SE2150910A1 - Dog control device - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a dog control device, e.g. dog belt, comprising an elongated base structure to be arranged around the body of the dog at the abdomen, the elongated base structure having a first end and a second end, the first and second ends include engagement means that are arranged to enable releasable attachment of the first end to the second end for fitting the elongated base structure around the body of the dog at the abdomen, a control line being secured to the elongated base structure at a first control line securing position, corresponding to a position in the area of the abdomen of one side of the dog when the base structure is arranged on the dog, and a second end being secured to the elongated base structure at a second control line securing position, corresponding to a position in the area of the abdomen of the other side of the dog when the base structure is arranged on the dog, the control line running from the first position to the second position via a loop attached to the elongated base structure at a position in an area corresponding to the upper part of the dog when the base structure is arranged on the dog.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to dog control devices.

BACKGROUND Requirements of keeping dogs on leash when walking them in public is becoming more common. For the purpose of keeping dogs on leash a multitude of collars and harnesses has been developed. Most of the collars and harnesses are designed with the aim of simply connecting the dog to a leash and some harnesses are designed for reducing the impact on the dog's body due to pulling forces by spreading these forces over the chest instead of focusing them on the neck of the dog. However, many designs still transfer sudden pulls directly to the body of the dog, in particular the throat and neck region, which in many cases may be bad for the dog. Moreover, some dogs are prone to constantly, or at least for periods of time, pull in the direc- tion in which the dog and the person walking the dog are moving. Such pulling may cause physical problems for and even injuries to the dog. The pulling may also cause problems for the person walking the dog. One problem relating to the con- stant pulling occurs when the person walking the dog have problems handling the power of the dog. Another problem using collars and some harnesses is that the col- lar risk to suffocate the dog when pulling and thereby stress the dog which thereby pull even harder. A stressed dog may also present increased aggression.

From the above it is understood that there is room for improvements and the in- vention aims to solve or at least mitigate the above and other problems.

SUMMARY One object of the present invention is to provide an improved dog control system.

The invention is defined by the appended independent claims. Additional features and advantages of the concepts disclosed herein are set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the described technologies. The features and advantages of the concepts may be realized and obtained by means of the instruments and combinations partic- ularly pointed out in the appended claims. These and other features of the described technologies will become more fully apparent from the following description and ap- pended claims, or may be learned by the practice of the disclosed concepts as set forth herein.

According to a first aspect of the invention a dog control device comprises an e|ongated base structure having a first end and a second end, the first and second ends are arranged to be releasably attached to each other, and a control line having a first end being secured to the e|ongated base structure at a first control line secur- ing position and a second end being secured to the e|ongated base structure at a second control line securing position, the first and second control line securing posi- tions being arranged at a distance from each other, the control line running from the first control line securing position to the second control line securing position via a loop attached to the e|ongated base structure. One advantage of this is that the dog control device may be fitted on the dog in a comfortable and secure way and still al- lowing for the person controlling the dog to control the dog by applying force only when called for. Accordingly, the dog control device is comfortable to the dog and the person tasked with controlling the dog have greater chances of being in control. Another advantage is thus that the safety and security of both the dog and the dog handler is increased. These advantages of comfort for the dog and control of the dog may, due to the implementation of the base structure and the arrangement of the control line onto the base structure, be adapted for each individual dog. The base structure may be adapted for comfort for the dog wearing the dog control de- vice without compromising the control effect achieved by the control lines. ln some embodiments the control line comprises at least two cords connected end to end. One advantage of this is that the fitting of the dog control device to the dog is facilitated. The at least two control lines may be connected to each other us- ing a releasable connection means and wherein the connection is arranged in a por- tion of the control line positioned between the loop and one of the first and second control line securing positions. This further facilitates the fitting of the dog control device to the dog. ln yet some embodiments the dog control device further comprises a leash con- necting arrangement attached to the control line at a portion of the control line that has been threaded through the loop. ln further embodiments the control line running from the second control line se- curing position is arranged to mainly run in a direction away from the first control line securing position. ln some embodiments the dog control device further comprises a first damping loop and a second damping loop, the first damping loop being attached to the base structure at a position at a distance from the first control line securing position and in a direction from the first control line securing position that is perpendicular to a long side of the base structure, the second damping loop being attached to the base structure at a position at a distance from the second control line securing position and in a direction from the second control line securing position that is perpendicular to the long side of the base structure, the control line passing through the first damping loop before reaching the first control line securing position and the control line passing through the second damping loop before reaching the second control line securing position. By this arrangement it is possible to achieve a damp- ing effect of sudden pulls in the control line which contribute to a more pleasant ex- perience for both the dog and the person controlling the dog. ln yet some embodiments the dog control device further comprises a first stiff- ener arranged between the first control line securing position and the first damping loop, and a second stiffener arranged between the second control line securing po- sition and the second damping loop. The advantage of the stiffeners may be that the dampening may be controlled and/or the base structure may be kept from folding in on itself when the control line is tensioned. ln some embodiments the dog control device further comprises a second loop, hereinafter referred to the second top loop, being attached to the base structure at a position at a distance from the loop, hereinafter referred to as the first top loop, that the control line runs via on its path between first and second control line securing position and in a direction from the position of the first top loop that is perpendicular to a long side of the base structure, and the control line portion running from the first control line securing position and the control line portion running from the second securing position both pass through the second top loop before the control line reaches the first top loop. By this arrangement it is possible to achieve a damping ef- fect of sudden pulls in the control line which contribute to a more pleasant and com- fortable experience for both the dog and the person controlling the dog. ln further embodiments the elongated base structure is made from a pliable ma- terial which have the advantage of making the dog control device more comfortable. ln yet some embodiments the elongated base structure comprises at least one cloth.

