APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR DOG TRAINING

• US 20150264892A1
• Filed: 10/23/2013
• Published: 09/24/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/25/2012
• Status: Active Application

• Current Assignee: Biocube Diagnostics Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Biocube Diagnostics Ltd.
• Inventors: Nir, Golan, Goren, Tamir
• Granted Patent: US 10,278,365 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 15/02 Training or exercising equipment, e.g. mazes or labyrinths for animals A01K15/04 takes precedence; Electric shock devices circuits therefor H03K3/537; Toys specially adapted for animals
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 27/003 Leads, leashes
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 29/005 Monitoring or measuring activity, e.g. detecting heat or mating

Abstract

Apparatus for training a subject dog to perform target odor detecting operations within a completely confined compartment, which comprises a partial compartment having at least three angularly different surfaces to define an interior. The surfaces are sufficiently long to provide a subject dog located within the interior with a sensation of being at least partially confined. An air inlet is defined by a configuration of the partial compartment, by which odor laden air is introducible into the interior and is detectable by the nose of the subject dog. A dog interfaceable member is operatively connected to the partial compartment and activatable upon detection of a predetermined target odor.

Claims

1. Apparatus for training a subject dog to perform target odor detecting operations within a completely confined compartment, comprising:

a) a partial compartment having at least three angularly different surfaces to define an interior, said surfaces being sufficiently long to provide a subject dog located within said interior with a sensation of being at least partially confined;

b) an air inlet defined by a configuration of said partial compartment, by which odor laden air is introducible into said interior and is detectable by the nose of said subject dog; and

c) at least one dog interfaceable member which is operatively connected to said partial compartment and activatable upon detection of a predetermined target odor.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a device for sequentially displacing to the vicinity of the air inlet a plurality of odor emitting objects, at least two of said objects emitting different odors to thereby train the subject dog to discriminate between positive odors and negative odors that are detectable by a time delay.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the device is a carousel comprising a plurality of arms connected together at a central section which is rotatably mounted onto a vertically oriented rod, to an end of each of said arms is attached a receptacle containing a corresponding odor emitting object.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a food dischargeable member extending downwardly into the interior of the partial compartment and a basin for receiving a dominant encouragement discharged from said member without any visible human intervention.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising one or more illumination elements or sound emitting elements for providing the subject dog with a secondary encouragement as an indication that it performed up to expectations while detecting the target odor and that the dominant encouragement will be soon discharged.

6. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the dog interfaceable member is a pushbutton movably connected to a wall of the partial compartment, receipt of the dominant encouragement constituting an incentive for accurately depressing the pushbutton.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the dog interfaceable member is a carrier for a sensor for determining electrical activity in the brain of the subject dog, a predetermined wave pattern being indicative of a canine mental state of satisfaction when the predetermined target odor has been detected.

8. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the partial compartment is modular and one or more segments are attachable thereto in order to increase the size of the interior of the partial compartment and to correspondingly increase a degree of acclamation of the subject dog to confinement.

9. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the at least three surfaces of the partial compartment are dimensioned such that the subject dog will be able to freely perform normal canine motions within the completely confined compartment after being fully assembled.

10. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein a rear portion of the partial compartment is open.

11. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein a bottom portion of the partial compartment is closed and a top portion thereof is open.

12. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the air inlet is an aperture formed in a front wall of the partial compartment.

13. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the front wall comprises an openwork segment that has been attached to, and above, a front surface of an original partial compartment in which the air inlet is formed.

14. The apparatus according to claim 12, further comprising a ventilator positioned proximate to the air inlet which, when activated, will cause odors to flow into the air inlet and be able to be detected by the subject dog.

15. The apparatus according to claim 14, further comprising a rod for attaching an odor emittable package to the front wall.

16. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the ventilator is a blower that is positioned within a hose that is attached to the front wall so as to be in communication with the air inlet.

17. The apparatus according to claim 16, wherein a free end of the hose is positionable proximate to the device for sequentially displacing the plurality of odor emitting objects.

