I got an e-collar (Dogtra 200, if that's helpful) and the e-collar training video, and this weekend I actually started seeing where my two dogs' levels were. Taffy, the Collie, was pretty easy, though higher than I thought it would be. My question revolves around Aussie, my blue heeler. When I first (thought) I'd found his level, we were at home and he was pretty settled. So a little bit later, I started working with him on jumping, which he has something of a problem with, so a friend was over. I expected it to have to go higher since I had company, but when I stimmed him at the level I'd set at earlier (where I got the right reaction) he yelped (and got lots of praise since he got off). So I dialed it down and got no reaction. Finally found the setting for that...

A few hrs later, he had another training session and what wound up happening was I dialed it back down to the lowest setting and tried Lou Castle's nick three times to make sure you've got a reaction--and at the very lowest setting, which I thought was basically off, he blinked three times. Did it again, he blinked again. Same sort of thing happned over the next few training session--it would change drastically.

Sooo....question is: can a dog's sensitivity to the stimulation actually go from lowest of lows to needing it jacked up 3/4 of the way (when NOT in drive) within a few hours time period? I finally quit training him and left it on him, and the one time I didn't get his attention when I needed it I paged him, but I thought I'd ask y'all. It's working fine with Taffy...so is Aussie just weird?

Do I just find really hard questions? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> Or is it confusing or something? Por favor? Anyone?

You sure the collar is on tight enough?

As Nancy wisely brought up, check the collar fit first, most folks new to the collar don't have them on tight enough.

Secondly....... a dog's level of correction will change depending on it's level of drive & distraction. A dog with no distractions and in low drive will likely require the lowest level ( for the dog ) of correction for that particular dog.
However, the same dog, in drive or under a high level of distraction, may require a significantly higher level of stim to get an adequate level of correction. Fortunately, modern e-collars have adjustable stim levels and you as the handler are free to determine those levels and adjust as needed ( old e-collars often required changing out the contact points to change the level of correction....what a pain that was <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" /> )

Totally agree with Will.

The level my dog requires changes from session to session.. sometimes dramatically, depending on his 'mood' <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

Also, as already said, make sure it is tight enough and that the contact points are not laying on top of fur.. but are on the skin.

Thanks guys.

The prongs were connecting with the skin--that's the first thing I checked. I dunno what was up that day, but he seems to have leveled out. We were training yesterday with it and his stim level stayed the same throughout.

I can understand the level having to change from session to session, but I swear, that day he was changing every 5 minutes. One minute it was perfect, the next it was too high, the next he couldn't even feel it, then he reacted even when it was on the very lowest setting... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" />

Ah well. The fun of having a dog, yes?