PetSafe Stubborn Dog Fence Review (PIG00-10777)
- Strongest correction strength available
- Compatible with other PetSafe collars
Cons
- No rechargeable battery
- No battery backup
Review
The Petsafe brand is owned by Radio Systems Corportation, owners of Invisible Fence (and also Innotek). The Large or Stubborn Dog Fence (PIG00-10777) is designed especially for hard to train dogs, but the system is also compatible with the other PetSafe inground collars so you can also use it with small dogs and more compliant dogs.
The principle appeal of the Stubborn Dog system is the higher correction level, three times higher than their regular collars. While a higher correction level may be necessary on some dogs, we worry that owners will use the higher correction level instead of properly training their dogs. We have noticed that many people think the correction level is not high enough, when the real problem is that they did not properly train their dogs in use of the fence. We would only use this system if you are positive your dog will not respond to a regular system (e.g. very large and very stubborn dogs), for 95% of dogs this is simply unnecessary.
You can use the PetSafe Stubborn Dog Fence with all the PetSafe systems you can use it with their indoor pods (PIRF-100).
The PetSafe system (PIG00-10777) uses a regular 9 volt battery that you can get in a drugstore. It lasts about half a year. While we would prefer a rechargable battery, at least it is not proprietary like most of the PetSafe batteries.
You get the PetSafe Limited Lifetime warranty, which is basically a real warranty for the first year then a discount on the repair bill in later years.
Summary: The PetSafe Large and Stubborn Dog Fence (PIG00-10777) is a useful tool where you have a dog that is not responsive to a regular correction. Just make sure you need it. For most of you it is not necessary.
Collar
The PetSafe Stubborn Dog Fence has a large blocky collar, one of the larger system collars. The Stubborn Dog Collar would be too big for any dog under 20lbs, although there is no reason to purchase a collar with the power of the PetSafe Stubborn on a dog under 50lbs.
Five Correction LevelsThe Stubborn Dog has five correction levels. The correction level can be set for each collar individually, so each dog on the system can be on a different correction level. The correction level is set by removing the plastic protective cap on the collar with a coin, then pressing the button underneath. The unique feature of this collar is the strength of the correction. The highest level on the Stubborn Dog is three times higher than a regular system. That makes it took powerful for most dogs.
Status Light The PetSafe Stubborn has a light that tells you when the collar is functioning properly and when the batteries are low and require replacing.
Compatibility with Other PetSafe Collars The PetSafe stubborn dog collar is compatible with all current PetSafe InGround systems. So you could use a Stubborn Dog Collar on a PetSafe Little Dog system and vice versa.
Disposable Generic 9V Battery The collar is powered by a regular 9V battery that you can get from most drug stores and supermarkets. Not as good as a rechargeable battery, but much better than the proprietary batteries on the other PetSafe models. Expect about three months out of each battery. The collar is replaced by removig four screws on the back of the collar.
Regular Prongs The PetSafe Stubborn dog comes with only the regular collar prongs standard. In the past, interchangeable long prongs were included in the box, but as of November 2009 they are no longer included. You can however purchase the compatible Perimeter Technologies long probes ($9) if you need something for a long hair dog.
Control Box
The PetSafe Stubborn uses the same control box as the PetSafe PRF-3004W. The control box is wall mountable and includes the usual basic controls:
- Boundary Width Control – adjusts how wide the boundary radiates from the boundary wire
- Boundary Control Switch – used to set up the system for boundaries under 1,300 feet, 1,300-2,400, and over 2,400 feet. The unit is capable of doing a total of 3,000 feet (10 acres).
Loop Indicator Light – to let you know that the loop is unbroken and operational - Power Light – neato!
Boundary Kit
The system includes in the box:
500 feet of boundary wire (20 gauge), sufficient for 1/3 of an acre
50 boundary flags – used to mark the boundary line during the initial training phase
2 Waterproof splices – for joining segments of the boundary wire
Extra boundary kits for larger installations can purchase it in our online store ($30 per 500 feet). You can also upgrade to the slightly thicker 18 gauge boundary wire if you wish
Instruction Manual
The system comes with an instruction manual. Prior to November 2009 is came with a training DVD, but alas this is no longer.
Indoor Zones
The Stubborn Dog, along with all other PetSafe inground systems, is compatible with the ZND-1000 indoor zones. This plug in unit, about the size of a dinner plate, plugs into a wall socket in your house and creates a circular barrier around itself, preventing the dog from coming near. (adjustable from 2-10 feet) You can use it to keep the dog out of a room or off a sofa.
Warranty
PetSafe systems come with a limited lifetime warranty – a gimmicky phrase, that means you get a real one year warranty, then a discounted repair in subsequent years.
