PetSafe Pawz Away Mini Indoor/Outdoor Wireless Pet Barrier, Electric Training System for Dogs & Cats

Our dogs had gotten into the habit of laying across the back edge of our sofa. It was their favorite place to be, but when we purchased a new sofa, we knew we had to try to break that habit. We already had an invisible fence system, so both dogs are familiar with shock collars and what the warning beeps mean. While this is a different system, we were optimistic that it would work for our dogs. I purchased two of the Pawz Away collars with the mini discs, the thought being that we would put one disk on the floor on either end of the sofa. I was concerned about the battery life, having read several reviews where people said they didn't last, but I figured I'd give it a try and could always return them if it didn't work out. I'm happy to say that it not only worked out, but it worked out even better than I had hoped. That said, there were a few things that we learned as we went along.Firstly, the collar. As I mentioned, we already use an invisible fence so our dogs already have a collar with a transmitter. I really didn't want a second collar with another transmitter, so we ended up cutting two holes in each new collar, and moving the invisible fence transmitter onto the new collars. So now we have two transmitters on each collar.Secondly, batteries. We haven't had a problem with the batteries. We've had them almost a month now, and they are still going strong. I leave the discs powered on all the time (because frankly, I was having trouble remembering to turn them on and off each morning and night) but I do turn the collars off every night when I take them off the dogs. I just keep the key nearby and it takes about 2 seconds to turn each one off. No big deal. I turn it back on again in the morning when I put the collars back on. Mind you, our dogs sleep in kennels each night, so if yours don't you might not be able to do this. So far, I haven't had to replace any of the batteries. I also suspect that each dog's temperament probably has a lot to do with battery life. Both of our dogs tend to be overly cautious. It only takes one shock and you'd be hard pressed to get them to go near the area again. So while I'm a little disappointed that our dogs still won't go near the couch (I'd love for them to sit nearby when *I'm* on the couch) I'm hoping that will come with time. If your dog is less timid, they may run the batteries out sooner with repeated tries at the spot you're trying to keep them out of.Thirdly, disk placement. I originally placed the disk on the floor under the sofa. I turned the dial all the way down because I didn't want the dogs getting shocked when walking behind the sofa, just on top of it. Well, this *sort of* worked. I found that they were still able to get up on the couch, and then sometimes it would shock them and sometimes it wouldn't. What actually ended up working better was putting the disc under the bottom seat cushion. At first I was worried that doing so would mean I couldn't sit on the sofa without accidentally pushing the buttons and adjusting the range, but that's not the case at all. No matter how many times we've sat on the couch, the range hasn't changed. Our sofa is leather and has thick cushions, so your experience might be different, depending on what material your sofa is made from and how thick your cushions are. And finally, since the dogs haven't tried to get back on the sofa in weeks, I went ahead and moved one of the discs to another problem area: a chair on our back porch that the dogs used to climb up on to look through the kitchen window. Cute, but not so cute when their paws are muddy! I put the disk under the cushion and I did see one of our dogs try it ONCE. She hasn't tried it since then. I haven't seen the other dog try, but that doesn't mean she didn't.A few last thoughts on an already overly long review...I think our success in using this system is due in large part to the fact that, as I've mentioned, we already have an invisible fence. If you have one, you know that there is a lot of training involved in getting your dog to learn what the beep means, and how far they can go without getting shocked. You wouldn't just set it up and turn the dog loose to figure it out on their own. I think the same is true with this system. There is probably a learning curve, so be patient with your pet if they aren't used to it. Also, while the system works PERFECTLY for what we purchased it for, I read some reviews from people who were disappointed that it wasn't keeping their pets from going through a door threshold, for example, or a dog door. I don't think this is the product for that. It's great if your'e trying to keep your pet from setting up camp in a particular spot (like the sofa) but if you're trying to stop them from *moving through* an area, I think it would only be an exercise in futility. Especially if they move quickly. By the time the shock triggers, they've probably already moved through the area you want them to stay out of. How confusing for the pet! And lastly, I read a lot of reviews from people who had trouble with the cap falling apart after replacing the batteries. Since I haven't had to replace the batteries yet, I'll come back and update my review if I have the same problem.

I bought two of these hoping I could use them to teach my dogs a few places I'd like them to avoid (my rose bush that they trample or trying to prevent my giant schnauzer from sampling food on the table since he is at the perfect height to do just that). I have a wireless fence system by petsafe that I use for both of them so I had high hopes that this would work just as well. I assumed it would give them a surprising shock and they would back off in surprise like they did with the fencing system that worked so wonderfully... Well obviously it did NOT work like that. I removed all other collars and shut off my other fence system. I followed all directions and I could see the collar was working but whatever shock it puts off must be a joke!! My dog was sniffing and touching the white disc so he was definitely close enough to it and he wasn't bothered AT ALL!!! Over and over again, it wasn't doing anything. I even raised it up on a pole to be closer to his collar level...I tried flipping it side ways, all different ways. Nothing worked. Now let me be clear. The collar was "working". It's not that it wasn't working, it just must be the most pathetic shock ever. My dogs are not stubborn either, they are very sensitive to the petsafe wireless fence system I use. With those collars set on the lowest shock level possible they will run and squeal if they accidentally go out of their bounds. They learned VERY quickly with that and I was so hoping this system would be just as effective in but it's not. I read some bad reviews but I also read some good. I thought because my dogs were sensitive to even mild shocks that this would work for me...it didn't and I totally wasted $90 (I bought 2). I wouldn't even give it away because it simply does not work.

Reason for getting this is to train my stud cat (British shorthair) to not PEE / SPRAY on my COUCH. He is off limits of my room until I get more range devices so he won’t mark on my bed when I’m laying there as he tend to do that when my lady cats are sleeping with me. I will be ordering a few more range devices so it can train him not to go here and there. He will even mark his territory right near me when it comes to marking his territory. The cons of breeding, is the marking. I’ve tried so many spray brands for “no marking” “no spraying” it doesn’t work lol. This collar does though…I put the range device on my coffee table which is right center of my couch. The couch he loves to mark his territory on in my loft. The moment he goes near it a little noise happens and when he doesn’t leave he gets shocked and runs away. Sometimes he will just runs when he hears one beep.My first time using this, I kept the range device by the couch, all night. I woke up to check the couch to see if there was a marking stain / puddle, nope! It actually works. Will be getting more range devices for other “places” he likes. I will only keep the collar on him when I’m leaving the house or when I’m sleeping as those times when i am not present is when he tends to do the marking. This is just to train him to not do what he has been doing.I’m a ethical breeder, sometimes you need a little extra help to train your animals to not do bad habits, this will help, but also don’t leave the collar on for so long, use it as a training tool. This collar helps me with my cleaning daily duties as I don’t have to clean up too much marking spots as the collar will prevent him to mark my beloved things.Maybe some people didn’t take enough time to figure out this or know how to even turn it on for the 3.9 rating. I read the whole manual, I even tested it on my hand before putting the collar on him. It works, just take your time reading the manual and doing the collar adjustment. For me I had to use the small collar as this is for my cat. Make sure the petsmart collar is turn on, On ( - line).