Blog

Name: DogWatch of North Alabama
Address: Huntsville, Alabama
Telephone: 256-880-1888

March 15, 2025

Spring Into Safety: Preparing Your Yard for Your Dog

Spring is here in Northern Alabama, and with it comes sunshine, blooming flowers, and the perfect chance to refresh your outdoor space. But if you’re a dog owner, Spring also means it’s time to get your yard ready for your pet—and that goes beyond just cleaning up leaves.

If you live in Northern Alabama, Spring is also the ideal time to install an underground hidden dog fence from DogWatch.

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🌱 Step 1: Clean Up Debris After Winter

After months of rain and wind, your yard might be looking a little rough. Before your dog starts spending more time outside:

Remove fallen branches and yard debris
Clear out dead plants and brush
Walk your fence line and check for gaps, damage, or weak spots

Winter can leave behind hidden hazards, so it’s best to start fresh and safe.

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🌿 Step 2: Repair, Reseed, and Refresh Your Outdoor Space

Your lawn might need a little love after winter—and your dog’s zoomies!

Reseed bare patches with pet-safe grass seed
Level out muddy or uneven areas
Avoid harsh fertilizers—opt for natural, dog-safe alternatives

Creating a healthy yard now means more fun for your dog all season long.

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🛠️ Step 3: Have DogWatch of North Alabama Install a Hidden Dog Fence from DogWatch

Once the yard is in shape, it’s time for the best upgrade of all: an underground dog fence.

Why Install in Spring?

Soft soil = easier installation
The ground is thawed, making it the perfect time to bury the wire.

Perfect weather for training
Training your dog on the new boundary is easier when the weather is mild—not too cold, not too hot.

Let your dog enjoy spring safely
Dogs are ready to stretch their legs after winter. A hidden fence gives them freedom *and* keeps them secure.

Combine with landscaping projects
Planning to plant or add features? It’s easy to integrate fence installation with other spring upgrades.

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👀 Bonus: Keep the View, Ditch the Fence

Traditional fences can block your view and feel bulky. An underground fence gives your dog room to roam—without compromising your landscaping or curb appeal.

It’s the best of both worlds: safety for your dog, and freedom for your eyes.

Reliable Containment: DogWatch underground fence systems are designed to keep pets safe within designated boundaries without the risk of them digging under or jumping over a fence.

No Physical Barrier: There’s no risk of injury from pets trying to climb or break through a physical fence, which can sometimes cause harm.

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Aesthetics and Property Value

Invisible Boundaries: Hidden fences do not obstruct views or alter the landscape, maintaining the aesthetic appeal of your property.

Preservation of Open Space: Unlike traditional fences, which can make a yard feel smaller, hidden fences keep the area open and spacious.

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Flexibility and Customization

Customizable Boundaries: The DogWatch hidden fence system can be tailored to the specific needs of your yard and can be adjusted easily if you want to change the containment area.

Multiple Zones: DogWatch systems can create multiple zones, allowing for different levels of access or restricted areas within your property.

Lower Installation Costs: Compared to building a physical fence, the installation of a DogWatch Hidden Fence is often more affordable.
Minimal Maintenance: There are fewer maintenance requirements compared to traditional fences, which can deteriorate over time.

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🐶 Final Thoughts

Spring is the season of fresh starts—and what better way to welcome it than by giving your dog a safe, beautiful yard to enjoy?

Clean up, prep your lawn, and consider installing an underground hidden dog fence. Your dog will love the freedom, and you’ll love the peace of mind.

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Contact us today for a free consultation and let’s get your yard dog-ready this spring!

March 1, 2025

Lyme Disease: How do I protect my pet?

I’m sure at some point, all pet owners and even non pet owners have been affected by the tick population. May is Lyme Disease Prevention Month. With pets being outside a lot, and being in the south, our pets are very susceptible to tick borne illness, one of which is Lyme Disease. Lyme Disease can affect humans and animals alike, and the good news is, there are ways to prevent your pets from becoming infected.

Lyme Disease can be prevented by using a reliable tick-prevention product. It’s a good idea to try to avoid areas of tall grass and wooded areas since ticks are commonly found here. Keeping your own yard maintained (cutting the grass consistently, weed eating, trimming shrubbery) can aid in keep the population of ticks down. Also, it’s important to check your pets (and yourself) once you are inside. Ticks tend to like areas where they may be easily hidden like under the legs, between toes, and in the ears.

Symptoms of Lyme Disease in pets include fever, loss of appetite, swelling of the joints, decreased activity, and difficulty walking. These symptoms could not show until months after a bite. Lyme disease can mimic other illness so it can go undetected at times. Luckily, antibiotics have been developed to treat Lyme Disease.

Lyme disease is only passed through tick bites so it is not something that can be passed from animal to animal, human to animal, or animal to human; however, if you or your pet is diagnosed with Lyme disease, it is recommended that the other be tested since you live in a shared environment.

