Wagz Freedom Smart Dog Collar App User Guide

Wagz Freedom Smart Dog Collar App

Product Information

Wagz Freedom Collar

The Wagz Freedom Collar is a pet containment system that utilizes geofencing to keep your dog safely contained and away from restricted areas. Geofences are virtual fences that you create using the Wagz App, and if your dog tries to cross the geofence boundary, he will receive an automatic, real-time correction on his collar, and you’ll receive a push notification to your phone. The Wagz Freedom Collar also comes with a Training Mode that provides training advice and leverages custom collar functions to better assist with the training process. The Training Mode consists of four phases: Understanding Corrections, Visual Boundary Training, Boundary Corrections Training, and Distractions Training.

Geofence Setup

To create or view your geofences, open the Wagz App and tap on the GEOFENCES button in the bottom navigation bar. You can create multiple geofences and set them up as a safe zone or a Keep Out Zone. The Wagz App will guide you through the setup process. Please note that geofence boundaries are not as precise as traditional fences or underground wire solutions. GPS technology and geofences work best when the GPS icon is enabled.

Training Mode

The Wagz Freedom Collar Training Mode can be accessed from within the Wagz App by tapping MORE in the bottom navigation bar, then tapping TRAINING. The Training Mode consists of four phases:

1. Understanding Corrections: This phase helps you understand how to properly correct your dog’s behavior using the collar.
2. Visual Boundary Training: This phase teaches your dog to recognize and stay within the geofence boundaries visually.
3. Boundary Corrections Training: This phase reinforces the geofence boundaries by correcting your dog’s behavior when he tries to cross them.
4. Distractions Training: This phase helps your dog learn to stay within the geofence boundaries, even when distracted.

It is important to note that all pet containment systems require pet owners to train their dogs to stay within set boundaries. The Wagz Training Mode provides training advice, but no two dogs are alike, so it is essential to use a what’s best for my specific dog approach when training.

Product Usage Instructions

1. Set up your geofences using the Wagz App.
2. Train your dog using the Wagz Freedom Collar Training Mode, following the four phases.
3. Activate the geofences and let your dog wear the collar when outside.
4. If your dog tries to cross the geofence boundary, he will receive an automatic, real-time correction on his collar, and you’ll receive a push notification to your phone.
5. Continue to reinforce the training to ensure your dog stays within the geofence boundaries.

If you have any questions or concerns about your collar, geofences, or training recommendations, don’t hesitate to reach out to the Wagz Customer Experience Team.

Introduction To Geofences

WHAT ARE GEOFENCES?
Geofences are a core feature of the Wagz Freedom Collar. Geofences are virtual fences that you create to keep your dog safely contained and away from places where he shouldn’t go. You can use your Wagz App to define a space that is safe or unsafe for your dog. Then, if your dog tries to cross the geofence boundary, he will receive an automatic, real-time correction on his Wagz Freedom Collar and you’ll receive a push notification to your phone.

SETTING UP YOUR GEOFENCES
To create or view your geofences, open the Wagz App and tap on the GEOFENCES button in the bottom navigation bar. You can create multiple geofences and set them up as a safe zone or a Keep Out Zone. The Wagz App will guide you through the setup process.

TIPS ON GEOFENCE PLACEMENT

Be aware that geofence boundaries are not as precise as a traditional fence or underground wire solution. By their very nature, GPS technology and geofences work best when:

• Geofence boundary lines have at least 10-15 feet of space between the boundary and any dangerous area such as roads, pools, etc – to account for GPS drift
• Each geofence is at least 40’ x 40’ (to give your dog ample room to roam)
• The property size is 1/2 acre or larger
• There is clear line of site to the sky and no prominent obstructions such as heavy tree coverage, buildings, or metal roofs. Geofences will not work unless you have a high level of GPS accuracy. This can be determined by looking at the color of the GPS icon in your status bar. If the GPS icon is green, then the GPS is accurate enough to enforce geofences. This is the only mode that will allow geofences to work. If you see any other GPS icon color, geofences will be temporarily disabled. This is a status bar that shows a strong GPS signal:
• If you see your GPS icon in any of these colors , geofences will be temporarily disabled until your collar gets a stronger GPS fix.

