Innotek UltraSmart IUC 5100 Contain n Train

Pros

  • Rechargeable Lithium Ion Collar Battery
  • Includes 100 ft. of twisted wire
  • Includes lightning protection
  • Remote training functionality

Cons

  • Bulky collar
  • Remote training may confuse your dog

Rating

Retail Price

$399.95

Our Price

$319.95

Availability: In Stock

Orders before 1pm ship same day

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The Innotek IUC-5100 adds a remote training feature to the standard IUC-4100. As well as being able to correct dogs that cross their boundaries, the collars can also be triggered by a remote control. This allows owners to use the collar as a training aide.

Remote training is particularly useful where the dog is being instructed in some activity where the owner is not nearby the dog, as is often the case with hunting dogs. The owner can correct the dog with a beep, a shock or both. The unit has a range of about 150 yards.

The disadvantage of remote training is that it can confuse dogs, because they are often not sure why they are being corrected, and think it has something to do with fence boundaries. If you do use the remote training, please hold off until the training on using the dog fence is complete and the dog has thoroughly learned the system (at least three months). Otherwise, neither the remote training nor the dog fence training will be effective.

Another disadvantage of the remote training functionality is that the collar receiver is considerably bigger than the standard IUC-4100 model. The IUC-5100 collar is about 50% bigger than the IUC-4100.

Commendably, Innotek includes 100 feet of twisted wire and a lightning protection module in the IUC-5100. The IUC-5100 is also reasonably priced, being only about forty dollars more expensive than the standard IUC-4100 model.

Summary: A good system that adds the remote training functionality to our favorite model the IUC-4100. But, note that using the correction for two purposes has the potential to confuse your dog.

The IUC-5100 shares many common components with the Innotek UltraSmart IUC-4100. The main difference is that you have a remote trainer built into the collar, but the tradeoff is a bigger collar.

Collar

Innotek 5100 vs. 4100 Collar SizeThe collar for the IUC-5100 is about 50% larger than it’s IUC-4100 sibling. The collar is significantly thicker and a little wider to accomodate the extra remote training circuitry. You will also notice an extra IUC-5100 vs. IUC-4100 CollarLED on the IUC-5100 to show you whether the remote training mode has been activated. This extra bulk makes it unsuitable for dogs under 20 pounds.
As with the IUC-4100 the collar is extremely well made. With no external buttons the waterproofing is good and the collar is one of the most reliable electric dog fence collars we have used.

ReadyTest All the Ultrasmart (IUC-4100 & IUC-5100) collars have ReadyTest, which helps you get the collar fitted onto the dog properly. When you slip the collar off the charger, it goes into ReadyTest mode, then you place the collar onto the dog. The collar makes a sound to let you know when the fit is right. This kind of feedback is really useful when you get started. It avoids the common problem, particularly on long-haired dogs, where the dog’s collar is not on properly and the dog feels no correction.

Rechargeable The IUC-5100 collar has a rechargeable lithium ion battery. Like the 4100 it lasts about a month between charges while in dog fence mode. Switch it into remote training mode and you will get only 3 days between charges. Charging takes about 2 hours and is done by placing the collar on the provided cradle. While, we have not had any trouble with the battery life over the last few years we suspect that people that leave the remote training feature activated and thus have nearly ten times more charge/discharge cycles will get a significantly shorter lifespan in vicinity of three years … but this is pure speculation and we have not received any reports of fading battery life. As a practical matter, customers don’t seem to leave the correction mode on for very long.

Battery Indicator The battery indicator LED blinks green when the collar is charged, and blinks red to tell you to recharge the battery. The low power warning usually signals that you have about three days of charge left in the collar.

Remote Training Indicator When the remote training mode is activiated, the Remote Training Indicator LED glows to let you know that it is working.

