Abstract:
A gundog training tool prevents gun shyness by gradually allowing a pup to adapt to the sound of a gunshot. A pop gun shoots treats upon creating a simulated gunshot so that the dog grows used to the sound of a gunshot and creates positive reinforcement rewarded by the treat. As the pup learns, a charge in a housing is introduced to provide a simulated gunshot that expels a treat that trains the dog to feel excitement at the sound and smell of a gunshot. The size of the charge adjusts to create louder simulated gunshots as the pup learns so that the pup is prepared for introduction to actual gunshots, such as from a shotgun shooting at a bird.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates in general to the field of dog training, and more particularly to a gun dog training tool and method. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0004]    Kali Bianchi recently completed an upland game bird grand slam. Kali is a French Brittany,  L&#39;Epagneul Breton . Her story is captured in “It&#39;s all about the Dog,” published in the  Publication of the Club de l&#39;Epagneul Breton of the United States , Second Semester 2012, Issue 35. In order to achieve her feat, Kali first had to overcome a case of gun shyness brought on when a handful of dove hunters thoughtlessly opened fire near her as a young pup. Kali cowered under a truck at the first report of a shotgun, her hunting prowess nearly nipped in the bud. Kali recovered through love and care to become a natural gun dog, however, many promising gun dog pups share her story. In south Texas, as in many rural areas, folks shoot guns so dogs had better be accustomed to the sound no matter how young. Pups that do not become familiar with and accepting of gunshots at an early age risk development of gun shyness if sudden proximate gunshots ring out. By the time a watchful, loving owner intervenes, the damage is often done. Yet, trainers tend to avoid exposing young pups to gunshots until the pups also train on live birds, typically at 6 months of age. Trainers fire .22 caps during bird flushes so that gun dogs grow used to the sound of a gunshot. Gun dogs inadvertently exposed to gunshots before that time typically do not have any training to prevent gun shyness. U.S. Pat. No. 2,851,991 by Rinck attempts to address gun shyness by shooting a projectile with bird scent out of a shotgun, however, shotguns create a loud noise that will likely induce gun shyness unless a pup has some prior training. Further, pup owners who live in urban areas generally cannot disturb neighbors and the local police by shooting pistols and shotguns in the yard for their pup. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    Therefore a need has arisen for a system, apparatus and method which adapt a dog to gunshots to prevent gun shyness. 
         [0006]    In accordance with the present invention, a system and method are provided which substantially reduce the disadvantages and problems associated with previous methods and systems for training a gun dog to adapt to gunshots without gun shyness. Simulation of a gunshot initiates presentation of a treat to the dog as positive reinforcement in a manner that adapts the dog to gunshots at a young age. Simulation of a gunshot is provided by pressurized air or an explosive charge, which initiates presentation of the treat so that the dog is trained to relate gunshots with treats. 
         [0007]    More specifically, in one embodiment, a pop gun having a pump action pressurizes air in a chamber until the pressure overcomes a plug at an end of the chamber. The pressurized air forces the plug to pop free, thus creating a simulated gunshot sound. As the plug pops free, a treat coupled to the plug shoots outward for consumption by a puppy. The sharpness and loudness of the simulated gunshot is adjusted by altering the size of the chamber and/or force applied with the pump action so that the amount of noise associated with shooting the treat adjusts. Young pups under initial training receive quieter simulated gunshots; older pups accustomed to the quieter simulated gunshots receive gradually increased loudness to provide increased familiarization with the gunshot noise. In an alternative embodiment, a gunpowder charge disposed in a container is set off to simulate a gunshot and present the treat. For example, a charge and container similar to a champagne party popper is set off by pulling a string to shoot off treats for the pup to enjoy. The size of the charge increases as the pup becomes accustomed to the sound of the gunshot. In order to build association with a gun, the container couples to the pop gun so that the string or another charge initiator is pulled by the pop gun pump action. As the pups training progresses, the container couples to an actual shotgun with a length of string or other initiation device that allows a trainer to simulate a shotgun action. 
         [0008]    The present invention provides a number of important technical advantages. One example of an important technical advantage is that a pup is trained to handle gunshots starting at a young age. Treats, such as dried liver formed into a ball or rice paper laced with beef broth, excite the pup so that the introduction of simulated gunshots do not cause trauma associated with gun shyness. As the pup grows accustomed to gunshots simulated at a certain noise level, the noise level is increased until the pup is prepared for introduction to actual gunshots. Initial simulated gunshot loudness levels fall within a range that an understanding wife will tolerate in the home so that city residents can prepare their pups for trips to the country. In addition to exciting the pup when the pup hears gunshots, other stimuli may be included, such as cordite to simulate the smell of a gunshot or bird down and/or other feathers to accustom the pup to the smell of selected game birds, such as a selected species of bird that a trainer intends to hunt. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]    The present invention may be better understood, and its numerous objects, features and advantages made apparent to those skilled in the art by referencing the accompanying drawings. The use of the same reference number throughout the several figures designates a like or similar element. 