Lyme Disease can be a deadly disease but with prevention and early detection, the prognosis can be good for pets and humans. The first place you want to start is by reaching out to your veterinarian regarding getting your pet started on tick prevention. If you do not have a vet, please contact us. We have several local vets that we are able to recommend with the confidence that they will provide you and your pet with exceptional service.

July 22, 2024

BarkCollar: Is This Barking Normal or Can I Do Something About It?

Any dog owner knows that barking is inevitable. Some dogs bark at strangers. Others bark at squirrels or other wildlife they see while walking or gazing outside. I’m convinced my dog barked when a blade of grass blew in the wind. Or a speck of dust landed on a leaf. When she would bark, my other dog would bark. Try taking a phone call with two barking dogs. So I gave the BarkCollar a try on her and boy did it work.

Just to give you a bit of a background on her – Darby is a twenty-pound Cavachon. She typically has long hair unless we keep it cut short. She stands as tall as a dachshund. After about 2 days on the collar, she finally got the hang of it. One thing that got her going was the cows in our backyard. Now, she just stares at them if she even notices them.

Once Darby was trained, I gave it a go on our outdoor black lab, Tucker. With both dogs being nuisance barkers, we had to do something. We had the same experience with him. The barking stopped, aside from the occasional barking that dogs just do. We were happier. I’m sure our neighbors were as well.

Tell me about this BarkCollar

I’m glad you asked. DogWatch’s BarkCollar is revolutionary. It’s able to distinguish the difference between normal barking and excessive barking. When excessive barking is the issue, the BarkCollar delivers a vibration or correction to distract the dog from barking. With 7 adjustable settings, the BarkCollar can be suitable for any dog. As you can see in our situation, it worked perfectly on two different types, sizes, and hair lengths. As your dog continues to bark, the correct level increases until the dog ceases. Once the dog stops, the collar resets.

How can I get my hands on the BarkCollar?

The DogWatch BarkCollar can be purchased directly from us. You can contact our office at 256-880-1888 or contact us through our website here. You can also read more about the BarkCollar on our website. We would love to answer any questions you have.

November 14, 2019

Thanksgiving: What You Need to Know About How It Relates to Your Pet

Thanksgiving is just two weeks away. Can you believe we are so close to the end of 2019? Where did this year go? As we are entering possibly the busiest season for most people, I want to leave you with a few reminders to make sure you keep your pets safe this Thanksgiving.

Picture this: you’re gathered around the table with all of your favorite family members—and maybe some you could have stood to go another year without seeing—whatever your situation may be, and your sweet fur baby sticks his or her head on the table and shamelessly stares at the turkey, dressing, sweet potato casserole – the list goes on and on. What can he or she safely eat and what do you need to make sure is out of reach?

What are the no-nos of thanksgiving foods for my pet?

You need to avoid bread dough or dessert mixes, especially if they contain raw eggs due to the risk of salmonella. It’s best to avoid dessert altogether since many desserts contain things that are poisonous to pets, such as grapes, raisins, and chocolate. Also, artificial sweeteners such as xylitol can be toxic to pets. For the full list of foods to avoid for your pets, click here.

What’s Safe?

There’s no need for your pet to miss out on the feast you get to enjoy. You just want to make sure you’re giving them food that’s prepared for their system to be able to handle. Turkey is probably the safest bet BUT only in small amounts. You also want to make sure the pieces you’re giving your pet are free of bones and skin. The skin on turkey is very fattening and can cause pancreatitis in pets, and bones present a choking risk. Consider pulling some plain sweet potatoes out before making your famous sweet potato casserole or plain mashed potatoes before adding butter, milk, and whatever else you add to make them the way you like them.

Other Concerns

There are other concerns for any pet surrounding the holidays. Some decorations and plants can be toxic to both cats and dogs. The ASPCA offers lists of plants that are toxic to both dogs and cats, but the safest route is simply to keep your pets away from all plants and table decorations.

Remember to keep a close eye on your pets while guests are at your home. Many pets can easily slip out of an opened door unnoticed. – And while we are on that, make sure your pets have identification tags or they’re microchipped. And make sure your yard is properly secured, ideally, with a DogWatch Hidden Fence. —You also want to make sure your guests understand not to feed your animals table scraps. Don’t allow anyone other than yourself to give them what you choose and deem is appropriate for their system.

If you do find yourself in an emergency this thanksgiving (or anytime for that matter), you can call the ASPCA Poison Control Hotline at 888-426-4435. There are also multiple pet emergency facilities for days just like this. You can find the one closest to you by searching online for “24/7 pet emergency”.

Remember, your pets can enjoy the holidays just as you can. By following a few simple steps and taking the time to prepare yourself and your home for the festivities, you can ensure that you and your furbaby are able to enjoy the day with everyone else.

Sources:

https://www.avma.org/public/PetCare/Pages/thanksgiving-pet-safety.aspx

https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/general-pet-care/thanksgiving-safety-tips