The IUC-5100 collar is good, but has a few disadvantages:

  • No controls – like the IUC-4100, the collar has no external controls, this means that all dogs on the system must be set on the same correction level. (there is a resistor workaround, here) So for owners with two or more dogs that have significant differences in size or temperament, take a look at the older Dogtra EF-3000 or the non-rechargeable PetSafe PRF-304W.
  • Quiet Speakers – the waterproofing seal on the collar also seals in the sound. This means that the internal speaker in the collar is heavily muffled and hard to hear. The high pitched noise cannot be heard by many adults, particularly where there is lots of background noise or wind. Dogs can hear it just fine, but it would be nice if the owner could hear it a bit louder at least during the training.
  • Size – the collar is about 50% bigger than the regular IUC-4100 collar. While not a big deal for larger dogs, it is too big for smaller dogs.

Long/Short/Training Prongs Prongs can be unscrewed and replaced with the “no shock prongs” for training, the “long prongs” for long hair dogs, or the “standard prongs” for short hair dogs. The three sets of prongs are included along with a handy little tool for unscrewing the prongs.
Collar Band The collar band is identical to the 4100. It is plastic and integrated into the collar. The band is extremely wear resistant and strong, but we still prefer cloth. Some more enterprising people, unscrew the collar band and replace it with cloth bands. The collar has a buckle style closure.

Transmitter

The 5100 transmitter box is shared with the IUC-4100. The transmitter is where you set all the controls for the dog fence system and powers the boundary wire.iuc-4100-controller

  1. Correction Level Switch - toggles between the three correction levels on the system. The correction levels are all progressive, meaning that they increase in strength until your dog retreats from the boundary wire. The three levels cover most dogs, but note there is no provisions for adjusting different collars to different correction levels.
  2. Field Size Switch – set the field size to small for installations under under an acre (1,000 linear feet); set it to large for installations over an acre. The system is capable of handling 25 acres (5,000 linear feet of boundary wire)
  3. Field Width Dial - sets the thickness of the boundary zone. You can adjust the thickness of the boundary zone where the dog receives the warning and then the correction from a few inches to above 10 feet.
  4. Collar Recharge Reminder Switch - this is a feature that was made redundant when the battery indicator was added to the collar. Always switch it to the off setting.
  5. Alarm Volume Dial - controls the volume of the alarm on the transmitter box. You probably want this set to maximum to alert you to any wire breaks.
  6. Power Switch – powers the unit on and off
  7. Battery Backup Switch - the battery backup uses 8 AA batteries (not included) to keep the system up and running in the event of a mains power failure. It works for about three days before you need to replace the batteries.
  8. Power Adapter Plug – where the the power comes in
  9. Boundary Wire Terminal – where the boundary wire hooks up to the transmitter box. The two orange latches secure the wire in place
  10. Status Light - Green indicates that everything is right with the world, red signals the calamity that is a wire break

The transmitter box can be wall mounted by slipping off the rear panel and attaching it to the wall using the supplied mounting screws. The unit needs to be kept away from the elements and should be kept above freezing point lest it catch a cold.

Boundary Kit

The system comes with all the basics plus twisted wire and lightning protection:

  • 500 feet of boundary wire (20 gauge), enough for about 1/3 of an acre
  • 100 feet of twisted wire (20 gauge), for creating a no shock section of wire that joins the control box to the main loop
  • Lightning Protection Unit – protects the control box in case the boundary wire is struck by lightning
  • 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

Additional boundary kits are available through our online store ($30 per 500 feet). We can also upgrade you to the slightly thicker 18 gauge boundary wire ($10 per 500 feet), although this is not particularly useful in most situations.

Training DVD and Instruction Manual

A good training DVD and a pretty sparse manual accompany the IUC-5100.

Indoor and Outdoor Zones

The Innotek 5100 works with the ZND-1000 indoor zones and the outdoor zones. These create small exclusion zones. You set the diameter on the zone, from 2-12 feet, to make a circular zones that keeps the dogs out. These are useful outside to protect garden beds, ponds, etc. Inside they are a good way to keep your dogs off furniture or outside of certain rooms.

Warranty

The Innotek Contain ‘n Train IUC-5100 has a limited lifetime warranty, basically a one year warranty, plus a discounted repair in future years.

