Personal Drag Lure Coursing Machine OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE MANUAL Congratulations on your new ZippityDog! You have purchased the smallest, highest quality machine on the market and it will give you and your dog years of fun. Very little maintenance is required to keep it running in top condition; this manual will assist you in taking care of your machine. All information and drawings in this manual are protected by Copyright. Patent Pending 2008-2013. ZippityDog and Wicked Coursing are registered trademarks. All rights reserved.
OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE MANUAL Pg. Contents 3-10 Maintenance 3 Battery 4 Motor and Powered Leveler (ZDZ only) 5 Preventing Backlash 5 Speed Control - ZDZ model 6 Spool and Line 7 Threading the Lure 8 Field Pulley; Our Warranty 9-10 Disassembly; 11-13 Operation 11-12 Operation; 13 Using the Pulley and Preventing Accidents 14-19 Sample Courses and Training 20 A Word About Puppies and Angles 21 Contact Info Congratulations on your ZippityDog! This precision machine has been shipped to you with everything you need to run your dog. Please make sure there is no damage to the shipping box, then test your new machine without a dog present before you head out to play. 2
THE BATTERY. MAINTENANCE Depending on the model you have, your ZippityDog will have either a 6v or 12v battery: ZippityDog Standard: contains a 1.4Ah sealed 6 volt battery that will provide you with about 30 runs on one charge, depending on how what type of lure you use and how tall the grass is. ZippityDog-Z: contains a 0.8Ah sealed 12 volt battery; you should get about the same amount of runs per charge as with the 6v system in the Standard. Lure weight and course layout/vegetation will also be a factor, as more drag will slow the machine down and shorten your run times. You should charge the battery when the machine starts to lag; use only the recommended battery charger that comes with your machine. You can plug the charger into the DC port located on the top black plate of the machine, the other end into a wall socket, and leave it overnight without harming the battery, as it has a float mechanism that will not allow the battery to be overcharged. Plug it in and leave it; it ll be ready to run when you are! ZippityDog Standard DC power jack for charging: located on the back right corner of the plate ZippityDog-Z DC Power charge port located just behind the motor block in the middle of the plate 3
THE MOTOR. The ZippityDog (both standard and Z models) motor is a 23,000 rpm power plant with clockwise (CW) rotation. It has a top speed of about 35mph using a very light lure such as a plastic bag. THE POWERED LEVELER - ZDZ ONLY. The ZippityDog-Z ( ZDZ ) is equipped with a powered leveler mechanism that is designed to prevent backlashes (tangles) on the spool. The motor that drives the leveler is a 200rpm geared motor with a high torque output. It drives a small wheel which in turn drives a leveler arm and string lead. As the lead goes back and forth it keeps the line spooling evenly while the machine is running. The leveler motor runs at a much slower speed than the main motor and spool; the system is designed to run that way and this is normal. Leveler mechanism with motor, platform and armature View of the string lead from the back The string lead should move freely back and forth while the machine is running, however when the speed control is engaged on it s lowest setting, the leveler may not run. For very slow speeds you may need to just hold onto the line to keep it from tangling. Do not allow the line/lure to crash into the machine on either model, as you ll damage the components, especially the leveler, and break the swivel. Just stop pushing the button before the lure and your dog get to the machine. 4
NON-LEVELER MODEL The standard ZippityDog does not come with a leveler. Preventing backlash can be accomplished by moving with the machine as you re running it, similar to playing pinball. Until you get the hang of it, you can also hold the string lightly between index finger and thumb while running - do not squeeze the line and it will not hurt you. Do not let your dog grab the lure an run off with it, as that, too, will create a backlash. Let him/her catch the lure but use a throw-down lure to distract her. Again, do not allow the line/lure to crash into the machine - either model - as you ll damage the components and break the swivel. Just stop pushing the button before the lure and your dog get to the machine. The lure and line will coast in toward you so you ll need to get a feel for how fast it s going and when to stop pushing the button. SPEED CONTROL (ZDZ only) Because the ZDZ is a 12v system and is very fast, it is equipped with a speed control. Your machine has been shipped with the knob turned to full speed. Rotating the knob will slow the motor, leveler and speed of the lure down. 5
THE SPOOL AND LINE: On the ZippityDog standard, the spool comes loaded with 150 feet of 80-pound braided Dacron no-stretch line. The ZippityDog-Z has 200. Both the spool and the line are very sturdy and will not break, but please do not let your dogs pull on the line, as you may experience a backlash tangle, the spool alignment may be changed and/or the string lead and leveler on the ZippityDog-Z may be damaged. Standard ZippityDog - no leveler. Note the small, round string opening. ZippityDog-Z with leveler. Note the oblong string opening; you can see the string lead through it. Always use a swivel on the end of your line to prevent the line from twisting as it comes in. Without the swivel, you ll end up with a big rat s nest instead of smooth line. If the swivel breaks or comes off, you ll want to attach a new one to the end of the line by threading the line through the end of the swivel and then tying the line in a loop as shown. The next page shows how to attach the lure. 6