Back in the day, Invisible Fence set their systems up to be STRONG. The idea was to knock the dog off it’s feet and stop them even thinking about getting near that boundary. It worked.
But, as the kids keep telling me we live in more enlightened times. We’ve won the won the war on poverty, the war on drugs, the war on war. Well, at least dog fences have changed for the better. Even old timers like me realize that you don’t need all that power. Instead of trying to overpower the dog, we are now just trying to refocus their energy. If a dog is in a highly aroused state because they are focused on that squirrel, all we need to do is correct them with enough energy to refocus their attention on their boundary rules. With the training dogs don’t need as much correction.
Imagine you attention was diverted by a physically alluring specimen of the opposite (or same) sex or if you are my age … a cheesecake. To regain your attention I wouldn’t need to crash tackle you to the ground and triumphantly stand aloft, thumping a tribal rhythm on my bared chest. A tap on the shoulder, although considerably less exciting, would suffice.
Which brings me to the PetSafe Stubborn Dog system. This is going to be a lot more powerful than most of you need. All you need to do is be consistent with the training and your dog will obey. More power is rarely the answer. Two exceptions:
High Pain Tolerance Breeds – some breeds were bred for high pain tolerance. e.g. Pit Bulls, Bull Dogs, German Shepherds (although the later tend to be easily trained)
Really Large Dogs – if you have to ask if your dog is real large, it isn’t. Think well north of 100 lbs. Mastiff, Great Dane.
Even in those categories, most of the time this is going to be more correction capacity than you need. So when using the Stubborn Dog, start low and only work your way up if the dog is unresponsive to the lower levels.
Stubborn Dog … I’ve been called of worse.
Stewart Aldous
|
Model |
PetSafe Stubborn Dog Fence PIG00-10777 |
|
Type |
In Ground |
|
|
|
|
Collar Battery |
Disposable – 9V |
|
Correction Levels |
5 Levels |
|
Beep Only Training Mode |
Yes |
|
Collar Warning beep |
Yes |
|
Collar Vibration |
Yes |
|
Independent Correction Levels |
Yes |
|
Collar Dimensions |
2.5” (L) x 1.5” (W) x 1.5″ (D) |
|
Collar Neck Size |
?” – ??” |
|
Collar Water Resistance |
Waterproof |
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Collar Fit Test |
Yes |
|
|
|
|
Maximum Number of Dogs |
Unlimited |
|
Minimum Dog Size |
20 lbs |
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Minimum Age |
6 months |
|
|
|
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Maximum Containment Area |
10 acres (5,000 feet) |
|
Boundary Width |
0-10 feet (adjustable) |
|
Control Box Dimensions |
4.8” (L) x 4.3” (W) x 2“ (D) |
|
Control Box Power Source |
Wall Outlet (110V) |
|
Control Box Battery Backup |
No |
|
|
|
|
Indoor Pod Compatibility |
Yes – PIRF1000 |
|
Outdoor Pod Compatibility |
No |
|
Included Boundary Wire |
500 feet + 2 wire Splices |
|
Included Boundary Flags |
50 |
|
Training Materials |
DVD + Manual |
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Other |
Boundary tester |
|
|
|
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Package Dimensions |
12” (L) x 6” (W) x 2.5″ (D) |
|
Package Weight |
6 lbs |
|
Warranty |
Limited Lifetime |
For the Petsafe Stubborn Dog Fence Manual click here. (PDF)
If you find the content on this site useful, please consider purchasing your system from our online store.
{ 16 comments… read them below or add one }
My question is I have a big mastiff rhott that can be aggressive but is allright at knowing her boundaries and mostly lays around, but we have a church next door and a dumb neighbor with kids and they tie a dog up out there she dont like.. i wanna use minumum volts obviously but afraid she will run ouy of yard. I sthis system the better choice? I cannot afford a real fence so electric is the way to go for me. What would you advise?
We have a 3 yr old, energetic Weimaraner, neutered, loves people. We are moving to a home with no fence and are curious about the invisible fence option. We’ve gone through dog training twice and also private lessons and he is definitely stubborn about some things, like walking on a leash. Regardless of method (choke, pinch, gentle leader, harness, shock collar) he will not stop pulling. He has a very strong prey drive for squirrels, cats and birds. He does “sit”, usually “comes,” and will stay for short minutes. What would be your opinion on an invisible fence for him? We never leave him out when we are gone and we do exercise him a lot but it would be nice to turn him out on his own for potty breaks or laying in the sunshine.
ADMIN – Hi Donald,
As long as you are diligent about the training (15 min, 2-3 times a day for two weeks), containment is rarely an issue even for harder to train and strong prey drive dogs. The method of training, where the dog is first instructed what to do, immediately rewarded for obeying and immediately corrected for disobeying is really effective.