A NOTE ABOUT BATTERY LIF

EUsing geofences all the time can reduce your battery life. To extend how long your battery lasts, you can adjust your pet’s CORRECTION SETTINGS to disable geofences automatically when your collar is connected to your Wi-Fi network; as this is generally when your dog is inside and typically doesn’t need geofences. This feature can also be useful if you have inconsistent GPS performance and are getting false corrections inside your house. This setting is not suggested if you have a far-reaching Wi-Fi network that provides coverage with a range that goes beyond the geofence boundary.

Wagz Training Philosophy

All pet containment systems require a pet owner to train their dog to stay within set boundaries. Dogs are reward seekers, meaning that when trained properly, they will continue to repeat positively reinforced behaviors. Wagz has created a Training Mode that can be accessed from within the Wagz App. This Training Mode provides not only training advice, but also leverages custom collar functions to better assist with the training process.Because no two dogs are alike, there is no “one size fits all” way to train a dog. The pet owner needs to use a “what’s best for my specific dog” approach. The training outlined here is used by many professional trainers. However, if you find that this approach does not work for your specific dog, try researching other methods of training or ask your veterinarian for recommendations.Here are a few tips to keep in mind:

POSITIVE REINFORCEMENT & REWARDS

• It’s important to reward and praise your pet for their good behavior and responsiveness to commands. Treats, toys, and playtime are the most common rewards given during any training exercise. When training your dog with our geofence containment system be sure to have your rewards ready and have lots of them! The rewards don’t need to be big, just a little something to show your dog you’re happy with what they’re doing.
• We have also found it extremely helpful to use a common, repetitive phrase when rewarding your dog, such as “good girl/boy.”

REDIRECTING WITH CORRECTION CUES

We believe in positive reinforcement training first. That being said, we know that with stubborn behaviors or when it comes to safety, that correction cues can sometimes be helpful. A tug on a leash, the word “No”, or a humane correction from the Wagz Freedom Collar can be very effective at getting your dog’s attention and letting him know that he’s doing something undesirable or unsafe.

TRAINING FREQUENCY

• Wagz has created a 4-phase training approach to introduce your dog to the collar’s corrections and the geofence boundaries.
• Start with 3 brief training sessions a day, then you can drop down to fewer sessions as training progresses. To ensure training is effective and manageable, keep each training session to no more than 10-15 minutes.
• It will take multiple, repetitive training sessions a day over the course of a few weeks until your dog understands the set boundaries, where the boundaries are located and what it means when they cross them.

Using The Wagz App Training Mode

You should see a banner at the top of your Wagz App home screen.

• If you don’t see it there, you can always access Training Mode by tapping MORE in the bottom navigation bar, then tapping TRAINING.This Training Mode provides not only training advice, but also leverages custom collar functions to better assist with the training process.There are 4 phases to the Wagz Training Mode:

In regular operation, the Freedom Collar will automatically issue corrections when your dog passes the geofence boundary. During training, when using the Training Mode, you will be issuing the corrections from your phone, to ensure they are sent at the exact time and location you want, to ensure consistency during training.You can train on each phase as many times as you’d like and can work through these phases at your own pace.We recommend you start with 3 brief training sessions a day, then you can drop down to fewer sessions as training progresses. To keep the training effective and manageable, keep your training sessions to no more than 10-15 minutes per session. It will take multiple, repetitive training sessions a day over the course of a few weeks until your dog understands the set boundaries, where the boundaries are located and what it means when they receive a correction.

Phase 1 – Understanding Corrections

HOW THIS PHASE WORKS

• Because every dog is different and will respond differently to corrections, Wagz has built three different correction types into the Freedom Collar. These can be used in any combination, because we want you to be able to customize the collar to works best for your dog.
• The goal of Training Phase 1 is to familiarize yourself with the types of correction cues the Freedom Collar offers and to work with your dog to determine the correction settings that are most effective for them.

