Innotek UltraSmart IUC 4100 Review
Pros
- Rechargeable Lithium Ion Collar Battery
- Slimline Collar with Collar Fit feature
- Compatible with wireless indoor and outdoor pods
- ReadyTest feature to ensure collar contact
Cons
- No independent correction level for different size dogs
Rating
Retail Price
$349.95
Our Price
$279.95
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Innotek’s middle offering is the UltraSmart IUC-4100. (Innotek is a division of the Radio Fence company which also makes the gear for Invisible Fence and PetSafe). We use this system for our own customers, and highly recommend it as the best mix of value and features.
The IUC-4100 is a rechargeable system similar to the SD-2100. The IUC 4100 uses a thinner collar with a lithium ion battery (Li-ion). (The SD-2100 uses a Nickel Metal Hydride (NiMH) battery). Lithium ion collars charge faster (approximately one hour vs. twelve hours) and last longer. The collar comes with it’s own charger that plugs into your wall socket and does not have the annoying hum of the SD-2100.
The IUC-4100 Innotek also fixes the problem of the soft warning beep on the collar. The beep on the IUC-4100 is strong enough for the trainer to hear, although we would like it to be louder still. Some of our older customers still have trouble hearing it.
The IUC-4100 also adds the ability to use the Innotek indoor wireless pods, which is a useful feature to keep your dogs out of select parts of your house.
Although this is our favorite system, there are a few things we don’t like about the UltraSmart IUC-4100. First, the correction level for each collar cannot be set independently. (see the resistor hack workaround here) This is not an issue for most households with dogs of similar sizes, but if there is more than a 20-pound difference in size between your dogs (e.g. a Golden Retreiver and a Chihuahua), then you don’t want them to both be getting the same correction level. In this case you should try one of the PetSafe systems where you can adjust the correction level on each collar independently. The second thing we don’t like is the control panel (similar to the SD-2100 panel). The panel is off-white, strangely shaped and less attractive than it could be. Seen an ipod lately guys?
Innotek offers a lifetime warranty on the IUC-4100. This is a little misleading. This really means that they will replace the unit for free in the first year and offer you a discounted repair in subsequent years. We have installed many IUC-4100 containment systems and find them to be quite reliable.
Summary: Our overall favorite. Has all the essentials like a rechargeable battery and indoor zone compatibility. Slimline collar gives it a cleaner look on your dog.
If you found this site useful, please consider purchasing your system through our online store. Our price on the Innotek IUC-4100 is the lowest price that Innotek allows anyone to sell the unit and includes free shipping.
Collar
The collar is the strong point of the IUC-4100. It is a modern slim line collar with a rechargeable lithium ion battery. The collar is really well designed. It is contoured to fit the dog comfortably. It is nicely waterproofed and really solid, with no controls or other fiddly bits on the collar, so it can really take a beating. The collar is small enough to be comfortable on any dog over 15 lbs.
ReadyTest A unique feature on the Innotek Ultrasmart collars is the ReadyTest feature that helps you get the collar on correctly. When you take the collar off the charger, it goes into the ReadyTest mode, as you fit it around the dog’s neck it makes a clicking sound when you have the collar fitted properly with the prongs contacting the dog’s skin. This is really useful, because if the dog doesn’t have the collar fitted properly the dog does not get the correction, and fitting the collar properly is a bit of an art, particularly on long-hair dogs like golden retrievers.
Rechargeable The collar is rechargeable, and sits in a little cradle that you plug into your wall socket. A full charge takes about two hours and lasts about a month. The lithium ion battery seems to last a long time, we have customers reporting collars working fine after five years. We have collars on our own dogs that have done four years of hard service and the charge seems to be nearly as long as when it was new. That said, the collar battery is not replaceable so if the battery does fail you will need to send the whole collar back to Innotek for repair. It would be better if the battery was removable. Still this is the best collar battery we have used.
Battery Indicator The collar has an indicator light that blinks green to tell you everything is fine. The collar blinks red when the battery is low. You have two or three days to recharge the collar before the battery is completely drained.