THE LURE. You can use a few different things but we recommend using a feather lure or one white plastic grocery bag for the lure (be sure to slice open the handles before your dog chases it). You MUST use a swivel to attach the lure or the line will twist and you ll never untangle it. (your ZippityDog comes with two). Do not use anything heavier as a lure. The following shows how to attach the lure to the swivel. Starting with the point of one corner at the bottom of the bag (don t start in the middle) will ensure that the bag will flutter and zip along so it looks like prey to your dogs. 1. Open the swivel and poke it through one corner of the bag/lure. This picture shows a knot in the line right next to the swivel, but tying loop in the line as shown in the previous photo works much better. 2. Thread the lure onto the swivel like a safety pin. 3. Twist it, then thread it again for strength, then close the clip. 7
THE FIELD PULLEY. Your ZippityDog comes with one field pulley. With the Standard ZippityDog we don t recommended using more than one due to the short length of string on the spool. With the ZDZ, you can use a maximum of two. The pulley is designed for smooth running with two stainless ball bearings housed in a precision-machined Acetyl body; a 6 steel spike is screwed into the base. Using it is easy simply press it into soft ground or grass and string your line along the indentation in the pulley body, but do not wrap the line around the pulley. Do not use a hammer of any kind, as you will deform and destroy the pulley top and hardware. Please do not push the pulley hard against the ground as that will restrict the pulley body from spinning. If the pulley can t spin, the line may jump the upper lip while running, creating extra drag and possibly allowing your dog to catch the lure prematurely. Because you ll be using this pulley in all types of conditions, cleaning the pulley after use will keep it in good working order. Applying a small amount of very light oil at the end of the day will help prevent rust on the shaft. WARRANTY The ZippityDog machine and pulley are warranted by Wicked Coursing for 30 days against manufacturer defects. We know you ll absolutely love your ZippityDog, but if you re not happy, please call us and tell us why. We ll do our best to assist you with whatever problem you re having. 8
DISASSEMBLY: If you need to disassemble your ZippityDog for any reason, we recommend you call us first to avoid causing damage to the machine and voiding the warranty. However if disassembly becomes necessary for repair or maintenance, it is a very simple process: Standard ZippityDog: 1. Push the swivel back through the ingress/egress grommet so the string is on the inside of the case. 2. Make sure the power switch is turned OFF. 3. Using a Phillips screwdriver, remove the four screws in the top of the interior cover (Fig. A). ZippityDog-Z: 1. Cut the swivel off the end of the line and remove the string from the string lead. 2. Make sure the power switch is off 3. Using a Phillips screwdriver, remove the four screws in the top of the interior cover (Fig. B). B. A. 4. The entire assembly is attached to the black interior plate and will come out as a unit. 5. Once the cover and motor/ spool assembly are free, you ll be able to see the battery, electrical wiring, and components. 6. Replace the 4 screws and string when finished. 9
4. The motor/spool assembly and switches are mounted to the black plate but the battery, leveler and speed control are permanently mounted to the bottom of the blue case. Wires connect the motor assembly on the black plate to the components in the blue case; when removing the black plate do not pull hard on it or you may accidentally disconnect something. 5. Carefully rotate the motor/spool assembly and the black plate over on its back, keeping it right next to the blue case. You ll now be able to see the battery, electrical wiring, and components. 6. Zip ties hold the wires together; you may need to cut them to work on the wiring harness but be careful not to cut the wires. 7. Zip ties hold the wires together; you may need to cut them to work on the wiring harness but be careful not to cut the wires. 8. When replacing the plate and motor/spool assembly, make sure the connectors that are attached to the toggle switch do not hit the upright on that holds the leveler motor. Do not force the plate back on but gently push things out of the way until they fit back into place. 9. When finished, replace the 4 screws in the plate and run the line through the string lead. If you need to remove the spool to untangle the line, hold the motor block firmly and pull the spool straight out - do not angle it or you can bend the shaft on the motor. The spool fits over a small gear on the motor shaft and will go back on easily. PLEASE CALL US IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS! 10
OPERATION All ZippityDogs are extremely easy to use: 1. Set the machine on the ground where you want to start. 2. Walk the line straight out 150 - until it stops playing out (if you re using the pulley, see the discussion on the next two pages). 3. Lay the lure on the ground and walk back to the machine. 4. Pick up the machine and hold it against your stomach at about mid-body with the lid open. Turn the toggle switch to the on position (Fig. C). You re now ready to run. Tell your dog go look or go get it and watch the fun. C. Make sure the line is threaded through the ingress/ egress grommet on the front of the case (Fig. D). D. 11