           [0010]      FIG. 1  depicts a side cutaway view of gunshot simulator having a treat disposed for expulsion; 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  depicts the gunshot simulator actuated to expel the treat; 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  depicts a top view of an articulated treat retainer; 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  depicts a gunshot simulator having a pressurized tank for creating a gunshot simulation that motivates a treat; 
           [0014]      FIG. 5  depicts a gunshot simulator having a charge in a housing to simulate a gunshot and expel a treat; and 
           [0015]      FIG. 6  depicts a gunshot simulator having an adapter to hold the housing of  FIG. 5 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0016]    Gunshot simulation presented to a pup in a controlled manner and reinforced with a treat in real time trains the pup to adapt to gunshots during hunting or other situations, such as for police or military work. Volume control that allows a series of gunshot simulations with increasing loudness provide a pup with gradual adaptation to gunshot noise so that gun shyness is avoided. Other stimuli included with the gunshot simulation help to prepare the pup for real life situations involving the use of weapons, such as the inclusion of game bird down and cordite to prepare for bird hunting. In one example embodiment, the gunshot delivery unit resembles a shotgun to facilitate the dog&#39;s recognition of the gun as a positive item, meant to deliver positive results. 
         [0017]    Referring now to  FIG. 1 , a side cutaway view depicts a gunshot simulator  10  having a treat  12  disposed for expulsion at substantially the same time as a gunshot simulation is created. Gunshot simulator  10  has a form factor of a pump shotgun and is similar to a pop gun shooting toy sold by Cabelas under item code IK-615030. Treat  12  is a dog treat having a taste and smell that excites a pup, such as dried beef liver. In the example embodiment, treat  12  is exposed before activation of gunshot simulator  10  to simulate a gunshot so that the pup will learn that hearing the gunshot simulation means receiving treat  12 . 
         [0018]    Gunshot simulator  10  has a barrel portion  14  and a pump portion  16 . Barrel portion  14  forms an air chamber  18  that accepts a pump piston  20 . Movement of pump portion  16  translates to move pump piston  20  within air chamber  18 . Plug  22  closes off barrel portion  14  so that movement of pump piston  20  towards plug  22  generates air pressurization within air chamber  18 . As air pressure within air chamber  18  increases, it overcomes the retention force holding plug  22  onto barrel portion  14 , thus resulting in plug  22  popping free with a sound that simulates a gunshot. The loudness of the simulated gunshot varies based upon the amount of pressurization released when plug  22  releases from barrel portion  14 . A user can vary pressurization by varying the force applied to pump portion  16 , by varying the amount of motion of pump piston  20  in air chamber  18 , by adjusting the retention force holding plug  22  in barrel portion  14  and by changing a setting of an air pressure adjuster  24 , which selectively allows air to escape from air chamber  18  during pressurization. 
         [0019]    Plug  22  releaseably couples to the end of barrel portion  14  to have a desired retaining force that, when overcome, results in a simulated gunshot of a desired loudness. For instance, plug  22  has a retaining clip  24  that engages with a retaining edge  26  of barrel portion  14  until a desired retaining force is overcome with air pressurization created in air chamber  18  by the sliding of pump piston  20  towards plug  22 . When plug  22  releases, treat  12  is expelled from its position at plug  22 . In addition, game bird down  28  disposed between plug  22  and treat  12  is expelled. In one embodiment, treat  12  is dried beef liver formed in a ball that bounces and rolls so that a pup will find the treat exciting. In another embodiment, game bird down  28  is selected from a species of game bird that the pup under training is intended to hunt, such as pheasant, quail, partridge, etc. . . . In another embodiment, the retaining force at plug  22  is adjusted by adjusting the interaction of retaining clip  24  and edge  26 , such as by increasing or decreasing an overlap that air pressurization overcomes to expel treat  12 . 
