Abstract:
The present invention is a method and apparatus for matching pets, particularly dogs and cats, with an appropriate product by a pet owner. A breed code is assigned to each breed of pet based on predetermined criteria. Pet products and supplies are classified based on the suitability of the product for pets of various breed codes. The breed codes assigned to each breed and breed codes assigned to each product are published and made available to the consumer so that a pet owner may make an informed decision in purchasing a product for a pet.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0002]    The invention is a method and apparatus allowing a consumer to select Pet products and supplies appropriate for a specific breed of domestic pet.  
           [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art  
           [0004]    Domestic pets of all sizes and activity levels require safe and suitable products in their daily lives. Appropriate Pet products and supplies can help to satisfy both a pet&#39;s maintenance needs and their exercise, amusement, and socialization requirements.  
           [0005]    Many pet owners become deeply attached to their pets, and are willing to spend considerable money providing for their maintenance and care. The industry serving these pet owners is large and diverse. A significant portion of the pet industry is devoted to manufacturing supplies to maintain, nurture, amuse and occupy pets.  
           [0006]    The diversity of Pet products and supplies for pets available on the market is matched only by the diversity of the animals themselves. Pets differ in size, personality, and exercise requirements. Products appropriate for one pet may be entirely inappropriate for another pet. The prior art provides no guidance to the pet owner as to which products are appropriate for the owner&#39;s pet. An inappropriate pet product cannot be properly used by the animal and is a waste of money for the pet owner. At worst, an inappropriate pet product can present a hazard to the pet, such as an increased likelihood of the animal ingesting and choking on or experiencing intestinal blockage from the product.  
           [0007]    The prior art does not teach a systematic classification system to assist the pet owner in determining whether a particular pet product is appropriate for the owner&#39;s pet.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0008]    The present invention provides systematic classification systems of pets and pet products to allow a pet owner to make an appropriate selection for the owner&#39;s pet.  
           [0009]    In the present invention, indicia are assigned to a breed of pet. The indicia comprise one or more marks or designations that serve to differentiate one breed of animal from another, such as numbers, letters, words, symbols, colors, sounds, odors, any combination of the foregoing, or any other means of differentiation. In the preferred embodiment, the indicia comprise a “breed code” consisting of a single numeral.  
           [0010]    Many different methods can be used to assign a breed code to a particular breed. For dogs, one method is based on an evaluation of the weight of the typical adult of the breed and based on the degree of activity or activity level of the breed. Other factors also may be considered, such as the group to which a dog belongs, the dog&#39;s weight and height, size and shape of the dog&#39;s jaw and many other possible factors. For purposes of this application, a “group” is a classification of dog breeds based on the purposes for which the breeds originally were developed. For cats, one method for assigning the breed code is based on the temperament and need for attention of the particular breed of cat. A single breed code may apply to several breeds of pets.  
           [0011]    A pet product is evaluated to determine for what breed codes it would be appropriate. The evaluation of the product may be based on the experience of the manufacturer or others, or may be empirical, as by exposing the product to animals categorized within the various breed codes to determine by which animals the product is accepted. The breed code for each breed is then published, as is the list of appropriate breed codes for the product. The pet owner may thereby learn the breed code applicable to his or her particular pet and may choose a product from those Pet products and supplies having an identical breed code. The pet owner thereby may select a product knowing that there is an increased likelihood that the product will be safe, suitable, and useable by the owner&#39;s pet.  
           [0012]    The breed codes appropriate to a particular product may be published by placing the breed codes on the packaging of the individual pet product, on the pet product itself, or in any other location convenient to the pet owner.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0013]    [0013]FIG. 1 is a product attached to retail display packaging.  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 2 is a retail display with breed code information.  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 3 is a product marked with a breed code.  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 4 illustrates a computer network implementing the present invention.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 5 is a flow chart for one method of determining breed code for dogs.  
