Comments on: PetSafe Deluxe Radio Fence Review

By: CindyA

CindyA — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 02:02:39 +0000

I had a Petsafe system installed in 2005 (RF-1010 is the transmitter?) and at the time 1 neighbor had another brand system, which the installer knew about but apparently didn’t accommodate for (I would NEVER recommend this person!). We did train our dog well enough that although the backside of our fence was intermittant she didn’t challenge it.
7 years later we now have a new puppy and 2 more neighbors with inground fencing (not Petsafe). Needless to say our fence only works in a 20′ section in front of the house. I will never be able to keep my beagle mix in the yard if a bunny runs thru.
I would like to know if there is anything I can do short of reinstalling the entire wire, such as getting stronger transmitter?

ADMIN – Hi Cindy,

You can quickly confirm it is indeed interference causing the problems by getting you neighbors to switch off their fences for a few minutes and testing the boundaries start working properly again.

If you have interference with neighboring dog fences, we have three options:

1. You or you neighbor need to switch to a dual frequency fence that can be adjusted to avoid interference. The Perimeter Ultra is a good DIY option (http://www.dogfencediy.com/reviews/perimeter-technologies/). Also some invisible fence systems are dual frequency built in as standard (but, you also need to switch out the collars).

2. You or your neighbors need to move the wire so that the sections that are interfering are at least 12 feet apart.

3. Sneak out in the dead of night, and cut your neighbor’s wire.

Option 3 is the most fun, option 1 is the easiest, option 2 is the cheapest.

By: Jenny

Jenny — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 22:48:45 +0000

We have a 30 lb beagle with a high pain tolerance who will run through barb wire to get to a rabbit. He currently goes over, under and through our wood plank with woven wire fence. He is a big hunter and seems oblivious when on the hunt. We also have a 40 lb Plott Hound who likes to hunt but doesn’t have the insane drive of the beagle. I’m not sure which system and which collars to buy. We live on a farm and plan to relocate to a new home on the same farm in the next five years. I am leaning toward the stubborn system and collar for the beagle with a deluxe collar for the Plott hound. Would the stubborn be too strong for his size despite his aggressive hunting nature?

ADMIN – Hi Jenny,

I think the Stubborn collar is going to be too strong and too big for the beagle. I would put them both on Deluxe collars, the higher levels on that system should be sufficient for even the highest prey drive Beagle.

By: Terry

Terry — Sat, 19 Nov 2011 05:20:34 +0000

What is the battery life on the petsafe deluxe? I’m currently comparing the various products, petsafe deluxe, innotek IUC-4100 and the sport dog in ground fence. I like the levels on the deluxe and the fact that it increases the intensity if the dog comes running at the fence, which mine will probably do since he is border collie mix and likes to chase squirrels, rabbits etc. but I like the rechargeable feature of the innotek.

ADMIN – Hi Terry,
The RFA-67 battery for the Deluxe collar last about 3 months. All three of the fences you mentioned contain progressive correction and a run through prevention mode.

By: Liz

Liz — Sun, 11 Sep 2011 03:14:07 +0000

We installed the pet safe deluxe in-ground system with a heavier gauge copper wire 2 years ago. It’s worked fantastically, though we’ve always had to keep the boundary width to around 5, (our dog is quite tall, and if we decrease it, the collar held at waist height doesn’t pick up). Recently, the transmitter has started alarming intermittently (every day to every other day maybe). If I raise the boundary width, the alarm stops. I can usually drop it back down to close to 5 as soon as the alarm stops. I have tried raising the boundary altogether, but it didn’t keep it from repeating the alarm. We haven’t tried the short loop test, but can’t see how it would tell us anything since the transmitter seems to work 95% of the time. Any ideas?

ADMIN – Hi Liz,

Do the short loop test, where you connect a small section of good wire to the transmitter. If you still get the intermittent alarm, that will tell us if the issue is the transmitter. If the intermittent alarm stops, it will tell us three is an actual break in the wire.

If it is a break in the wire, the intermittent symptoms sound like either a nick in the wire, or a bad splice. These small break can keep ‘breaking’ and ‘heal’ depending on temperature and soil moisture. They are unfortunately very hard to find. Your best bet is using the PetSafe Wire Break Locator and listening out for places where the sound dies off a little.

By: Angie Alexander

Angie Alexander — Sat, 10 Sep 2011 03:19:46 +0000

We have an underground fence that has worked great for 3 years…however, over the last month or so both of our dogs’ collars keep beeping/shocking in the house and out back of our house when the dogs are nowhere near the fence. Could both of our collars be bad or do you think it could be something else.

ADMIN – Hi Angie,

It would be odd that both collars started malfunctioning at the same time. My first hypothesis would be that there is something triggering the collars in what were previously safe zones. What kind of fence do you have?

First, I would stop using the collars on the dogs till we get the problem sorted out. We definitely do not want the dogs getting random corrections in the home – that very quickly leads to fearful behavior.

The first thing I would test would be to switch off the transmitter and see if you still get the collars triggering inside the safe zone. That would tell us if the problem is coming from your transmitter or from interference from a neighbor’s fence or some other electrical device.

