Patent ID: 6232880
Filing Date: 2001-05-15
Classification: A01K

Abstract:
A method for controlling the location and direction of movement of a subject animal comprising:a) providing an apparatus onto a subject animal which comprises a stimulus unit which is effective for selectively applying at least one aversive sensory stimulus onto one side of said animal;b) selecting a boundary line which said animal is not to cross and which separates a first area in which said animal is to be retained from a second area which said animal is to be excluded;c) selecting a first threshold line at which a first aversive stimulus is to be applied to said animal to deter said animal from crossing or approaching said boundary line, said first threshold line being the same as said boundary line or spaced outwardly of said boundary line within said first area;d) selecting one side of said animal for application of an aversive stimulus if the left side of said animal is nearest to said first threshold line or said boundary line while located within said first area, and the other side of said animal for application of an aversive stimulus if the right side of the animal is nearest to said first threshold line or said boundary line while within said first area;e) determining the position and direction of movement of said subject animal relative to said first threshold line and said boundary line;f) comparing said position of said animal determined in (e) with said first threshold line to determine when said animal contacts said first threshold line;g) comparing said direction of movement of said animal determined in (e) with said first threshold line and determining which side of said animal is nearest to said first threshold line;h) applying said first aversive stimulus to the left side or the right side of said animal with said stimulus unit to cause said animal to move in a direction away from said boundary line if said animal contacts said first threshold line, said first aversive stimulus being applied to said one side of said animal if the left side of said animal is substantially nearer to said first threshold line than its right side, to the other side of said animal if the right side of the animal is substantially nearer to said first threshold line than its left side, or to an arbitrarily selected side of said animal if said right side and left side of said animal are approximately equidistant from said first threshold line.