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0018]    Indicia are assigned to a breed of pet, such a breed of dog or cat. In the preferred embodiment, the indicia comprise a numerical breed code. Pet products and supplies are categorized to determine for what pets having a breed code a product having an identical breed code is appropriate. Finally, the breed code assigned to a particular breed and list of Pet products and supplies categorized by breed code are published. Publication of the breed codes and publication of the list of Pet products and supplies categorized by breed code informs a pet owner as to whether a particular product is appropriate for a particular pet.  
         [0019]    As shown by FIG. 1 the publication of the breed code categories  2  for which a product is appropriate need not appear as a list and may appear on the container or packaging  4  of a product  6 . As shown by FIG. 2, the publication of the breed code categories  2  may be in the form of labeling, advertising, or any other means  8  in the proximity of a product  6 . The publication of the breed code categories  2  may appear on the product itself  6  FIG. 3, as by printing, embossing or creation of a raised pattern. Also as shown by FIG. 3, a single product  6  may be suitable for pets belonging to several breed codes  2 .  
         [0020]    Publication of the breed codes and publication of the list of pet products and supplies categorized by breed code may be implemented by computer or other communication device. As shown by FIG. 4, a user instructs a client computer  10  to request information from a server computer  14 . The client computer  10  sends the request through a computer network  12 , which may be the Internet. The server computer  14  receives the request. The server computer  14  transmits information through the computer network  12  to the client computer  10 , where a display  16  exhibits the information to the user. The information transmitted by the server computer  14  to the client computer  10  may comprise the identification of a product  6  and publication of the breed codes categories  2  for which the product  6  is appropriate.  
         [0021]    For the purposes of this application, a client computer  10  is any device capable of requesting information over a computer network  12  and displaying  16  received information to the user. For the purposes of this application, a server computer  14  is any device capable of delivering information to a client computer  10  over a computer network  12 .  
         [0022]    Any suitable method may be used to assign indicia to a breed of pet. Dogs and cats can be categorized in any of many possible ways, including without limitation: age of the animal, dimensions of various features of the animal, weight of the animal, bone structure, the size of the jaw, chewing temperament, athleticism, exercise needs, group, breed, personality characteristics, taste and odor preferences, and any other factors that assist in predicting behavior and preferences. Any such categorization is contemplated by this application. Although the present method assigns a single breed code to all pets of that breed, it is contemplated that multiple indicia could be assigned to pets of the same breed based on weight, age or other characteristics or for the purpose of matching the breed with Pet products and supplies of different types, such as chewing Pet products and supplies and fetching Pet products and supplies.  
         [0023]    The indicia may comprise a breed code assigned to a breed and an identical breed code used to designate an appropriate product. The indicia assigned to the breed and the product may not be identical, but may correspond one to another; as, for example and without limitation, a first color assigned to a breed and a second color assigned to Pet products and supplies appropriate for pets of that breed.  
         [0024]    For the purposes of this application, a “breed” of pet, such as a dog or cat, is a relatively homogenous group of animals identified by experts. Pets of a particular breed, such as breeds of dog recognized by the American Kennel Club, share characteristics of weight, jaw size and shape, activity level and personality characteristics. The breed of a dog provides a reasonable estimation of the needs of that dog. A pet product appropriate to one dog of a particular breed likely will be appropriate to most dogs of the same breed.  
         [0025]    The starting point for the determination of breed codes for dogs is identifying the breed and determining the weight and exercise requirements of each breed of dog. The “breeds” of dog are those recognized by the American Kennel Club. The weight of each breed is the ideal weight of an adult dog of the breed as published by the American Kennel Club. The exercise requirement is based on information obtained from published sources; namely the Encyclopedia of Dogs by D. Caroline Coile, Ph.D., published by Barron&#39;s, ISBN 0-7641-5097-0, and is based on the activity expected from typical dogs of each breed.  