If there are special temptations like cats or neighborhood dogs, I would spend a little time using a neighbour’s cat (or dog) working on those distractions to be sure he learns that the rules apply even when he is in an excited state, but I think you will be fine.
Just remember this is one of those things where regular diligent training for those first two weeks really pays off. You will get many long afternoons together in the sunshine as a reward!
I have a small dog (10 pounds) and was wondering if this system would be too much for her?
ADMIN – Hi Angie,
This would be much too strong for her. The petsafe small dog would be a much better choice. The collar and correction strength are more appropriate to a small dog.
I am very interested in this system for my 6mo M pit. He is extremely social, and would only be free to roam while we were home (kennel time while at work). We also have a 2yr F yorkie/pom who rules the yard with an iron paw. Is there a system that works with two different collars. Could I get this stubborn collar for the pit and the small dog collar for the yorkie with the same transmitter and wire?
ADMIN – Hi Brian,
You can mix-and-match any of the current PetSafe in-ground dog fence system collars with this system. A good choice for the Yorkie would be the Petsafe little dog collar.
I am just getting a Great Dane puppy and am wondering if this is the right fence for that dog. Also when should I start training him, he’s currently only 8 weeks old and 20 lbs now but will be 150+lbs in a year or so.
ADMIN – Hi Bill,
This system is a good choice for a Great Dane given their size. I would however start on one of the lower correction levels, while they are big dogs they tend to be pretty compliant and most will not need the higher levels.
When to start the dog on the training is more a function of their cognitive abilities rather than their size. You want a dog that can focus on the training. I like to start them at six months. I am reluctant to start them earlier, but will do it if the dog can comfortably do a “sit”, “stay”, and “come.”
Hi Guys,
I have two dogs: German Shepard and Black Lab, both like to chase deer to my neighbors dislike now. They have run free for 3 years. I have 8 acres and there is 300 acres around me woods and open fields. Would the PetSafe for Large Stubborn dogs work? Fencing the back and side would require over a 1000 foot of fencing, not a small investment $$$.
Thank you,
Phil
ADMIN – Hi Phil,
The PetSafe Stubborn would be a good choice for the German Shepard. They can have very high pain thresholds and some German Shepards will need a strong correction for them to even notice. The Lab doesn’t need a Stubborn Dog Collar. You could use one of the regular PetSafe collars (e.g. PetSafe Deluxe) on him, or the Stubborn Collar (turned down to low).
I have a large boxer shephard mix (8 months) and a medium pittbull, lab, weiner mix. We bought this system inntially for the pittbull mix, and it works great for her. The boxer mix, however, we are having a harder time with. We’ve tried 3 different petsafe collars with him, and the correction “zap” doesn’t affect him. We bought the stubborn dog collar today, which uses the 9 volt battery, and he still doesn’t act like he feels it. We even used the longer prongs. I would appreciate any help you have to offer.
ADMIN – Hi Amy,
The boxer german shehard mix probably has a high pain tolerance so it could be that. But my leading hypothesis is that the prongs aren’t making contact with the skin. I would thin out the hair a little with scissors then put the collar on the dog, then use your finger to move hair out of the way till you see prong to skin contact.
I am considering getting the PetSafe Stubborn for my German Sheppard mix. With these systems, is the shock progressive as they get closer to the boundry line? Or does it start once they break that line and stop as soon as they have passed it? I’m just wondering if my dog will put up with the shock for a second and break free.
Thank you,
Connie
ADMIN – Hi Connie,
Hi Connie,
The stubborn is not progressive. The correction starts a few feet before the dog gets to the wire, and continues for a few feet after (you set how far). Properly trained, the dog will not run through because they will not realize they can run through, you will teach them that the only way to escape the correction is to retreat.
I have the stubborn dog in-ground fence system, and am wondering if the collar from my system will work with the petsafe wireless system?
Thanks for your help!
ADMIN – Hi Kim,
It will not work with the wireless. It will work with any current Petsafe in-ground fence.
I am thinking of putting in the petsafe stubborn fence. However I only need to fence my front boundary and don’t like the idea of having a double loop going across my front boundary and front drive way (concrete) as this then means digging two tracks in order to get back to my transmitter. 2 wires across the driveway isnt ideal. Am I right that to loop back I will have 2 runs of the wire a few feet apart as otherwise there will be interference. Any way around this and stopping possible interference?
ADMIN – Hi Nick,
Unfortunately, you are either going to need to double back on yourself (six feet apart), or run the wire around the entire perimeter. I am afraid there is no avoiding having a complete loop.
