Important tips for a successful training period 💡

1. The training fence should have a physical fence outside the virtual fence 🚧

In the first days of the training period, you should have a physical fence outside the virtual fence. This is because the animals will most likely not understand that they should turn when they hear the sound signal and the shock at the beginning, and escapes may happen.

[Read more about the different training phases here] LINK

2. Remove animals that don't understand the system from the group ⁉️

If there are animals struggling significantly to understand the system, we recommend removing them from the herd. When the rest of the group is fully trained, you can return the animal(s) to the herd, and they will learn from the others.

3. The training fence should not be too large

We want the animals to experience the sound and shock signals during the training period so that they eventually understand that they should turn when they hear the sound. Therefore, the training fence should not be too large (we recommend a size of 50x50 meters for 10 animals).

4. Ensure plenty of food and water inside the fence 💧🌾

Make sure the virtual fence has enough food and water for the entire training period, but ensure there is a good margin between the fence boundaries and the feeding areas.

Here are more general tips for good virtual fences:

Place the fence on flat ground or a gentle slope 💨

We recommend placing the fence on flat ground or a gentle slope because animals can gain speed downhill. To help animals learn the system before being released onto larger pastures, we suggest placing fences in areas where the animals will naturally slow down or stop.

Avoid using training areas adjacent to pastures with other animals 🐄

If the animals see other animals on adjacent pastures, it may trigger their herd instinct, and they may ignore the virtual fence.

Secure with physical or natural barriers 🚧

We recommend securing extra vulnerable areas (such as slopes or other areas dangerous for the animals) with physical fences. Use natural boundaries if possible to support the virtual fences (dense forest, rocks, etc.).

Design the fence based on where the animals naturally stay and like to be ❤️

Make sure to include paths and common routes that the animals take.

Include natural resting spots in the grazing area.

This reduces the temptation for the animals to wander outside the fence.

Don't design narrow paths 📏

Narrow paths can confuse the animals. It's a good idea to test the width of the fence by observing the animals, or take a collar in hand and test it yourself.