Petsafe wireless fences are becoming a standard solution for most dog owners. This safe and convenient way of protecting dogs ad keeping them in their owner’s yards is a sure way of keeping them safe from issues outside the safety zone. Unfortunately, despite their effectiveness, the fences may fail to work as expected.
The first sign to hint that something is amiss is when the fence fails to deliver as expected, and the dogs can easily go beyond the restricted area. When this happens, there is a need to assess and find a solution to the issue. After all, you may not always be available to watch over your pet, and the least you can do is to ensure the wireless fence is working as expected.
Common Issues that May Arise with the PetSafe Fence
PetSafe fence owners are not immune to challenges and malfunctions that may occur when using the fence. Regardless of the difference in brands and quality differences, all PetSafe fence users tend to experience the same challenges that are caused by malfunctions. This means that learning how best to troubleshoot these issues should be your priority. Fortunately, most of the issues are easy to resolve. Some of the most common problems include:
- Collar beeping without shocking
- A failed transmitter
- The fence not emitting the beeping sound
- Wrongly set PetSafe fence
Fortunately, these and more issues can easily be addressed. Below are quick solutions you should explore for the different issues that may occur with your fence.
1. When the Collars Beeps But Fails to Shock
This is often an indication that something is wrong with the batteries or that the set configuration is not working as expected. You can approach this in two ways. First, you may decide to change the collar. Use the warranty. Note that most PetSafe fences come with warranties and quality assurances that are meant to assure users. You may need to apply this in case all attempts to get the collar working fail. However, you should only resort to changing the collar after failed attempts of increasing shock vibration levels.
To add the collar to the fence, consider doing this during the training period. You need to place the receiver collar on the pet’s neck. Alternatively, hold the collar close enough so that the pet hears the beeping of the collar during training. You should then use a different non-metallic collar on its neck, just above the receiver collar, and include the lea. Make sure the additional collar will not put pressure on the contact points.
If you suspect that the batteries are worn out or problematic, check online stores such as Amazon for the right replacement options. You will find a variety of replacement spare parts in the online stores.
Sometimes this issue may be triggered by failure caused by the animal’s dimension and transmitter impact. In such cases, it helps to prove the increased level. If this fails, then replacing the collar may be the only way out.
Verifying that the Collar is Working Properly
To ascertain that the collar functions appropriately, it helps to carry out simply confirmatory tests. These include tightening the bark control collar.
You can also trim the dog’s hair at the place where the contact points touch the dog’s neck, as this will help enhance and guarantee sufficient skin contact.
You can also replace the battery and check to see if the dog responds. If it fails to work, then you need to contact the customer care desk for professional assistance.
2. Failed PetSafe Transmitter
The transmitter is the tool through which the fence connects with the animal’s collar. When the connection is right, some vibrations occur in the animal’s neck area, preventing it from crossing the boundary. When the vibrations/shock fails, the animal can wander away beyond its safe area. If you notice this happening frequently, then check the issue that could be resulting from it.
Start by checking the batteries. You can replace them if they are not working as expected. However, the issue can also happen in reverse, whereby the pet’s safety is compromised because the impact of the fence is too strong. In such cases, it is advisable to set the collar at a minimum level and consider applying minimum corrective measures.
How to Test that the Transmitter is Working Properly
If you suspect that the transmitter is not working optimally as it should, carry out a short loop test. This involves the following steps.
- Start by setting the ohmmeter to test continuity. This will depend on the models since they have varied settings. You should always have the meter reading ohms.
- You should then disconnect the wire going underground from the base unit. The connections will be screwed in place.
- Touch one of the terminal ends should also touch the other ends of the wire’s ends. If the wire shows that there is continuity, then it is functioning as it should. However, the lack of continuity, often demonstrated by no reading, is proof that there is a malfunction.
- Proceed to set the ohmmeter to VAC at 10 or 50 for fences that plug into the walls. The unit should also be set to VDC at 10 or 50 for battery-operated fences.
- Turn the fence on. This can be attained by touching one terminal to the screw for one wire end and the second terminal to the other screw. This will give you a reading of around 12 volts for battery or solar power operated fences and about 110 volts for plug-in models. When you get no reading, then the unit has malfunctioned and may need to be replaced.
3. The Fence Fails to Emit Audible Beeps as it Should
Before walking away from the store after purchasing the invisible fence, make sure to check out all the necessary traits it should exhibit. Test the fence first before paying for it. A properly functioning PetSafe fence has a warning system that signals the pet’s owner attempts to trespass. The dog collars come with several notification mechanisms that you should try out.