The two drawbacks on the collar are both related to the collar’s streamline design:
- No controls – while we do like that there are no controls on the collar, the lack of controls means that you cannot adjust the correction level of each dog independently. (there is an independent workaround, the resistor hack here, but it is not elegant). So if you do have two dogs that are more than 30% different in size, you may want to take a look at the older Dogtra EF-3000 or the non-rechargeable PetSafe PRF-304W.
- Quiet Speakers – to make the collar durable and waterproof, Innotek tightly sealed the speaker inside the collar. While this is great for waterproofing, this makes the collar beep hard to hear for adults (children and dogs seem to be able to hear just fine!).
Long/Short/Training Prongs The collar prongs can be unscrewed with the included tool and replaced with either the “no shock prongs” which are used for training, the “long prongs” for long hair dogs, or the “regular prongs” for short hair dogs. All three are included with the system.
Collar Band The collar has an integrated plastic collar. It is a high quality plastic, and some of our team thinks it looks modern and sleek, but most of us would prefer a cloth band. The collar is waterproof and wears really well. Our oldest collars look near new except for a few scrapes. The collar closes using a belt buckle style closure which is not as easy to use as quick-snap closures used on other systems.
Transmitter
The transmitter box is the brains of the system and connects to the boundary wire loop to create the virtual boundary. Inside the box are a series of controls that you use to set up the system.
- Correction Level Switch - sets the correction levels, there are three levels, plus the correction is progressive so it gets stronger the longer the dog wanders past their boundary. The low correction level is good for small dogs, the medium correction level is good for most dogs in the 30-80 pound range, and the highest correction level is good for all but the most stubborn dogs. One thing to note is that you adjust the correction level for all the collars at the same time.
- Field Size Switch – the field size switch lets you boost the signal for large yards. Select small for anything under an acre (1,000 feet of boundary wire); select large for any installation over an acre. The system can power up to 25 acres (5000 feet of boundary wire)
- Field Width Dial - sets the width of the boundary. This control sets how far out from the wire the boundary starts. You can set it anywhere from a few inches to about 10 feet. In practice most people are going to want to set it about 3-5 feet. Smaller than that and the dogs can be hard to train because they can too easily run through. Larger than that and you start taking away too much of the dog’s space which can be a problem in smaller yards.
- Collar Recharge Reminder Switch - reminds you to charge the collar by squawking about once a month. This is a completely useless feature and you should switch it off. The collar will flash red when it need recharging. This thing is just going to wake you up in the middle of the night with it’s infernal beeping.
- Alarm Volume Dial - this sets the volume of the alarm at the control box. So if you get a break in the wire this determines how loud it will beep. Set it at the maximum when you first do the installation then forget it.
- Power Switch – turns the whole unit it on and off. This is the kind of expert advice, that you can only get at the Dog Fence DIY website!
- Battery Backup Switch - this activates the battery backup. The control box can survive on battery backup for 2-3 days on the backup batteries (8 AA batteries) if the power fails, you will still get about three days of your fence still working. A pretty useful feature for people that often lose power during lightning storm, since these can spook some dogs and cause them to bolt. Not that useful in other power loss situations, since the dogs are usually so conditioned to obey the fence boundaries that they are unlikely to even notice that the fence is off.
- Power Adaptor Plug – where you plug in the included power adaptor, that connects up to a regular wall socket.
- Boundary Wire Terminal – this little terminal block is where the boundary wire connects to the system. It works like the speaker hookup in the back a stereo, you just pull back the latch, insert the wire and let go of the latch to secure the boundary wire in place.
- Status Light - tells you if everything is working according. Green indicates that everything is fine, the light flashes red when you have a break in the wire
.
The IUC-4100 transmitter box is a wall mountable unit. The rear panel is removable and can be fasten using the supplied mounting screws. To get the longest life from the unit, mount it indoors in a place that stays above freezing. It must absolutely be kept out of the rain.
Boundary Kit
The system comes standard with:
- 500 feet of boundary wire (20 gauge), enough for about 1/3 of an acre
- 50 boundary flags – used to mark the boundary line during the initial training phase
- 2 Waterproof wire splice – used to join sections of the boundary wire
If you need additional boundary kits to create a larger boundary you can purchase it in our online store ($30 per 500 feet). You can also upgrade to the slightly thicker 18 gauge boundary wire (we don’t think there is a big difference between 18 gauge and 20 gauge)
Training DVD and Instruction Manual
The system comes with a training DVD from Innotek that shows you how to train your dog on how to use the system. We use a little different approach, but the Innotek way works too.
