Abstract: A remote controlled animal training system includes a wireless transmitter capable of transmitting a plurality of wireless signals non-concurrently. Each wireless signal of the plurality of signals is representative of one of a plurality of predetermined stimulus levels. A wireless receiver is capable of receiving the wireless signal from the transmitter. A demodulator is in communication with the RF receiver, demodulating the wireless signal to produce a digital signal. A microprocessor is in communication with the demodulator for receiving the digital signal from the demodulator and producing a pulse signal therefrom. A first output device is in communication with the microprocessor. The first output device produces a stimulus of intensity relative to a characteristic of the pulse signal.

Abstract: A remotely controlled device (3) for controlling a remotely controlled launcher for dog training includes receiving circuitry (26,27) for receiving control information signals from a remote transmitter (2), controller (40) coupled to receive demodulated information from the receiving circuitry (26,27) and adapted to generate a control signal in response to the demodulated information, a coupling device (21A) for coupling the control signal to a control input of the animal training device (14-1), and a test circuit (33) responsive to a test switch (16) for testing continuity of the coupling by the coupling device (21A).

Abstract: An electronic apparatus (1) for training an animal is supported against the animal's skin, and includes stimulus electrodes (5) for electrically contacting the skin. A controller including output terminals producing aversive stimulus control signals, a first switch (Q4) coupled to a winding to produce therein a burst of first current pulses in response to a first signal produced by the controller (33) and a second switch (Q2) coupled to the first switch (Q4) operative to synchronously shunt predetermined trailing portions of the first current pulses away from the winding in response to a second signal produced by the controller to reduce the amount of energy delivered to the winding by the switching transistor (Q4) without substantially changing a peak value of a flyback voltage across the winding. The controller sets various values of time intervals during which portions of the first current pulses are shunted away from the winding in order to set various corresponding intensities of aversive stimulus.

Abstract: An electronic apparatus (1) supported against a dog's skin to control vocalizing by the dog electronically converts the vocalizing into a sequence of signals representing frequencies of the vocalizing, and operates a controller to determine if each measured frequency lies within any of a plurality of predetermined frequency sub-ranges and if so, increments cumulative totals of the frequencies which lie in the sub-ranges, respectively, to provide a plurality of cumulative totals that represent a frequency spectrum of the vocalizing. The controller is operated to determine whether the barking sounds constitute a valid bark by comparing the frequency spectrum to a predetermined valid bark frequency spectrum. Appropriate aversive stimulus signals are produced between first and second stimulus electrodes if the vocalizing sounds constitute a valid bark.

Abstract: An electronic apparatus (1) for control or training of an animal includes a housing (2) supported by a strap against the animal's skin, first and second stimulus probes (5) connected to a surface (9) of the housing, and control circuitry in the housing including output terminals selectively producing aversive stimulus. A stabilizing member (7) is connected to a location of the surface (9) of the housing that is offset from a straight line between the first and second stimulus electrodes (5) so that conductive tips of the first and second stimulus electrodes and a tip of the stabilizing post define a triangle, whereby the conductive tips of the first and second stimulus electrodes and the tip of the stabilizing member are pressed against the skin of the animal and prevent rocking of the conductive tips of the first and second stimulus electrodes against the skin of the animal to reduce the occurrence and/or severity of skin sores.

Abstract: A dog bark limiter includes a housing (2) supported against the dog's skin by a strap, stimulus electrodes (5), and a sensor (6) for producing signals in response to vocalizing by the dog. The sensor includes a membrane (6) supported by the surface (9) for efficiently transmitting sound energy through the housing and a rigid nipple (11) engaging the membrane. Control circuitry in the housing has an input coupled to an output of the transducer and output terminals coupled to produce aversive stimulus signals between the first and second electrodes in response to the signals produced in response valid barking by the dog. A motion detector (40) produces a motion detection signal in response to a characteristic movement of the portion of dog that accompanies barking by the dog and aids in detecting a valid bark.

Abstract: A collar-mounted electronic apparatus (1) for control of barking by a dog includes a housing (2) supported by a collar for attachment to the dog's neck, first and second stimulus probes (5) connected to a surface (9) of the housing, a vibration sensor (6) supported by the housing for detecting vibrations caused by barking by the dog and control circuitry in the housing having an input coupled to an output of the vibration sensor. The control circuitry includes output terminals producing aversive stimulus signals in response to barking by the dog. A counter included in the control circuitry is incremented in conjunction with each occurrence of an episode of aversive stimulus applied to the dog in response to barking by the dog.