How to Set up Havahart Wireless Custom-Shape Dog Fence – Instructions

This video illustrates the key features associated with your new wireless dog fence. For step-by-step instructions and other important information, please refer to your instruction manual. If you have additional questions, call Havahart’s customer care specialists who would be happy to help you. Always remember that successful operation of your Custom-Shape dog fence requires that you properly train your dog.

System Components

Let’s begin by looking at some key system components of you fence.

The Controller features auditory alerts and a touch screen for easy set up, activation and management of your system

One Master Base and 3 additional bases work in concert with your Controller to identify and store the locations of your fence boundary and Exclusion Zone.

The Collar, which communicates continuously with the base to track the real time location of your dog and delivers a correction if the boundary is reached.

Your wireless dog fence also includes:

   – A USB cable
   – A USB AC adaptor
   – 4 AC adaptor power cords
   – 2 rechargeable batteries and a charger
   – Mounting options
   – Training flags
   – A heart-shaped collar tester

Key Definitions

You will need to understand these key terms

Roaming Area: This is the space inside the Trigger Zone where your dog is free to roam and play. The system is capable of forming a roaming area of up to 500 feet in any direction

Trigger Zone: This is the boundary of the roaming area. It can range from 6 to 13 feet wide. If your dog crosses into this area, the system will trigger a correction.

Exclusion Zone: This could be any area in your yard where you want to restrict your dog’s access, i.e your pool or a large garden. The size of the exclusion zone cannot be smaller than 12 x 12 feet. It must also be 20 feet away from the Bases and trigger Zone. The system accommodates up to 4 exclusion zones

Planning Your Wireless Fence Boundary

Prior to installation, make sure you charge the controller and batteries for 3 hours. Plan the layout of your wireless fence on paper to ensure it suits the custom shape of your yard while providing your dog with optimum freedom and safety. Keep in mind that your Trigger Zone should not be closer than 10 feet to any road, sidewalk or thoroughfare for your dog’s safety.

Setting Up the Bases

It is best to install your bases in the furthest corners of your home spaced as far apart as possible; a minimum of 20 feet apart. Increasing the distance between the bases will actually increase their tracking accuracy. Place the bases about 6 feet from the floor and within reach of 120V AC power outlet.

Also note that the bases should be positioned at least 3 feet away from or above signal limiting obstructions that may reside inside and outside the home. Typical obstructions include:

• Microwaves
• Mirrors
• External Air Conditioning Units
• Downspouts
• Shrubs
• Heavy Foliage
• External Air Conditioning Units
• Downspouts

These objects could potentially impact the size of and distort the shape of the Trigger Zone. Consult your instruction manual for more details.

Place the bases in the 4 corners of your home but do not connect them to power outlets at this point. Make sure you computer is located near the Master Base A. Open a web browser in your computer and go to HavahartWireless.com/MyAccount.

Create an account if you have not already done so and access the Wireless Fence Tracker. This program approximates where your wireless fence boundary lies. The Wireless Fence Grid should appear with 4 Bases on the screen. At this time, these Bases will not yet represent your Bases. Refer to your instruction manual for more details.

Disconnect the fully charged Controller from the USB cable. Connect the Master Base A to your computer via the USB port. Connect the Master Base A to a power source. The indicator light will flash green signifying the Master Base A is on.

On the Wireless Fence Tracker, select Start to begin recording. Activate the Master Base A by touching the screen of the Controller to turn it on. First press “Get Started”. Next press “System” and then “Complete”. The Master Base A is now added to the system and the indicator light will turn solid green.

Walk to Base B located to the right of Base A. Plug the AC adaptor power cord to the outlet. After the indicator light turns green, press “Complete” on the Controller to add Base B into the system. Add the remaining bases to the system one at a time in a clockwise fashion. For details see the instruction manual.

Once complete, the Bases on your Wireless Fence Tracker screen will shift to their true positions, representing the actual geographic locations of your bases.

Setting Up the Fence Boundary

Setting up your fence boundary or Trigger Zone is a critical step. Here are some general guidelines. Use your blue flag to mark your starting point and proceed to placing flags in the ground 6 feet apart to establish the desired perimeter of your fence boundary. After setting your flags, use your Controller to activate your fence boundary.

First, select “Fence” from the main menu. Then select “Add Fence”. Then, press “Complete”. You are now ready to activate your fence boundary.

Starting at the blue flag, hold the Controller at waist level over the flag. Wait 5 seconds and press “Record” on your Controller screen. To ensure success, keep the Controller over the flags at all times and between your body and the bases. Now, walk the flag line at a slow, deliberate, pace all the way around your fence boundary. Slow down when you go around corners. And stop for one second if your want the system to make a sharp corner point.

If you encounter an obstacle, like a shed or a large object, press “Pause”. Then walk around the object, wait 5 seconds and press “Continue” to close the fence boundary through the object.