Indoor and Outdoor Zones
The Innotek 4100 is compatible with the Innotek indoor zones and the Flintstones style outdoor zone (cleverly designed as a rock). These let you create small circular exclusion zones that you can set from 2-12 feet in diameter to keep the dog out of small area. For example you could use the indoor zone pod to keep the dogs out of the kitchen, or slip it under a couch cushion to keep them off the sofa. The outdoor zones could be used to keep them away from a garden bed or out of the fish pond, etc.
Warranty
The system also has a limited lifetime warranty – that is a weasly way of saying it has a one year warranty. After the year there is a fixed charge for repairs … the charge depends on what part breaks. Reliability is pretty good so hopefully you will never need it.
|
Model |
Innotek IUC-4100 |
|
Type |
In Ground |
|
|
|
|
Collar Battery |
Rechargeable – Lithium Ion |
|
Correction Levels |
3 Levels + Progressive Correction |
|
Beep Only Training Mode |
Yes |
|
Collar Warning beep |
Yes |
|
Collar Vibration |
No |
|
Independent Correction Levels |
No – all collars have same correction level (Independent correction level workaround) |
|
Collar Dimensions |
2.5” (L) x 1.2” (W) x 0.7″ (D) |
|
Collar Neck Size |
7″ – 23″ |
|
Collar Water Resistance |
Waterproof |
|
Collar Fit Test |
Yes |
|
|
|
|
Maximum Number of Dogs |
Unlimited |
|
Minimum Dog Size |
12 lbs |
|
Minimum Age |
6 months |
|
|
|
|
Maximum Containment Area |
25 acres (5,000 feet) |
|
Boundary Width |
0-10 feet (adjustable) |
|
Control Box Dimensions |
6” (L) x 5.5” (W) x 2.25“ (D) |
|
Control Box Power Source |
Wall Outlet (110V) |
|
Control Box Battery Backup |
Yes – 8 AA batteries |
|
|
|
|
Indoor Pod Compatibility |
Yes – ZND1000 |
|
Outdoor Pod Compatibility |
Yes – Rock!! |
|
Included Boundary Wire |
500 feet + 2 wire Splices |
|
Included Boundary Flags |
50 |
|
Training Materials |
DVD + Manual |
|
Other |
Collar recharger |
|
|
|
|
Package Dimensions |
12” (L) x 8” (W) x 6″ (D) |
|
Package Weight |
11 lbs |
|
Warranty |
Limited Lifetime |
For the Innotek IUC 4100 Manual click here. (PDF)
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- How to install an in-ground fence without burying the wire at all!
What you get
- Ten Chapters with over sixty pictures to make the instructions clear and easy to follow
- Detailed planning and installation instructions that make the job easy. The guides shows you how to handle driveways and other obstructions
- The step by step training guide, that shows you the best techniques to teach your dog the boundary rules safely and effectively
- How to easily find breaks in the wire
{ 28 comments… read them below or add one }
We have 2 well behaved Rottweilers and a small silky terrier. Are there collars for the innotek 4100 system that would handle both the small and large dogs? If not, what system would be best for multiple dogs of varying sizes?
ADMIN – Hi Steve,
The Innotek’s aren’t very good in situations like yours where there are dogs of very different sizes. You cannot independantly adjust the strength of correction of collar on the Innotek’s.
With different sized dogs, I would recommend the Dogtra or PetSafe models. They let you adjust the correction of each collar independently. The Dogtra is great because it is rechargeable, but has an older clunkier collar. The PetSafe is good becuase you can also use any collar for a wired system on any other wired system. So you can use say the PetSafe small dog collar and the large dog collars together on the same system.
Our yard is 5 acres, will this system (IUC 4100) work well with this area?
ADMIN – Hi Jamie,
The Ultrasmart IUC-4100 is rated to 25 acres, so will give you plenty of room to grow.
