This invention general relates to animal feeders, an animal feeding monitor and a method of training an animal to use a feeder. An animal feeder may have a housing comprising an aperture for a food bowl (8) and having a door for covering the aperture, the feeder comprising a door mechanism to control movement of the door over the aperture, wherein the feeder comprises a sensor to detect when an animal has moved away from the aperture, and the feeder is configured to be operable in a training mode wherein the door mechanism is operable to control the door to cover a portion of the aperture in response to a said detection and to respond to one or more later said detections by controlling the door to cover a portion of the aperture larger than the preceding said portion.

The present disclosure is directed to systems and methods for training animals using a wirelessly activated scent-based training system. The scent-based training system includes a reward dispenser that holds a reward. The scent-based training system also includes a scent chamber physically couplable to a target scent reservoir. Target scent molecules flow from the scent reservoir to the interior space of the scent chamber where they may be detected by the animal at which time a reward may be dispensed. The reward passes through the scent chamber prior to being provided to the animal. The reward “pushes” air through the scent chamber prior to passage through the chamber, increasing the concentration of target scent molecules proximate the scent chamber. After passage through the scent chamber a venturi effect created by the reward causes additional target scent molecules to flow from the target scent reservoir to the scent chamber.

A vertically-oriented interactive treat dispensing device for animals provides for storage of treats in a top portion, which then dispenses a treat through an input buffer into a middle portion with a set of adjoining ramps. The treat is initially retained at a resting point at a top of each ramp before it is advanced down the ramps upon physical interaction between the treat and the animal via an interaction opening adjacent the resting point. Once the treat advances down the lowest ramp, it exits the device and can be retrieved by the animal. Additional features may include electronic dispensing of treats from the top portion, incorporation of the device into a play or animal house structure, the use of an interaction lever for advancing the treats, an access arm for accessing the interior housing, and specially-designed disc-shaped treats to roll easily through the device.

A pet feeder tray having an elevated platform. The platform having multiple apertures for removable receiving bowls. The pet feeder tray having four legs at corners for elevating the platform to the desired height. Bowls adapted to receive the feed of a pet can be removably received within the apertures.

A feeder for pigs as they grow continually from weanling size to finisher pig size includes a trough and a shelf with a water pipe located underneath the shelf with a plurality of water dispensing nipples operable by the pigs to dispense water downwardly into the trough for mixing with feed in the trough. The shelf is fixed in height at a common height for use by the pigs both as weanling size and as they grow to finisher size so that it is not adjustable to accommodate growth. This is obtained by selecting the dimensions of the height of the shelf relative to the water nipples and the side walls and the shape of the shelf to allow the required access.

A feeder for pigs as they grow continually from weanling size to finisher pig size includes a trough and a shelf with a water pipe located underneath the shelf with a plurality of water dispensing nipples operable by the pigs to dispense water downwardly into the trough for mixing with feed in the trough. The shelf is fixed in height at a common height for use by the pigs both as weanling size and as they grow to finisher size so that it is not adjustable to accommodate growth. This is obtained by selecting the dimensions of the height of the shelf relative to the water nipples and the side walls and the shape of the shelf to allow the required access.

Provided is a training robot having a snack discharging function for health promotion of a pet, the training robot including a moving means; a base having an insertion groove into which a snack box comprising a discharge hole connected to an external space may be inserted; a first driving means disposed between the moving means and the base and connected to the moving means; a second driving means disposed between the moving means and the base and connected to the snack box; and a control means configured to control a snack in the snack box to be discharged to an outside through the discharge hole, wherein the first driving means drives the moving means to move the training robot and the second driving means rotates the snack box.

Means and methods for preventing crawling insects from infesting a site where food, water, or garbage is located. In particular, this relates to creating a non-poisonous barrier in the path of the insects by coating a surface with a layer of high viscosity index petroleum based gel (HVIP-gel). One embodiment is an insect deterrent cup that is comprised of an inverted (upside down) cup whose inner surface is coated with a layer of PetrolGel. The insect deterrent cup is positioned between the food site and the crawling insects, blocking their path. This prevents crawling insects from accessing the food, water, or garbage.

Enhanced methods and systems for human-pet communication are described. Example embodiments provide an Internet Canine Communication System (“ICCS”). The ICCS facilitates remote communication and interaction with between a dog and its owner, caretaker, trainer, family member, or the like. The ICCS may include a base station or similar device that is configured to deliver treats to a dog and to transmit audio/visual communication between the dog and a remote client device operated by a human user. The ICCS may also facilitate training the dog to utilize the ICCS to communicate with the user, such as by answering calls from or initiating calls to the remote client device of the user.

A pet feeding bowl assembly for inhibiting insects from accessing animal feed includes disk that is positionable on a support surface. A bowl is coupled to and extends upwardly from the disk and animal feed can be positioned in the bowl. The bowl is centrally positioned on the disk such that the disk defines a moat surrounding the bowl. In this way the moat inhibit insects from accessing the bowl when the moat is filled with a fluid. A spout is integrated into the bowl and the spout is directed toward the moat defined by the bowl and the disk. In this way the fluid can be poured into the spout for filling the moat.