Abstract:
This patent discloses a system to train a dog to reduce barking while the dog is kept in an outdoor dog pen. The system may include a bark switch connected between a transformer and a power supply, a water valve operatively connected to the transformer and connected between a supply hose and a spray hose, a water supply connected to the supply hose, and a sprinkler head connected to the spray hose. Those components that may freeze may be located in a heated building. If the bark switch receives a bark of a predetermined intensity, the bark switch allows the power supply to send power to open the water valve so that water sprays a predetermined area of the dog pen. A timer may shut off the water spray and a lack of bark from the dog may keep the water spray from being turned on again.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
   1. Field 
   The information disclosed in this patent relates to a system to train dogs to reduce their barking and/or howling such as when being kept outdoors. 
   2. Background Information 
   Barking is the one of the noises most commonly produced by dogs. Dogs bark frequently and in many different situations, some of which may be traced to their retention of juvenile characteristics adulthood. Barks are often accompanied by body movements as part of a broader package of dog communication. 
   Individual dogs bark for a variety of reasons. They may bark to attract attention, to communicate a message, or to express excitement. Disturbance barks tend to be harsh, low frequency, and unmodulated, whereas isolation and play barks tend to be tonal, higher frequency, and modulated. In either case, canine barking can be a nuisance to neighbors, and is a common problem faced by some dog owners and their neighbors. 
   There are several methods available to control a barking dog. Some individuals use bark collars containing citrus spray, sonic/ultrasonic vibrations, and electrical shocks, but many groups have disparaged these types of collars. Debarking by modifying the dog&#39;s voice box so that a barking dog will make a significantly reduced noise is an extreme technique that is not widely accepted. Others try voice commands, but it is not often that dogs who are prone to barking will respond to voice commands. What is needed is an anti-bark training system for dogs. 
   SUMMARY 
   This patent discloses a system to train a dog to reduce barking while the dog is kept in an outdoor dog pen. The system may include a bark switch connected between a transformer and a power supply, a water valve operatively connected to the transformer and connected between a supply hose and a spray hose, a water supply connected to the supply hose, and a sprinkler head connected to the spray hose. Those components that may freeze may be located in a heated building. If the bark switch receives a bark of a predetermined intensity, the bark switch allows the power supply to send power to open the water valve so that water sprays a predetermined area of the dog pen. A timer may shut off the water spray and a lack of bark from the dog may keep the water spray from being turned on again. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
       FIG. 1  is an isometric view of a system  100 . 
       FIG. 2  is an isometric view of system  100  with dog  102  producing barking sounds  202 . 
       FIG. 3  is an isometric view of system  100  with water spray  302  emanating from sprinkler head  122 . 
       FIG. 4  is a method  400  to utilize system  100  to train dogs to reduce their barking when being kept outdoors. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     FIG. 1  is an isometric view of a system  100 . System  100  may be an anti-bark training system for a dog  102 . System  100  may include a water sprinkler that may be used to discipline or train a dog. By repeatedly dousing dog  102  with water from system  100  as dog  102  barks, dog  102  may self-learn to control barking. 
   System  100  may include a dog pen  104 , a bark switch  106 , a transformer  108 , a water valve  110 , a building  112 , a power supply  114 , a supply hose  116 , a water supply  118 , a spray hose  120 , and a sprinkler head  122 . Dog  102  may reside in dog pen  104 . Bark switch  106 , transformer  108 , and water valve  110  may reside in building  112 , with transformer  108  connected between bark switch  106  and water valve  110 . A bark switch receiver  107  of bark switch  106  may reside outside of building  112  to receive barking sounds from dog  102 . Power supply  114  may be connected to bark switch  106 . Water supply  118  may be connected to water valve  110  through supply hose  116 . In addition, sprinkler head  122  may be connected to water valve  110  through spray hose  120 . 
   Dog  102  may be a domesticated member of the genus Canis that may be kept by a person for companionship and enjoyment. Dog  102  may be thought of as a household pet or companion animal and generally is not an animal kept for economic reasons. Dog  102  may communicate by vocalizing a sound that may be imitated by the word “bark.” 