We have a Siberian Husky. Is the thickness of his fur a concern for the effectiveness of the collar? Also, we will be getting a Siberian Husky puppy. At what age can you use the collar on her? Is the Ultrasmart IUC- 4100 the best choice? Thanks.
ADMIN – Hi Deny,
The thickness of that undercoat makes getting the collar fitted so it is getting skin contact a little tougher than usual. The collarfit feature will make it easier by giving you immeadiate feedback when you have it correct. Wait until you Husky is six months old. You can start a little earlier if she will confidently do a sit/stay/come.
Hello, I was wondering how long the stimulation lasts for this system if a dog does cross the boundary. Also, does it shut off after a certain period of time?
Thank you very much.
ADMIN – Hi Geoff,
If the dog remains in the boundary zone the correction lasts for ten seconds before timing out for ten seconds. It then goes back on for ten seconds and so on. After three cycles, the correction is shut off to avoid over correcting the dog. With proper training this should not happen, the dog will be taught to reflexively turn and retreat as soon as they hear the beep.
Wanted to follow up on Deny’s question: my dog has very thick fur, especially in the collar area. Is there a perferred collar type/style for dogs like that?
ADMIN – Hi Frank,
The better systems (like the 4100, most of the Innotek’s, Petsafe’s and Perimeter systems) come with a second set of longer collar probes for long hair dogs. That really makes life easier when you have dogs with thick fur. Also, try and get a collar that detects when the collar is properly fitted, so you can get some feedback as to when you have it on correctly. (e.g. Innotek’s 4100 & 5100)
Sometimes you will need to cut a small patch of hair around the collar.
I want to install my system above ground, is this a good idea?
What guage of wire should I use?
ADMIN – Hi Sherry,
Installing a system above ground is functional and even recommended for some properties. You can use ground staples to secure the boundary wire above ground and begin training your dog immediately. Later, you can bury your wire (if you choose) when you have the time. 20-gauge wire is perfectly sufficient for this purpose. If you expect heavy traffic, 18-gauge may take a bit more wear.
It’s me again. If I understand correctly a radio signal is tranmitted from the underground wire to the collar. I have an old (23 yrs) Genie garage door opend that uses a radio signal to open and close the gargage doors. Since my garage doors have old technolgy (most likely an AM frequency) could opening the garage doors using the remote cause a correction to be sent to the collar? Thanks
ADMIN – Hi Tad,
Thanks for bringing this up. You very ocassionally get strange cases of interference where some electrical device triggers the correction. The only way to be sure that this will not happen on your system is to get a collar and see if using the garage door opener (test all the buttons) triggers it to start flashing and beeping. This is something everyone should do with any devices of concerm
In the unlikely even of interference, you can return the system under our 30 days satisfaction guarantee.
I have a small dog (Jack Russell Terrier). Is the collar okay for a dog this size?
ADMIN – Hi Marty,
A Jack Russel is somewhere in the grey zone. If they are over 15 pounds, definately go with the IUC-4100. If they are under 12 pounds, definately go with the PetSafe Little Dog. In the middle, and you could go with either option. The petsafe little is probably going to be slightly more comfortable, the Innotek is a slightly better system.
Hi – I am interested in purchasing one of your fences – the innotec 4100 seems like the best choice as I think recharable batteries are key. However, my dog is a minature pinscher and at most weighs 9 lbs. Will the 4100 system work for him? I read about the Petsafe little dog system and that is my 2nd choice. Also, I don’t understand lightening protection – does it protect the dog from lightening, or the wire in the ground (the invisible fence hardware)? Also, does the indoor pod that works with the 4100 system use the same collar as the rest of the 4100 system. Are you using a wire barrier inside as well or is the barrier wireless?
Thanks for you website and ability to answer questions. Jenny
Admin – Hi Jenny,
WIth a dog under 10 lbs, I would definately go with the PetSafe small dog. The system more appropriately sized for a small dog and the correction stnegth is calibrated for a small dog. Unfortunately as you point out, the PetSafe is not rechargable.