According to a second aspect of the invention a dog control device comprises an elongated base structure to be arranged around the body of the dog at the abdo- men, the elongated base structure having a first end and a second end, the first and second ends include engagement means that are arranged to enable releasable at- tachment of the first end to the second end for fitting the elongated base structure around the body of the dog at the abdomen, a control line being secured to the elon- gated base structure at a first control line securing position, corresponding to a posi- tion in the area of the abdomen of one side of the dog when the base structure is ar- ranged on the dog, and a second end being secured to the elongated base structure at a second control line securing position, corresponding to a position in the area of the abdomen of the other side of the dog when the base structure is arranged on the dog, the control line running from the first position to the second position via a loop attached to the elongated base structure at a position in an area corresponding to the upper part of the dog when the base structure is arranged on the dog. One ad- vantage of this is that the dog control device may be fitted in a comfortable and se- cure way and still allowing for the person controlling the dog to control the dog by applying force only when called for. Accordingly, the dog control device is comforta- ble to the dog and the person tasked with controlling the dog have greater chances of being in control. Another advantage is thus that the safety and security of both the dog and the dog handler is increased. These advantages of comfort for the dog and control of the dog may, due to the implementation of the base structure and the ar- rangement of the control line onto the base structure, be adapted for each individual dog. The base structure may be adapted for comfort for the dog wearing the dog control device without compromising the control effect achieved by the control lines. Moreover, the design of the dog control device and the arrangement of the dog con- trol device around the body of the dog at the abdomen makes it possible for the dog to move head and front of the body more freely during normal dog activities and makes the dog less physically restrained in performing desired movements. Further, this arrangement may also reduce the possible generation of force and/or speed by pressing against the thighs, which also will reduce the tendency of the dog pulling. ln some embodiments the control line is arranged to make the dog control device discomfortable when the control line is strained at the loop by applying pressure to the rear body, including the abdomen, of the dog. ln this way control of the dog may be achieved using less force than normally required. This further makes it possible for a person that is small or weak to control a dog.