         [0026]    An exercise factor is derived for each breed of dogs, as shown by Table 1. The exercise requirement is an assigned value of 1 through 5, with one being a very low exercise requirement and five being a very high exercise requirement. The exercise factor is derived from the exercise requirement.  
                           TABLE 1                                   Exercise   Exercise           Requirement   Factor                           0-1   1           2-5   2                      
 
         [0027]    A weight factor is derived based on the ideal weight for an adult dog of the breed as shown in Table 2. As an example and as shown on Table 2, a breed of dog with an ideal adult weight of 10 pounds is assigned a weight factor of 0.  
                           TABLE 2                                   Weight   Weight           in lbs.   Factor                            0-10   0           11-16   2           17-35   3           36-45   4           46-70   5           71-80   6           81 and   7           above                      
 
         [0028]    To calculate the breed code for a breed of dog, the exercise factor for that breed is added to the weight factor for the breed. The sum is the breed code. FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing the calculation of breed codes by summing the exercise factor and the weight factor. Table 3 below is the result of the summation of exercise factor and weight factor for several breeds of dogs recognized by the American Kennel Club. Included in Table 3 are the breed, group name, weight, activity requirement, exercise factor, weight factor and resulting breed code. The breeds are grouped in the table by breed code.  
                                                                   TABLE 3                           Breed Code Determination                            Exer-                       Exer-   cise   Weight       Breed   Group   Weight   cise   Factor   Factor                    Breed Code: 1                           Chihuahua   Toy   5   1   1   0       Coton De Tulear   Toy   8   1   1   0       English Toy Spaniel   Toy   10   1   1   0       Japanese Chin   Toy   5   1   1   0       Maltese   Toy   5   1   1   0       Papillon   Toy   10   1   1   0       Pekingese   Toy   10   1   1   0       Pomeranian   Toy   5   1   1   0       Breed Code: 2       Affenpinscher   Toy   9   3   2   0       American Eskimo Toy   Non-   8   3   2   0           Sporting       Bichon Frise   Non-   10   2   2   0           Sporting       Brussels Griffon   Toy   9   2   2   0       Chinese Crested   Toy   8   2   2   0       Dachshund Mini &amp; Toy   Toy   10   2   2   0       Fox Terrier -Toy   Toy   5   3   2   0       Manchester Terrier Toy   Toy   8   2   2   0       Miniature Pinscher   Toy   9   2   2   0       Schipperke mini   Toy   10   3   2   0       Silky Terrier   Toy   10   2   2   0       Toy Poodle   Toy   6   2   2   0       Yorkshire Terrier   Toy   7   2   2   0       Breed Code: 3       Lhasa Apso   Non-   14   1   1   2           Sporting       Lowchen   Non-   15   1   1   2           Sporting       Pug   Toy   16   1   1   2       Shih Tzu   Toy   13   1   1   2       Breed Code: 4       American Eskimo Mini   Non-   15   3   2   2           Sporting       Australian Terrier   Terrier   12   3   2   2       Border Terrier   Terrier   15   3   2   2       Boston Terrier   Non-   20   1   1   3           Sporting       Bulldog French *special   Non-   25   1   1   3       need   Sporting       Breed Code: 4       Cairn Terrier   Terrier   14   3   2   2       Cavalier King Charles   Toy   15   3   2   2       Spaniel       Havanese *wght   Toy   13   3   2   2       Italian Greyhound   Toy   13   2   2   2       Jack Russell Terrier   Terrier   15   4   2   2       Miniature Schnauzer   Terrier   14   3   2   2       Norfolk Terrier   Terrier   12   3   2   2       Norwich Terrier   Terrier   