receiver and boundary wire (antenna).

A radio signal is sent by the transmitter to a receiver in your dog's collar. The signal is transmitted through a wire which is buried along the boundaries you want to establish. The wire is really an antenna that carries the no-go signal. The range of the signal (i.e. the distance from the boundary wire to activate the receiver) can be adjusted from a few meters up to 9 meters by the range adjustment knob located on the transmitter.

The receiver in your dog's collar provides a warning beep when he approaches the wire. If he crosses the wire, he will be surprised by a burst of spray which will discourage him from going any further.
The spray brings a corrective action based on different sensorial factors : the sight (cloud of spray), the hearing (pschitt) and the touch (cold contact).

 

2. Installation

In order to install the system in the best conditions, we recommend you to have the following material :
> Straight edged spade or a lawn edger.
> Wire stripping pliers.
> Electrical tape.
> Waterproofing compound (e.g. silicone caulk).
> Patching compound if crossing concrete.
> PVC pipe if crossing a gravel or dirt driveway, pond or lake.
> Grounding rod and clamp.

Step 1
Lay out the area you plan to fence on a sheet of graph paper. The transmitter will transmit a signal up to 9 meters on both sides of your boundary wire. Be sure to leave enough area so that your dog can move about freely within the boundaries.
We do recommend that the signal is set on at least 2 m and that a minimum of 50 m of wire is used for the system to operate effectively.

Basic planning rules
> The wire must make a continuous loop back to the transmitter.
> Twisting the wires cancels the signal. Make at least 30 twists per meters where you want to cancel the signal. However, twisting three or more wires does not cancel the signal. Another way to cancel the signal is to put the wire out of range of the receiver for example by mounting the wire up higher than the set range on a wall or burying it a few feet down.
> Always round corners (1,8 meter radius turns). Square corners distort the signal.
> When installing a double loop, wire must be separated 1 to 1,5 meter to avoid cancelling the signal.

DO'S and DON'TS of installation
DO read all installation instructions before starting.
DON'T run wire parallel to electrical wires, telephone wires, television cables or antenna, or near satellite dishes.
DON'T mount the transmitter near any large metal objects such as breaker boxes, water heaters, metal garage door tracks, or washer and dryer.

Step 2 : locate the transmitter
INDOORS ONLY, near an electrical outlet, and close to your anticipated ground connection.
Secure the transmitter to a mounting surface using the appropriate mounting hardware and use the mounting templates located in the back of this manual.

Step 3 : getting started with the receiver
1- Fitting the strap
- Secure the strap around the receiver by sliding it through the two lugs
Caution : the face indicating the polarity of the battery must not be hidden
- Place the loop on the strap
- Slot the end of the strap in the black buckle to form a collar
- Adjust the collar around your dog 's neck. It should be possible to run your finger between the dog's neck and the strap.
- Push the rest of the strap through the loop.
- If you wish, cut the extra length of strap with scissors and burn the cut edge to prevent it from fraying. Caution : do not do this while the dog is wearing the collar as its hair might catch fire.

2- Filling the reservoir
- Place the unit upside down on a flat, solid surface. The white part (with the filling valve) must be uppermost facing you.
- Direct the refill so that the metal tip is pointing downwards.
- Insert the tip in the filling valve (same operation as for filling a lighter)
- Press canister firmly downwards for 10 seconds
- Release pressure
- Do this again for 10 seconds. This operation must be repeated until the tank is full. When the tank is full the propellent compresses
Caution : never fill the device while the dog is wearing the collar as this could damage the filling valve.

3- Inserting the battery
- Slide back the cover
- Insert the battery
- While gently pressing on battery, slide cover closed.

Step 4 : lay the wire
Lay the wire along your proposed boundary. Connect it to the transmitter and turn the system on. Then, test the collar on the boundary wire to ensure it is working properly. Walk the entire perimeter to test the boundary.