A further scope of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description given below. However, it should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description. Hence, it is to be understood that this inven- tion is not limited to the particular component parts of the device described or steps of the methods described as such device and method may vary. lt is also to be un- derstood that the terminology used herein is for purpose of describing particular em- bodiments only, and is not intended to be limiting. lt must be noted that, as used in the specification and the appended claim, the articles "a," "an," "the," and "said" are intended to mean that there are one or more of the elements unless the context clearly dictates othen/vise. Thus, for example, reference to "a button" or "the button" may include several buttons, and the like. Furthermore, the word "comprising" does not exclude other elements or steps.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS ln order to best describe the manner in which the above-described embodiments are implemented, as well as define other advantages and features of the disclosure, a more particular description is provided below and is illustrated in the appended drawings. Understanding that these drawings depict only exemplary embodiments of the invention and are not therefore to be considered to be limiting in scope, the ex- amples will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1a is a plane view of a dog control device according to one embodiment of the invention, Fig. 1b is a plane view of the dog control device of Fig. 1a viewed from the oppo- site direction, Fig. 1c is a schematic view of the dog control device according to Figs 1a-b car- ried by a dog, Fig. 2a is a plane view of a dog control device according to one embodiment of the invention, Fig. 2b is a plane view of the dog control device of Fig. 2a viewed from the oppo- site direction, Fig. 2c is a schematic view of the dog control device according to Figs 2a-b car- ried by a dog, Fig. 3 is a plane view of a dog control device according to one embodiment of the invention, Fig. 4 is a cross section of a base structure for a dog control device according to some embodiments of the invention, Fig. 5a is a schematic side view of an arrangement according to an embodiment of the invention and including the dog control device and being carried by a dog, Fig. 5b is a schematic top view of the arrangement of Fig. 5a, Fig. 6a is a schematic side view of an arrangement according to an embodiment of the invention and including the dog control device and being carried by a dog, Fig. 6b is a schematic top view of the arrangement of Fig. 6a, Fig. 7a is a schematic side view of an arrangement according to an embodiment of the invention and including the dog control device and being carried by a dog, and Fig. 7b is a schematic top view of the arrangement of Fig. 7a. 6 Further, in the figures like reference characters designate like or corresponding parts throughout the several figures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Hereinafter, certain embodiments Will be described more fully With reference to the accompanying drawings. lt will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made without departing from the inventive con- cept. Other embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art from considera- tion of the specification and practice disclosed herein. The embodiments herein are provided by way of example so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the inventive concept, and that the claims be con- strued as encompassing all equivalents of the present inventive concept which are apparent to those skilled in the art to which the inventive concept pertains. lf nothing else is stated, different embodiments may be combined with each other.

Now referring to Figs 1a-c, a dog control device 10 according to some embodi- ments includes an elongated and pliable base structure 12 made from, e.g., cloth and/or fabric. Cloth is to be understood as being a pliable material made from natu- ral or synthetic fibers. The base structure 12 includes a first end 14 and a second end 16 each end being provided with a connector 18, 20 configured to engage with each other and enable releasable attachment of the first end 14 to the second end 16. The connectors 18, 20 may be hook-and-loop fasteners, e.g. Velcro, may be vari- ants where both engagement parts are configured with mushroom shaped stems in- terlocking with each other, e.g. like “Dual Lock", may be a zipper connecting the first 14 and the second 16 ends, may be buttons and buttonholes, may be buckles of any known type, etc. The base structure 12 is thus configured to be firmly and comforta- bly attached to the dog.

The base structure 12 may be as simple as being formed by a single cloth or it may be a more advanced structure including one type or cloth for the areas facing and being in direct contact with the body of the dog, i.e. an inner cloth, and another type of cloth for the areas facing away from the body of the dog, i.e. an outer cloth. Such a more advanced structure may include padding or foam in-between the inner and outer cloth.

The base structure 12 is then, according to some embodiments, equipped with a control line 22 including a leash holding element 24 for connecting a leash 26 to the control line 22 and thereby the dog control device 10. From the leash holding ele- ment 24 runs a first end portion 28 of the control line and runs a second end portion 32 of the control line leading. The first end portion 28 includes a first end 30 of the control line and the second end portion 32 includes a second end 34. The base structure further includes a loop 36 through which the first and second end portions 28, 32 both is running, both passing through the loop 36 in the same direction away from the leash holding element 24. Then, the first end 30 of the control line is se- cured to the base structure 12 at a first control line securing position 38 on the base structure. The first control line securing position 38 is, when the dog control device 10 is carried by a dog, positioned on the side of the dog, e.g. at a position substan- tially halfvvay between the top of the dog and the underside, at a position closer to the top of dog than the underside of the dog, or at a position closer to the underside of the dog than the top of the dog. The second end 34 of the control line 22 is se- cured to the base structure 12 at a second control line securing position 40 on the base structure. The second control line securing position 40 is, when the dog control device 10 is carried by a dog, positioned on the other side of the dog, e.g. at a posi- tion substantially halfvvay between the top of the dog and the underside, at a position closer to the top of dog than the underside of the dog, or at a position closer to the underside of the dog than the top of the dog. ln some embodiments the first end 30 and the second end 34 of the control line may be secured to the base structure 12 at the first and second positions 38, 40 which are being positioned on the on the un- derside of the dog, the first and second positions 38, 40 being arranged at a dis- tance from each other.