Continue recording your fence by waling a slow, deliberate pace over the remainder of the flags. When you return to the blue flag press “Done”. Press “Next” and your fence boundary will be represented by a green line surrounding your bases on the wireless fence tracker.

The blue circles on the Wireless Fence Tracker represent the path of the Controller. Refer to the instruction manual for full details on fence boundary setup.

Setting Up Exclusion Zones

Optional Exclusion Zones may be added during or after the initial installation. Use them to keep pets away from areas you want them to avoid such as a swimming pool or a large garden. Up to 4 Exclusion Zones can be set. Setup is similar to setting your fence boundary. Use the white boundary flags and insert them into the ground 6 feet apart to establish the desired Exclusion Zone boundary.

Be sure that the flags form an enclosed zone. Also make sure that there is at least 20 feet between Exclusion Zones and the fence boundary and bases. Use the Controller to activate the Exclusion Zones. First select “ExZones” from the main menu. Next select “Add ExZone”. Then select the ExZone to be added. After all flags are in the proper position, press “Complete”.

You are now ready to activate your Exclusion Zone. Starting with the first white flag hold the Controller at waist level 4 feet inside the flag line. Wait 5 seconds and press “Record”. To ensure success, keep the Controller between your body and the Bases at all times. Walk at a quick, deliberate pace around the inside of your Exclusion Zone and end where you started, and press “Done”. For details refer to the instruction manual.

Setting Up the Collars

To set up the Collar make sure you have a fully charged battery installed. When charged, a green light will flash every second to indicate that the Collar is on. After establishing the connection to the wireless system, the green light will flash every 5 seconds. A red light will flash to indicate when the battery should be recharged or if the Collar is near a Trigger Zone.

The system features integrated motion sensor technology that allows the Collar to conserve battery life when not in use. During this time the Collar light will not flash. To awaken the Collar just give it a gentle shake.

The system allows you to activate up to 2 Collars using the Controller. To activate a Collar gently shake the Collar near the Master Base A. Using the Controller select “Collars” in the main menu. Select “Add Collars” and then press “Next”. Select the Collar that you would like to activate and proceed to name your Collar. To create the name, first press the “Left” or “Right” arrow to highlight the letter, and then press the “Up” or “Down” arrows to choose the character that you want. Press “Save” and a confirmation will display.

The Collar defaults to “Tone Only” but includes up to 5 static correction levels. Use the Controller and press “Level Up” or “Level Down” for your desired setting.

Testing the Trigger Zone

To test your Trigger Zone make sure the Collar correction level is set to “Tone Only”. Then perform these 2 steps.

Step 1. With your Collar walk a parallel path to your boundary 10 feet inside the flag line at the same slow deliberate pace and in the same manner you used to record the Trigger Zone. Gently shake the Collar to keep it awake. Keep the Collar between your body and the Bases at all times. Should the Collar beeps and the light flashes red during your Trigger Zone test make a note of the location and continue walking inside your fence boundary.

Once complete, look at the Wireless Fence Tracker. Small red circles should represent the path that you walked. The red circles should closely but not perfectly run parallel to the green line. If you notice any extreme dips, loops, or cross overs in your fence, you may want to remove your fence and re-record. In most cases, you may need to move flags one way or the other to be close to the boundary. Consult your instruction manual for details.

Step 2. Walk directly toward the boundary while gently shaking the Collar to keep it awake until the Collar beeps and the light flashes red. To confirm the boundary location step back until the Collar stops beeping. Then walk forward in the same direction until the Collar beeps and the light flashes red again. Test the trigger zone in multiple locations. If necessary, move the flags to the correct location. You many need to remove your fence and add a new fence if you are not satisfied.

If you have any exclusion zones perform similar Trigger Zone testing to ensure the safe and effective system operation.

Fitting the Collar

It is important to make sure the Collar is fitted properly on your dog. First, be sure your dog is within the roaming area and the Collar correction level is set to “Tone Only”. Position the Collar high on your dog’s neck below your dog’s regular Collar. The Probes should be under the dog’s chin facing upward and centered.

Make sure the Collar maintains contact with the dog’s skin at all times. Adjust the Collar to fit snugly but not tightly. You should be able to slide the tip of one finger between the dog’s coat and one of the Probes of the Collar.

Two sets of Probes of different lengths are provided. Decide which of the Probes is best based on your dog’s hair length. Once the Collar is adjusted to the correct length, remove the Collar and trim the excess strap using scissors. Be sure to leave extra room if your dog is going to grow or grows a long winter coat.

Some Extra Safety Tips

– Adjust the system components only after you remove the Collar from the Dog
– Never let the Collar on your dog’s neck for more than 12 continuous hours
– Clean the Probes and your dog’s neck on a regular basis to avoid skin

Once you have successfully completed these steps, you are now ready to proceed to training your dog. Remember you must complete the entire training process to ensure the successful operation of your new Custom Shape Wireless Dog fence.