Model Innotek IUC-5100
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 1.1″ (D)
Collar Neck Size 7″ – 23″
Collar Water Resistance Waterproof
Collar Fit Test Yes
Maximum Number of Dogs Unlimited
Minimum Dog Size 15 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 Remote Trainer, Collar recharger, Boundary Tester
Package Dimensions 12” (L) x 8” (W) x 6″ (D)
Package Weight

12 lbs

Warranty Limited Lifetime

For the Innotek IUC 5100 Manual click here. (PDF)

If you find this site useful, please consider purchasing your Innotek 5100 from our online store. Our price for the IUC-5100 is the lowest price that Innotek lets anyone charge for the system and includes free shipping and a FREE bonus copy of the Dog Fence Experts Guide via INSTANT download.

Innotek Contain n Train IUC 5100

Get the Expert’s Guide FREE when you purchase the Innotek IUC-5100 from DogFenceDIY.

Learn the secrets of the pros with the Dog Fence Experts Installation and Training Guide. This guide provides tips on all your installation and training needs. For example, learn how to properly cross driveways and footpaths when installing your in-ground fence. Or learn how to quickly identify breaks in your line by using an inexpensive tool from Radio Shack.

In addition to installation tips, this guide will show you how to properly train your dog!

Although purchasing the right fence is a key step, comprehensive training will make your containment system truly effective. The Dog Fence Experts Guide will walk you step-by-step through training procedures such as how not to overwhelm your dog when training. Also, you’ll learn the keys to keeping your dog disciplined even when tempted to cross the boundary.

What you get

  1. Ten Chapters with over sixty pictures and diagrams to make the instructions clear and easy to follow
  2. Detailed planning and installation instructions that make the job easy. The guides shows you how to handle driveways and other obstructions
  3. The step by step training guide, that shows you the best techniques to teach your dog the boundary rules safely and effectively

Innotek Contain n Train IUC 5100

{ 10 comments… read them below or add one }

Al July 20, 2009 at 10:00 pm

I saw the quote below on another review…have you heard of this issue before with neighboring underground fences? If so, does it apply to the 4100 as well?

“Because of the zone feature in the 5100 model, the collar will not work if your neighbors have installed a inground training fence. Our neighbors have a non Innotek professionally installed system. We installed the Innotek 5100 and the collar disables itself within 15 feet of the lot line – system works fine on the other three sides. Innotek’s solution for this is to move our fence more than 15 feet from the shared lot line, considering our fence is currently only 12 feet from the house on that side of our yard, this is impossible. I do not understand why Innotek would make no mention of this in the instructions or even in small print on the box, so customer could avoid the effort of installation for no reason and frustration of trying to troubleshoot the issue.”

ADMIN – Hi Al,

None of the systems like being near another fence. You can usually get within six feet unless you neighbor has their fence set to a really wide boundary. Then you need to ask them to narrow their boundary width a little. The best systems for this problem are the Perimeter Technologies Ultra systems, that you can switch to multiple frequencies to try and avoid interference.

Nichole October 3, 2009 at 7:54 pm

We have a 30 pound Beagle and a 60 pound lab that we would like to get a fence for. I see that the Innotek 4100 isn’t set up to have different settings for dogs of such different sizes, but none of the Pet Safe models seem to meet our needs either (rechargable batteries, waterproof collars, etc.) Can the Innotek 5100 model accomodate dogs of different sizes?

ADMIN – Hi Nichole,

The IUC-5100 is not a good match for dogs of different sizes, since you cannot independently adjust the correction level for each dog. If you want something rechargeable, the best choice would be the Dogtra EF-3000 gold. It is rechargeable and lets you set the correction level for each collar separately.

Michael October 10, 2009 at 8:50 am

I’m thinking about getting this for our Lab and Golden Retriever. It’s nice that it allows two collars and the dogs are the same size so it sounds like it will work well. I like having the remote control for training but how does that work with two dogs/collars? If I correct one, does the other get a shock/tone as well? Can I select which collar is connected to the remote?