By combining the base structure 12 and the control line 22 in this way the dog control device 10 may be fitted at a desired position and be comfortably carried by the dog at the same time as the control line may be used to restrain the dog by con- verting a pulling force from the leash 26 into a tightening of the control line 22 and the base structure around the body of the dog and thereby restricting the move- ments of the dog.

The control line may be any type of rope. According to some embodiments the rope is a static rope having minimal stretch, i.e. stretching less than 5%. Alternative embodiments combine a static rope with a dynamic rope, i.e. stretching around 40%, by connecting them end to end. Moreover, in some embodiments the control line is made from polyester silk which have a high UV-resistance and good abrasion re- sistance. The polyester silk may be produced having a stretching of about 20% which makes it a good alternative in that it will let the person controlling the dog have good response and dampening sudden pulls from the dog.

The leash holding element 24 may be a loop made by the control line 22, e.g. a knot, a splice, etc, it may be a ring or other external element fixed to the control line 22. The loop 36 is fixed to the base structure at position that, when the dog control device 10 is carried by a dog, is on the top of the dog at the position where the dog control device 10 is carried. The loop may be a loop made from a rigid material, e.g. metal, plastic, composite, etc. or from a more pliable material, e.g. a loop made from a cord. The first and second ends 30, 34 of the control line 22 may be secured at the 8 first and second positions 38, 40, respectively, by sewing it into place, by fixing it to a loop arranged at the position 38, 40, etc.

The control line 22 may include two cords connected to each other by means of a coupling device 42 for facilitating the removal of the dog control device 10 from the dog in some embodiments. The coupling device 42 may comprise two engaging units arranged at each end of the cords that are to be connected together. For in- stance, the engaging units may be a ring and a carabiner, a loop at the end of one cord and a carabiner, buckles, etc. ln some embodiments the control line 22 end portions 28, 32, each are a separate cord fixed to the leash holding element 24. ln the example of Fig. 1a the first end portion 28 of the control line 22 comprises the coupling device 42 enabling easy disconnection of the first end portion 28 from the first control line securing position 38 when attaching or removing the dog control de- vice 10 to or from the dog. Then the second end portion 32 of the control line 22 may run uninterrupted from the second control line securing position 40, in a direc- tion away from the first control line securing position 38, towards the loop 36.

Now referring to Figs 2a-c, according to some embodiments the base structure 12 is made wide enough to accommodate two loops, first top loop 36 and second top loop 46, fixed to the base structure at position that, when the dog control device 10 is carried by a dog, is on the top of the dog at the position where the dog control device 10 is carried. The two top loops 36, 46, are arranged in a line substantially perpendicular to a long edge 48 of the base structure 12.

Further, in comparison with the embodiments described in connection with Figs 1a-c, in addition to the first position 38 on the base structure 12, where the first end 30 of the control line 22 is secured, there is added a first lower loop 50. The first lower loop 50 is arranged in relation to the first position 38 so that a line between the first lower loop 50 and the first position 38 is substantially perpendicular to the long edge 48 of the base structure 12. ln the embodiment in Figs 2a-c the first position 38 on the base structure 12 where the first end 30 of the control line 22 is secured in- cludes a first secure loop 52 at which the first end 30 of the control line 22 is se- cured.