Step 5 : splice wire if additional wire is needed
If you use more than the 150 meters of wire, you will need to splice the wire together with the wire fasteners.
Note the location of all splices and file it with your manual to keep for future reference. Most wire breaks
occur near or at the splices.
Begin by stripping the ends of the wires to be spliced. Insert the stripped ends into the wire fasteners, then pull making sure of a solid connection. Apply water-proofing compound (like silicone) in and around wire fasteners. After the compound dries, you may also wrap wires and wire fasteners with electrical tape to prevent them from pulling loose and to protect from moisture. If your splice or connection pulls loose, your entire system will fail. Make sure of a secure connection.

Step 6 : burying the wire
a/ in the ground
Cut a trench 2,5 cm to 7,5 cm deep along your previously planned boundary. Burying the wire is recommended to prevent damage to the wire or transmitter and to avoid possible injuries to persons tripping over the exposed wire. Be sure to maintain some slack. The wire will expand and contract with temperature variations.

b/ crossing hard surfaces
Lay the wire in a convenient expansion joint or use a circular saw with a masonry blade to create a groove. Place the wire in the groove and cover with an appropriate patching compound. Your local hardware store can help you choose the right compound for your type of driveway.

Step 7 : hooking up your transmitter
1. Connect boundary wire to red wire terminals.
2. According to the wire length used, position the selecting button on A,B or C. B should be chosen when using 150 m of wire.
3. Plug in the AC adaptor into an outlet and into the power jack on the transmitter. The power indicator and loop condition indicator lights should glow.
Connect earth ground using a length of wire to the black terminal. Proper grounding is necessary to reduce the chance of lightning damage to your transmitter. Connect a wire between the transmitter and a ground rod buried at least 1 meter into the ground. You may use an existing ground rod. Ground rods with clamps and wire may be obtained at most electrical supply stores. Locate the transmitter as close as possible to the ground rod.
4. Adjust the range control knob to set warning beep at a range best for your yard. We recommend a minimum of 2 meters. Have as wide a signal area as possible while still giving you pet a sufficient "safe zone".
5. If you find you cannot get your desired range, repeat the operations using the other modes. Leave it set on the position which gives you the greatest range.

Step 8 : fitting the collar on your pet
Secure the strap around your dog's neck. The face indicating the polarity of the battery must be against its neck and the nozzle directed towards the dog's muzzle.
Tighten the collar, gently, leaving space for two fingers between your dog's neck and the collar.
For dogs with long hair, the collar should be lengthened so that the spray nozzle is clear of the coat ! Alternatively the hair could be trimmed.

 

3. Training your pet


Zone Protector® is not a solid barrier. If you want to get the best results from Zone Protector®, it is essential that you train your dog beforehand. Please follow carefully the training tips and programs described below :

Training tips
> Even though your dog may appear trained after one or two days, it is important to continue the training for the fourteen day period.
> During the training period, your pet should be contained by other means and only be allowed in your yard on a leash. It should not be allowed to freely cross the boundary at any time.
> Training can be very tiring for your pet so limit training periods to 10 or 15 minutes.
> Let other family members share in the training so that your pet doesn't relate the training to only one member of the family.
> If your pets becomes hesitant of the training process, remove the receiver collar and resume training the next day and alternate every other day after that.

Training program

Phase 1 : boundary training
Place boundary flags 3 meters apart and at the point where the warning beep starts. The flags serve as a temporary visual boundary for you and your pet. The flags will later be removed when your pet has become familiar with the "safe zone".


Day 1

1. Hold the receiver in one hand and, using a leash, walk your pet to the boundary. Shake a boundary flag and give your pet a strong "NO" command, allowing it to hear the beeping from the receiver.
2. Lead him back into the yard and praise and play with him.
3. Repeat steps 1 and 2 around the entire boundary.
4. After a short rest/play period, place the receiver collar along with the collar with leash on your pet.
5. Let your pet experience a correction by walking into the signal field on his own. Then, immediately lead him back into the "safe zone" and praise him. Do not encourage the pet to cross the boundaries, as this will confuse him. If your pet will not venture into the signal field on its own, have someone else cross the boundary and allow the pet to follow.
6. Repeat step 5 again around the perimeter boundaries. Your pet should receive a correction only when it willingly attempts to cross the boundaries. Additional corrections are not necessary unless your pet willingly attempts to approach the boundary.
7. Remove the receiver collar. DO NOT leave your pet alone with the receiver collar until fully trained.