   Dog pen  104  may be an enclosure to confine dog  102  within a predefined territory. Dog pen  104  may have a front pen area  124  near sprinkler head  122  and a rear pen area  126  on a side that may be remote from sprinkler head  122  and on an opposite side of front pen area  124 . In addition, dog pen  104  may have four sides boarded by an enclosure  128 . Enclosure  128  may have an open weave that permits water to pass through one side of enclosure  128  to and through an opposite side of enclosure  128 . In one example, enclosure  128  may be a chain link fence. 
   Bark switch  106  may be a sound sensing device that may activate sprinkler head  122  when dog  102  barks. Bark switch  106  may be a device that makes or breaks a circuit as a function of received dog bark sounds. For example, if dog  102  barks in a predetermined intensity, bark switch  106  may close a circuit that permits power to flow from power supply  114  to transformer  108 . If the sounds coming from dog  102  do not met the predetermined intensity, bark switch  106  may not close a circuit that permits power to flow from power supply  114  to keep dog  102  from being sprayed for low intensity dog barking sounds. Also, if the sounds coming from dog  102  do not met the predetermined intensity or there are no sounds from dog  102 , dog  102  may be considered to have stopped barking and bark switch  106  may open the circuit to prevent power from flowing to water valve  110 . 
   Bark switch  106  may have a control knob  130  to set bark switch  106  to activate under different levels of sound (different intensities). Control knob  130  may be rotated to adjust the activation settings, namely to set the values of a predetermined bark intensity. 
   Bark switch  106  may include an internal timer  132 . Internal timer  132  may be utilized to control the length of time in which power may be transmitted to water valve  110  through transformer  108 . This may regulate the time in which water may run from sprinkler head  122 . Internal timer  132  may start counting from zero on bark switch  106  receiving a trigger sound. On reaching a predetermined count value, such as five to ten seconds, internal timer  132  may stop power flowing to water valve  110  by opening circuit within bark switch  106 . Without power, water valve  110  may close and stop water spray  302  ( FIG. 3 ) from spraying dog  102 . Internal timer  132  automatically may be reset to zero each time a new bark trigger sound is received by bark switch  106  so that power may flow continuously to water valve  110 . Thus, a dog  102  that chooses to continue to bark will continue to receive a spray of water. 
   Transformer  108  may be a static device that transfers electrical energy from bark switch  106  to water valve  110  through magnetic coupling. Here, transformer  108  may transform the voltage from bark switch  106  by stepping it down to a voltage utilized by water valve  110 . In one example, transformer  108  approximately may step down the voltage from bark switch  106  by a value of five. In another example, transformer  108  approximately may step down the approximately 120 volts from bark switch  106  to approximately 24 volts. 
   Water valve  110  may be a device that regulates the flow of water from supply hose  116  to spray hose  120  by opening and closing a passageway. Water valve  110  may include a solenoid coil electrically connected to transformer  108  and positioned about a spring biased, metal piston. The piston may sit on a port hole to prevent water flow from supply hose  116  to spray hose  120 . When transformer  108  passes electricity into the solenoid coil, the solenoid coil may lift the piston off the port hole. The now open port hole may permit water pressure to equalize within water valve  110  and open water valve  110 . When transformer  108  stops passing electricity into the solenoid coil, spring force may push down on the metal piston to close the port hole. This, in turn, may close water valve  110  to stop water flow from supply hose  116  to spray hose  120 . Water valve  110  may operate off a low voltage, such as twenty-four volts. 
   Building  112  may be a structure to shelter and mount bark switch  106 , transformer  108 , and water valve  110 . In the northern zones of the United States, the temperature may fall below the point where water freezes (thirty-two degrees Fahrenheit). By placing components inside building  112 , system  100  may continue to operate even below the point where water freezes. As noted above, bark switch receiver  107  may reside outside of building  112  to receive dog barking sounds. Building  112  may be optional for warmer areas. 
   Building  112  may include a thermostat  113  extending both outside and inside building  112  to sense temperature outside of building  112  and inside building  112  and to operate a heater  115 . Heater  115  may be a device to warm an interior of building  112 . Heater  115  may be responsive to thermostat  113  and turn on and off based on signals from thermostat  113 . 