The lightning protection protects the control box in a thunderstorm. If lightning hits the wire it will run back through the wire and damage the control box. The lightning protection stops that happening. It is not a dog safety issue. Whether you have the lightning protection or not, the dog will not be endangered. It is really only useful if lightning strikes are likely to be an issue in your area.
The indoor pod is wireless. It looks a little like a smoke detector and projects a circular boundary that you can set from 2-12 feet that stops the unit. It doesn’t use wire. It is good to slip say under a sofa cushion to stop the dog snoozing on your new white sofa or in the kitchen to stop counter surfing!
Hi my next door neighbour has a IUC 4100 Ultrasmart and she runs the wire alongside our boundry fence… if I get the same model (which I also want to run down the boundary fence, will they interfere with each other.
ADMIN – Hi Denise,
There will be interference unless the wire are separated by about six feet. One idea would be for her to run hers along the top of the fence and you along the bottom of the fence (or vice versa) Another idea would be for you both to share a single control box and do one big loop around both properties. A third solution would be to use a different type of system like a Perimeter Ultra that lets you use different frequencies to avoid interference.
I just had a Invisible Fence consultant quote me 2700.00 for 3 acres of coverage for 2 #20 lb terriers…that seems expensive. She said that Innotek is not good and they have alot of problems. What is your opinion of Invisible fence?
Also..is it cutomary to find peopl to do the installation on Innotek, or is it do it yourself type?
Thank you,
mb
ADMIN – Hi mb,
We like the Innotek products, and use them for most of our own installations. We particularly like the rechargeable 4100/5100 models, we use these for our own dogs. Problems are rare. Innotek is owned by the same company that owns invisible fence, and you will notice that some components are shared between systems.
We like Invisible Fence a lot too. Most of their local franchisees do really good work. The systems are very good (except for the proprietary battery), service tends to be excellent, and the training is decent. I would feel comfortable entrusting my dog with them. A few of their salespeople go a bit overboard when trying to sell the product, this happens at every company with a salesforce.
Most people that buy our kits put in the system themselves, it is pretty easy and takes about a day. Some people hire their handyman or gardener to do it for them.
I live in an area that gets a lot of snow. Which fences work well during the winter?
ADMIN – Hi Bob,
Any of the systems, including the IUC-4100, will work with snow. Just make sure when the snow starts to build up, you turn up the boundary width to compensate for the extra height above ground the signal needs to travel (and turn it down when it thaws). Also, make sure you put your system control box in some place that stays above freezing, as with all electronics repeated going above and below freezing will shorten the unit’s life.
I live on 3 acres and my daughter and son in law live on 6 acres a few miles away. We both have Siberian Huskies and they love to run. We like to let the dogs run and play together, it is really something to watch them run in tandem. My question is, if they install a fence, and I install the same brand/model fence, will the collers work on both fences? I am also a little concerned that the underground fence may not stop them. I expect this is a training issue, but when they get going, common sense goes out the window – just lots of running, mouthing, jumping, barking, growling . . . That brings another question to mind. Are these collers pretty tough?? It seems they like to chew on each others necks while playing.
By the way, thank you for providing this site. This is exactly what I was looking for to research an underground fence. Your professionalism and willingness to share your knowledge is refreshing and impressive.
ADMIN – Hi Jim,
(1) Oddly enough, Huskies are pretty easy. Despite their stubbornness and general lack of regard for instruction (I say that with affection as a former Husky owner and person that aspires toward the same values ), they are really big babies. During the first phase of the correction they give you absolutely no hint that they are learning anything. But, at the first sign of even a very low correction they make that shrieking howl and act like the sky has fallen. And suddenly they will reveal that they are underground dog fence experts.
(2) If you think other dogs will be a distraction, incorporate that into the last phase of the training. (with Huskies, people, especially family members also tend to be a major temptation) That way the dog will learn that even when there is something as tempting as a buddy on the other side of the fence, they still cannot cross.
(3) If you get the same type of fence as your daughter, the collars will be compatible.
(4) The collars are tough. But when I am concerned, I will spray the collars with bitter apple (you can get it in the pet section of any supermarket for a couple of dollars). After a couple of days, the dogs lose all desire to chew on each other’s collars.
Should you be concerned with ‘line loss’ /18ga vs 20ga wire for a 3 acre property?
