Animal training and conditioning apparatus

Claim 2

An animal training and conditioning apparatus comprising: a collar for securing the animal training and conditioning apparatus around the animal's neck and for preventing the animal training and conditioning apparatus from sliding toward the animal's hind legs; a back strap having a first end and a second end, said first end of said back strap securably attached to said collar at a point behind the animal's neck; a chest strap having a first end and a second end, said first end of said chest strap securably attached to said collar at a point in front of the animal's neck; and a weighted vest having an upper portion and a lower portion, said upper portion of said weighted vest securably attached to said second end of said back strap such that said back strap extends from said collar to said upper portion of said weighted vest down the middle of the animal's back, said lower portion of said weighted vest securably attached to said second end of said chest strap such that said chest strap extends from said collar to said lower portion of said weighted vest down the middle of the animal's chest and between the animal's front legs, said upper portion of said weighted vest extends generally perpendicularly from said second end of said back strap for disposition upon the upper side of the animal's torso, said lower portion of said weighted vest extends generally perpendicularly from said second end of said chest strap for disposition under the lower side of the animal's torso, said upper portion of said weighted vest being adjustable relative to said lower portion of said weighted vest to provide for a snug and comfortable fit around the animal's torso, said upper portion and said lower portion of said weighted vest have a plurality of weights disposed therein and oriented in such a manner as to generally equalize the weight distributed on the animal's left side and the animal's right side, thereby enhancing the training and conditioning of the animal's hind legs and cardiovascular system and enhancing the training of the animal's balance.

Claim 3

The animal training and conditioning apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said upper portion and said lower portion of said weighted vest have a plurality of pockets disposed thereon for receiving weights therein to increase the total weight of said weighted vest and to provide for progressive resistence training for the animal, thereby further enhancing the training and conditioning of the animal's hind legs and cardiovascular system.

Claim 4

The animal training and conditioning apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said back strap has a plurality of weights disposed therein, thereby enhancing the training of the animal's front legs and withers region.

Claim 5

The animal training and conditioning apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said chest strap has a plurality of weights disposed therein, thereby enhancing the training of the animal's front legs and withers region.

Claim 6

The animal training and conditioning apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said collar has a plurality of weights disposed therein, thereby enhancing the training of the animal's front legs and neck region.

Claim 7

The animal training and conditioning apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said back strap and chest strap have a plurality of pockets disposed thereon for receiving weights therein to provide for progressive resistence training for the animal, thereby enhancing the training of the animal's front legs and withers region.

Claim 8

The animal training and conditioning apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said back strap and chest strap are adjustable such that said weighted vest is properly positionable on the animal's torso.

Claim 9

The animal training and conditioning apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said collar has first and second adjustment members disposed between said back strap and said chest strap on opposite sides of said collar such that the circumference of said collar is adjustable without altering the position of said back strap and said chest strap relative to the animal.

Claim 10

The animal training and conditioning apparatus as recited in claim 1 further comprising a leash hook securably attached to said back strap.

Claim 11

An animal training and conditioning apparatus for targeting the training and conditioning of specific muscles groups, the apparatus comprising: a collar for securing the animal training and conditioning apparatus around the animal's neck and for preventing the animal training and conditioning apparatus from sliding toward the animal's hind legs, said collar having a plurality of weights disposed therein for targeting the training and conditioning of the animal's front legs and neck region; a back strap having a first end and a second end, said first end of said back strap securably attached to said collar at a point behind the animal's neck, said back strap having a plurality of weights disposed therein for targeting the training and conditioning of the animal's front legs and withers region; a chest strap having a first end and a second end, said first end of said chest strap securably attached to said collar at a point in front of the animal's neck, said chest strap having a plurality of weights disposed therein for targeting the training and conditioning of the animal's front legs and withers region; and a weighted vest having an upper portion and a lower portion, said upper portion of said weighted vest securably attached to said second end of said back strap such that said back strap extends from said collar to said upper portion of said weighted vest down the middle of the animal's back, said lower portion of said weighted vest securably attached to said second end of said chest strap such that said chest strap extends from said collar to said lower portion of said weighted vest down the middle of the animal's chest and between the animal's front legs, said upper portion of said weighted vest extends generally perpendicularly from said second end of said back strap for disposition upon the upper side of the animal's torso, said lower portion of said weighted vest extends generally perpendicularly from said second end of said chest strap for disposition under the lower side of the animal's torso, said upper portion of said weighted vest being adjustable relative to said lower portion of said weighted vest to provide for a snug and comfortable fit around the animal's torso, said weighted vest having a plurality of weights disposed therein for targeting the training and conditioning of the animal's hind legs.

Claim 12

An animal training and conditioning apparatus for targeting the training and conditioning of specific muscles groups, the apparatus comprising: a collar for securing the animal training and conditioning apparatus around the animal's neck and for preventing the animal training and conditioning apparatus from sliding toward the animal's hind legs, said collar having a plurality of weights disposed therein for targeting the training and conditioning of the animal's front legs and neck region; a back strap having a first end and a second end, said first end of said back strap securably attached to said collar at a point behind the animal's neck, said back strap having a plurality of weights disposed therein for targeting the training and conditioning of the animal's front legs and withers region; a chest strap having a first end and a second end, said first end of said chest strap securably attached to said collar at a point in front of the animal's neck, said chest strap having a plurality of weights disposed therein for targeting the training and conditioning of the animal's front legs and withers region; and a weighted vest having an upper portion and a lower portion, said upper portion of said weighted vest securably attached to said second end of said back strap such that said back strap extends from said collar to said upper portion of said weighted vest down the middle of the animal's back, said lower portion of said weighted vest securably attached to said second end of said chest strap such that said chest strap extends from said collar to said lower portion of said weighted vest down the middle of the animal's chest and between the animal's front legs, said upper portion of said weighted vest extends generally perpendicularly from said second end of said back strap for disposition upon the upper side of the animal's torso, said lower portion of said weighted vest extends generally perpendicularly from said second end of said chest strap for disposition under the lower side of the animal's torso, said upper portion of said weighted vest being adjustable relative to said lower portion of said weighted vest to provide for a snug and comfortable fit around the animal's torso, said weighted vest having a plurality of weights disposed therein for targeting the training and conditioning of the animal's hind legs.