12   3   2   2       Poodle mini   Non-   15   3   2   2           Sporting       Schipperke   Non-   15   3   2   2           Sporting       Tibetan Spaniel   Non-   12   2   2   2           Sporting       Breed Code: 5       American Eskimo Dog   Non-   30   3   2   3           Sporting       Basenji   Hound   25   3   2   3       Basset Hound   Hound   45   1   1   4       Beagle   Hound   25   3   2   3       Bedlington Terrier   Terrier   20   3   2   3       Bulldog English *special   Non-   45   1   1   4       need   Sporting       Cardigan Welsh Corgi   Herding   35   2   2   3       Cocker Spaniel   Sporting   30   3   2   3       Dachshund *wght   Hound   30   2   2   3       Dandie Dinmont Terrier   Terrier   21   3   2   3       English Cocker Spaniel   Sporting   35   3   2   3       Finnish Spitz   Non-   30   3   2   3           Sporting       Fox Terrier Smooth &amp;   Terrier   20   3   2   3       Wire       Foxhound American   Hound   24   4   2   3       Irish Terrier   Terrier   25   3   2   3       Lakeland Terrier   Terrier   20   3   2   3       Manchester Terrier   Terrier   22   3   2   3       terrier       Miniature Bull Terrier   Terrier   29   3   2   3       Pembroke Welsh Corgi   Herding   25   3   2   3       Petit Basset Griffon   Hound   35   3   2   3       Vendeen       Puli   Herding   30   3   2   3       Scottish Terrier   Terrier   20   3   2   3       Sealyham Terrier   Terrier   23   2   2   3       Shetland Sheepdog   Herding   20   3   2   3       Shiba Inu   Non-   25   3   2   3           Sporting       Skye Terrier   Terrier   20   2   2   3       Soft Coated Wheaten   Terrier   35   3   2   3       Terrier       Staffordshire Bull Terrier   Terrier   35   3   2   3       Tibetan Terrier   Non-   25   3   2   3           Sporting       Welsh Terrier   Terrier   35   3   2   3       West Highland White   Terrier   20   3   2   3       Terrier       Whippet   Hound   30   3   2   3       Breed Code: 6       Airedale Terrier   Terrier   45   3   2   4       American Water Spaniel   Sporting   40   3   2   4       Australian Cattle Dog   Herding   40   5   2   4       Border Collie   Herding   40   5   2   4       Brittany   Sporting   40   5   2   4       Field Spaniel   Sporting   45   4   2   4       Ibizan Hound   Hound   45   3   2   4       Keeshond   Non-   40   3   2   4           Sporting       Kerry Blue Terrier   Terrier   40   3   2   4       Norwegian Elkhound   Hound   45   3   2   4       Schnauzer Standard   Working   40   3   2   4       Sussex Spaniel   Sporting   40   3   2   4       Welsh Springer Spaniel   Sporting   45   3   2   4       Breed Code: 7       Afghan Hound   Hound   60   3   2   5       American Staffordshire   Terrier   60   3   2   5       Australian Shepherd   Herding   50   5   2   5       Bearded Collie   Herding   50   4   2   5       Belgian Malinois   Herding   65   5   2   5       Belgian Sheepdog same   Herding   65   5   2   5       Boxer   Working   65   3   2   5       Bull Terrier   Terrier   55   3   2   5       Canaan Dog   Herding   50   4   2   5       Chesapeake Bay   Sporting   70   3   2   5       Retriever       Chinese Shar-pei   Non-   55   3   2   5           Sporting       Chow Chow   Non-   60   2   2   5           Sporting       Clumber Spaniel   Sporting   60   2   2   5       Collie   Herding   65   3   2   5       Curly-Coated Retriever   Sporting   70   3   2   5       Dalmatian   Non-   55   3   2   5           Sporting       English Setter   Sporting   65   4   2   5       English Springer Spaniel   Sporting   50   4   2   5       Flat-Coated Retriever   Sporting   70   3   2   5       Foxhound English   Hound   65   4   2   5       German Shorthaired   Sporting   70   5   2   5       Pointer       German Wirehaired   Sporting   60   5   2   5       Pointer       Golden Retriever   Sporting   70   3   2   5       Gordon Setter   Sporting   70   4   2   5       Greyhound   