Frequently Asked Questions

Transcription

1 Frequently Asked Questions INNOTEK FAQ What is a Pet Containment System? Innotek Containment Systems create a hidden boundary for dogs. The receiver on the dog's collar will sound a warning tone as the dog approaches the boundary. If the dog should remain in the signal field, or continue farther into the field, a harmless but effective static correction will be delivered by the receiver. Dogs will learn the new boundaries and remain in the designated areas of the yard. Innotek Containment Systems enable you to give a dog the freedom it wants, while securing the dog s safety. What does the dog wear on its collar? The collar is fitted with a small receiver that picks up a digitally-encoded signal from the transmitter. Dogs as small as 5 pounds can wear the collar comfortably (Innotek s receiver collars vary in size). The collar should be adjusted to fit snugly, allowing enough room for one finger to fit between the dog s neck and the collar. Will the correction harm my dog? No, it is impossible for that to happen. There are two kinds of electricity, AC and DC. AC (Alternating Current) is what is in your household wiring and the utility lines that run throughout your town. It consists of alternating bursts of amperage and voltage. It is the amperage that burns. DC (Direct Current) is a steady flow of voltage, with very little amperage. When it comes from a battery like the one used in bark control collars it cannot even be measured accurately. Yes, it is startling, much like being shocked by a doorknob after you walk across a carpeted floor, and some dogs will indeed yelp due to that startling effect. But there is no physical danger involved. When you hear stories about the electronic training tools burning a dog s neck, they are actually describing a condition called Pressure Necrosis. This is addressed in the instructions for every product, and is the same condition that causes bed sores in bedridden patients. If the collar is worn more than 12 hours a day, and the condition of the dog s skin under it is not checked frequently for redness, the probes will begin to irritate the skin, and will eventually cause open sores. Never leave the collar on the dog s neck for more than 12 hours in any 24-hour period, and if you are using it that much, check and clean the skin regularly. Can Innotek systems be customized? The boundary created by the underground wire can be customized to keep dogs away from certain areas such as gardens and pools. Dogs will safely avoid the off-limits areas. Since dogs cannot dig under or jump over Innotek Containment Systems, these products are an ideal alternative to traditional fences.

2 What is the difference between water-resistant and waterproof? Water-resistant means the component can withstand the effects of the elements. However, it should not be submerged in water, as this may cause internal damage to the components. Waterproof means the component is designed to withstand submersion in water. The receptacle cover that protects the charging port must be pushed flush with the casing of the collar receiver to ensure waterproofing. Is there training involved? How long does it take? Innotek manufactures training systems and training is the most important part. Innotek systems can be tailored to meet dogs requirements. Dogs learn the customized boundaries by unique, positive training methods. Most owners find that it takes a surprisingly small amount of time to train their dog(s) to stay in the yard. About week or so of training should do. Dogs will soon be content, safe and secure at home. Training time varies with each dog. What is synchronization? The remote training collar receiver and transmitter must be synchronized to work properly. Synchronization means the collar receiver and transmitter are tuned to one another. The receiver and transmitter must be synchronized after charging a receiver, replacing a battery in the transmitter or receiver, or changing the ID code. To synchronize, hold the red dots on the transmitter and the receiver together for five seconds, separate them, then push any transmitter button. The receiver will now respond to signals from the transmitter. Synchronization does not apply to containment collar receivers unless it is the CT-400A system to be used in the training or dual mode. How long do the batteries last? The battery life for bark-prevention collars depends on the frequency of the dog s barking and the level of stimulation used to correct it. For remote trainers the battery life varies according to the length of time for which the collar receiver is turned on, the selected level of stimulation, and how often the dog is stimulated. For containment collars the battery life varies depending upon how often the dog challenges the containment system and the level of stimulation. For remote transmitters the battery life depends on how often and for how long a transmitter button is pressed. BATTERY REPLACEABLE If a water-resistant collar receiver or transmitter is submerged in water, the battery life may be significantly reduced and cause internal damage to the component. For all remote trainers and Contain 'N' Train Systems, the hand-held transmitter must always be matched to the collar receiver after replacing the battery in the collar receiver. Failure to do so will always result in extreme reduction in battery life. A waterproof collar receiver should have the battery screw cap tightened before each use. 6-Volt Alkaline Battery * Containment System hours Can I add more collars to my containment system? Yes, additional collars can be purchased separately.