Claim 13

The animal training and conditioning apparatus as recited in claim 10 wherein said upper portion and said lower portion of said weighted vest have a plurality of pockets disposed thereon for receiving weights therein to further target the training and conditioning of the animal's hind legs by providing for progressive resistence training for the animal's hind legs.

Claim 14

The animal training and conditioning apparatus as recited in claim 10 wherein said back strap and chest strap have a plurality of pockets disposed thereon for receiving weights therein to further target the training and conditioning of the animal's front legs and withers region by providing for progressive resistence training for the animal's front legs and withers region.

Claim 15

The animal training and conditioning apparatus as recited in claim 10 wherein said plurality of weights in said upper portion and said lower portion of said weighted vest are oriented in such a manner as to generally equalize the weight distributed on the animal's left side and the animal's right side to target the training of the animal's balance.

Claim 16

The animal training and conditioning apparatus as recited in claim 10 wherein said back strap and chest strap are adjustable such that said weighted vest is properly positionable on the animal's torso.

Claim 17

The animal training and conditioning apparatus as recited in claim 10 wherein said collar has first and second adjustment members disposed between said back strap and said chest strap on opposite sides of said collar such that the circumference of said collar is adjustable without altering the position of said back strap and said chest strap relative to the animal.

Claim 18

The animal training and conditioning apparatus as recited in claim 10 further comprising a leash hook securably attached to said back strap.

Claim 19

An animal training and conditioning apparatus comprising: a collar for securing the training and conditioning apparatus around the animal's neck and for preventing the animal training and conditioning apparatus from sliding toward the animal's hind legs, said collar having first and second adjustment members each disposed on opposite sides of said collar such that the circumference of said collar is adjustable without rotating said collar relative to the animal's neck; a back strap having a first end and a second end, said first end of said back strap securably attached to said collar at a point behind the animal's neck, said back strap having an adjustment member located between said first end and said second end of said back strap to adjust the distance between said first end and said second end of said back strap; a chest strap having a first end and a second end, said first end of said chest strap securably attached to said collar at a point in front of the animal's neck, said chest strap having an adjustment member located between said first end and said second end of said chest strap to adjust the distance between said first end and said second end of said chest strap; and a weighted vest having an upper portion and a lower portion, said upper portion of said weighted vest securably attached to said second end of said back strap such that said back strap extends from said collar to said upper portion of said weighted vest down the middle of the animal's back, said lower portion of said weighted vest securably attached to said second end of said chest strap such that said chest strap extends from said collar to said lower portion of said weighted vest down the middle of the animal's chest and between the animal's front legs, said upper portion of said weighted vest extends generally perpendicularly from said second end of said back strap for disposition upon the upper side of the animal's torso, said lower portion of said weighted vest extends generally perpendicularly from said second end of said chest strap for disposition under the lower side of the animal's torso, said upper portion of said weighted vest being adjustable relative to said lower portion of said weighted vest to provide for a snug and comfortable fit around the animal's torso, thereby enhancing the training and conditioning of the animal's hind legs and cardiovascular system.

Claim 20

An animal training and conditioning apparatus comprising: a collar for securing the training and conditioning apparatus around the animal's neck and for preventing the animal training and conditioning apparatus from sliding toward the animal's hind legs, said collar having first and second adjustment members each disposed on opposite sides of said collar such that the circumference of said collar is adjustable without rotating said collar relative to the animal's neck; a back strap having a first end and a second end, said first end of said back strap securably attached to said collar at a point behind the animal's neck, said back strap having an adjustment member located between said first end and said second end of said back strap to adjust the distance between said first end and said second end of said back strap; a chest strap having a first end and a second end, said first end of said chest strap securably attached to said collar at a point in front of the animal's neck, said chest strap having an adjustment member located between said first end and said second end of said chest strap to adjust the distance between said first end and said second end of said chest strap; and a weighted vest having an upper portion and a lower portion, said upper portion of said weighted vest securably attached to said second end of said back strap such that said back strap extends from said collar to said upper portion of said weighted vest down the middle of the animal's back, said lower portion of said weighted vest securably attached to said second end of said chest strap such that said chest strap extends from said collar to said lower portion of said weighted vest down the middle of the animal's chest and between the animal's front legs, said upper portion of said weighted vest extends generally perpendicularly from said second end of said back strap for disposition upon the upper side of the animal's torso, said lower portion of said weighted vest extends generally perpendicularly from said second end of said chest strap for disposition under the lower side of the animal's torso, said upper portion of said weighted vest being adjustable relative to said lower portion of said weighted vest to provide for a snug and comfortable fit around the animal's torso, thereby enhancing the training and conditioning of the animal's hind legs and cardiovascular system.

Claim 21

The animal training and conditioning apparatus as recited in claim 17 wherein said back strap said chest strap have a plurality of weights disposed therein, thereby enhancing the training of the animal's front legs and withers region.

Claim 22

The animal training and conditioning apparatus as recited in claim 17 wherein said collar has a plurality of weights disposed therein, thereby enhancing the training of the animal's front legs and neck.