By: Barbara Crane

Barbara Crane — Tue, 12 Jul 2011 14:29:11 +0000

I recently installed the petsafe system to contain my three large dogs. IT has worked great for several months until this week. My son, an electrical engineer, connected the wire with connectors from a big box store. He “waterproofed ” them with duct tape. In the heat and humidity of summer the fence has stopped working most of the time, although both lights are on. The short loop test indicates the transmitter is working, as are the collars. Could dampness in the connectors be causing this problem in the above ground 18 gauge wire even with both lights on in the transmitter ?? The fence is about 1200 feet. Thanks.

ADMIN – Hi Barbara,

Doesn’t sound like a problem with the splices – if it was, you would get the boundary break warning.

Start by checking the warning indicators are working. Disconnect one of the wires and see if you still get no alarm.

If the alarm is working fine, then we either have a (1) short in the loop or (2) a boundary width problem.

(1) Short in the Loop – check the twisted wire section (if any) and see if maybe there is a short in that section. (a good test is to disconnect the twisted wire from the loop and see if you still get no warning break) When you get a short the signal can go up one twisted wire and right back the other without having to go through the whole loop.

(2) Boundary Width Problem – check the width dial is set correctly, try increasing and decreasing the boundary width and see if it increases and decreases the distance from the wire the collar triggers. Do this test on both the dummy loop and you real loop.

By: Michael Starnes

Michael Starnes — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 14:39:37 +0000

I was having problems with wire breaks with my petsafe inground system so I reran the wire in conduit with a heavier gauge wire. The system worked fine for a couple months but is now hit or miss. I can reset the transmitter and it will work briefly. My question would be is the conduit effecting the signal or is my transmitter not working properly? Thanks

ADMIN – Hi Michael,

The conduit is unlikely to cause those kinds of symptoms. My first hypothesis would be there is something going on with the transmitter or collars. A quick way to test would be to run a small dummy loop from the transmitter and set if that works consistently. If it doesn’t work – that would confirm that the problem is in the transmitter or the collars.

By: Gwendolyn

Gwendolyn — Sat, 09 Jul 2011 15:41:50 +0000

I have to say that your site is quite unique and refreshing. You offer such a wealth of information and customer support – it is very refreshing to see your commitment to service!!

I currently own a PetSafe Yard and Park Trainer. I would like to install an invisible fence system. Are there any invisible fence transmitters that will operate the training collar from the Yard and Park Trainer? If so, is there a way to purchase the system without a collar – as I only need the one. Thank you, Gwendolyn

ADMIN – Hi Gwendolyn,

Unfortunately, the PetSafe Yard and Park Trainer Collar are not compatible with any of the dog fence collars. You need to use one of the dog fence collars with the transmitter. We appreciate the compliment.

By: Barbara

Barbara — Fri, 08 Jul 2011 15:31:58 +0000

I have been trying to decide on a containment system. I have a little over 12 acres and will have to cross a small brook in a couple of areas. There are also other wet areas. I currently have a 10 year old Rotti who stays in the yard on her own and a 7 month old rescue Pom that does not have a good recall yet and slips through the fence into the neighbors yard when their dog is out. I could reduce the total area by excluding the pond and pasture. There may be other dogs in my future. Including my daughters 2 year old Great Dane as well as other rescue/fosters. Although I would prefer the rechargeable, with the reviews and suggestions that I’ve read it seems like the Petsafe Deluxe or the stubborn dog is the way to go, with a little dog collar for the Pom. What do I have to buy in addition to what comes with the package? I can’t see what gauge wire it comes with. Should I buy a heavier gauge? What about lightning? Any other things to consider? Thanks, Barbara

ADMIN – Hi Barbara,

With that much difference in size, I would get the PetSafe Deluxe system (because it can handle larger acreage) and use the included collar with the Pomeranian. With the Rottweiler, I would add a PetSafe Stubborn collar.

With 12 acres, you would need additional boundary kits. You would need a total of around 4,000 feet of wire – the system comes with 500 feet so you would need an additional 3,500 feet (7 boundary kits).

The system comes with 20 gauge wire standard, but you can upgrade to 18, 16, or 14. The thicker wire does not help with the system’s actual working – but it is more resilient and is worth looking at if you are not burying the wire and are just laying it above ground.

With 12 acres you will be running about 4,000 feet of wire, so lightning strikes become more likely. It would be worth getting the optional lightning protection module to protect the system in case this happens.

By: Bonnie

Bonnie — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 04:51:14 +0000

Hi! I have a question about installation. I have about 1/2 an acre backyard that has an existing picket fence that is not suitable for containing my boxer and schnauzer (esp the boxer). Would I still bury the line along the fence or could I staple it to the bottom of the fence line? I was thinking about getting a system with wires and getting a lower gauge outdoor wire if it was not going to be buried. I would appreciate any help you could offer! Bonnie

ADMIN – Hi Bonnie,

You can indeed staple the dog fence wire to an existing fence. It is definitely an easier way to go. There are some special wire staples you can get at Home Depot and Lowe’s that have a notch in them so they don’t press on the wire. Or you can use regular staples, just being careful not to hammer them in so tight that they cut through the insulation around the wire.

Particularly if the wire is attached to the fence a few inches off the ground so it is protected from someone using a weed eater, it tends to be protected from harm. You can certainly use one of the thicker gauges, but you should also be fine with the standard 20 gauge.