Abstract: A hybrid grooming tool adapted for use in grooming a furred animal. The hybrid grooming tool includes a plurality of de-shedding blades deposed with respect to a plurality of grooming teeth. The blades include blade edges that, when the hybrid grooming tool is moved with respect to a furred animal, may pass through the fur along with the grooming teeth such that the de-shedding blades pass through matted portions of the fur. As such, the de-shedding blades may cut the matted portions to assist in the removal or untangling of the matted portions of fur. As such, the hybrid grooming tool may be utilized even on matted fur without the need to use another tool to first remove matted portions of fur from the coat of the furred animal.

Abstract: An undercoat rake adapted for use in grooming a furred animal. The undercoat rake includes grooming teeth comprising at least two different types of grooming teeth, each having a base portion, a tip portion, and a shoulder between the base portion and the tip portion. First teeth of the two different types of grooming teeth may have a tip portion that is greater in length than the corresponding tip portion of second teeth to create a variable depth grooming profile. The disclosed structure advantageously removes undercoat fur of a furred animal that has been shed or is soon to be shed. The variable depth grooming profile has been found to be highly effective to rapidly and efficiently thin the undercoat of a furred animal.

Abstract: An animal muzzle that is adapted to be placed over an animal's snout, particularly a domestic canine animal such as a dog. The muzzle advantageously prevents the animal from biting a human handler or another animal while permitting the animal to breathe easily and to consume water or food while the muzzle is in place. The muzzle can be fabricated from an elastic material, such as an elastomer.

Abstract: A pet toy adapted for dispensing treats when the pet toy is manipulated by a pet animal, and a method for dispensing treats to a pet animal. The pet toy can include a housing having an interior surface defining a treat cavity for containing pet treats. The housing includes at least a first housing aperture. A rotatable lid is attached to the housing and is disposed over the first housing aperture where the rotatable lid includes at least a first lid aperture such that the rotatable lid can be rotated to expose the first housing aperture for the passage of treats through the housing. At least one of the housing and the rotatable lid includes a second aperture of smaller size than either the first housing aperture or the lid aperture such that the lid can be rotated to form a treat outlet passageway that is smaller than the treat inlet passageway.

Abstract: A device for interactive use with a pet animal and a method for interacting with a pet animal. The device can attach to a person's foot and includes a support arm that extends from the person's foot. A toy is attached to a distal end of the support arm, such as by using a strand to affix the toy to the support arm. In this manner, the person can manipulate the toy using the person's foot to amuse the pet animal without requiring the person to utilize their hands or arms to provide the toy motion. The device can include a base member that fastens to the person's foot, where the support arm extends from the base member. The device can also include a second toy that can attach to the base member when the support arm is removed from the base member.

Abstract: The pet grooming tool comprises a body sized to be held in the hand. The body has an opening in its underside. Within the body is mounted a rocking grooming tool holder which rocks within the body to follow the general contours of the animal as the grooming tool is manually moved over the coat of a pet animal to be groomed. Springs resiliently center the grooming tool holder in the body.