Abstract: A device is described comprising at least one processor, a storage component, a power source, a switch, a primary electrode, and a secondary electrode, the at least one processor for directing the power source to charge the storage component, for controlling a switch to provide an electrical pathway from the storage component to a resistive load at the earliest when the voltage reaches a first value, and for controlling the switch to disable the electrical pathway from the storage component to the resistive load. The device includes the at least one processor for directing the power source to recharge the storage component, for determining a time of recharge, wherein the time of recharge is the time required to restore the voltage to the first value, for comparing the time of recharge with time values, and for using information of the comparing to adjust the first value.

Abstract: A pet hydro washer is described comprising a central housing containing a motor and an air inflow impeller, a fluid delivery system having a clean liquid storage tank, and a water delivery line in fluid communication with the clean liquid storage tank terminating at a nozzle, a fluid recovery system having a liquid recovery tank in fluid communication with the air inflow impeller through a first air conduit, and a suction hose in fluid communication with the liquid recovery tank, the motor configured to generate rotational movement in the air inflow impeller, a processor configured to control delivery of power to the motor, the controlling delivery of power including incrementally changing a level of power delivered to the motor, and at least one attachment head configured to wash an animal's fur through movement of at least one attachment head across the animal's fur while the air inflow impeller is operating.

Abstract: A filtration system for a pet water fountain is provided. The filtration system utilizes a pump placed within or along a watering bowl. The water filtration system also utilizes a multi-stage filtering device. In one aspect, the multi-stage filtering device includes a first filtering stage representing copper zinc alloy particles, and a second filtering stage representing granulated activated carbon particles. Each stage may constitute filtering material that is separated into an array of cells residing along a vertical frame or is separated into stages placed in series within a tubular cartridge. A method for filtering water in a pet fountain is also provided herein.

Abstract: A pet door is provided having a frame unit and a pivotal flap. The pet door includes a sill which is magnetically biased to attach to the lower end of the flap unit so as to maintain the flap unit in its closed position and to resist pressure differential forces applied to the flap unit, but to provide a lower degree of resistance at one or both of lower corners of the flap unit. The sill includes a first latch member extending from the sill which cooperates with a second latch member coupled to the bottom of the flap unit. At least one of the latch members may be frusto-conical in shape.

Abstract: A method is described herein that comprises selecting a training objective, wherein the training objective comprises an objective to teach an animal to perform a behavior in an environment. The method includes testing the animal to determine a profile. The method includes identifying an optimal training product for the animal based on the profile. The method includes identifying an optimal training protocol for the animal based on the profile. The method includes simulating an experience of teaching the animal the behavior in a virtual training environment using the optimal training product and the optimal training protocol, the simulating including one or more applications running on a computing device for providing a virtual training environment, wherein the virtual training environment mimics the environment.

Abstract: A method is described herein that comprises providing through an electronic interface a simulated environment. The method includes representing a product within the simulated environment. The method includes representing use of the product within the simulated environment, wherein the represented product mimics an appearance and an operation of a corresponding physical product. The method includes providing one or more peripheral input devices for manipulating objects represented in the simulated environment, wherein the objects include the represented product. The method includes evaluating the manipulating of the represented product according to at least one criterion.

Abstract: A device is described comprising at least one processor, a storage component, a power source, a switch, a primary electrode, and a secondary electrode, the at least one processor for directing the power source to charge the storage component, for controlling a switch to provide an electrical pathway from the storage component to a resistive load at the earliest when the voltage reaches a first value, and for controlling the switch to disable the electrical pathway from the storage component to the resistive load. The device includes the at least one processor for directing the power source to recharge the storage component, for determining a time of recharge, wherein the time of recharge is the time required to restore the voltage to the first value, for comparing the time of recharge with time values, and for using information of the comparing to adjust the first value.

Abstract: A pet door is provided having a frame unit and a pivotal flap. The pet door includes a sill which is magnetically biased to attach to the lower end of the flap unit so as to maintain the flap unit in its closed position and to resist pressure differential forces applied to the flap unit, but to provide a lower degree of resistance at one or both of lower corners of the flap unit. The sill includes a first latch member extending from the sill which cooperates with a second latch member coupled to the bottom of the flap unit. At least one of the latch members may be frusto-conical in shape.

Abstract: A pet hydro washer is described comprising a central housing containing a motor and an air inflow impeller, a fluid delivery system having a clean liquid storage tank, and a water delivery line in fluid communication with the clean liquid storage tank terminating at a nozzle, a fluid recovery system having a liquid recovery tank in fluid communication with the air inflow impeller through a first air conduit, and a suction hose in fluid communication with the liquid recovery tank, the motor configured to generate rotational movement in the air inflow impeller, a processor configured to control delivery of power to the motor, the controlling delivery of power including incrementally changing a level of power delivered to the motor, and at least one attachment head configured to wash an animal's fur through movement of at least one attachment head across the animal's fur while the air inflow impeller is operating.

Abstract: An animal behavior modification device is provided. The device includes a sound or motion sensor that is configured to generate electrical signals in response to an occurrence. The device may include a filter, which is tuned to recognize sound frequencies received by and emitted in proximity to a microphone, and generate an electrical signal in response to recognizing sound frequencies characteristic of a dog's bark. The device further includes a canister that holds a deterrent fluid at substantially ambient pressure. The device additionally comprises a pump configured to draw fluid from the canister in response to the electrical signal from the filter. The pump has a spray nozzle for releasing an emission of the fluid that affects the dog's senses. A method of modifying the behavior of an animal using the device is also provided herein.

