A while back when I first discovered Make Magazine, (which eventually led me to instructables) they featured a project where a pug got his own treat by pressing on a paddle. The makers design was awesome, but was much more complex. I was thinking how could I do this in a more simple manner... The idea faded to the back of my head until several years later when...
I was at a thrift store in town and found one of those old golf machines, the kind you use as a putting target. You shoot the ball at the target; if it goes in correctly the ball would trigger a switch, which in turn energizes a solenoid. The solenoid would pop the ball out and the switch would automatically reset, simple. This is truly when inspiration struck for this build, I thought this would be simplest method of ejecting a dog biscuit. Not only is the design utterly simple, it makes a satisfying sort of noise upon activation “ka-chunk-brazzzat”. This noise acts as a Pavlovian training aid, as it has quite a distinguishable sound. I have always had an interest in Ivan Petrovich Pavlov's experiments. So much so that so, that one of my paintings is based them. He was one of the first to perform experiments involving conditioning. Kinda like Mad scientist brainwashing to a degree – yikes! One of his classic experiments involves feeding a dog while a bell rings. The dog has all its life been conditioned to associate the ringing of the bell with his food. Later the dog is given food without the bell ringing and the dog can not or will not eat. Another time the bell is rung without any food given, and the dog salivates like crazy. – “Little know fact, this is the main reason the experiment was performed. To measure the amount of given saliva or “psychic secretions” produced in relation to the digestive system for dogs, and later for children. Some of his other experiments were a little too freaky for me, as at the time scientists gave little thought to animal suffering.”
Here is a link to good ol' Pavlov - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ivan_Pavlov
Of course the thought behind this is not so I have my dog Maximus drooling all over the place, but rather to provide a fun means where he can help himself to his own treat – furthering my degree in laziness, or to quote ToneLoc from the movie Fern Gully, “an un-necessary expenditure of calories” .
NOTE 1: Before you begin, this involves using dangerous power tools and electricity - be careful! If you don't feel comfortable with some of the wiring steps or power tool usage, get a friend who can do it for you, or show you how.
Also very important, If your dog is a glutton, and is susceptible to various doggy complications from potentially becoming overweight, meter out how much access your dog has to this device. My dog is a dachshund, they are prone to hip degeneration if they gain too much weight. Suffice to say, this isn't left out all the time.
NOTE 2: As you may have noticed, the dog used in the video looks a little, well... off. My own dog Max refuses to perform for camera. As soon as he sees a camera he forgets all of his Pavlovian conditioning and runs straight for the camera for snuggles. So, i built my own artificial Max, Maximus 2.0
NOTE 3: It has been brought to my attention that this instructable would be ill advised to be just left out, as it could lead to a form of OCD in dogs. Basically imagine your dog has been trained to use the Pavlovian device. Then you either forget to fill it or perhaps leave it unplugged, and your happy dog goes to use the now defunct unit = The dog becomes frustrated. So perhaps if you have a dog prone to loopy behaviour this should be used as a supervised item only. This may also be beneficial if you your dog is a glutton as his access will be limited.
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Signing UpStep 1: Tools and supplies
Supplies
- Project box – your choice of finish, doesn’t have to be metal, and you could always make it yourself
- 110v solenoid – mine was pulled from an auto golf putt return machine
- 110v house plug and cable – mine was recycled from the golf machine
- U-channel about 6 inches worth – sized to your dog biscuit shape
- Legs, if you like that sort of thing
- Momentary switch – must be very easy to activate
- Metal tube to act as a dog biscuit holder - sized to your dog biscuit shape
- Piece of plate metal or wood – sized to your project box – mine was about 4”x5”
- Hinge – must move with little to no resistance
- Various connectors – screws and bolts
- The odd chunk of plywood – sized to the inside bottom of your box
- Epoxy glue (5 minute or faster, cause who has time to wait!)
- Hot glue sticks
- And of course some dog biscuits – these really will determine the design “form follows function”
Tools used
- Angle grinder with various zip-cuts and grinding wheels “flap disc” is king
- Drill or better yet drill press
- Glue Gun
- Various hand tools
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Raw concept. My dog brings me the correct meds, the right one for the purpose is based on a scent in the med jar. The problem is dog brings me the meds and I forget to put em back. Next time he has to go look for them. Now take the biscuit chucker, the dog not only gets the meds tossed ut to him but he can out them back and the system resets for the next time.
Like I said. Cool gadget, I just didn't approve of how it was being used. I spend a lot of time working with dogs that are OCD and traumatized service dogs
Anyway who knows? When I get moved in to the new place and settled I might be able to come back and work on it cuz it is a very cool idea and I know people who could benefit.
