Invisible, Electric, Pet-Fence Malfunctioning? Learn How To Maintain And Fix It

Helpful tools:
Pick
Shovel
Tone generator
AM/FM pocket, hand-held radio
Extra receiver batteries

Note: Some of the following troubleshooting tips will require you to work with your ac outlet, if you're not comfortable doing any of the following, by all means call a professional. I don't want to find out that someone shocked themselves while plugging in an electrical cord.

To start with, we need to isolate the problem. Does your invisible, electric fence system have a led, light indicator, or does it beep if there is a wire break, or if the system needs service? Does your collar/receiver have an indicator that will identify a bad battery or problem? We will assume that you do not have any bells or whistles and begin from scratch.

First, lets take the collar/receiver off of the dog/pet and bring it over to the transmitter unit. Is the unit plugged in? I know that this sounds silly, but it is a common problem. Next, if your unit appears to be 'dead', check the breakers: again, I know it sounds silly, but people are charged $80.00+ to have a professional come out and flip a breaker on. If the system appears to be working properly, pass the collar/receiver close to the wires that enter it. Does the collar/receiver beep or vibrate? If not change the battery. If it seems to be the system, let's start with the lightning protection unit that plugs into the wall outlet and which your transmitter then plugs into; additionally, your invisible, electric fence boundary wiring should enter the lightning protection as well. If you don't have this, you should-lightning strikes can destroy your system. Get it here: Innotek LP-4100 Electronic Dog Fence Lightning Protector. If you have lightning protection, disconnect the wires and system power line from it. Now, connect the power line directly into the outlet and hook the boundary wires into the unit. Now, pass the collar/receiver by the wires again. If the collar indicates that it is now working, replace the lightning protection. If this does not help, reconnect the unit as it was previously. If you fail to see any response from the system and all of the wires are connected properly, then it may be the system itself, contact the manufacturer.

If you think that your invisible, electric, in-ground pet/dog fence has a wire break, we will now use the tone generator and a am/fm radio (you can find reliable and inexpensive products here:Tone GeneratorandAm/fm Radio, AAA Battery, Emergency Zone, Emergency Communication Radio). To use the tone generator, unhook the fence boundary wires from the lightning protection, or system itself and also unplug the transmitter unit. Next, hook the black lead of the generator up to a suitable ground and hook the other lead up to one of the boundary fence wire ends. Now take your am/fm radio and set it to am. Most of the time you can locate the high pitched beeping tone that the generator emits by going all of the way to the left, or the lowest number on the dial. If not, hold the radio by the wire and slowly turn the dial until you find the beeping tone of the generator. When you have the signal, take your radio into the yard. Begin at the point where your fence wire enters the house or garage.

Using a slow sweeping motion, with the radio close to the ground, follow the wire until the signal gets very weak, or disappears completely. More than likely, this is where your break is located. Sweep the radio over the area where the wire is and try to determine exactly where the wire lies. Now, take your pick and place the pointy end into the ground gently lifting it up. You should be able to feel the wire and if you have a break here it will easily slide out of the ground. If you feel resistance, then the problem may still be elsewhere. Don't pull too hard, because you do not want to end up causing a wire break. If you have found the problem, I will explain how to fix it in one moment. If you don't believe that this is the problem area, go back to the transmitter unit and hook your tone generator up to the other boundary fence wire. Now, return to the point of entry into the house or garage and follow your wire the other way around the yard. If you suspect a problem, repeat the process as outlined above. If you find that you lose the signal in the same area as before, you probably have a partial break-but it will need to be fixed nonetheless.

Once you've isolated the break in your invisible, electric, dog/pet fence wire, you will need to splice the line. Using wire nuts that are designed for in-ground use (purchase them here:61135 Blk/Wh Water Tight Connector ), you will take the two ends of wire and gently loop them together, so that they can't be pulled apart. Now remove about 3/4 of an inch of the protective shielding from both of the wires and insert them into the wire nut. Bury the wire, plug the system back in, re-connect the fence wires and check for a signal. If there still seems to be a problem, repeat the process, if you've recently had construction done, or a new cable or telephone line run...you may unfortunately, find the need to replace a large section of wire.

Hopefully, at this point, you've located the problem and you were able to maintain your invisible, electric, in-ground dog/pet fence yourself. If not you may need to contact the manufacturer or call an invisible, electric dog/pet fence installer to correct the problem. If this information has been helpful and saved you money, please take a moment to offer some feedback.

Install your dog/pet fence:
Installing an invisible, electric, in-ground dog/pet fence

Training your dog/pet to use the fence:
Training your dog/pet to use an invisible, electric, in-ground dog/pet fence

Indoor Pet Fence:
Indoor, Invisible, Electric Fence

If you are having obedience problems with your dog, for example: they leave you dirty little presents around the house, they don't come, will not stay off of the counters, intimidate the neighbors, or just give you that eye at dinner time, then I would highly suggest that you take a look at Sit Stay Fetch.

If you are having similar problems with your cat, my suggestion would be to check out Complete Cat Training.

Both of these books are excellent resources and both come heavily recommended as you will see when you click on them.

I feel that both PetSafe and Innotek provide quality systems and accessories.

Additional Receiver Collars:

Make sure that you are purchasing the proper receiver for your system.
Pet Safe Comfort Fit Deluxe In-Ground Extra Receiver

Petsafe UL-250-11 In-Ground UltraLight Collar with Radio Receiver

Innotek Extra UltraSmart Collar Receiver - Containment

Essential Pet SD-2025 Innotek Extra Receiver - SD-2000

Ultralight Extra Collar - Deluxe

Indoor Unit:

The indoor unit will not only keep your pet/dog from getting in the trash, rushing the door when company arrives, or getting on the couch...but it is also a very beneficial training aid.
Essential Pet PIRF-100 Indoor Radio Fence Transmitter

Innotek ZND-1000 Extra Indoor Pet-Containment Zone

Additional Wire:

You may use PetSafe or Innotek wire with either system.
Petsafe PRFA-500 Wire and Flag Accessory Kit

500' Roll of Boundary Wire

Some of the systems come with pre-twisted wire, if yours doesn't you can either twist two pieces of single wire, or purchase pre-twisted wire.
Innotek 100 Extra Feet of Pre-Twisted Wire

61135 Blk/Wh Water Tight Connector

Batteries:

Petsafe 6-Volt Lithium Battery, Set of 2

Maintenance and Installation:

If your system doesn't come with lightning protection, I highly suggest you purchase the following. It will protect you from surges that originate from inside of your home, or that come in through the wire itself.
Innotek LP-4100 Electronic Dog Fence Lightning Protector

The tone generator can help with your installation (locating the cable or telephone lines) and it will prove invaluable for finding wire breaks down the road. I have listed an inexpensive tone generator, which you can use with this inexpensive am/fm pocket radio. I will explain this technique in Maintaining your invisible, electric, in-ground fence.
Tempo/Greenlee Tone Generator, Classic 77, Bent Nose Clips

Am/fm Radio, AAA Battery, Emergency Zone, Emergency Communication Radio

Additional Products not mentioned above:

If you require something that I have not listed here you can find it by clicking on the links below.
Additional PetSafe Products

Additional Innotek Products