Development of a Compact Collar-Mounted Feeder for Remote Dog Feeding

Timely food rewards are crucial for effective dog training, but providing immediate reinforcement is difficult when the handler cannot be near the dog. Existing systems, such as stationary feeders, restrict the dog’s movement and cannot deliver rewards flexibly. Our previous back-mounted feeder (1.2 kg) enabled successful remote food delivery, but its size and weight meant it could only be used for medium- to large-sized dogs. Remotely controlled food-dispensing devices solve this by allowing spatially unconstrained rewards without limiting the dog’s movement. However, for real-world use, such devices must be compact, lightweight, and unobtrusive to avoid disrupting natural behavior or requiring long habituation periods. Hence, in this study, we present the development and val- idation of a collar-mounted feeder (hereafter, “collar-feeder”) capable of remotely dispensing food multiple times. The newly developed collar-feeder weighs only 143.6 g and can store up to 20 food items. A compact internal design with fewer electronic parts reduces its size and weight. Experiments showed a 100% feeding success rate among dogs unbothered by the device, while some dogs mistook it for a toy. These findings highlight the potential applicability of the collar-feeder in dog training and behavioral discipline. With further functional improvement, the collar-feeder presented in this paper may gain widespread adoption. For instance, by integrating biometric sensors and a food-tracking system, the device could serve as a valuable tool in households and veterinary clinics for pet health monitoring and management.