ADMIN – Hi Dave,
Line loss is not an issue at this scale. You can comfortably do 25 acres with the IUC-4100 with the 20 gauge or the 18 gauge.
I have 3 dogs, a Standard Poodle and 2 Shih Tzu’s under 14 lbs I want to use the IUC-4100. Collars seem to be a problem for the two little guy’s and suggestions?
ADMIN – Hi Chuck,
The Innotek is not a great fit for dogs under 12 pounds, nor when you have dogs of different sizes. I would get a PetSafe Deluxe System for the poodle and add a couple of PetSafe Little Dog Collars for the small fellas.
I have just started looking into this type of fencing.
I have 2 acres that is fenced already (T poles and wire) can this system be attached to the existing T poles?? If not what kind of stakes are used for the installation of this and how far from the existing T poles does it need to be??
Thanks
ADMIN – Hi Rob,
You can run the wire along the existing T poles. If you already have an electric fence (the cattle/horse type) you can sometimes get interference — the only way to tell is to test a section. If that is the case, you need to separate them, typically by six feet.
Most people don’t use stakes, they either zip-tie/staple to an existing fence or bury the wire an inch or two below ground.
I have been looking into these and other fences and would be using it on a Yellow Lab, he is now just 7 weeks old, at what age do you reccomend using the fence on this breed of dog.
ADMIN – Hi Craig,
When training dogs for clients I wait till they are six months. Before that they don’t have a long enough attention span or the cognitive development to understand the training.
If a client is really keen and has a dog that has developed a bit faster (can confidently do a sit, stay, and come) then we will do them as young as four months.
What is difference between the regular wire (18 or 20 gauge) and the twisted wire?
ADMIN – Hi Stacey,
18 gauge wire is a bit thicker than 20 gauge and of course more expensive. 20 gauge is easier to work with and we find it suitable for most installations. Twisted wire is simply two wires twisted together. Be sure not to confuse twisted wire with “stranded” wire. Stranded wire is multiple strands of wire inside a single wall of insulation. Twisted wire is two single core wires (both insulated separately) wrapped around each other.
Hello,
was just wondering about this system. the battery for the collar, are they replaceable? or do you need to get a new collar eventually? Thanks
ADMIN – Hi Kevin,
The battery can only be replaced at the factory. We have had them going for 5 years with pretty minimal dropoff. When they do eventually expire – you can get them fixed under the limited lifetime warranty, the cost is around $30.
Howdy,
I have a Lab/Spitz mix (I think Labrakita) that has been a jumper from day one. He can go over a 6′ wooden privacy fence with ease. He leaps at it from about a foot away, gets his paws on the top of the fence, and then uses his hind paws to help push himself up and over. He doesn’t hit the fence lower than 4.5-5′ or so. I suspect, also, that his prey drive is strong enough that adrenaline would keep him going through the fence, but that leaping back in would be an issue. Would an in-ground or above ground fence help in this case, and, if so, where should I install it — at the top of the fence, in the middle, or on the ground? Thank you!
ADMIN – Howdy Andrea,
Fence jumping is a pretty common problem. About half our customer already have a fence in place but have a dog jumping over, digging under or busting through. It is one of the easier situations because the fence creates a visual barrier that makes it easy for the dog to understand where the electronic fence barrier lies. And also because the dog will not want to hang around the fence long enough to hitch their top legs over the fence, then shimmy with their back legs to climb over.
I would install it around 3 feet from the base of the fence. Staple it or ziptie tie it in place. Then turn up the boundary width to about 3 feet so that the collar beeps both with the collar is held around the top of the fence and when the collar is held at the height of the dogs at 3 feet from the fence.
If we need to place the wire somewhere else for aesthetic reasons, let me know and we can figure out another configuration.
Hi – just wondering whether I could lay the wire on the snow or do I have to wait until all the snow is gone. We have recently adopted a terrier mix and he is great except when outside without a leash and his stubborness sets in and doesn’t come without us going to lure him back. Many thanks.
ADMIN – Hi Beth,
Laying the cable on snow is fine. Try and secure it in a few places by stapling to the snow or by placing a rock/brick on top of the wire. You can then do the permanent installation in the spring when it thaws.
