Ribble Valley dog scheme breaks new ground

10:09am Saturday 28th June 2008

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AN ELECTRICAL installation firm is breaking new ground - both literally and in business terms - with a new system aimed at dog owners.

DogFence North West, based in Stonyhurst, was set up four months ago by business partners Jonathan Dawson and Andrew Thomasson, owners of Ribble Valley Installations Ltd.

The pair are now an official branch of DogFence, a London company which develops equipment to keep pet dogs within the boundaries of a field or garden without the need to erect a solid fence.

Under the system, an electrical wire is buried around the boundary of a piece of land. An FM radio signal is then run through the boundary wire and communicates with a receiver on the pet’s collar. If the dog steps over the boundary it is given a light shock, which does not hurt the animal, and learns to stay within a certain area.

Jonathan, 25, of Ramsgreave, said: “Andrew lives in Stonyhurst and had a problem with his dog getting in to farmers’ fields near to his house.

“He installed the system and started recommending it to people and getting inquiries about whether we could fit it.

“We ended up getting on to the company and they sent us a dealer pack. They are based in London but were having to travel as far away as Scotland to fit the system, which was a pain, so we’ve now become the north west branch of the company.”

In a bid to make people aware of the product the two men have been attending agricultural shows and setting up stalls promoting the product.

Jonathan said a stint at the Cheshire Show this month proved worthwhile and there are plans to be at the Longridge and Goosnargh Show in July and maybe the Royal Lancashire Show.

The electrician side of the business is still going and Jonathan said the two sections were working well.

“They seem to compliment each other quite well and hopefully DogFence can continue to grow,” he said.

For more information visit www.dogfencenw.co.uk.