         [0020]    Referring now to  FIG. 2 , the gunshot simulator  10  of  FIG. 1  is depicted after actuation to expel the treat  12 . Plug  22  has articulated portions that cooperate to act as a treat retainer when inserted in barrel portion  14  but that move relative to each other to release treat  12  when plug  22  is motivated out of its position in barrel portion  14 . Articulation of portions of plug  22  relative to each other includes an expelling force on treat  12  when plug  22  releases from barrel portion  14 . In one embodiment, down  28  released with treat  12  includes cordite that simulates the smell of a gunshot. A plug retainer  30  couples to pump piston  20  and plug  22  so that sliding of pump piston  20  away from plug  22  reinserts plug  22  into position in barrel portion  12 . In alternative embodiments, alternative types of treat dispositions may be used at the creation of a simulated gunshot as may alternative arrangements for creating an air pressurization that motivates treat  12 . In one embodiment, treat  12  acts as plug  22  by having a size that blocks the opening of barrel portion  14  so that a plug retainer is not necessary. When treat  12  also acts as plug  22 , the size of treat  12  may create a retaining force or an additional mechanism may keep treat  12  in place until a desired pressurization has built in air chamber  18 . In one alternative embodiment, plug  22  is edible for one time use with treat  12 . 
         [0021]    Referring now to  FIG. 3 , a top view depicts an articulated treat retainer  32  formed into a plug  22 . Treat  12  rests against a center portion  34  and is held in place by wing portions  36  that rotate around the dotted line indications to partially enclose treat  12 . Wing portions  36  are held in place around treat  12  when plug  22  is inserted in barrel portion  14  and allowed to release when plug  22  is expelled from barrel portion  14 . In one example embodiment, treat retainer  32  is a flexible plastic material having less thickness where movement is indicated to allow articulation about treat  12 . 
         [0022]    Referring now to  FIG. 4 , a gunshot simulator  10  is depicted having a pressurized tank  38  for creating a gunshot simulation that motivates a treat. For example, pressurized tank  38  is a CO2 cartridge commonly used to shoot pellets from pellet guns. Treats  12  insert into an opening of barrel portion  14  or at the end of barrel portion  14  and are expelled upon release of pressurized air from pressurized tank  38  into air chamber  18 . The release of pressurized air creates a gunshot simulation or, alternatively, a gunshot simulation is provided with an explosive cap set off by the release or with a popper that reacts to the pressurized air. 
         [0023]    Referring now to  FIG. 5 , a gunshot simulator  10  is depicted having a charge  40  in a housing  42  to simulate a gunshot and expel a treat  12 . Gunshot simulator  10  is sized to fit in a trainers hand much like a conventional champagne party popper. Charge  40  is a gunpowder charge or a pressurized air charge that is set off when a trainer pulls on a string coupled to an initiator  46 . Species selectable game bird down  28  pads treat  12  to provide the pup with an audible gunshot simulation, a treat for consumption and bird scent for additional stimulation. Treat  12  is motivated out of opening  48  by initiation of charge  40 . In one embodiment, treat  12  is a ball of dried beef liver that bounces and rolls to excite a pup. Alternatively or in addition, treat  12  may be rice paper flavored with broth to float on air after being expelled from opening  48 . In alternative embodiments, other types of starch compounds having characteristics of confetti may be used with other types of flavorings attractive to a pup. In use, a trainer may allow the pup to smell the treat to get the pup excited and then hold the housing  42  away from the pup for initiation of charge  40 . Once the pup becomes familiar with the housing  42  and associates its presentation with a treat, the trainer may bring housing  42  to a closer position to the pup for initiation. Further, the size of charge  40  may be altered to increase as a pup becomes familiar with the gunshot simulation. In one embodiment all or part of housing  42  may be formed from an edible material that is fed to the pup after initiation of charge  40  as an additional treat. In one alternative embodiment, charge  40  is set off without expelling a treat and the pup is fed edible housing  42  instead. 
         [0024]    Referring now to  FIG. 6 , a gunshot simulator  10  is depicted having an adapter to hold the housing of  FIG. 5 . For example, housing  40  inserts into the barrel portion  14  of the gunshot simulator depicted by  FIG. 1  so that initiator  46  is initiated by a movement of pump portion  16  relative to barrel portion  14 . For instance, an adapter  50  couples pull string  44  to pump piston  20  to set off charge  40  by action of pump portion  16 . The use of the adapter  50  allows initiation of charge  40  with a mechanism that the pup has become accustomed to from previous training. A trainer can thus start the pup with gunshot training using pressurized air and then transition to gunpowder as the pup becomes accustomed to the gunshot simulation without causing the pup additional stress with a substantially new visual image or form factor. 
         [0025]    Although the present invention has been described in detail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions and alterations can be made hereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.