Stage One: First Alert Training

Training Plan

Ideally, First Alert training consists of three 15- to 20-minute training sessions with time spent relaxing with your dog in Safe Zone within each session.

Make sure Training Mode is on. Set your collar Feedback Mode to Alert 1 in the app. Activate your boundary and put SkyShepherd on your dog. Walk your dog on a regular-length leash around the boundary, maintaining gentle, steady pressure on the leash. At least three times along the perimeter of Safe Zone, allow your dog to walk into First Alert Zone. Don’t drag or pull them but walk with them so they end up in First Alert Zone.

When your dog experiences First Alert zone vibration and tone, quickly and firmly guide your dog directly back to Safe Zone until Safe Tone sounds.

When you hear Safe Tone, give your dog lots of praise.

Spend 5 to 7 minutes with your dog in Safe Zone before you let it enter First Alert Zone again. Give praise each time Safe Tone sounds.

Repeat First Alert training as needed until your dog consistently, immediately, and correctly responds to First Alert feedback.

Troubleshooting

Now, after some training, if your dog doesn’t consistently, immediately return, or doesn’t seem to get it, pause and reflect:

• Does your dog understand the feedback? If not, do more sessions, but give more immediate guidance when first alert sounds—connect action with reaction.
• Does your dog know which way is back to Safe Zone? If not, train at different points along the boundary—the most basic, straightest sections.
• Does your dog seem like it just doesn’t want to comply? Then it’s probably time for Second Alert Zone training.

A Note Before Moving On:

At any point after you’ve trained First Alert, if you feel like your dog isn’t listening to SkyShepherd guidance, the remediation is to go back and do more First-Alert training. This training reinforces the main behavior you want your dog to exhibit: when it feels First Alert, it turns around until it hears Safe Tone. Keep doing First Alert remediation training until your dog “beats you to the punch” in turning back when First Alert feedback occurs. Continue back through the training process from there.