How to Find a Break in an Invisible Dog Fence

Dogs are sneaky. If there’s a break in their fence—invisible or not—there’s a good chance they’ll find it to try and escape and get into mischief. Finding a “hole” or break in an invisible fence takes more than a good eye—here’s how to locate and repair a damaged section of your invisible dog fence to keep Fido safely contained and prevent any unexpected adventures.

Why Do I Have a Break in My Invisible Dog Fence?

Invisible dog fences work using underground boundary wires that are buried two to six inches deep. This wire is connected to a transmitter, which you likely have mounted somewhere in your basement or garage. The transmitter sends out a radio signal through the boundary wire, which is received by a collar that your pet wears. 

Wire breaks can happen from various yard activities. The underground wire could be broken by:

• Yard work, such as edging

• Lawn aeration

• Tree or trunk removal

• Snow plowing

• Sprinkler system installation

Before scheduling any work that requires digging in your yard, draw a map of your invisible dog fence boundary and note the area for the contractors so they can avoid these locations. You could also mark the location of the wire using small marker flags.

How to Identify a Wire Break in Your Invisible Dog Fence

Every invisible dog fence is different; some manufacturers have installed alarms into their fence transmitters to alert you when there is a break. If your fence does not have this technology, there are other ways to confirm you indeed have a wire break.

To check for a break, disconnect the wires from the transmitter and put the ends of a paperclip into the jacks where the wires had been. If the alarm stops beeping, the transmitter is working fine and there is a break in the fence. 

You can also use an ohmmeter to check for a break. An ohmmeter measures the resistance in the wire. To use one, you should unplug the two wires connected to the transmitter. Next, attach the ohmmeter probes to the disconnected wires. If the ohmmeter shows no resistance (or shows infinite resistance), the wires are continuous and the issue might be with the transmitter. If there is resistance, you likely have a break in the invisible dog fence wire. 

How to Find a Break in An Invisible Dog Fence

Once you have confirmed there is indeed a break in your invisible dog fence, it’s time to locate the break in order to make necessary repairs.

Use Radiofrequency 

1. Disconnect the fence wires from the transmitter

2. Connect a radiofrequency (RF) choke to the fence wire

3. Insert the leads of the choke into the jacks where the fence wires were connected

Tune In with AM Radio

1. Next, take a handheld AM radio and tune it to a lower AM range; most dog fences emit a signal around 600 kHz

2. Once you have found the right frequency, you should hear a signal as you pass the radio over the ground—the signal should sound like a rapid tapping or beeping

3. If you don’t hear a signal, try adjusting the intensity of the signal on the transmitter

Walk the Perimeter

1. With your radio in hand, walk the perimeter of the yard, following where you know the invisible dog fence to be

2. Hold the radio’s antenna close to the ground and listen for a clear signal

3. When you locate an area where the signal drops or becomes weak, this could be where the break is located

4. Make sure to walk the entire perimeter of the yard before you start digging to repair the break

Taking Care of a Break in an Invisible Dog Fence

Once you have located the break, you’ll need to dig up the wire to repair it. Using a hand tiller or pick axe, dig into the ground until you have exposed the wire. Make sure to move slowly and drag the tool perpendicular to the wire to avoid breaking it further. 

After you have exposed the wire, use the radio to check for a signal on both sides of the break. If there are several breaks, you might need to dig more to locate them all. Once the breaks have all been found, connect the ends using waterproof connectors; these connectors are filled with silicone and will keep the connection waterproof and secure. 

Once the break has been repaired, reconnect the wires to the transmitter and check if the alarm is silenced. If it is, you have successfully repaired the break in the dog fence. 

DIY vs. Hiring a Pro

If you have a handheld radio and RF choke, this project should cost very little to tackle on your own. If you need to purchase these items, you will spend roughly $50 to $80. To hire an animal fencing pro near you to repair a broken invisible dog fence, you should expect to spend $100 to $300. While slightly more expensive, a professional can assess the overall state of your invisible dog fence and ensure that everything is in working order to prevent further problems.