Abstract: Described is an animal door that is movable between a closed position and an open position and that has an adjustable resistance against the door being removed from the closed position to the open position. More specifically, the animal door defines a passageway and includes a flap that is moveable between the closed position and the open position, whereby the flap obstructs the passageway when at the closed position. The animal door generates a magnetic force that generates a resistance against the flap being moved from the closed position to the open position, whereby magnitude of the magnetic force, and thus the resistance, is adjustable.

Abstract: An animal feeding system is provided. The feeding system includes a container that holds dry pet food, and a receptacle that gravitationally receives the pet food. The system also provides a conveyor system. The conveyor system moves the dry pet food from the receptacle to a feeding bowl. Additionally, the animal feeding system includes a processor. The processor is configured to deliver start and stop signals to a motor in response to signals sent from a user control unit. The animal feeding system additionally comprises the user control unit. The control unit offers a user interface for programming the system according to a desired feeding schedule. A method for feeding an animal using the feeding system is also provided herein.

Abstract: A self-cleaning litter box. The self-cleaning litter box includes a rake drive housing that is securable to and removable from a litter tray. The rake drive housing contains the rake drive control system. The rake drive control system automatically cleans the litter tray after each use and/or on a periodic basis by combing the litter with a sweeping rake. The sweeping rake is paired with a spade that loosens waste products that is stuck to the litter tray. At the disposal end of the self-cleaning litter box, a disposal rake cooperatively rotates with the sweeping rake to transfer waste products into a waste receptacle.

Abstract: An animal feeding system is provided. The feeding system includes a container that holds dry pet food, and a receptacle that gravitationally receives the pet food. The system also provides a conveyor system. The conveyor system moves the dry pet food from the receptacle and to a feeding bowl. Additionally, the animal feeding system includes a micro-processor. The micro-processor is configured to deliver start and stop signals to a motor in response to wireless signals sent from a control unit. The animal feeding system additionally comprises the control unit. The control unit offers a user interface for programming the system according to a desired feeding schedule. A method for feeding an animal using the feeding system is also provided herein.

Abstract: A system and method used in the training of animals includes applying signals in two parts to the animal. The first part is a first conditioned stimulus cue signal having a first duration. The commencement of this signal is followed by the commencement of an unconditioned stimulus signal of a second duration. The commencement of the unconditioned stimulus signal may be either before the end of the first conditioned stimulus cue signal, simultaneous with the end of the first conditioned stimulus cue signal, or after a time interval of no signals between the end of the first conditioned stimulus cue signal and the commencement of the unconditioned stimulus signal. The signals may be electrical stimulation, vibration, sound, light, or odor. The first conditioned stimulus cue signal is used to catch the animal's attention; and the unconditioned stimulus signal is selected to be behaviorally significant to the animal for use in training of the animal.

Abstract: An electronic pet gate. The electronic pet gate includes a gate transmitter generating a barrier field and a gate receiver generating a deterrent stimulus in the presence of the barrier field. The gate transmitter includes a loop antenna in a low profile elongated sill and a barrier signal generator. The loop antenna transmits the barrier signal and has an elongated geometric shape configured to shape the radiated electromagnetic field into a truncated ellipsoid. The truncated ellipsoidal barrier field has significant field strength along the length of the low profile sill and minimal field strength along the sides of the low profile sill. The low profile sill is designed to securely rest on the floor to block access to an area restricted to a pet without being a substantial physical impediment or hazard to people passing over low profile sill.

Abstract: A wall entry tunnel for use with a pet door. The wall entry tunnel extends through a structural feature and forms an enclosed passageway connecting the interior and exterior frames of a pet door. The length of the wall entry tunnel adjusts to fit structural features of various thicknesses. The wall entry tunnel includes modular components that facilitate compact packaging and are readily assembled to construct the enclosed passageway with a perimeter sized to match the size of the pet door opening.

Abstract: A submersible, universal water fountain system for an animal watering vessel. The system includes a port for discharging water into the vessel, a housing which has an inlet through which water is drawn from the vessel, and a pump for drawing water through the inlet and forcing the water from the housing through the port back into the vessel. The port discharges water in a pattern to diminish overspray outside the vessel and create a stream-like flow path of water movement in the vessel to enhance the water drinking experience of an animal.

Abstract: Systems and methods of determining a boundary area for animals, including a transmitter unit to generate and transmit a plurality of boundary signals, a receiver unit having one or more sensors to detect one or more characteristics of the boundary signals, and a user interface configured to communicate with the receiver unit, the user interface including a boundary program component to sequentially acquire boundary data corresponding to the plurality of boundary signals at a series of boundary perimeter locations, and to transmit the acquired data and instructions to the receiver unit to enable the receiver unit to determine proximity of the receiver unit relative to each perimeter location.

Abstract: An electronic pet gate. The electronic pet gate includes a gate transmitter generating a barrier field and a gate receiver generating a deterrent stimulus in the presence of the barrier field. The gate transmitter includes a loop antenna in a low profile elongated sill and a barrier signal generator. The loop antenna transmits the barrier signal and has an elongated geometric shape configured to shape the radiated electromagnetic field into a truncated ellipsoid. The truncated ellipsoidal barrier field has significant field strength along the length of the low profile sill and minimal field strength along the sides of the low profile sill. The low profile sill is designed to securely rest on the floor to block access to an area restricted to a pet without being a substantial physical impediment or hazard to people passing over low profile sill.

Abstract: A pet door with locking flaps, or lockable pet door. The lockable pet door includes a barrier flap surrounded by one or more locking flaps mounted in the pet door frame. The locking flaps, the barrier flap, and the pet door frame cooperate to provide selective direction control allowing ingress, egress, both, or neither. Each locking flap is independently and selectively attached to the frame of the pet door to prevent movement of the locking flap. Each locking flap defines a through opening. In use, the animal passes through the locking flap on the entry side of the pet door and the locking flap on the exit side moves with the barrier flap. When locked, each locking flap prevents the barrier flap from pivoting to that side of the pet door blocking passage in that direction.

Abstract: Systems and methods of tracking an animal including a first device worn by an animal to acquire global positioning system (GPS) data corresponding to a location of the animal, and a second device carried by a user to receive the GPS data from the first device and to acquire GPS data corresponding to a location of the second device. The second device can include a compass element to provide a compass reading corresponding to an orientation of the second device, and a controller to calculate location and direction information of the first device relative to the second device, and a display unit to display a graphical representation indicating the location and direction of the first device relative to the second device.