If the notification warning fails, consider using the vibrations option. If this also lets you down, you should consider the download options that come with the collar. However, most, if not all, owners prefer the beeping because it is audible and safe for the animal. The beeping does not harm the animal in any way, which is why it is preferred. However, the other alternatives should be considered in case security is an issue.
Other reasons may cause the beeping sound to fail. This includes the lack of a charged electric battery in the collar, the collar receiver having been turned off, the transmission device not being connected to the power wall plug, and transmission interference that causes some form of modification that alters how the collar works.
When testing to verify that the beep is working, do not expect it to be excessive. On the contrary, it is just loud enough for the pet to hear it whenever it attempts to cross the boundaries. People may fail to notice the beeping sound, especially if the surroundings are loud and noisy. The important thing is for the beeps to be audible to the pet.
You can always check that the beeping sound is sufficient by turning the collar upside down such that you see the led light. It will flash every time there is a beep, even when you don’t hear it. Alternatively, test the sound by removing the collar and placing it close to your ears when you are next to the fence’s boundary. You will hear the beeping sounds clear.
4. The Beeping Happens Continuously
Besides the collar failing to beep, the reverse may also happen. In case there is a continuous beeping sound, then the fence is malfunctioning and needs to be fixed. You need to reset the transmitter controls back to the original setting. Before you do this, make sure to test and verify that by checking for the test light’s illumination as you walk away from the boundary.
5. Wrongly Set Fence – Transmitter Issues
Sometimes the PetSafe fence will fail to work as expected when something is wrongly configured. It needs to be set appropriately because this configuration affects the corrective levels used on the dog when it attempts to stray away from the boundary. Users must learn how to reset their fences from the factory setting it comes in. Use the instruction manual to get this done properly because each PetSafe fence may be different.
Why is My PetSafe Transmitter not Working?
There are several reasons why the PetSafe fence transmitter may fail to work as expected. Whenever you suspect that something could be amiss, it is advisable to take the collar’s battery out for a few minutes before returning it. If it is still faulty, replace it with a new battery, ensuring to install it properly.
You can follow this link to buy the replacement PetSafe RFA-67D-11 6 volt battery on Amazon
It is imperative to ensure that the battery housing tab makes the right contact. In case the receiver still fails to activate, you need to remove the wire from the transmitter and adjust the levels.
Whenever there is a transmission interference, something will not work right. It is possible that when setting the wireless fence and arranging the containment fence, there may have been a transformation in the backyard or wherever the transmission device is set. These two instances cause interference with the fence signal, altering the real boundary area. You should study the guide carefully to see how you can minimize any form of interference.
You also need to check out the correction level adjustments. The correction levels may have been mistakenly turned to 1. When this happens, the beep will be heard, but only when there is no static correction. You should rectify the mistake and ensure that the setting is set a minimum of 2.
It is also possible that the battery is off. This is obvious and easy to fix the problem. The receiver will not work in case the battery is not functioning properly. This means that there will be no static correction. It is advisable always to make sure that it is also fully charged.
The transmission device may also be turned off. This happens when the fence transmission device is not connected to the right socket on the wall. This cuts down the power supply and affects the operationalization of the fence. Consequently, no correction will happen regardless of how close the dog gets to the fence’s boundary.
What if You Are Dealing with a Stubborn Dog?
There is always a solution for every dog, no matter how stubborn or playful they are. To adjust the collar and set the static correction for such a dog, increase the static correction level by pressing and releasing the correction level button. This should happen within the first 5 seconds of the past series of flashes. Once you have set the static correction level, change the cover used to protect the correction level button.
6. Special Case Where a Dog has Hearing Challenges
Dogs are not different from humans and may come with certain physical challenges. In case you won a deaf dog and would still love to use your PetSafe fence effectively, then you need to choose a fence with a vibrator collar. The collar can be specially adjusted to replace the beeping sound with mild vibrations. This way, the canine will still be alerted every time it gets closer to the boundary, pushing it back in.
One thing to understand is that despite installing a right PetSafe fence, the effect may not be felt without adequately training your dog. Ensure that the dog is trained to realize the importance of the fence and interpret the warning signs every time it gets beyond the boundary. Without appreciating the consequences of breaching the boundary, the fence may not work effectively. You can be sure that all other PetSafe fence issues can quickly be addressed and that they are not unique to you alone.
You can buy the Petsafe radio fence here if you don’t have it already or are looking for a replacement unit.
Disclaimer
I personally don’t think shocking dogs into obeying a virtual parameter is a friendly approach to an undeniably adorable animal. I always propose physical fences whenever possible – At least the dog can see those.
