Locating Invisible Fence

Our yard has an Invisible Fence system. I’d like to know where the perimeter is, but it was installed by a previous homeowner, so I have no clue what areas are covered. All my Googling has lead me to is a way to locate a perimeter break using an AM radio. I assume this will also work to locate the perimeter, but it seems like it might take quite a while. Has anyone else found a better solution? (and no, I don’t currently have a collar that I can use, either)

Metal Detector maybe? you could at least find the metal wire assuming that its metal

Is the invisible fence anything besides an electrical field? I witch underground pipes with a couple pieces of bent coat hangar based on them reacting to electrical current. I bet it would work for this. You basically start with 2 bent pieces of wire facing straight out in front of you. When yo cross an electrical field, the wires will twist in your hands to align with the electrons. Worth a try.

Just what I was going to post SuperDave.

I had a post up years ago but couldn’t locate it quickly.

We have some non believers in our midst.

Fisherpaul wrote:

Metal Detector maybe? you could at least find the metal wire assuming that its metal

Yeah, if I had a metal detector…

I don’t see that “witching” would be any easier than walking around with an AM radio.

Hmm, looks like I could rent a metal detector pretty cheaply.

Another thing to consider is that if you DO use the INV Fence, you will not be able to use electric collars for training (i don’t suggest them anyway) as you will have a very confused animal for quite some time.
The witching will work. i’ve done it for water lines here at the farm successfully (not fun to dig thru bedrock unnecessarily)

stuwest wrote:

Another thing to consider is that if you DO use the INV Fence, you will not be able to use electric collars for training (i don’t suggest them anyway) as you will have a very confused animal for quite some time.

Do you mean like a electronic collar for hunting? That is a very important consideration.

yes, that is what i mean. made a lot of money off of people not understanding that. there really isn’t a workable solution. one or the other with a LOT of training required for the ‘other’.

stuwest wrote:

yes, that is what i mean. made a lot of money off of people not understanding that. there really isn’t a workable solution. one or the other with a LOT of training required for the ‘other’.

Good point. I hadn’t thought of that, though it makes sense. Thanks, Stu.

I didn’t know about the wire coat hanger but I have used the “Y” of a willow stick when tracing drain lines and looking for septic tanks. Did you know that they somehow can move themselves to an other location on the “person that has lived hie whole life’s” property?

Ralph Wiggum wrote:

Good point. I hadn’t thought of that, though it makes sense. Thanks, Stu.

not a problem. call if you have any other questions. most problems can be avoided with a bit of planning…

If you have the collar, just set it to vibrate and walk toward the property boundary. when the collar vibrates, stick a flag in the ground or spray some paint. Move over 10 yards and do the same. Work all the way around the property and you will have it marked in 15 minutes. The actual buried wire will be about 5 feet further out.

Ralph Wiggum wrote:

(and no, I don’t currently have a collar that I can use, either)

John Schultz wrote:

If you have the collar, just set it to vibrate and walk toward the property boundary. when the collar vibrates, stick a flag in the ground or spray some paint. Move over 10 yards and do the same. Work all the way around the property and you will have it marked in 15 minutes. The actual buried wire will be about 5 feet further out.

This will work well. If you decided to use shock on the fence line, just buy the collar you want and then mark the line. REMEMBER to use ‘gas flags’ to mark the boundaries VISUALLY. The dog will learn twice as fast.

ALSO, you CAN use both the house line AND the field training, but you need to set them differently. What usually works is to use vibrate first to warn the dog, the a shock after if there is not a corrected performance. Then the dog is learning that a vibration precedes a shock and that doesn’t muck them up psychologically. that bolt from the heavens can really muck up soft dogs.

If you have a buddy or a friend of a friend that locates U/G Utilities(power, telephone, natural gas) it may cost you a jug of something. They would just have too hook up at the power source of fence or the fence would have to be on at the time of locating. You could also call to have U/G lines on property located because you are wanting to do some digging on property, request a site meet and just ask the locator they send out if he could find it. A buddy or a friend of a friend is your best option though.

