When an animal comes into contact with an electrically charged fence, the animal will feel the electric current because the electrical charge passes through the animal's body, then through the earth to the ground rod, and then up the ground wire to the ground terminal of the controller.

If the animal and the ground terminal of the controller are not sufficiently grounded due to an improperly installed ground rod or fence system, or if the animal is not grounded, then the path of electric shock cannot be completed and the animal will not feel the charge. Since the earth is half of your complete electric fence circuit, the animal must touch both the charged wire while being in contact with earth ground.

Note: Animals that are prone to jumping may be difficult to confine. You may need to try different heights and/or fence configurations in order to determine what type of fence installation works best in your particular situation.

If the ground rod and/or connection where the ground wire from the fence controller connects to the ground rod is not properly installed, the completion of the electrical circuit may not be possible. Likewise, the fence wire must always be insulated properly from touching shrubs, tall grass and other electrically conductive objects. Otherwise the electric charge from the fence wire leaks off to ground through weeds, etc. and the fence loses its shocking power.