Hound   65   3   2   5       Harrier   Hound   55   4   2   5       Irish Setter   Sporting   55   5   2   5       Irish Water Spaniel   Sporting   55   3   2   5       Italian Spinoni   Sporting   70   3   2   5       Labrador Retriever   Sporting   70   3   2   5       Pharaoh Hound   Hound   55   4   2   5       Plott Hound   Hound   65   3   2   5       Breed Code: 7       Pointer   Sporting   60   4   2   5       Poodle standard   Non-   50   4   2   5           Sporting       Portuguese Water Dog   Working   55   4   2   5       Saluki   Hound   60   3   2   5       Samoyed   Working   55   3   2   5       Siberian Husky   Working   50   4   2   5       Vizsla   Sporting   65   3   2   5       Weimaraner   Sporting   70   5   2   5       Wirehaired Pointing   Sporting   60   4   2   5       Griffon       Breed Code: 8       Alaskan Malamute   Working   80   4   2   6       Black and Tan   Hound   75   4   2   6       Coonhound       Doberman Pinscher   Working   80   3   2   6       Komondor   Working   75   3   2   6       Old English Sheepdog   Herding   80   3   2   6       Rhodesian Ridgeback   Hound   80   3   2   6       Schnauzer Giant   Working   80   4   2   6       Breed Code: 9       Akita   Working   90   3   2   7       Anatolian Shepherd   Working   120   3   2   7       Bemese Mountain Dog   Working   100   2   2   7       Bloodhound   Hound   100   3   2   7       Borzoi   Hound   85   3   2   7       Bouvier Des Flandres   Herding   85   4   2   7       Briard   Herding   85   4   2   7       Bullmastiff   Working   120   2   2   7       German Shepherd Dog   Herding   85   4   2   7       Great Dane   Working   110   3   2   7       Great Pyrenees   Working   90   3   2   7       Great Swiss Mountain   Working   110   3   2   7       Dog       Irish Wolfhound   Hound   110   3   2   7       Kuvasz   Working   100   4   2   7       Mastiff   Working   180   2   2   7       Newfoundland   Working   150   2   2   7       Otterhound   Hound   90   3   2   7       Rottweiler   Working   110   3   2   7       Saint Bernard   Working   165   2   2   7       Scottish Deerhound   Hound   90   3   2   7                  
 
         [0029]    As illustrated by Table 3, the characteristics of pets of a particular breed are determined in part by the purpose for which a particular breed was originally developed. For dogs, those purposes are divided into seven groups, as follows.  
         [0030]    a. Dogs of the sporting group were bred for hunting and retrieving. Dogs of this group have a keen sense of smell and may be swimmers.  
         [0031]    b. The hound group includes two branches. The sight hounds were bred for sighting and chasing prey. Scent hounds, which tend to be larger dogs, were bred to locate prey by scent.  
         [0032]    c. The working group includes guard dogs, military dogs, pack dogs, life-saving dogs, fighting dogs, police dogs, companion dogs and sled dogs.  
         [0033]    d. Dogs of the terrier group were bred for hunting prey in burrows.  
         [0034]    e. The Toy group includes dogs bred for size as companion dogs. Dogs of this group were derived from the hound, sporting and terrier groups.  
         [0035]    f. The non-sporting group is a catch all for dogs not included in the other groups.  
         [0036]    g. The herding group was bred for assistance in corralling animals and protecting them from predators.  
         [0037]    A breed code may be assigned for a breed of cat. A temperament factor is assigned to each breed based on the characteristics of the breed; namely, the activity level of the breed. A cat&#39;s need-for-attention factor also is assigned to each breed based on the characteristics of the breed. The need-for-attention of the breed is based on the need of cats in the breed for interaction with humans. The temperament factor and need-for-attention factor are summed to obtain the breed code for a breed of cat.