Heck, for a big bottle of Crown I will put a collar on and walk around your yard.
DT

I’ve heard of using an old knob tuner AM/FM radio to trace wires. Check YouTube.

Agree with calling GopherState One though. Offer the guy some cash.

I’ve rented metal detectors a couple times from local rental place. Its cheap.
The last time was to find all the nails the roofers left in my yard…..

Jeez…The AM radio idea works really well, and you don’t have to pay for rental or anything.

deertracker wrote:

Heck, for a big bottle of Crown I will put a collar on and walk around your yard.
DT

Only on IDO!

Now it’s off to clean off that mouthful of Lenie’s IPL off the breakfast bar…

SuperDave1959 wrote:

Is the invisible fence anything besides an electrical field? I witch underground pipes with a couple pieces of bent coat hangar based on them reacting to electrical current. I bet it would work for this. You basically start with 2 bent pieces of wire facing straight out in front of you. When yo cross an electrical field, the wires will twist in your hands to align with the electrons. Worth a try.

I have a friend who does this with a couple pieces of copper wire when he is doing a well or septic. (diggers hotline for anything on the utility side though)

I first thought he was just messing with me but then I tried it myself. It is a weird feeling to have those rods move on their own when you cross over a pipe or buried wire.

Dave Lozier wrote:

then I tried it myself. It is a weird feeling to have those rods move on their own when you cross over a pipe or buried wire.

i freaked out the first time also.

Ralph Wiggum wrote:

Our yard has an Invisible Fence system. I’d like to know where the perimeter is, but it was installed by a previous homeowner, so I have no clue what areas are covered. All my Googling has lead me to is a way to locate a perimeter break using an AM radio. I assume this will also work to locate the perimeter, but it seems like it might take quite a while. Has anyone else found a better solution? (and no, I don’t currently have a collar that I can use, either)

I found a break in my fence twice doing exactly this. It actually works great. The radio tells you if you’re on/near the fence by emitting on type of sound and if/where the break is once you near it with another type of sound. …Pretty distinct too. It took me all of 15 minutes to round my entire 11,000 square foot yard. This little wire gimmick from Radio Shack connected to the earplug hole on the side of my old AM radio. Worked great!

Steve Root wrote:

Jeez…The AM radio idea works really well, and you don’t have to pay for rental or anything.

Always the voice of reason.

splitshot wrote:

I found a break in my fence twice doing exactly this. It actually works great. The radio tells you if you’re on/near the fence by emitting on type of sound and if/where the break is once you near it with another type of sound. …Pretty distinct too. It took me all of 15 minutes to round my entire 11,000 square foot yard. This little wire gimmick from Radio Shack connected to the earplug hole on the side of my old AM radio. Worked great!

Cool. Thanks!

From 2014 on Witching Sticks

I have used an RF choke and an AM radio to find breaks in my dog fence. This can also be used to find an intact fence. Regardless if you are trying to locate the fence or find a break, you will want to get an RF choke.

You can Google RF chokes and dog fences and will find plenty of instructions.

I can only tell you what NOT to do. Do NOT walk around with the collar in your hand, touching the electrodes, while the system is on…while unknowingly having the collar set at it’s highest setting. Trust me on this.

reverend wrote:

I can only tell you what NOT to do. Do NOT walk around with the collar in your hand, touching the electrodes, while the system is on…while unknowingly having the collar set at it’s highest setting. Trust me on this.

That reminds me of the day I installed my system. My brother and I buried the wire, hooked it up and then I made the mistake of following the directions. It said that its a good idea for the pet owner to put the collar in his hand and walk across the line in order to experience the “Gentle Correction” that the dog would experience. It is true that when that much “Gentle Correction” is charging through your arm, your hands clinch tighter and you are unable to release the damn thing. It was also at this time where my entire neighborhood found out that I am indeed a cusser. I am not sure what stopped first…My brother’s laughter or the tingling sensation in my arm. Once I regained my senses, I turned to my brother and exclaimed “Yep, This will work”. The moral of the story…Guys should never read the directions.

You can rent a wire finder from most local rental shops and it will find the wire just like the utility companies do.