Frequently Asked Questions

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FAQ Radio Dog Collars

Why should I choose a Sureguard collar?

Sureguard collars have unique features protected by patents. One concerns the fit of the collar. It is important to get the fit right both for comfort and reliable delivery of the correction.

When the Sureguard collar delivers the correction it instantly measures whether the dog has felt it. If not felt, the collar will retry until felt or will give up and indicate the error to you. You can then rectify the problem with the collar's fit.

Other brands offer a more basic design. They generate the correction, but if the dog is not feeling it (say due to fur growth, a slack collar, or the neck dimensions flexing while your dog is running) your dog will feel nothing and will re-learn to escape. It may take weeks and several escapes before you realize what is happening. This can weaken the long-term reliability of containment because the right behaviour will have to be re-learnt.

In addition, you can find out from the Sureguard collar how many times each of your dogs has tested the boundary during the last 24 hours. This is very handy for monitoring problem dogs.

Of course, we encourage you to buy a quality Australian Made brand rather than one made in China for a price. Sureguard sell direct to you without the middleman, and pass on the saving for a quality product. Sureguard also provide free after sales advice for the life of the product.

Why do you not use rechargeable batteries in your collars?

Sureguard has reduced the stand-by power of the collar to such a low level that the battery lasts up to 18 month and costs only about $3 to replace. Therefore, not only are Sureguard collars less expensive to manufacture and operate, they are also light weight, compact, and comfortable for your dogs to wear. Sureguard collars are about half the weight of many other brands that use rechargeable batteries. We think rechargeable batteries are simply too heavy and unnecessary. In addition, most rechargeable batteries are not user replaceable so when the batteries fail the collar must be replaced or sent to the manufacturer for servicing.

Why do you not have a stronger "stubborn dog" collar?

Sureguard manufacture one collar that works for all dogs, including stubborn ones. Twelve levels of correction intensity can be delivered by the collar. The level is automatically assigned according to your dog's recent history of interactions with the boundary. The level will remain high if your dog is stubborn and will reduce when your dog is well behaved. This feature is built-in - you don't need to buy a more expensive model simply because you have a bigger problem!

I've heard some people say that radio collars are cruel. Are they okay?

Three types of dog collar exist: 1/ training collars, 2/ anti-bark collars, and 3/ containment collars. The distinction between these is often blurred by those who do not agree with their use.

Training collars are particularly controversial because the user initiates the correction. The risk is that this control may be abused, intentionally or unintentionally. A skilled trainer will ensure that the animal understands what response is necessary and will avoid making the animal feel helpless. An animal that feels helpless may exhibit numerous physiological signs, and these are well documented. For these reasons, Sureguard has always declined to manufacture such training collars.

A Containment Collar is part of an electronic containment system. Correction is only initiated when an animal attempts to pass a boundary wire. No human can initiate the correction. This is clearly a humane situation. The animal is in total control of the situation. Containment Collars emit an audible warning that the animal will use to avoid the correction. Few encounters are needed to develop this back-off response. The animal is free to move away from the correction area and avoid the correction. This is similar to a farm animal avoiding an electric fence wire.

Scientific research into training collars has highlighted potential problems, particularly due to the negative aspect of human control. The issues raised do not apply to containment collars because the dog is in control of the situation. The dog is never forced to the boundary.

Can the correction physically harm my dog?

No. The amount of energy in the electrical stimulus is about the same as common static electricity (the spark experienced in dry weather). This impulse stimulates the muscle to momentarily contract. This muscle contraction is what is felt by your dog. There is also an automatic 15 second cut out built into the collar so your dog cannot be stressed by being over corrected. Sureguard has used the Australian Standard AS NZS 60479 in selecting a safe correction intensity.

Why does my dog need to be trained to use the radio collar?

Without training, your dog's first encounter with the boundary can be unpredictable. The aim of training is the develop a back off response when your dog hears the warning sound emitted by the collar. Without training your dog might run away on that first encounter, subsequently discovering that the correction stops on the other side. This reinforces a wrong behaviour and your dog will run off next time because he learnt this wrong behaviour. Another possibility is that your dog just stands there and takes the correction, not knowing how to respond.

To make training easier, Sureguard has developed a special training regime which utilizes the collar's unique "training mode" setting. Training requires only a few hours spread over two consecutive days. Other collar brands often ask you to perform 2 weeks of training! They do not offer the in-built "training mode" that Sureguard's collars have!

At what age is this system suitable for my dog?

Puppies must already be lead trained and follow basic commands such as "sit", "stay", and "come". This is required for some initial training before using the radio collar system. Aim to have this basic obedience training of your dog complete by 6 months of age. In Victoria it is a legal requirement that the dog be over 6 months of age.

Older dogs must not be deaf because the collar gives an audible cue to back away from the boundary. If your dog is hard of hearing then use the Pingg-String Dog Fence.

I have an escape artist. Is the collar going to be strong enough?

Sureguard's collars have 12 levels of correction that automatically adjust within each collar according to your dog's behaviour. Each dog will receive just the correction necessary to achieve reliable results. Some other leading brands have manual adjustments of correction but ALL dog's get the same higher level, not individually. Some brands have only a few levels or no adjustment at all. Others have a "stubborn dog" model but this is not necessary with the Sureguard Collar.

Does the radio collar boundary wire have to be buried?

No. Your options are: 1/ bury it, 2/ leave on the surface, or 3/ attach to an existing fence, wall or other structure. The installation is completely up to you. If you decide to bury the wire then 5cm or more is sufficient but no more than 20cm.

How do I place the boundary wire cross a driveway?

For hard surfaces such as concrete, pavers, or bitumen, simply run the wire across the surface inside some protective polythene pipe (irrigation pipe). Concrete driveways have an expansion joint every 5m or so. You can often place the wire into this joint. On gravel driveways bury the wire inside hard PVC conduit.

How much boundary wire can be installed?

1500m is the recommended maximum limit. This is about 20-30 acres depending on the shape of the property. Smaller properties, say 100m or less, are generally better suited to the Pingg-String system. Our instant on-line quote will provide you with more information.

Can I attach two boundary wires to the transmitter?

No. All brands of radio boundary systems use just one wire. However, this is not a limitation because virtually any boundary shape you want to create can be designed. We can assist you in this design if you want a customized boundary.

Can I substitute my own wire?

We strongly recommend you stay with Sureguard's high specification boundary wire in order to avoid reduced service life or warranty issues.

How do I take my dog for walks outside the property?

A simple routine is all that is necessary. Refer to page 10 of the User Instructions for more details.

How many dogs can be on the system?

Any number of dogs and each will require its own radio collar. The Sureguard distance and correction level is fully adjustable for each dog's temperament. Each Sureguard dog can have its own settings.

With some brands, the distance and correction settings are made inside the transmitter and all dogs receive the same settings. If you happen to have a stubborn dog and want to increase the correction for this one, unfortunately all the well behaved dogs on the system have to endure the same intensity!

If my neighbour also has a radio dog system, will they interfere?

The Sureguard radio collar uses a special digital signal. Your dog's collar will synchronize with the signal on your property. If your neighbour has the Sureguard or another brand your collar will still function correctly.

Interestingly, some other brands alter the activation distance using an adjustment on the transmitter which increases the strength of the signal. If your neighbour has set a long distance but you want a short distance, unfortunately, your dog will get the long distance along that adjoining boundary. This issue will not occur with Sureguard radio collar system.