The reasons is it creates what is called Pavlovian OCD and that is very destructive to any dogs psychology especially since it involves food. Like a dog going nuts with a laser light. I've seen dogs go crazy when the source of P-OCD was removed and attack their owners. Please do us all a favor. Dismantle it, remove the instructions and build something with a more positive result.
How do I know all this. I train service dogs for the disabled.
I also can't say I have noticed any attacks based on removal of a "P-OCD" either... perhaps you could further elucidate on the mechanism you are describing and perhaps its relationship with possible cruelties.
I would also be fascinated with a few examples of your "More positive" results...
Better is to spare the dog experiments. They are far smarter than you think they are.
As a different example. My ex-wife needed a service dog a couple decades ago and we decided on the Akita breed for their even temperament, strength, and intelligence. She has limited mobility and has now been through a couple dogs over the years. Each was fitted with a harness incorporating an assist handle to help her walk and were trained using a laser pointer and command words for the dog to fetch items or manipulate things such as pull ropes for lights, doors, cabinets and such. Each of those dogs understood when the laser was used for play and when it indicated something was needed.
As another example, they were trained for protection as well. There were a very specific set of heavy leather "play" gloves. While they were worn, the dog could get quite aggressive with the trainer but if the gloves came off, play was over. I could be roughhousing with the dog using those gloves with it growling and biting the gloves, the dog thoroughly in the moment, then fling the gloves off my hands and the dog would feel the difference and instantly stop biting and clawing and sit down, often licking the bare hands he was "viciously attacking" just moments before.
I suppose a lot of it has to do with the type of training or conditions involved as well as the environment they are in. The remarkable thing is that the first one was a "rescued" adult and the training only took a few months to take and that dog performed admirably. The second was raised from nearly a pup when the first fell ill and was trained partly through association and partially with some refined techniques. Those same techniques have been used to train many other large dogs over the years but not, to my knowledge, on border collies.
Overall, I am quite aware of the intelligence of certain breeds of dog... just remember... someone had to experiment with the dogs in the first place in order to train them to do some of the fantastic things they do. Better is to get to know your dog's breed characteristics and not try to make them do something they are not compatible or comfortable with.
You example of your Akita doubling as a service and protection dog for your wife is also a potential problem. I've see SDs trained as both slip and attacj comeone. That is why we don't train SDs in any form of attack. There is too much potential for a dog to slip while working. Very dangerous.
Yes Someone had to expriment woth animals as subjects. That's why PETA exists. Now am I against animal testng in a lab, However pets and service dogs are another thing. theyae not meant to be experiment with.
Your Biscuit Chucker works that's great. You've proven the theory and ability as a designer. hacker, engineer. You're dog can make it work. Actually it's not that hard a project. But I would not use it with yur dog except on occasion, perhaps to show friends. Otherwise you're goping to wak in one day and see yue dog trying to get biscuits from an empty or turned off machine.
There are dozens of vids youtube of dogs going OCD over what the owners encourage. Please do me and your dog a favor. Put it away or make something else.
House dogs are not for experiments unless it's short, harmless and dismantled when over.
Regards.
The Akita was not trained for "attack" but to guard, very different and very specifically controlled. That potential was recognized and taken into account both before and during training as well as monitored afterwards.
Personally, PETA is a waste of space in my opinion, a bunch of wannabees without a clue using the organization as a cover for their own wanton acts of destruction. I do NOT believe in cruelty to animals and I believe animals should be treated with respect, however, some humans cannot even treat each other with respect much less animals. Another thing that you apparently fail to realize is that an "experiment", in this context, is when you try to teach your pet something new which you have never tried before, it is *NOT* PETA's twisted definition that only allows for doing something nasty to an animal.
Next ,the "Biscuit Chucker" is NOT my project... I do not know where you got that idea except that you were not reading who it is from and were too interested in promulgating your own agenda. Again it is not my project.
I also note that your language skills are degrading further and further as you get angry over these posts. Might I suggest that you go out and relax... maybe pet your dog.
Finally, You can find YouTube videos for nearly anything you want if you look long enough. Some of them can be quite horrendous while others are harmless, funny, or perhaps even educational. I hardly find this useful as some kind of "standard" for how to treat your pet. Neither should you.
Finally, I have noted your concerns and looked into them as necessary. Suffice it to say that ***I***, for one, perform the necessary research to make a rational and informed judgement on anything I do. My animals are well cared for and I do not need an interfering busybody trying to condemn my actions. You have said your peace, and pointed out some interesting potential problems, it is time to drop it.
They are a little spendy - but a lot cheaper than a TIG welder and a lot easier to use :)
Funny and interesting instructable! Bravo!
Strongly I believe that Plavlov phenomenon whill works perfect here....good job
5/5*****