Hi,
I have a foxhound that I got as a rescue dog. We currently have the petsafe collar fence system that is not for stubborn dogs. She has been trained on the system and will follow it most of the time, but still gets out when she wants to roam the neighborhood (about 1/week). She can jump fences about 5 feet high and appears to just be running through the shock. Would this be a good choice for her?
Thanks,
Jackie
ADMIN – Hi Jackie,
Most of the time for an issue like that it is (a) training, (b) the collar is not on right so the dog is getting the correction. The next thing I turn to is the correction being insufficient. When the dog is going through the field
I have 2 pitbulls. They both lesson very well, but they have high pain tolerance. And they will chase a cat or people walking down the road if they think they are to close. What kinda of fence ( other than chain link) would you recomend? I really want them to be outside with out me. Is there a fence that will keep shocking them after they have crossed the line? And what kinda of cost would be normal for this type?
ADMIN – Hi Zack,
The PetSafe Stubborn dog is the best choice for a pitbull. I would not assume however that they need the high settings, and would start low. With the training, you should be able to get them contained, but as always you are going to want to test them and make sure they are compliant even when there are strong temptations.
All the in-ground fences only correct the dog for a set width on either side of the wire and will not correct the dog indefinitely, hence the importance of training.
A properly trained dog thinks the only way to escape the correction is to turn and retreat. Cost is $186 for the system and $70 for an extra collar.
i have the regular petsafe sytem for my two labs but now have a malmamute huskie and the reg collar doesnt seem to even phaze him, he actually lays down right where the wire is buried and i checked to make sure the collar works and it is working, any ideas?
ADMIN – Hi Larry,
Hi Larry,
I strongly suspect problem is the dog not getting the correction because the prongs are not making contact with the skin. Both the malamute and husky are very sensitive to the correction, even on low they will not like it and will let you know. However, with that thick coat and undercoat you need to be careful in fitting the collar to make sure you actually do get contact between the probes and the skin. If you don’t have the long probes, you should get them. Then, trim a little fur with scissors (just a little), put the collar on, and use your fingers to move the fur so you are getting contact. It will be tricky the first few times. The collar also needs to be tight enough that it stays in place, a good rule of thumb is that you should be able to slip in two fingers, but not three.
FOLLOW UP QUESTION – will the stronger petsafe stubborn shock collar help?
ADMIN – Using a higher strength collar will not help if there is no contact. It will also be completely necessary for a husky. You really want to keep it on medium or low for them. They have a reputation for stubbornness, but they are very pain sensitive critters.
I have a the stubborn fence. Had it for a year now and my German Shepard is now going thru we trained him I though very well he had never gone thru until now. We cant keep him in now its on max. Any ideas for a dog that was trained and did well and now for some reason has stopped noticing the shock. Please any suggestions. I couldnt say enough good things about this fence I loved it until now but I dont blame the fence I just want to enjoy it again like I did before.
ADMIN – Hi JJ,
Two likely culprits. The first and most common reason is that we start to be less careful when we put on the collar so we are not getting contact with the dog’s skin, and thus the dog is no longer getting the correction. It takes a while for the dog to notice there is no correction but now that he has learned he basically ignores the beeping and vibrating. The second reason, is that the collar is not working any longer or the correction is not properly set. You can test this for yourself by using the tester that came with the system to make sure the correction is still working.
I’m considering this fence over the sportdog because of the ability to match different sized dogs. We plan on getting a golden retriever and a cockapoo (or other similar sized dog). We live on 5 acres and plan on above ground applications. Would this be the best system? Also there are areas were farm tractors might run over the cable, can we have some areas above ground and some areas underground? Or would it just be best to bury it all?
ADMIN – Hi Craig,
You can have some sections above ground and other sections below ground. It is not a big deal. The only thing to watch out for is that it makes the boundary a little thinner in the areas you bury it compared to the unburied section, so set your boundary width accordingly. The Stubborn is the better choice for your situation because of the ability to mix in the other PetSafe collars. The stubborn collar would work well on the retriever (but you should keep it on the low settings and get the long prongs); and you can use either a PetSafe Little Dog collar on the cockapoo. A SportDog SDF-100 collar would be too big for the cockapoo.
I have an Anatolian Shepherd who has decided that even when we are outside in the yard with him and have a neighbor dog over playing with him, the Newfoundland puppy across the street looks like more fun and zip, zip, bang! He’s gone over the fence to the neighbors. Is this the system for us? He’s a sweet dog, but not very mentally mature yet and I’m afraid he will get hit by a car.
ADMIN – Hi Mary,
The stubborn dog system is the best choice for an Anatolian, many of them need a strong correction to refocus their attention back to the boundary once they have something else (like the neighbour’s puppy) in their heads. They are definately harder to train than say a lab, but it is very doable. Just be consistent with your training, and you should get good results.