Method of training a dog to chew acceptable objects through scent marking and chemical composition thereof

Abstract

A positive-reinforced method of training a dog to chew or mouth only appropriate household items and chew toys. The method includes scent-training the dog (or puppy) to recognize a particular distinctive scent not normally found in nature as applied to an acceptable chewing object. The dog is introduced to the distinctive scent and encouraged to chew the marked acceptable chewing object. Each time the dog recognizes the scent, the dog is encouraged to chew the scented chewing object or some other acceptable chewing object marked with the distinctive scent and rewarded. The dog is tested with at least one unmarked object. The dog is trained once the dog can discriminate between the scent-marked object or objects and the unmarked object or objects. From there, the scent may be applied to other household items that are acceptable chewing/mouthing items (e.g., other chew toys). By absence of the scent, the dog recognizes that it cannot chew on unacceptable items (e.g., furniture, shoes). The scent may be applied to acceptable chewing/mouthing items in liquid form or as a gel. The scent is aromatic to dogs but not to people. The invention also includes the chemical composition of the scent used in the method training. The preferred chemical composition comprises of one part animal secretion, one part disparate animal secretion, and three parts aqueous solution.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.