Abstract: A filtration system for a pet water fountain is provided. The filtration system utilizes a pump placed within or along a watering bowl. The water filtration system also utilizes a multi-stage filtering device. In one aspect, the multi-stage filtering device includes a first filtering stage representing copper zinc alloy particles, and a second filtering stage representing granulated activated carbon particles. Each stage may constitute filtering material that is separated into an array of cells residing along a vertical frame or is separated into stages placed in series within a tubular cartridge. A method for filtering water in a pet fountain is also provided herein.

Abstract: An animal behavior modification device is provided. The device includes a sound or motion sensor that is configured to generate electrical signals in response to an occurrence. The device may include a filter, which is tuned to recognize sound frequencies received by and emitted in proximity to a microphone, and generate an electrical signal in response to recognizing sound frequencies characteristic of a dog's bark. The device further includes a canister that holds a deterrent fluid at substantially ambient pressure. The device additionally comprises a pump configured to draw fluid from the canister in response to the electrical signal from the filter. The pump has a spray nozzle for releasing an emission of the fluid that affects the dog's senses. A method of modifying the behavior of an animal using the device is also provided herein.

Abstract: Described is a mechanically compliant stimulus delivery probe for delivering an electrical stimulus to an animal. The stimulus delivery probe is mechanically secured to an animal training device that is adapted to be carried by the animal and to generate the electrical stimulus. When the animal training device is carried by the animal, the stimulus delivery probe is positioned in physical contact with the animal such that the stimulus delivery probe delivers the electrical stimulus to the animal. The stimulus delivery probe is also mechanically compliant to the extent that the force applied by the animal training device against the stimulus delivery probe is substantially absorbed by the stimulus delivery probe, reducing the localized force realized by the animal. The reduction of the force realized by the animal promotes safety and comfort for the animal.

Abstract: A method is described herein that comprises providing through an electronic interface a simulated environment. The method includes representing a product within the simulated environment. The method includes representing use of the product within the simulated environment, wherein the represented product mimics an appearance and an operation of a corresponding physical product. The method includes providing one or more peripheral input devices for manipulating objects represented in the simulated environment, wherein the objects include the represented product. The method includes evaluating the manipulating of the represented product according to at least one criterion.

Abstract: A method is described herein that comprises selecting a training objective, wherein the training objective comprises an objective to teach an animal to perform a behavior in an environment. The method includes testing the animal to determine a profile. The method includes identifying an optimal training product for the animal based on the profile. The method includes identifying an optimal training protocol for the animal based on the profile. The method includes simulating an experience of teaching the animal the behavior in a virtual training environment using the optimal training product and the optimal training protocol, the simulating including one or more applications running on a computing device for providing a virtual training environment, wherein the virtual training environment mimics the environment.

Abstract: A method of developing a dog is described. The method comprises testing a dog to determine a personality profile, and further testing the dog to determine a cognitive skill level. The method also comprises (i) identifying an optimum training protocol for the dog, (ii) identifying an optimum developmental product for the dog, (iii) identifying an optimum pet toy for the dog, or (iv) combinations thereof, based upon a combination of the determined personality profile and the determined cognitive skill level. In one aspect, evaluation of intelligence and personality are part of a single test. A system for training a dog is also provided. The system includes a test for determining a profile of the dog. The system also includes a products database and a training database. The databases are developed by identifying optimum training products and training protocols based on dog profiles.

Abstract: A novel pet treat is provided. The pet treat defines a multi-dimensional object that is edible. The pet treat has a profile that provides enhanced aerodynamic properties when it is dropped, flicked, thrown or released. A method for dispensing an animal treat is also provided wherein the pet treat is mechanically dispensed by locally actuating a dispenser, or by automated dispensing based on motion of the pet, or a timer, or by remote control with the use of a personal computer or a wireless communications device having appropriate software or firmware downloaded. The pet owner or authorized user may command the dispenser to actuate or dispense a pet treat at any time. Automated motion event and timer based actuations are preferably enabled when the pet is alone or the pet treat dispenser is unattended.

Abstract: Systems and methods of desensitizing an animal to an anxiety inducing event, including an output unit to communicate with a media player to output a conditioning media signal and an anxiety inducing media signal, a conditioning element dispenser to dispense a conditioning element, a detector to determine when an animal has taken the conditioning element, and a control module to selectively control operation of the output unit and the conditioning element dispenser to cause the conditioning element dispenser to dispense a first conditioning element in association with the media player outputting the conditioning media signal. The output unit can cause the media player to output the anxiety inducing media signal in association with the conditioning media signal, and the control unit can cause the conditioning element dispenser to dispense a second conditioning element from the conditioning element dispenser in association with the anxiety inducing media signal.

Abstract: Systems and methods of analyzing the distribution of weight of animals, including a base member, a plurality of sensor regions connected to the base member to respectively receive feet of the animal when the animal is standing, each sensor region having a plurality of sensors to generate signals indicative of weight applied by each foot to a respective sensor region, at least a portion of the sensors being located between the base member and the sensor regions and spaced apart proximate perimeter portions of each sensor region, and a control unit to generate an output indicative of the weight applied by each foot to the respective sensor regions based on an aggregation of the generated signals.

Abstract: Described is a fluidic consumable dispensing device for reliably and consistently dispensing uniform animal consumables. More specifically, the device dispenses animal consumables having the viscosity of a fluid such that the consumables are not broken or malformed and do not become oriented within the device such that they clog the flow of consumables from the device.