diff --git a/configfiles.go b/configfiles.go
index d9ba578..3146e1b 100644
--- a/configfiles.go
+++ b/configfiles.go
@@ -36,7 +36,6 @@ func readConfigFile() {
 		h = new(HyperT)
 		h.pb = pbh
 
-		h.Delay = 5 * time.Second
 		h.lastpoll = time.Now()
 
 		me.hypers = append(me.hypers, h)
diff --git a/main.go b/main.go
index 0ba073a..169dcf5 100644
--- a/main.go
+++ b/main.go
@@ -35,6 +35,9 @@ func main() {
 	// initialize the grid as unstable
 	me.unstable = time.Now()
 
+	// how often to poll the hypervisors
+	me.delay = 5 * time.Second
+
 	/*
 	log.Info("command line hypervisors:", argv.Hosts)
 	for _, name := range argv.Hosts {
diff --git a/structs.go b/structs.go
index 5e6201e..b7ce4c4 100644
--- a/structs.go
+++ b/structs.go
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@ type virtigoT struct {
 	names     []string
 	hypers    []*HyperT
 	droplets  []*DropletT
+	delay     time.Duration  // how often to poll the hypervisors
 	killcount int
 	unstable  time.Time // the last time the cluster was incorrect
 }
@@ -31,8 +32,7 @@ type virtigoT struct {
 // the stuff that is needed for a hypervisor
 type HyperT struct {
 	pb        *pb.Hypervisor // the Hypervisor protobuf
-	Delay     time.Duration  // how often to poll the hypervisor
-	Dog       *time.Ticker   // the watchdog timer itself
+	dog       *time.Ticker   // the watchdog timer itself
 	lastpoll  time.Time      // the last time the hypervisor polled
 	killcount int
 }
diff --git a/watchdog.go b/watchdog.go
index 6e4aed6..e3a4f0c 100644
--- a/watchdog.go
+++ b/watchdog.go
@@ -15,8 +15,8 @@ func TimeFunction(f func()) time.Duration {
 }
 
 func (h *HyperT) NewWatchdog() {
-	h.Dog = time.NewTicker(h.Delay)
-	defer h.Dog.Stop()
+	h.dog = time.NewTicker(me.delay)
+	defer h.dog.Stop()
 	done := make(chan bool)
 	/*
 		// this example would exit/destroy the ticker in 10 seconds
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ func (h *HyperT) NewWatchdog() {
 		case <-done:
 			fmt.Println("Done!")
 			return
-		case t := <-h.Dog.C:
+		case t := <-h.dog.C:
 			log.Log(POLL, "Watchdog() ticked", h.pb.Hostname, "Current time: ", t)
 			h.pollHypervisor()
 			// h.Scan()