CORRECTION TYPES

• Audible Tone: Produces a brief beeping sound that can be heard by both dogs and pet parents.
• Vibration: Creates a buzzing sensation as another way to get your pup’s attention when she reaches a boundary. Think of this like your cell phone ringer when it’s on silent mode.
• Ultrasonic: Similar to a traditional dog whistle, this emits sound waves at a frequency above the upper limit of human hearing. It does not force your dog to do anything, but gets her attention quickly!

TRY IT OUT

• Check that your phone is Bluetooth connected to your Freedom Collar. You should be able to see the Bluetooth icon in the status bar on your Wagz dashboard.
• Hold the collar in your hand and go somewhere away from your dog to prevent confusing him.
• With all 3 correction types turned on, press the START CORRECTION button. This will give you an idea of how they each work.

SEE WHAT YOUR DOG THINKS

• When first introducing corrections to your pup, we recommend you start with just the Audible Tone. Next, put the collar on your dog and send a correction cue when you would normally give a verbal command or leash tug.
• Did this get the dog’s attention and achieve your desired outcome?
• Yes! That’s great, practice it a few more times to make sure they consistently respond positively to the correction.
• No. Don’t worry. We have some tips on the next screen.

ADJUST AS NEEDED

Try issuing the correction again, while also saying “no” or tugging on your dog’s leash. If after a few tries, the dog still doesn’t respond to the Audible Tone correction, try turning on the Vibration correction. You may also add or switch to the Ultrasonic correction if you find the Audible and Vibration ineffective. Note that humans won’t be able to hear the ultrasonic sound, but dogs can.

Phase 2 – Visual Boundary Training

HOW THIS PHASE WORKS

• The goal of Training Phase 2 is to familiarize your dog with the boundary you have created. When you are getting started, visual training aids (like flags) are extremely helpful and effective for both you and your dog.
• By placing flags around your property where the geofence boundaries are, your dog will learn to respect the boundaries. Once he learns the boundaries, you can gradually remove the flags little by little until they are all gone.

CREATE VISUAL BOUNDARIES

• Start placing flags to mark your geofence. Position the flags 3-6 feet apart, and ~5 feet inside where the actual geofence boundary is (to account for any GPS variability).
• It can also be helpful to align your geofence with visible things around your property (trees, gates, rocks, etc.)
• The map shown on the Wagz App Training Mode Phase 2 screen should be helpful as you walk around your property to confirm where you are relative to the geofence boundary. You’ll see your geofence, your dog’s location, and your phone’s location.

GET READY

• Before training starts, make sure:
• Your dog is wearing their Freedom Collar and that the Freedom Collar has a charged battery.
• Your dog is on a leash.
• You have training treats available (optional).
• Keep in mind that younger dogs have a short attention span and might not be able to train for long durations of time.

START TRAINING

• Allow your dog to explore within the geofenced area (visually supported by the flags). Make this time within the Safe Zone fun and interactive so that your dog understands that this is the desired place to be. As your dog gets within 6 feet of the boundary, give your version of the “NO” command and lead the dog back into the safe area by their leash. Praise and reward your dog for their good behavior when they return inside the Safe Zone.
• The map shown on the Wagz App Training Mode Phase 2 screen should be helpful in showing you where you and your dog are relative to the geofence boundary.
• Repeat this as you explore the yard and approach different sides of the geofence.

Phase 3 – Boundary Corrections Training

HOW THIS PHASE WORKS

• The goal of Training Phase 3 training is to build on Phase 2 by replacing your verbal correction and leash tug with the collar correction. We want to make sure your dog understands to turn back into the Safe Zone as soon as they receive a correction, without being tugged by the leash.
• You’ll definitely want to be using the Wagz App Training Mode for this portion of geofence training, because the Training Mode provides the most up-to-date GPS locations and the fastest response time in sending corrections from your phone to your collar – both of which will be critical in enforcing your training goals with your pup.