Moreover, again in comparison with the embodiments described in connection with Figs 1a-c, in addition to the second position 40 on the base structure 12, where the second end 34 of the control line 22 is secured, there is added a second lower loop 54. The second lower loop 54 is arranged in relation to the second position 40 so that a line between the second lower loop 50 and the second position 40 is sub- stantially perpendicular to the long edge 48 of the base structure 12. ln the embodi- ment in Figs 2a-c the second position 38 on the base structure 12 where the second end 34 of the control line 22 is secured includes a second secure loop 56 at which the second end 34 of the control line 22 is secured. 9 The first end portion 28 of the control line 22 is running from the leash holding el- ement 24 towards the first secure loop 52 via the first top loop 36, the second top loop 46 and the first lower loop 50 to finally being secured in the first secure loop 52. The second end portion 32 of the control line 22 is running, in a similar fashion, from the leash holding element 24 towards the second secure loop 56 via the first top loop 36, the second top loop 46 and the second lower loop 54 to finally being se- cured in the second secure loop 56. The first and second end 30, 34, of the control line may alternatively be secured to the base structure 12 in any way previously de- scribed in connection with Figs 1a-c. One advantage of securing the first and second end 30, 34, of the control line 22 to secure loops 52, 56, is that it is possible to re- route the control line and secure the control line 22 to the first and second lower loops 50, 54, respectively, making it pass through each of the first and second se- cure loops 52, 56, in order to at least slightly change the effect of the dog control de- vice 10 on the body of the dog. ln similar fashion as described in connection with the embodiment of Figs 1a-c the embodiment in Figs 2a-c also may include a cord cou- pling device 42 in order to facilitate the removal of the dog control device 10 from the dog. Further, the wider base structure 12 also includes connectors 18, 20, at the first and second end 14, 16, of the elongated base structure 12 in order to fix the base structure to the body of the dog. The connectors may be of the same types as described earlier. ln Figs 2a-b the interacting connectors 18, 20 are arranged in three areas leaving a slit between them each for accommodating the first top loop 36 and the second top loop 46, respectively. However, in an alternative embodiment, not shown, only the central area 58 of the connector 20 at the second end 16 of the base structure 12 is present for connecting the first and second ends 14, 16, of the base structure to each other. Correspondingly the first end only 14 requires the cen- trally positioned connector 18. At the second end 16 the two outer appendages on respective side of the central area 58 and separated by the slits in Figs 2a-b may be removed in such an embodiment.

By making the control line 22 having two connection points, i.e. loops, to the base structure 12 arranged in the perpendicular direction, e.g. the two top loops 36, 46, the first lower loop 50 paired with the first secure loop 52, and/or the second lower loop 54 paired with the second secure loop 56, rapid and forceful pull forces pre- sented to the control line 22 by the person holding the leash 26 will be dampened as the base structure 12 will be compressed due to the material of the base structure 12 being pliable. Accordingly, the first lower loop 50 may also be referred to as a first damping loop 50 and the second lower loop 54 may also be referred to as a second damping loop because one of the functions attributed to these loops in some embodiments. The second top loop 46 may also be referred to as a dampening top loop 46. ln some embodiments a first stiffener 60 may be arranged between the first lower loop 50 and the first secure loop 52 and/or a second stiffener 62 between the sec- ond lower loop 54 and the second secure loop 56. The stiffener 60, 62, may be ar- ranged over the entire width of the base structure 12 substantially perpendicular to the long edge 48 of the base structure. According to some embodiments the stiff- ener 60, 62, is only arranged between the two loops 50, 52, 54, 56, maybe extended so much so that the loop is fixed to the base structure 12 and the stiffener 60, 62. One purpose of the stiffener 60, 62, may be to decrease the risk that the base struc- ture 12 folds in on itself in the direction perpendicular to the long edge 48. The stiff- ener 60, 62, may also have the effect of determining the dampening resulting from the compression of the base structure discussed above. The stiffener 60, 62, may be formed from a material that is more rigid than the other materials of the base struc- ture 12 and sewn on top of the base structure or incorporated within the base struc- ture. According to other embodiments the stiffener 60, 62 is formed by applying stitching to the base structure 12 or my inserting additional layers of one of the ma- terials already part of the base structure 12. ln some embodiments, see Fig. 3, the dog control device 10 includes additional loops. The base structure 12 may be made even wider and/or the loops may be ar- ranged closer together. ln Fig. 3 a first top loop 110, a second top loop 112, and a third top loop 114 are arranged on the base structure in line at a portion of the dog restricting device 10 that will be on top of the dog when carried by the dog. The line defined by the positions of the loops 110, 112, 114 is substantially perpendicular to the long side 48 of the base structure 12 and is referred to as a top line. Further, a first lower loop 120, a second lower loop 122, and a third lower loop 124 are ar- ranged on the base structure in line at a portion of the dog restricting device 10 that will be closer to the underside of the dog than to the top side of the dog when the dog restricting device 10 is carried by the dog. The line defined by the positions of the loops 120, 122, 124, is substantially perpendicular to the long side 48 of the base structure 12 and is referred to as a first lower line. Additionally, a fourth lower loop 130, a fifth lower loop 132, and a sixth lower loop 134 are arranged on the base structure in line at a portion of the dog restricting device 10 that will be closer to the underside of the dog than to the top side of the dog when the dog restricting device 10 is carried by the dog. The line defined by the positions of the loops 120, 122, 124, is substantially perpendicular to the long side 48 of the base structure 12 and is re- ferred to as a second lower line. The first and second lower lines are thus substan- tially parallel and arranged at a distance from each other. The first, second, and third top loops 110, 112, 114 may be arranged close to the end 14 of the base struc- ture 12 and the first, second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth lower loops 120, 122, 124, 130, 132, 134 may be arranged at a further distance from any of the first and second 11 end 14, 16, than the loops 110, 112, 114 defining the top line are from the first end 14 of the base structure 12. By arranging the loops like this the connection of the two ends 14, 16, of the base structure when securing the dog control device 10 on the dog is positioned at the top side of the dog. ln some embodiments the loops 110-134 and the lines defined by them are arranged at further distance from the first end than depicted in Fig. 3 and thereby placing the connection between the two ends 14, 16 of the base structure more to the side of the dog.

