Training Your Dog to Stay In Your Electric Dog Fence

Oct 28, 2008 @ 10:01 pm by articles

An invisible dog fence must not be used as replacement for actual dog training.In order to make your invisible fence effective in teaching your dog, time and patience is necessary. There are specific instructions for effecting the invisible dog fence training but it entails careful execution.

Using the invisible dog fence training to teach your dog about his boundaries can be done on your own or with professional dog training help. However, even with professional help, you will still carry much of the burden of executing training guidelines for your dog whenever the trainer is not around.

In order for your dog to recognize an invisible fence, it will cost you time and patience. However, when both you and your dog become accustomed to this system, it should be easy then.

This training system could span from 2-6 weeks, depending on how fast your dog can learn.

You can initially setup the training by placing small red flags along where you have buried the cable. This will serve as physical reminder for your dog on where its boundaries are. To prevent shocking your dog at this stage of the training, you must cover the prongs on the collar with a tape.

Then, put on your dog’s leash whenever they go out within the fence boundaries. Let your dog explore because a warning beep will sound whenever he attempts to go beyond the fence boundary. As soon as you hear the beep, bring your dog back and praise him for following your instructions.

By doing this several times in a day, you can allow your dog to familiarize with the system and train himself to go back once the beep is activated.

After the association part of the stage, now you can allow the shock to work by removing the tape around the collar prongs. Although the shock is not painful to the dog, it is enough to get their attention and alert them to turn back.

It works the same way as static shock wherein you feel a twinge of sensation but not enough to inflict pain. You need to make necessary adjustments for the amount of shock your dog will receive, according to its size and level of response.

However, every dog owner must be aware that not all shock collars can be adjusted so make sure to purchase those with adjustable settings. And whenever your dog goes out, check the collar to correct the shock level, just in case it reaches the border.

When you remove the cover from the collar prongs, make sure not to remove the leash at the same time. You need to keep the leash on your dog, although he is exploring the area within the invisible fence.

Click the following links for more information on Dog Fence systems including Petsafe Fence and the popular Wireless Pet Fence.

How to Protect Yourself From Credit Card Fraud

Oct 28, 2008 @ 04:04 pm by articles

A thief goes through trash to find discarded receipts or carbons, and then uses your account numbers illegally.

A dishonest clerk makes an extra imprint from your credit or charge card and uses it to make personal charges.

You respond to a mailing asking you to call a long distance number for a free trip or bargain-priced travel package. You’re told you must join a travel club first and you’re asked for your account number so you can be billed. The catch! Charges you didn’t make are added to your bill, and you never get your trip.

Credit and charge card fraud costs cardholders and issuers hundreds of millions of dollars each year. While i.d. theft is the most obvious form of fraud, it can occur in other ways. For example, someone may try and conduct an online scam, even though your phone is listed on the do-not-call list.  Or, they may use your card number without your knowledge.

It’s not always possible to prevent credit or charge card fraud from happening. But there are a few steps you can take to make it more difficult for a crook to capture your card or card numbers and minimize the possibility.

Guarding Against Fraud

Here are some tips to help protect yourself from credit and charge card fraud.

Do:

  • Sign your cards as soon as they arrive.
  • Carry your cards separately from your wallet, in a zippered compartment, a business card holder, or another small pouch.
  • Keep a record of your account numbers, their expiration dates, and the phone number and address of each company in a secure place.
  • Keep an eye on your card during the transaction, and get it back as quickly as possible.
  • Void incorrect receipts.
  • Destroy carbons.
  • Save receipts to compare with billing statements.
  • Open bills promptly and reconcile accounts monthly, just as you would your checking account.
  • Report any questionable charges promptly and in writing to the card issuer.
  • Notify card companies in advance of a change in address.

Don’t:

  • Lend your card(s) to anyone.
  • Leave cards or receipts lying around.
  • Sign a blank receipt. When you sign a receipt, draw a line through any blank spaces above the total.
  • Write your account number on a postcard or the outside of an envelope.
  • Give out your account number over the phone unless you’re making the call to a company you know is reputable. If you have questions about a company, check it out with your local consumer protection office or Better Business Bureau.

Reporting Losses and Fraud

If you lose your credit or charge cards or if you realize they’ve been lost or stolen, immediately call the issuer(s). Many companies have toll-free numbers and 24-hour service to deal with such emergencies. 

By law, once you report the loss or theft, you have no further responsibility for unauthorized charges. In any event, your maximum liability under federal law is $50 per card.

If you suspect fraud, you may be asked to sign a statement under oath that you did not make the purchase(s) in question.

When will you upgrade your online shop?

Oct 28, 2008 @ 03:05 pm by articles

Theres a popular FREE open source shopping cart call osCommerce that gets a fair few online entrepreneurs up and running quite easily in ecommerce and it is usually installed in minutes through the average web hosting package control panel. However that little package is getting a little dated and there are a number of enhanced versions being developed based on the same php/mySQL platform.

Online merchants are looking for more advanced features and not only the ability to sell products but events, services and subscriptions. There just happens to be a new shopping cart software that does just that, and because it is an enhancement of the famous osCommerce Shopping Cart it is sure to attract established merchants willing to upgrade for the better features.

One drawback with osCommerce was the difficulty to create a decent theme from the outset and for that reason there are many ugly adaptations still out there. You really needed to spend time and know your HTML to make it pretty. With the new Freeway Shopping Cart it’s much simpler as there is now a templateable system in place, which makes it easier for webmasters to design themes.

The popular Content Management Software Joomla is also simple to set up through the average web hosting and the good thing about Freeway is that it integrates nicely as a more advanced shopping cart plug in for the Joomla Community.

All in all things are improving on the open source front with many web applications coming of age and providing real worth. But your still going to need the experience of a capable webmaster to put the pieces together as its not quite ‘one click and go’ yet.

Cybergord Web Services is one outfit that is always fixing up shopping carts and other such web applications. Somebody who knows their way around open source software, especially php/MySQL will save novices a mountain of time. So dont forget to consider expert help at reasonable prices when you want to upgrade your online shop within budget. Save time save money, get things done.

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