   Power supply  114  may be a device or system to supply electrical energy to system  100  in general and water valve  110  in particular. Power supply  114  also may supply electrical energy to heat building  112 . Power supply  114  may receive electrical energy from an electrical grid within residential home  134 . In one example, power supply may provide approximately 120 volts. 
   Supply hose  116  may be a flexible pipe configured to convey water. Supply hose  116  may be a tube connected to water supply  118  on a first end and connected to an upstream side of water valve  110  on a second end. Water supply  118  may originate water into system  100  and may be a fitting to connect supply hose  116  to the water piping system of residential home  134  and to control the amount of water flow to sprinkler head  122 . Spray hose  120  may be a flexible pipe configured to convey water. Spray hose  120  may be a tube connected to a downstream side of water valve  110  on a first end and connected to sprinkler head  122  on a second end. 
   Sprinkler head  122  may be a device that may be configured to distribute water over a first spray area  136  and a second spray area  138 . First spray area  136  may include all of second spray area  138 . First spray area  136  substantially may include all of dog pen  104 , including front pen area  124  and rear pen area  126 . When initially training dog  102 , it may be important that dog  102  be hit by water spray no matter where dog  102  resides in dog pen  104 . 
   A doghouse  140  may be located within dog pen  104  in rear pen area  126 . This may provide dog  102  with a location where dog  102  may retreat to be sheltered from the spray of water or to get out of the range of the spray of water. As long as dog  102  continues to bark, sprinkler head  122  may distribute water into pen  104 . However, when dog  102  is inside doghouse  140 , doghouse  140  may muffle the dog barking sounds even as dog  102  continues to bark for a few seconds after entering doghouse  140 . Muffling the dog barking sounds may result in stopping the water spray. In one example, bark switch  106  may be located on top of doghouse  140  directly above a doghouse opening  142 . 
   Second spray area  138  may include less than all of dog pen  104  to provide a location within dog pen  104  where dog  102  may avoid being sprayed by water. Second spray area  138  may be utilized where dog  102  has undergone some training and may be more aware of appropriate times to bark. In one example, a region bounded by second spray area  138  approximately may be seventy-five to eighty percent of a region bounded by first spray area  136 . In another example, a region bounded by second spray area  138  approximately may be thirty to sixty percent of a region bounded by first spray area  136 . 
   Sprinkler head  122  may be positioned near the dog&#39;s territory at a sprinkler head distance  144  from dog pen  104 . In one example, sprinkler head distance  144  may be three to five feet. Water from sprinkler head  122  may be distributed in a fan shape and the distance traveled by water from sprinkler head  122  may be predetermined by adjusting sprinkler head  122  or adjusting water supply  118 . 
   Sprinkler head  122  may be part of a rotary impact sprinkler to allow more control over the water spray. The rotary motion may be set to rotate in a full or partial circle. Thus, the motion of sprinkler head  122  may be adjusted to cover the area in which a user deems necessary to sprinkle their dog with water to stop the dog from barking. Alternatively, sprinkler head  122  may include a fan spray nozzle. Water supply  118  may be adjusted to control the distance water travels from sprinkler head  122 , such as keeping water within second spray area  138  or letting the water spray into first spray area  136 . 
     FIG. 2  is an isometric view of system  100  with dog  102  producing barking sounds  202 . Bark switch receiver  107  of bark switch  106  may receive barking sounds  202  and permit electrical power to pass from power supply  114  to water valve  110  to open water valve  110 . Although dog  102  is shown positioned in front pen area  124 , dog  102  may be positioned in rear pen area  126  in a different example and barking sounds  202  still may reach bark switch receiver  107 . 
     FIG. 3  is an isometric view of system  100  with water spray  302  emanating from sprinkler head  122 . A natural inclination of dog  102  would be to move away from the source of water spray  302 —away from sprinkler head  122 . Even so, dog  102  may be in first spray area  136  but nonetheless be hit by water spray  302 . Dog  102  alternatively may choose to enter doghouse  140  in first spray area  136  to avoid being hit by water spray  302 . While in doghouse  140 , barks from dog  102  may be muffled. This may keep others from being disturbed by such barks. When dog  102  demonstrates a predetermined level of learned barking control behavior, system  100  may be adjusted to keep water spray  302  within second spray area  138  to remind dog  102  about the barking lessons without directly spraying dog  102 . System  100  may be adjusted to keep water spray  302  within second spray area  138  such as by adjusting water supply  118 . For example, water supply  118  may be adjusted by turning a lever to open or close a valve to adjust the water pressure within system  100 . Sprinkler head  122  may be adjusted to control the amount of water spray  302  leaving sprinkler head  122 . In one example, a screw may be rotate to alter flow from sprinkler head  122 . 