ADMIN – Hi Michael,

The remote control lets you select each dog separately or both together. So you could correct one dog, but not the other. (note that you can only do this with two collars at a time, it does not work with 3+ collars)

Nicole October 21, 2009 at 11:02 pm

How do you change between dogs with the one remote control? Is it something where you can do it as your out and about or is it a toggle switch type under the back cover?

ADMIN – Hi Nicole,

The remote control has a button on the front that switches the mode from one dog to another. You press it once and you get dog A, press it again and you get dog B, press it a third time and you get both dogs.

K Hayward November 10, 2009 at 7:20 pm

I have an older Husky (13). She has started both digging under the fence and destroying door jams over the last year. I am both worried about her safety if she gets out but also about the property we are renting. Primarily I want something that will keep her in the backyard but allow her in the house. Secondarily, I would like to keep her away from the doors unless she is coming inside. What is the most effective way to do this? I was thinking the remote training collar and the invisible fence. Suggestions?

ADMIN Hi K,

A dog fence would work well to keep her in the yard. You could use the indoor pods to keep her away from the doors, or alternatively a “scat mat”. The remote training doesn’t have great results for this kind of thing because you have to be around to observe and correct the behaviour which is usually not the case, especially with huskies who tend to escape only when left alone. Even if you are around, the dog just learns not to dig at the door while you are not around. You really want something more automatic to keep them away from doors like the indoor zones pods (you can get them on the Innotek IUC4100 & IUC-5100 and on the petsafe inground systems), or a scat mat.

Julie December 20, 2009 at 11:56 pm

I already have the standard ultrasmart fence. The collar went bad and I was wondering if I bought the collar and remote extra for the 5100 system would it work with my 4100 existing system?

ADMIN – Hi Julie,

A collar and remote from the 5100 would work on an IUC-4100 system.

Angela January 3, 2010 at 12:22 pm

If I already have the fence can I purchase the remote trainer seperately?

ADMIN – Hi Angela – you can purchase remote training systems separately. Or you can get an IUC-5100 collar separately and the remote control separately. But you cannot use a 4100 collar with the remote control — you need the larger 5100 collar, only this has the receiver built in.

phillip January 7, 2010 at 3:58 pm

i have a st. bernard and was woundering if this will work because he is about 200lb

ADMIN – Hi Phillip,

Considering going with something with a little more powerful correction, like a PetSafe Stubborn. An IUC-5100 will probably be fine — st bernards are usually motivated by the correction, but do need a higher correction than say a lab due to their size. It is hard to tell how any individual dog will react, if you think he is going to be sensitive to the correction go with the IUC-5100 and we would be happy to swap it out for a stubborn is it proved insufficient. If he is a little tougher, start out with the stubborn.

John Alberts February 3, 2010 at 5:36 pm

Hi,
I just purchased an Innotek 5100 from you guys and spoke to Bob Holmes in the process. He recommended a hunting dog training book for help in using the remote with the collar. I looked on Amazon but wasn’t sure which book he meant. Does anyone there know the title or author?

ADMIN – Hi John,

The book I liked for showing you how to use the remote correction with your dog was “Training the Hunting Retriever ” by Robinson. I am sure there are lots of other good one I have not read. If anyone else has suggestions, I would love to hear them.

Shelly Floyd February 5, 2010 at 6:56 pm

I’m trying to figure out if this will work on the back part of our property. We’re in Florida, and the back half is swamp 3-4 months of the year. During the rainy season, it can fill up to a foot deep with water. If we install our wires when it’s dry, will they continue to keep our Border Collie/Black Lab mix in the yard when it fills with water? Or will it somehow short out the signal? This dog loves water, so I know that she’ll be out there in it. Thanks in advance for any advice!

ADMIN – The wire does not mind getting wet. Try to keep any splices out of the waterlogged area (but not the end of the world if you can’t). The signal still transmits through water, but you may want to increase the boundary width a little when you get those rains to compensate for the water depth.

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