How to Troubleshoot a Pet Smart Electric Fence

Pet Smart's Pet Safe brand of electric fences ensures that your pet remains safely in your yard. The collar receives signals from a transmitter connected to a boundary wire around your yard when the animal moves too close to the designated boundaries of your yard. The Pet Safe in-ground fence system works on pets weighing over 8 lbs. and includes enough wire and flags to cover a third of an acre of property. Occasionally glitches in the system will require some troubleshooting to determine the problem.

Things You'll Need

  • 10 feet boundary wire
  • RFA-67 Pet Safe battery
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Instructions

  1. Receiver Collar Doesn't Beep

    • 1

      Check the battery in the collar to make sure it is installed properly. The slotted end should face out.

    • 2

      Align the arrow on the battery to line up with the lock symbol on the housing.

    • 3

      Ensure both lights are lit on the fence transmitter. If they aren't lit, perform a short loop test.

    Short Loop Test

    • 4

      Disconnect the boundary wire from the boundary terminals.

    • 5

      Connect a 10-foot piece of unused boundary wire to the terminals. Arrange the wire into a circle and set the boundary control switch to "B."

    • 6

      Attach the test light provided with your fence to the contact points on the receiver collar.

    • 7

      Turn the boundary control knob to "10." If the transmitter is functioning correctly, the loop indicator will light up. If it does light up, disconnect one end of wire from the terminal. If the alarm doesn't sound, replace your transmitter.

    • 8

      Hold the receiver collar one foot from the boundary wire. The collar should beep. Move closer to the wire. The test light should flash as the collar comes closer to the wire. If the collar doesn't beep, replace the battery. If the collar does beep but the test light remains unlit, check the boundary wire for breaks.

    Receiver Collar Beeps but Pet Doesn't Respond

    • 9

      Attach the test light to the control points on the receiver collar. If the test light flashes, check the fit of the collar. Center the contact points on your pet's neck and make sure you're able to slip a finger between the contact point and your pet's neck.

    • 10

      Attach the longer contact points provided with your fence system to the collar.

    • 11

      Trim your pet's fur where the contact points of the collar touch its neck. If the pet still doesn't react to the collar, purchase a stronger receiver collar.

    Receiver Collar Must be Held on the Boundary Wire to Activate

    • 12

      Remove the collar and remove the battery by inserting a coin into the battery and turning it counterclockwise.

    • 13

      Replace the battery with an RFA-67 PetSafe battery. Turn the new battery clockwise until the arrows on the battery line up with the lock symbol on the battery housing.

    • 14

      Turn the boundary control knob clockwise to increase the distance from the boundary that the receiver activates. If the collar still won't activate, adjust the boundary control switch to another setting.

    • 15

      Perform the short loop test if these steps don't correct the problem.

    Receiver Caller Activates while Indoors

    • 16

      Shorten the distance from the boundary wire that the receiver activates by adjusting the control knob counterclockwise.

    • 17

      Check the boundary wire's distance from your house. If it is placed too close, the signal can be transmitted through the walls of your home.

    • 18

      Twist the the boundary wires eight to 10 times per foot from the boundary to the transmitter where you don't wish to receive a signal. Twisting the wire stops the signal in that area and allows your pet to cross the area without receiving a signal.