     FIG. 4  is a method  400  to utilize system  100  to train dogs to reduce their barking when being kept outdoors. At step  402 , system  100  may be presented. At step  404 , control knob  130  may be rotated to adjust to set the values of a predetermined bark intensity for bark switch  106 . At step  406 , at least one of water supply  118  and sprinkler head  122  may be adjusted so that water spray  302  travels a predetermined distance. At step  408 , method  400  may determine whether the temperature outside building  112  is below the freezing point of water. A temperature-measuring device attached to an outside of building  112  may achieve this. If the temperature outside building  112  is not below the freezing point of water, then method  400  may proceed to step  412 . If the temperature outside building  112  is below the freezing point of water, then method  400  may provide heat to building  112  at step  410  to heat an interior. 
   At step  412 , bark switch receiver  107  may receive a sound. At step  414 , method  400  may determine whether that sound reached a predetermined bark intensity. If that sound reaches a predetermined bark intensity, then method  400  may proceed to step  416 . If that sound does not reach a predetermined bark intensity, then method  400  may return to step  408 . 
   At step  416 , bark switch  106  may close a circuit to permit power to flow from power supply  114  to transformer  108 . Simultaneously, bark switch  106  may start internal timer  132  to at step  418 . At  420 , bark switch  106  may begin counting from zero. 
   At step  422 , transformer  108  may step down the power from power supply  114  to that utilized by water valve  110 . At step  424 , water valve  110  may receive power and open. At step  426 , water spray  302  may spray from sprinkler head  122  to a predetermined distance. 
   At step  428 , method  400  may determine whether internal timer  132  has reached the predetermined count value. If internal timer  132  has reached the predetermined count value, then method  400  may proceed to step  430 . If internal timer  132  has not reached the predetermined count value, then method  400  may return to step  422 . 
   At step  430 , bark switch  106  may open a circuit to stop power from flowing to transformer  108  from power supply  114 . At step  432 , water valve  110  may close. At step  434 , water spray  302  may stop spraying from sprinkler head  122 . Method  400  then may return to step  408 . 
   The system may include may a water sprinkler that may be used to discipline or train a dog. The system may include a sprinkler that may be attached to a hose and placed near the dog&#39;s territory. The unit may have a sound sensing device that may activate the sprinkler when the dog barks, thus providing a correction to stop the barking. The system may be especially effective with dogs that may not respond to voice commands and only react to a physical correction. The system may include a timer as well as with various sprinkler types. 
   Dogs generally do not like to be sprayed with a jet blast of water. When the dog barks, it may activate a switch that may send power to a transformer. The transformer may send power to a water valve to open the water valve. Opening the water valve may send water to a sprinkler that may spray the barking dog located in a predetermined area. The predetermined area may be a dog pen or confined area in which the dog lives. The dog then may retreat to a dog house and stop barking. 
   The system may address a need for a pet training device that may enable the user to easily discipline or train a dog. Appealing features of the system may be its convenience, practicality, durability, and ease of use. The system may be adjusted for various sizes of dogs and various stages of learning for the dog. Pet owners utilizing the system may control their dogs, and may stop the pet from barking or howling when being kept outdoors. Once the pet has activated the sprinkler a number of times, it may be broken of the bad habits due to the corrective reinforcements. This system may appeal to dog owners as a convenient way to control their pets and prevent their neighbors from being disturbed. 
   The information disclosed herein is provided merely to illustrate principles and should not be construed as limiting the scope of the subject matter of the terms of the claims. The written specification and figures are, accordingly, to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense. Moreover, the principles disclosed may be applied to achieve the advantages described herein and to achieve other advantages or to satisfy other objectives, as well.