The arrangement of a plurality of loops in an arrangement, i.e. in a line, perpen- dicular to the long edge of the base structure makes it possible to adjust the running of the control line 22 between various loops and thereby achieving various effects. Already in embodiments only having two loops, e.g. Figs 2a-c, arranged in a line per- pendicular to the long edge 48 of the base structure such effects may be utilised. ln the embodiments having three loops, e.g. Fig. 3, arranged in a line perpendicular to the long edge 48 of the base structure further effects may be achieved.

As described above, loops are in some instances used to redirect the control line and thereby forces applied to said control line. Loops used for redirecting the con- trol line may be replaced or supplemented with pulleys or blocks.

As mentioned above, the base structure 12 may be as simple as being formed by a single cloth or it may be a more advanced structure including one type or cloth for the areas facing and being in direct contact with the body of the dog, i.e. an inner cloth, and another type of cloth for the areas facing away from the body of the dog, i.e. an outer cloth. ln some embodiments, see Fig. 4, the base structure 12 may in- clude an inner cloth 402, an outer cloth 404, and padding 406 or foam arranged in- between the inner and outer cloth 402, 404. The inner cloth 402 is the cloth closest to the body of the dog and the outer cloth 404 is the exterior cloth facing away from the body of the dog. The material of these two cloth types may vary and in particular, the inner cloth 402 may be selected be smooth on the body of the dog at the same time as it assists in keeping the dog control device 10 in place avoiding rubbing. Rubbing may othen/vise lead to chafing and pain for the dog. The outer cloth 404 and the inner cloth 402 are stitched together 408, 410. A first stitching arrangement 408 is placed on the outer surface of the base structure or, if there is enough pad- ding, far from the surface contacting the body of the dog. This stitching arrangement is advantageously used at portions of the base structure that may come in contact with hind legs, the groin, thighs, or other chafing prone parts of the dog. For other parts of the dog base structure a normal through stitching 410 may be used. ln some embodiments the control lines 22 is running freely under a top cloth of the base structure or in channels or tubes formed in or added to the base structure. The channels or tubes may be formed in the top cloth or by added material attached to the base structure. The control lines 22 may be partly or substantially hidden by 12 such an arrangement. ln this way the risk of the control lines tangling with the dog, the dog handler, or the environment is reduced.

According to some embodiments the dog control device 10 is preferably ar- ranged around the body of the dog at the abdomen of the dog, as shown in Figs 1c and 2c. The arrangement of the dog control device at this position may result in ad- vantages such as decreasing the strain on the dog but still allowing control of the dog as previously mentioned. However, dog control device may be combined with a collar 502 as depicted in Figs 5a-b where the control line 22 is running through a loop 504 in the base structure 12 arranged at the abdomen of the dog and then at- taching to the collar 504 at the second control line securing position 40, which in this embodiment is in the collar. The corresponding arrangement of the control line 22 is found on the left side of the dog, as indicated in Fig. 5b. According to other embodi- ments, see Figs 6a-b, a dog control device described in connection with any one of Figs 1a-c, 2a-c, or 3, may be positioned around the body of the dog at the chest and be combined with a collar 502. The control line 22 is running via a loop 504 on the base structure to be attached to the collar at a second control line securing position 40, similar to the embodiment of Figs 5a-b. The corresponding arrangement of the control line 22 is found on the left side of the dog, as indicated in Fig. 6b. According to alternative embodiments, see Figs 7a-b, a dog harness is based on the dog con- trol device described in connection with any one of Figs 1a-c, 2a-c, or 3. ln this em- bodiment a breast strap 702 is connected to the base structure and arranged to be supporting the breast of the dog. Other straps 704, 706, are also connected from the base structure to the breast strap 702. The control line 22 may in this embodiment is running through a loop 504 in the base structure and to a second control line secur- ing position 40 on the breast strap 702 arranged at the breast of the dog.