18. The apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising one or more video cameras for monitoring behavior of the subject dog when the subject dog ceases to have a line of sight with its handler.

19. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the completely confined compartment has one or more wall members that are slidable to reveal a chamber through which a handler is able to interact with the subject dog.

20. The apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the completely confined compartment has a grille from which air is dischargeable from the interior.

21. A method for training a dog to perform odor detecting operations within a completely confined compartment using the apparatus of claim 5, comprising the steps of:

a) leashing the subject dog to one of the at least three surfaces of the partial compartment;

b) introducing into the interior of the partial compartment, via the air inlet, odor laden air originating from a first odor source;

c) introducing into the interior of the partial compartment, via the air inlet, odor laden air originating from a second odor source emitting the predetermined target odor;

d) viewing the subject dog during an odor detection operation to determine whether the subject dog performs a trained action to indicate that an odor has been detected;

e) refraining from any reaction to the subject dog after it incorrectly performed the trained action following introduction of the odor laden air originating from the first odor source; and

f) providing the dominant or secondary encouragement only after the subject dog performed the trained action following introduction of the odor laden air originating from the second odor source.

22. The method according to claim 21, wherein the dominant encouragement is provided to the subject dog within a predetermined duration following provision of the secondary encouragement.

23. The method according to claim 22, wherein the predetermined duration is increased when the subject dog is at a more advanced stage of training.

24. The method according to claim 23, wherein the predetermined duration is selected from the group consisting of 5 seconds, 1 minute, and 10 minutes.

25. The method according to claim 21, further comprising the step of sequentially displacing to the vicinity of the air inlet a plurality of odor emitting objects, at least two of said objects emitting different odors, to thereby train the subject dog to discriminate between positive odors and negative odors and to wait patiently within the partial compartment until a positive odor is detected.

26. The method according to claim 21, wherein the partial compartment is modular and one or more segments are attached thereto in order to increase the size of the interior of the partial compartment and to correspondingly increase a degree of acclamation of the subject dog to confinement after the subject dog has been unleashed.

27. The method according to claim 26, wherein an openwork segment is attached to, and above, a front surface of an original partial compartment and the air inlet is formed in said front surface, the subject dog being trained to position its nose within the air inlet during an odor detecting operation even though an object associated with the second odor source is visible through said openwork segment.

28. The method according to claim 21, wherein the subject dog is trained, prior to being capable of performing an odor detecting operation within the partial compartment, to be willing to remain in, or to enter, a confined compartment by being rewarded with the dominant or secondary encouragement only within the interior of the confined compartment and thereby associating pleasant memories with the confined compartment.

29. The method according to claim 21, wherein a handler trains the subject dog, before the subject dog is capable of performing an odor detecting operation within the partial compartment, to identify the target odor by introducing the target odor into an odor emittable package, and rewarding the subject dog with the dominant encouragement every time that it depresses a pushbutton in its close vicinity or held by the handler.

30. The method according to claim 29, wherein the subject dog is also trained, prior to being capable of performing an odor detecting operation within the partial compartment, to discriminate between positive and neutral odors and is then trained to discriminate between positive and negative odors.

31. The method according to claim 21, wherein the subject dog is trained to perform the action by:

a) detecting the target odor;

b) being granted the secondary encouragement;

c) being forced by a handler to perform the action immediately after being granted the secondary encouragement;

d) receiving the dominant encouragement; and

e) eventually instinctively performing the action after detecting the target odor.

32. The method according to claim 31, wherein the trained action is selected from the group consisting of depressing a button, sitting, lying down, rolling over, and barking.

33. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the dog interfaceable member is provided with a sensor for determining electrical activity in the brain by means of an electroencephalogram (EEG), to provide a predetermined wave pattern being indicative that the predetermined target odor has been detected.

34. The method according to claim 21, further comprising limiting or darkening the field of view of the subject dog to avoid distraction.

35. The method according to claim 21, further comprising limiting the displacement of the subject dog.

36. The method according to claim 21, further comprising cooling the compartment, to encourage the subject dog to breath via his nose.