Days 2 through 14

Repeat steps 4 through 7 at least once per day.

Days 15 through 30

When your pet shows learning progress, remove the training leash and allow it full use of the "safe zone" After 30 days from the start of training, remove every other boundary flag. Repeat every other day.

Phase 2 : Training reinforcement
1. Remove the receiver collar and replace with a regular collar and leash.
2. Walk your pet out to a specific place, preferably the end of your yard. Always lead it out at this spot and with the lead. If he refuses to cross, help him through by pulling on the collar.
3. Your pet will gradually learn that it must wear a leash to venture outside the boundaries. Alternate several members of your family during this process so that your pet identifies leaving with the leash and not with the person.

 

4. Regular maintenance

Perform each of the following :
> Check batteries (monthly).
> Check the level of the tank (regularly)
> Walk the perimeter and remind your pet of the boundaries (monthly).

 

5. Troubleshooting

System test using short loop
- Disconnect the boundary wire and ground wire. Then, connect a 3 meters piece of wire to the terminals and spread it out in a circle. Set the boundary size switch to B (middle) position.
- Turn the range knob full clockwise
> Power light on? If not, check fuse. An extra fuse is included.
> If the fuse is good but the power doesn't light on, contact our after sales service
> Loop light on? If not, contact our after sales service
- Disconnect one end of the wire
> Alarm beep?
- If not, contact our after sales service
- If yes, transmitter is good
- Reconnect wire, turn the range knob all the way to the right, approach boundary with receiver
> Receiver beeping?
- If yes, receiver is good
-If not, check batteries for proper installation and that they are still good. If batteries are good, and installed correctly, contact our after sales service.
- Inspect wire
If the transmitter and receiver check out good on above tests but receiver does not beep on boundary wire, the wire is broken or your system is not installed properly. Walk your perimeter. Some breaks may be too small to cause loop light to go out or break alarm to activate. Check your splices. Most breaks in the wire occur in the splices. See "How to locate a break in the wire" for more help.


How to locate a break in the wire ?
1. Connect both ends of your twisted boundary wire to the first terminal on your transmitter.
2. Measure and cut a new piece of boundary wire that is 1/2 the length of your boundary loop.
3. Connect the new wire to the second terminal on the transmitter.
4. Locate the half-way point along your boundary loop.
5. Cut your boundary loop at the half-way point.
6. Connect the free end of your new piece of wire to either side of your boundary loop at the half way point.
7. Turn the system on and check the range of this smaller loop with the receiver collar.
8. If there is no improvement in the performance of your system, you may assume that there is a break in this portion of your boundary. Because there is a small chance you have more than one break in your loop, you should also try the same procedure for the other side of your loop.
9. Once you determine a section of your boundary loop has a break in it, find the middle of that section and cut the wire. Be sure to resplice the first cut that you made and make it waterproof by caulking with silicone.
10. Connect the new wire to your boundary loop at the point at which you made the cut in step 9.
11. Turn the system on and check the range of this smaller loop with the receiver collar.
12. Repeat steps 8 - 11 until you find the damaged section of wire .
13. Replace damaged wire with new wire. Remember that all wire in your boundary loop must be the exact same size and type.

 

CAUTION


Zone Protector® is not a solid barrier. The system is designed to act as a deterrent to remind dogs by a burst of natural spray to remain a boundary. It is important that you train your dog on a regular basis. Since the tolerance level to spray control stimulation varies from dog to dog, Dynavet CANNOT guarantee that the system will, in all cases, keep a pet within the established boundary. Not all pets can be trained to avoid crossing the boundary. Therefore if you believe that your pet may cause a danger to others or harm himself if he is not kept within your boundaries, you should not rely only upon the Zone Protector®
to confine your pet. Dynavet is not liable for any damage to property, economic loss or any consequential damages, incurred as a result of your dog or any animal crossing the boundary.