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February 29, 2020

2-Loop Switchable Fence at Historic Hopsewee Plantation

Back in the spring of 2018 I got a call from the Hopsewee Plantation in Georgetown, SC owned by Frank and Raejean Beattie. they had recently lost 2 of their dogs and needed a solution to keep any future dog(s) off the busy highway that abuts the property.

But this wasn’t any ordinary property. The plantation was built in 1735, 40 years before the American Revolutionary War. Hopsewee was a rice plantation back then and also the birthplace of Thomas Lynch Jr. a signer of the Declaration of Independence. With all the history and Miss Raejeans amazing cooking in the Tea Room the plantation draws a lot of tourists.
https://hopsewee.com/

The biggest challenge with this fence was figuring out a way to keep the dog(s) away from the guests during the day but also giving them full access to the property when the plantations closed.

What was finally proposed was a 2 acre loop on the back of the property and an 18 acre loop around the entire property that also encompassed the rear 2 acres.

Now if we fast forward to the fall of 2018 I finally got a call back from the plantation. Frank and Raejean had this beautiful new Rhodesian Ridgeback named Cicero and they were ready for the fence. We got the property wired and installed a switch in the garage next to Cicero’s pen so the owners can just flip a switch and control both loops.

It took a little training but Cicero quickly figured out when he could go from the small loop over the big loop and now is happy and free on his plantation.

In addition to the fence we also set Cicero up with a DogWatch SideWalker collar to keep him from pulling on the leash and a BigLeash remote trainer to help with Cicero’s selective hearing and other puppy issues.

If you find yourself in Georgetown, SC stop by and check out the plantation and those amazing desserts in the Tea Room.

August 27, 2019

Custom Designed Fences

One of my favorite parts of the job is finding solutions to challenging situations with regards to installing your DogWatch Hidden Fence. Most jobs are pretty straight forward, I mount the transmitter in the garage and bury the wire outside in the yard with my machine. However there are times when things are a little more challenging than that.

sometimes the landscaping in the yard is so elaborate or is old and very overgrown that I cannot use my machine to bury the wire. Other times there are no electrical outlets in the garage that I can plug my transmitter into. And then there are the requests from my customers. While not every challenge can be overcome, most times there is a way to make the fence work for my customer.

I recently installed an invisible fence for a customer in Georgetown that owns a rather large plantation. They wanted to let their Ridgeback have full run of the property at night but during the day, while guests visit the plantation, the dog had to be kept in smaller area away from all the people. For this customer we made a small 2 acre loop within the large 20 acre invisible fence and wired the loops together using a switch. Now all the customer has to do in the morning is bring the dog down into the smaller loop, flip the switch to activate the small loop and the dog will stay inside the daytime loop. At night she does the reverse, flips the switch and the dog has the entire plantation to roam. It took a little extra training for the dog to figure out the fence configuration but now he is one happy pup!

May 16, 2019

Wire Burying Team Leader

Hi Everyone, my name is Vince. I’m the Director of Wire Installation for DogWatch of Greater Charleston. I know what you’re thinking but no, I’m not Vince Wilfork, formerly of the New England Patriots. Sure I may look like him with my massive stance and awesome blue paint job but he’s #75 and I’m like #739. However, just like Vince Wilfork could bust thru an offensive line I can bust thru the toughest of terrain and get that wire deep and protected. In fact, I’m the best machine on the market for laying invisible fence wire.

I typically bury your dog fence wire 3-5″ deep and if I come across a tree root I’m able to cut right thru it. Some of those lesser machines with yellow or red paint jobs just can’t do what I do. They go over the roots instead of thru. That may mean the fence wire is just under the surface or in some yards its sticking above ground.

When not helping Matt keep your pets safe at home I enjoy hanging out with my co-worker and friend Mr. Ford, getting my oil changed and having my hydraulic fluid topped off. My pet peeves are underground bees nests and gasoline with ethanol in it!

May 16, 2019

Heartworm: What you need to know….

Last month was Heartworm Awareness Month. Many people don’t do any type of heartworm prevention, and it is so important for your pet’s overall health.

How Heartworms Affect Cats and Dogs Differently

According to the National Heartworm Society, dogs are natural hosts for heartworms. This means that in dogs, heartworms can mature into adults, mate, and reproduce. If left untreated, this can be fatal for your dog. A dog can harbor several hundred worms in its body and if they don’t die, can have severe, long term damage to their organs. Prevention of heartworms is the key to keeping your dog healthy and heartworm free.

Cats are an atypical host for heartworms. Because of this, most worms do not have a chance to mature into adulthood, and if cats do have adult worms, there are typically only one to three worms. Often times, cats’ heartworms go undiagnosed.

Spreading From One Pet to Another

It’s important to treat all of your pets for heartworms, as they easily spread from one to another. Heartworms are spread through mosquitos. Adult female worms produce small worms that are present in the blood stream. When a mosquito bites an infected pet, they carry these small worms to their next host.

Symptoms of Heartworms

Symptoms of heartworms are different in dogs than cats.

Many dogs don’t show any symptoms in the early stages. As the heartworms mature, symptoms become more severe and include the following:
•Persistent cough
•Lethargy
•Loss of appetite
•Weight loss
•Heart failure
•And many other severe symptoms

Symptoms in cats include the following:
•Coughing
•Vomiting
•Loss of appetite
•Weight loss
•Fainting and seizures

Being in the south, our pets are much more at risk for heartworms than other parts of the nation, although anyone can be affected by them.

How Do They Test For Heartworms?

If you want to have your pet tested but don’t know where to start, contact your veterinarian and make an appointment for a test. If you don’t have a veterinarian, we have several local vets that we can recommend to you. Once there, they will take a small blood sample. If the test is positive for heartworms, there may be other tests ordered.

Dogs and cats should be tested for heart worms annually since many times there are no symptoms until the disease is progressed. Once a diagnosis is made, there are many lifestyles changes for your pet in order to prolong their lives and hopefully cure them of the disease.

How Can I Prevent Heartworms?

The first step to preventing heartworms is to test your pet. If the test comes back negative, preventative measures can be taken. Your primary veterinary clinic can prescribe what best fits your lifestyle and your budget. Some heartworm preventative options may be combined with other medicines such as flea and tick medicines, whereas some are intended for heartworm prevention only.