I recently started my year and a half old dog on the e-collar. Basic obed is good,I'm just tightening and proofing with the Dogtra, and his working level is low (about 15). However, I noticed after the first session (very brief, just 2 or 3 recall excercises) he was frothing at the mouth pretty fierce. He's the first dog I ever trained on an e-collar who did this, is this stress manifesting itself and do I have to make the sessions even shorter (if that's even possible <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" /> )?

Assuming that the collar is being used properly- the answer isn't shorter sessions but longer ones.
The only way a dog can get used to the stim when you are using it as a training tool and not purely for punitive reasons, is to work through their initial hang ups ( and most will have them at first).
I would suggest more practice with ther collar and the dog on leash so that you can guide through things step by step when he needs some help whether due to stress of just confusion. Just because he understands commands does not mean that he will understand the same command once a stim is given - he will need some initial guidance until he understands the basic premise or performance=turning off the collar.
Nick

It's hard to tell from your post but it sounds as if you're not teaching with the Ecollar; that you're using it to reinforce commands, taught with other tools and methods, that he already knows. Commonly this is done by just giving the command and pressing the Ecollar button at the same time, in the hopes that the dog will make the association.

This usually works OK but sometimes does not. It depends on how much discomfort the dog is feeling from the Ecollar. If it's too much, and that's completely dependent on him, it has nothing to do with where the dial is set, it will cause problems because he doesn't know how to shut off the stim.

By taking a few minutes, and going back to a teaching mode, rather than a proofing mode, you can eliminate this problem completely. This allows him to learn how to shut off the stim, something that merely proofing a known behavior may or may not teach him.

What model Dogtra are you using? If it's a 200NCP there have been some problems, inherent in the design, when using it at lower levels, around a 10-15. There are several fixes to the problem, one that you can do yourself. The problem only seems to occur with that model.

Lou, I am using the 202NCP, it's brand new, as I was hoping they would have worked out the kinks by now with the lower levels <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" /> . As you said, I'm giving the command and the stim at the same time, and releasing the stim as soon as he takes a few steps towards me for the recall. His performance definitely sharpened up in just three attempts, but the frothing at the mouth made me stop the session. I suppose I need to modify the collar to make sure the stim is right <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" /> , what's the fix for it?

First off, sorry for the late reply. I was out of town doing two seminars and didn't have Internet access.

It's not a matter of "working out the kinks." The problem is inherent in the design. It only occurs with levels below about a 15, and that's less than 1-2% of the dogs.

There are three fixes. One involves trading up to the 1100 or the 1200 series. That's more expense and the collars are larger. The second fix involves sending the Ecollar back to Dogtra, marking it "Attention Mark" and asking for the "Special Lou Castle Fix." They'll change the internal resisters and diodes (and other stuff that I don't understand). The third fix, and the one I recommend if you don't want to spend the money to move up, involves getting some parts from Radioshack and doing it yourself. This can be reversed if you get another dog. Write me privately and I'll send you the details and some photos.

Could someone please explain what these 'kinks' are. I'm using the dogtra 200, on a level below 10 (2 dots). My husband and I tested it on ourselves, and it seems to be working fine (gradual increments of stim as dial is turned). Is it doing something different to my dog?