Other alternative embodiments are also possible. For example, the dog control device may be arranged at the neck of the dog or at the chest of the dog and the dog will still experience at least some of the advantages mentioned.

The various embodiments described above are provided by way of illustration only and should not be construed to limit the invention. For example, the principles herein may be applied to any dog control device. Those skilled in the art will readily recognize various modifications and changes that may be made to the present in- vention without following the example embodiments and applications illustrated and described herein, and without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

Claims (13)

1. A dog control device comprising: an elongated base structure having a first end and a second end, the first and second ends are arranged to be releasably attached to each other, and a control line having a first end being secured to the elongated base structure at a first control line securing position and a second end being secured to the elon- gated base structure at a second control line securing position, the first and second control line securing positions being arranged at a distance from each other, the control line running from the first control line securing position to the second control line securing position via a loop attached to the elongated base structure.

2. The dog control device according to claim 1, wherein the control line com- prises at least two cords connected end to end.

3. The dog control device according to claim 2, wherein the at least two control lines are connected to each other using a releasable connection means and wherein the connection is arranged in a portion of the control line positioned between the loop and one of the first and second control line securing positions.

4. The dog control device according to any one of the previous claims, further comprising a leash connecting arrangement attached to the control line at a portion of the control line that has been threaded through the loop.

5. The dog control device according to any one of the previous claims, wherein the control line running from the second control line securing position is arranged to mainly run in a direction away from the first control line securing position.

6. The dog control device according to any one of the previous claims, further comprising a first damping loop and a second damping loop, the first damping loop being attached to the base structure at a position at a distance from the first control line securing position and in a direction from the first control line securing position that is perpendicular to a long side of the base structure, the second damping loop being attached to the base structure at a position at a distance from the second con- trol line securing position and in a direction from the second control line securing position that is perpendicular to the long side of the base structure, the control line passing through the first damping loop before reaching the first control line securing position and the control line passing through the second damping loop before reach- ing the second control line securing position.

7. The dog control device according to claim 6, further comprising a first stiffener arranged between the first control line securing position and the first damping loop, and a second stiffener arranged between the second control line securing position and the second damping loop.

8. The dog control device according to any one of the previous claims, further comprising a second loop, hereinafter referred to the second top loop, being at- tached to the base structure at a position at a distance from the loop, hereinafter re- ferred to as the first top loop, that the control line runs via on its path between first and second control line securing position and in a direction from the position of the first top loop that is perpendicular to a long side of the base structure, and the con- trol line portion running from the first control line securing position and the control line portion running from the second securing position both pass through the second top loop before the control line reaches the first top loop.

9. The dog control device according to any one of the previous claims, wherein the elongated base structure is made from a pliable material.

10. The dog control device according to any one of the previous claims, wherein the elongated base structure comprises at least one cloth.

11. A dog control device comprising: an elongated base structure to be arranged around the body of the dog at the ab- domen, the elongated base structure having a first end and a second end, the first and second ends include engagement means that are arranged to enable releasable attachment of the first end to the second end for fitting the elongated base structure around the body of the dog at the abdomen, a control line being secured to the elongated base structure at a first control line securing position, corresponding to a position in the area of the abdomen of one side of the dog when the base structure is arranged on the dog, and a second end being secured to the elongated base structure at a second control line securing po- sition, corresponding to a position in the area of the abdomen of the other side of the dog when the base structure is arranged on the dog, the control line running from the first position to the second position via a loop attached to the elongated base structure at a position in an area corresponding to the upper part of the dog when the base structure is arranged on the dog.

12. The dog control device according to claim 11, wherein the control line is ar- ranged to make the dog control device discomfortable when the control line isstrained at the loop by applying pressure to the rear body, including the abdomen, of the dog.

13. The dog control device according to any one of claims 11-12 including the features according to any one any one of claims 1-10.