3 Can I triple my containment system wire to create a dead zone? No. Can the containment system be placed above ground? Yes, the containment system will operate properly above ground. Be sure to take special care that the wire does not become damaged. Innotek recommends placing the wire in the ground. How do I create a dead zone in my containment system in the boundary wire? Twisting two wires together cancels the signal in that area. Refer to Pet Containment System Owner's Guide for diagrams. How old should my dog be before I start using the stimulation as a training tool? Innotek recommends the dog be at least 6 months old. Prior to 6 months old, we believe your dog does not fully understand the stimulation or its purpose. What is the difference between continuous and momentary stimulation? Continuous stimulation is delivered as long as the transmitter button is held down. As a safety feature, stimulation will shut down after 10 seconds of stimulation and lock-out any stimulation for 10 seconds. The user must release the transmitter button and press again after the lock-out period ends to deliver stimulation again. Momentary stimulation is delivered for 1/8 second, then shuts off. Stimulation will not restart until the transmitter button is released and pressed again. Can I use Innotek's containment systems on my cat? Innotek's containment systems are designed specifically for canine use only. Do you have any training videos on how to train my dog using one of your products? Yes. Smart Training: Basic Obedience for the Companion Dog is an excellent video for using our remote training systems. It is 40-minutes of field-proven tips and techniques that professional trainers use. How can I enclose my back yard but allow my dog to come into the house through my back door without being stimulated? There are two options for installing the containment wire to enclose the back yard and allow your dog access through the back door. Beginning at the wall transmitter, lay wire to the nearest perimeter and proceed around the back yard until you are at the opposite side of the house. The house will be used as part of the barrier. With the wire within two feet of the corner of the house, do a hairpin turn and continue laying the wire six feet from itself. Proceed around the back yard until you return to the wall transmitter. This design will keep the back entrances to the house free from stimulation. The second way to install wire for containing the back yard is to go around the front of the house. Beginning at the wall transmitter, lay wire to the nearest perimeter and proceed around the back yard until you are at the opposite side of the house. Bring the wire within two

4 feet of the corner of the house and continue laying the wire in the side and front yards approximately 6-10 feet away from the house. If crossing a concrete driveway or sidewalk, place the wire in an expansion crack and seal it with masonry caulk. After encircling the house, attach the end of the wire to the wall transmitter to complete the circuit. This design will also provide a barrier if your dog bolts out the front door. Which containment system is best for me? When recommending a containment system, we ask the following questions: * Yard Size What is the size of the area you are planning to contain? * Rechargeable Battery or Battery Replaceable Collar Receiver Battery Replaceable: The collar receivers for the HF-25W and CKC-25W use a 6-volt alkaline battery. The CT-400A collar receiver uses a 3-volt lithium battery. Rechargeable Battery: The HF-200W, HF-201, and CB-100W collar receivers are battery rechargeable. When a collar is charging on the wall transmitter, the containment system is disabled. If you have more than one collar receiver, it is recommended that an additional charger is used to charge the other collar(s). * Waterproof or Water-resistant Collar Receiver Is there a pond, lake, etc. in the area you are planning to contain? Our waterproof collar receivers are in the following systems: HF-200W, HF-201, and CB-100W. * Temperament of the Dog Is your dog easy to train or does he have somewhat of a stubborn temperament? How intense is your dog when chasing something? Would your dog be more or less sensitive to the stimulation? - If your dog is easy to train, chasing squirrels is not a priority, and a mild correction produces a positive response, then the HF-200W, HF-25W, or CKC-25W is the system for you. - If your dog tends to be more stubborn and has a high prey drive (even a moving leaf is open game for the dog), the HF-201 or CT-400A is recommended. * Additional Features on the Containment System Do you want a remote trainer with your containment system? The Contain 'N' Train CT-400A and CKC-25W systems have a hand-held transmitter that is included with the containment system. Do you want to control your dog's barking and contain your dog? The Contain 'N' Bark CB-100W has the bark control and containment features on the same collar receiver. My collar receiver uses a 3-volt lithium battery and it appears that it is shorting out or losing its programming. What could cause this? Check to see if you are using a 3-volt lithium battery manufactured by Duracell. In the fall of 1999, Duracell changed their battery design by shortening the nipple. Therefore, the battery pulls away from the battery screw cap and defaults the programming.

5 Innotek redesigned its battery screw caps to be compatible with the new Duracell batteries. My collar receiver uses a 6-volt battery and it is not working correctly since I changed the battery. What could cause this? Check to see if the battery is alkaline. A 6-volt lithium battery will not give optimum performance in the collar receiver. A few model numbers for a 6-volt alkaline battery are Kodak K28A, Panasonic 4LR44, and Energizer A Why can t I leave the collar receiver on the dog for more than 12 hours at a time? We strongly recommend not leaving the collar receiver on the dog for more than 12 hours. Because the strap needs to be tight to ensure that the probes are making good contact, skin irritations may develop if the collar receiver is left on too long. The skin underneath the collar strap and receiver box needs to breathe. It s just like a man wanting to remove his tie by the end of the day. Your dog wants and needs to have the collar receiver removed after 12 hours. Information provided by Innotek. Information is for your consideration only. Please consult a veterinarian for specific advice concerning the care and treatment of pets.