GET READY

• Before training starts, make sure:
• Your dog is wearing their Freedom Collar, and that the Freedom Collar has a charged battery.
• Your dog is on a leash.
• You have training treats available (optional).

START TRAINING

• Just like in Training Phase 2, allow your dog to explore within the geofenced area (visually supported by the flags). When your dog gets within 6 feet of the boundary, tap the START CORRECTION button to get your dog’s attention. As the collar issues the correction, lead your dog back into the Safe Zone and praise him for coming back.
• The map shown on the Wagz App Training Mode Phase 3 screen should be helpful in showing you where you and your dog are relative to the geofence boundary.
• Repeat this process a few times, to reinforce the desired behavior. Once they are consistently responding, try to not use the leash or any verbal command and see if they will return based on just the correction.

Phase 4 – Distractions Training

HOW THIS PHASE WORKS

• Distractions are a part of life! Given that, it’s important to test your pup’s learnings from your training sessions by introducing distractions. You want to make sure your dog is able to ignore distractions and stay within the Safe Zone regardless of temptations.
• The goal of Training Phase 4 is to ensure that your dog continues to respect the geofence boundaries and react appropriately to the correction cues, even when distractions are present.
• You’ll definitely want to be using the Wagz App Training Mode for this portion of geofence training, because the Training Mode provides the most up-to-date GPS locations and the fastest response time in sending corrections from your phone to your collar – both of which will be critical in enforcing your training goals with your pup.

GET READY

• Before training starts, make sure:
• Your dog is wearing their Freedom Collar, and that the
• Freedom Collar has a charged battery.
• Your dog is on a leash.
• You have training treats available (optional).

START TRAINING

• Start a training session. After a few minutes of training, introduce a distraction outside of the geofenced area. Family members walking just outside of the boundary are a great first test. If your pet runs toward them but stops at the boundary line, praise and reward them. Additional distractions include tossing a toy out of the geofenced area. If your dog attempts to go past the geofence boundary, tap START CORRECTION. If that doesn’t get their attention and bring them back inside the geofence, tug on the leash to lead them back into the safe Zone. Once they have returned to the Safe Zone, give them praise and rewards for returning.
• If your dog goes through the geofence boundary, spend some more time in Training Phase 3 (without distractions) to reinforce the desired behavior. Come back and repeat this phase of training multiple times a day until your dog consistently stays within the geofence boundary, even when distracted.
• Once your dog is ready, try it without the leash and when you aren’t as close by.
• Once you’re confident in your dog’s training, you can turn on your geofences and let them run free. Note that the automatic correction that will occur at the geofence boundary can have some variability in exactly where it will trigger, due to GPS accuracy. This is expected and should not affect your dog’s response.

Continued Reinforcement

WHAT’S NEXT?

Now that you’ve completed the 4 phases of training, you can use your Freedom Collar with confidence.

• Turn on the geofences from your pet’s dashboard and observe that he receives an automated correction when he crosses the geofence boundary. Keep in mind that because of GPS accuracy issues, the automatic correction that will occur at the geofence boundary can have some variability in exactly where it will trigger; this is expected and should not affect your dog’s response.
• Remove the training flags, a few at a time, until you are confident that your dog remembers where the boundary is without the visual cue.
• If you notice that your dog is testing the geofence boundaries, or starting to ignore the corrections, you should return to use the Wagz Training Mode any time, by tapping the MORE button in the bottom navigation bar.
• Now that your dog fully understands the corrections that the Freedom Collar uses, you should feel free to use geofences in new areas. You can create and use as many geofences as you’d like. As you set them up, just run through the Training Mode again (most imporatantly, Phase 3 of the Training Mode) on that new geofence to teach your dog where the boundaries of this new fence are.

And of course, don’t hesitate to reach out to the Wagz Customer Experience Team if you have any questions about your collar, the geofences, or training recommendations. We’re here to help! The Wagz Customer Experience Team is available via email, phone and chat within these times:

• Mon-Fri, 9AM-8PM (ET)
• Sat-Sun, 9AM-3PM (ET)

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