A selective access system, and methods of making and using such a system, whereby the selective access system includes a container having an interior space defined by a side wall disposed between opposing top and bottom walls; an opening disposed within the side wall, the opening communicating with the interior space; and a cover slidably engaged with the container, the cover configured to slide upward and downward between a first position and a second position. In the first position, the cover overlays the opening; in the second position, the cover disposes away from at least a portion of the opening to permit access to the interior space. The selective access system can further include an electrical conductor coupled to the container, whereby the electrical conductor can deliver a nonlethal electrical shock to an animal which comes into contact therewith to deter the animal from the selective access system.

A pet bowl system and apparatus equipped with an immobilized base, bowls, and automated lid is described. The system employs a series of mounts to ensure that the base remains in a fixed position. The system is configured for use indoors or outdoors by conventional domesticated animals. A proximity-triggered automatic lid is present atop the base which is configured to prevent the introduction of contaminants to the contents of the bowls, as well as to prevent use of the system by unwanted animals and pests. An RFID reader is preferably disposed within the base which is configured to communicate with an RFID tag placed on the collar of the pet. The lid opens upon approach of the pet, and is closed upon departure of the pet from the system.

A selective access system, and methods of making and using such a selective access system, whereby the selective access system includes a container including an interior space defined by a side wall disposed between opposing top and bottom walls; an opening disposed within the side wall, the opening communicating with the interior space; a cover slidably engaged with the container, the cover configured to slide upward and downward between a first position and a second position; whereby in the first position, the cover overlays the opening; and whereby in the second position, the cover disposes away from at least a portion of the opening to permit access to the interior space; and a force generator coupled to the cover, the force generator generating a pre-selected force amount which when unopposed, provides the first position of the cover.

A treat dispenser includes a housing having an interior compartment. The housing has an opening formed therein communicating with the compartment. The treat dispenser further includes a turntable within and rotatable with respect to the housing and an actuator coupled to the turntable. The actuator is configured to impart rotation to the turntable based on manipulation of the actuator, such that an animal treat disposed within the compartment and on the turntable is ejected radially from the housing through the opening.

A pet feeding device includes an accommodating body, a cover, a pivoting assembly and a counterweight. The accommodating body has an accommodating space. The cover is pivotally connected to the accommodating body and to close or open the accommodating space. The pivoting assembly is connected to the accommodating body and the cover and for pivotally connecting the cover on the accommodating body. The counterweight is separately connected to the accommodating body and includes a swinging end and a positioning end. The swinging end has a curved surface and is disposed on one end of the counterweight. The positioning end is disposed on the other end of the counterweight. When the swinging end of the counterweight contacts a ground, the pet feeding device is in a rolling state, and when the positioning end of the counterweight contacts the ground, the pet feeding device is in a positioning state.

An animal feed dispenser, in particular for horses, comprising a downwardly open, substantially vertically oriented tube with at least one filling opening for animal feed that is arranged in the upper portion of the tube. At least two elastic cables which project through in the interior transversely with respect to the longitudinal axis of the tube are arranged above one another, wherein a clearance remains above each cable and in each case allows only the reception of an individual portion unit of the animal feed, and wherein each cable is connected to an end of an associated pulling element which is guided outwardly substantially normal to the respective elastic cable via an opening in the tube wall, wherein a biting element is fastened to the end of the pulling element that is situated outside the tube.

A pet monitoring and feeding system including having a dispenser, the dispenser having: a main body; a bowl provided about a base portion of the main body; a cavity configured to selectively receive the bowl; one or more dispenser sensors being configured to provide proximity data regarding environmental or pet parameters about the dispenser; and one or more food receptacles. The system further including a wireless transponder that could worn as a pendant or incorporated into a collar having one or more collar sensors that is configured to interact with the one or more sensors of the dispenser and processing circuitry. The processing circuitry being configured to receive sensor data from both the dispenser sensors and the collar sensors, the processing circuitry being configured to determine an appropriate portion size of a particular food being contained in the one or more food receptacles and activate the dispenser so as to dispense a selectively measured portion of the particular food.

An animal feeder apparatus including a feed hopper defining an interior for receiving a quantity of feed, an upper opening and a lower feed discharge opening. A feed shelf may be located below the feed hopper and have an upper feed support surface with at least a portion of the upper feed support surface being located directly below the feed discharge opening of the feed hopper. A feed trough may be located toward the bottom of the apparatus below the feed hopper and below the feed shelf, and form a lower feed support surface upon which feed falling from the hopper and shelf rests. A feed shelf movement assembly may be configured to permit a feeding animal to move the feed shelf from a location adjacent to the lower feed support surface of the feed trough.

An apparatus for baiting and/or feeding target animals comprises: a trough to contain bait and/or feed; and a closure which can be urged by at least one said target animal so as to move from a closed position, in which it precludes access to the bait and/or feed by the target animal(s), to an open position, which is such that said access is enabled, the apparatus being configured such that the closure offers a resistance to being moved which is sufficient that it cannot be urged by another animal to move from the closed position to the open position.

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.