Hi, we have a small dog, beagle, chihuahua, & daschaund mix and she weighs 12 pounds. Our neighbor just purchased the Innotek IUC 4100 for his miniature austrailian sheppard that weighs about 30 pounds. Will this system be to big for our little dog?
ADMIN – Hi Randy,
You are right on the border between the PetSafe Little Dog and the IUC-4100. You could go either way. I might go for the IUC-4100 (because it is rechargeable), and if it turns out to be uncomfortable for her, we can swap it out for the PetSafe Little Dog.
I am very interested in this system, and I know many people have already asked you similar questions, however I have just adopted a 3 year old yellow lab (56#), and I already had a Corgie(30#), would this be safe for both dogs or too much for the Corgie…(he’s kind of a baby anyway)…yet I want to make sure I can control the Lab (who seems immune to anything)…I have done my research and already believe this to be the best system available, I just want to make sure it is safe and effective for both. Thanks So Much.
ADMIN – Hi Texas Rose,
The Innotek is not a great choice where you have dogs of very different sizes, because you cannot vary the correction level for each dog independently. So the Corgie and Lab would get the same correction level. I would get seomthing with independant correction. if you wanted something rechargeable, the Dogtra EF-3000 Gold is a good option. It is a little older and has a bigger collar, but should be find on a Corgie and a Lab. If you wanted something smaller (but not rechargeable), one of the PetSafe Inground systems (e.g. PetSafe Deluxe) would be a good choice but it is not rechargeable and has a proprietary battery.
I would probably opt for the Dogtra, but both are good choices.
i have an older dog. she 15 years old and does not have the best hearing. she is not totally deaf, but is certainly hard of hearing. she can hear us call her from at most 10 feet way. is the audible alert on the innotek going to be loud enough for her to receive an appropriate “warning” alert?
ADMIN – Hi Charles,
It is not very loud. Fine for a young dog, but could be tough for an older hard of hearing dog. Perhaps he would be happier with a vibrating collar like the Dogtra EF-3000.
I have 6 acres I plan to set as the perimeter. Will it be possible for our dog to have 360° access around our home or will there always be a side of the house he can’t access because of wires run from the transmitter box outward to the perimeter?
ADMIN – Hi Rod,
You use a pair of wires twisted together (twisted wire) to connect the transmitter box to the boundary. The dogs can walk over the twisted without getting the correction. That way the dog can still have 360 degree access to the home.
I am looking at renting a home with an ornamental fence around the 1 acre backyard. I’d like to know if the invisible fence can be installed by attaching to the existing fence as opposed to placed in ground. The soil is very rocky and would be a pain to do an inground install.
ADMIN – Hi Calvin,
You can abolutely attatch the electric fence wire to the fence. I usually use zip-ties or staples to hold it in place. Try and fix the wire a little above the ground level so it does not get hit by the weed whacker!
I am going to install an Innotec system this spring. I have a spot in my driveway that I can run the wire in an expansion joint and cover with dirt.
My question is, When the system is on and I decide to take my dog in my truck, will I have to deactivate the system or will he be high enough over the wire so he doesn’t get corrected?
ADMIN – Hi Jeff,
Depending on high above the ground the truck and how wide you have the boundary set, you can often drive over it. But, I generally just take the collar off the dog when we leave home. It is better to be conservative in these things, and you also don’t want the collar being inadvertently set off by say a neighbor’s system as you drive along.
I would like to run the wire through a part of my woods in the back yard. If I lay it on top of the ground will the squirrels or other animals eat the wire. That wouldnt be a good thing and installing the wire underground in a woods will be quite difficult. If I ran it through something like garden hose would that work.Thanks
Rick
ADMIN – Hi Rick,
You can run the wire along the ground in wooded areas. It is much easier than trenching, because all the tree roots get in the way and it will bury itself after a couple of seasons of foliage being dropped on top of the wire. Animals eating through the wire is rare (it is not very tasty), but you will get the occasional break due to say a tree falling, an animal, etc.
You can run the wire through an old hose pipe. Running the wire through garden hose will definately protect it from almost anything.