Jenni,

That's an interesting way of describing it. Hans does something similar. It's like he's coming over and sitting in front of me because that is what makes that damn vibration stop.

Hmm, I was wondering about the pager vs tone. I was thinking he might think the page was a low level correction, but it seems to work for you guys. I like the idea that it is long-distance recall.

I have a citro collar (for fosters that like to counter surf) but at distances it takes a few seconds to work after I hit the buttons (ie the timing is WAY off) so I don't think it is fair to use outside the house or over 25 ft, even though Kota is VERY sensitive to it. When he hears the psst sound the sprayer makes he shuts down immediately. (Soft/medium dog)


Another question, as I have been getting some conflicting advice... is the correction I want to make immediately for looking at the fox, or when he shows more than just casual interest. It has been brought up that it is unfair to make him afraid of the fox, and correcting him for just looking at the animal will create that.

Kota will allow me to give him a quick 'no' or 'leave it' when he immediately sees the animal. There have been a number of occasions where he will not chase, just sit and watch (and show lots of interest) if I catch him in time. If I miss the split second window of him turning his ear to check with me, he WILL chase. Once he starts to chase there is no listening to anything until he decides the fox is too far away to catch.

So the collar would be more for backup when I miss the signals (and also for proofing recall and other obedience).

 Quote: rich pallechio

Has anyone here replaced a "user replaceable battery" on a Dogtra? If so, can you explain how that went?

I am also interested in this, as I would assume NiMH batteries wear down after a while, but would be less expensive to replace.

I just replaced the one in my Tritronics. I would think they'd be pretty much the same. You just take out the 4 screws and the back half, kinda like a cap snaps off. I used a small screw driver to pry it apart. The battery stays in the cap with a small wire plugging into the body of the unit.

All the important parts are sealed in the body so you dont have to worry about that. There is a rubber seal in the rim that seals the two halves when you put it back together and they recommend you clean out any dirt that may have built up around it. You may be able to get one at Radio Shack, they can even look it up for you.

The Dogtra 1900 NCP says it's battery is user replaceable but it also says you need to practice a little care in replacing it to keep the unit water tight. I've not needed to replace it in mine but I imagine there is a rubber gasket that is easy to get out of place or pinched.

NiMH batteries are better because they don't form a memory which will happen with NiCad batteries. NiCad batteries will form a memory if you partially discharge then recharge them over and over. This can be prevented if you let the battery fully discharge before recharging again. Also if you have a NiCad battery that has gone sour with a lot of charging you can fully discharge it (a short string of Christmas lights do an acceptable job) then let the battery sit for a couple weeks and recharge it and it will be as good as new. This is what they do when you send a NiCad battery off for "reconditioning". I learned that racing RC cars. In fact the charger I had for my cars had a discharge function to prolong battery life. I had some NiCad batteries last three or four years with occasional reconditioning.

NiMH batteries don't do this. They can be partially discharged and recharged as many times as you want without developing a memory. They cannot however be reconditioned. When they are worn out they are worn out.

So far I've had the Dogtra 1900 NCP for almost two years now and I haven't had to replace either battery yet.

 Quote: Jennifer Skeldon

Eric, do you take apart the unit and let it dry after swim time, or does it do it by itself. Do the prongs (metal nubs, whatever) get rusty or show signs of wear?

Jennifer,

I try not to let her swim with the collar on. She just loves the pool I have, on occasion, neglected to take her e-collar off after walks on hot days. Before I know it, Cleo is in the pool cooling off. As soon as I realize she still has the collar on, I call her out and take it off. I just turn it off and let it dry.

She has probably gone in with the collar on about 1/2 dozen times or so. We also walk in the rain quite a bit. No problems so far. Also, the prongs still look new