With very fast dogs, once the dog is running away from you and toward the end of the line with the lure on it, wait until the dog is nearly to the lure before hitting the switch, then hold it down until the lure passes the dog and the dog gives chase. Then continue intermittent touching of the button. If you start drawing the line in too soon, your dog will cut over in the middle and catch the lure as it comes by her or him. Please keep in mind that on straight-line runs, your dog(s) will be coming straight at you - at full speed - so you ll need to run it in much faster at the end unless you want to get plowed under. See the pictorial on the next page for one way to avoid this. Don t forget - when other dogs are in the area, you ll need to shout out hold your hounds in a very loud voice. You really do want to prevent every dog in the dog park from chasing after the lure along with your dog - or chasing your dog! If you re using the pulley to make a turn, place it either at the end of the line (about 30 from the end), or nearer to the beginning. The strategy of this is discussed below. The speed of your dogs will determine how you operate the button. Holding the red button down will draw the line in at about 35/40 mph - way too fast for many dogs, so you ll need to just experiment. Intermittent tapping on the button will keep the lure out in front of your dog and allow you to manage the speed at which it s flying in. 12
USING THE PULLEY. You can use the pulley to make one turn or a slight angle in the line. Using the pulley will help you see how close the dog is to the lure so s/he doesn t catch it at the beginning. It can also be used to prevent a dog from running straight at you, especially if you have very fast dogs or really big dogs. One way to set up the course to minimize the possibility of your dog running into you at the end of the run is to place the pulley about 30 feet in front of you and run the rest of the line out at a right angle to the pulley in either direction. Please refer to the diagram and notes on Page 14. 13
SAMPLE COURSES AND TRAINING YOUR DOG TO COURSE 14
1. You can nearly double the course length by training your dog to eventually go look or go get it using the method on this page and the next. Start out with a halflength course and gradually open it up to make it nearly double. Pulley 1. 3. Race through the turn ahead of your dog so s/he can see it turning and follow without twisting or turning too sharply. 2. Start by using the pulley to make one turnaround 75 (or 100 with the ZDZ) out. Your dog will run away from you chasing the lure, make the turn and come back. Keep the lure about 10 feet ahead of your dog, then race through the turn so s/he can see it; let off the button and let the lure coast until your dog catches up, then jog it til it s close enough to the finish to let off for the end of the course. 4. Stop pushing the button about here and let the lure coast in. Instead of letting your dog catch the lure on the line, try bringing the lure all the way in and using a throwdown lure for her to catch instead. ZD/ZDZ 15
1. Next run open up the turn, creating a less acute angle - safe if you rush through the turn so the dog can see it coming ahead of time and not slip or crash (the challenge is to not get too far ahead of your dog...) 2. Every run you ll start further away from your dog saying go look or go get it. 2. Pulley 3. Again, race through the turn ahead of your dog so s/he can see it turning and follow without twisting or turning too sharply. Finish Start ZD/ZDZ 16
3. 30 (ZD/ZDZ) Pulley 1. Finally, you can set the course to about an 80 o angle, tell your dog to go look. S/he ll run out to the lure where you ll hit the switch when s/he s about 20-30 feet from it, and run it back in. 120 (ZD) 170 (ZDZ) You ve now trained your dog two different things and a new command, plus shown him/her how to have some fun running the lure. ZD/ZDZ 17
4. Depending on where your dog is relative to the lure, your dog will likely keep running past the pulley (Point D), giving you time to stop the lure and step out of the way. D. Pulley 30 feet ZippityDog You A. 1. The dog will start at Point A and run over to the lure. 120 feet 3. Once the dog is chasing the lure (Point C), keep her running. When the lure gets to the pulley and makes the turn, stop pushing the button. C. B. 2. You will engage the motor by pushing the red button when the dog gets to Point B. If you start too soon, your dog will cut across the line and catch the lure mid-run. 18
3. You ll want to stop pushing the button at about Point D. You can let your dog catch the lure but, again, don t let her run off with it or you will get a backlash tangle. NOTE: you should avoid crashing the lure into the machine, as that can break the swivel and the leveler (ZDZ) and also severely tangle the line. D. ZippityDog You A. Pulley 100 feet 1. The dog will start at Point A and run over to the lure. You will engage the motor by pushing the gold button when the dog gets approximately to Point B. If you start too soon or too late, your dog will catch the lure. 50 feet C. Lure B. 2. Once the lure starts moving, your dog will come around and start chasing the lure (Point C). Keep her running with the lure just ahead of her. Each dog is different so you ll just have to play with it to see what works for the two of you. 19
A WORD ABOUT PUPPIES. Please do not run puppies under 4 months of age, and don t take them through turns until they re a year old. They might look like adults but their joints can t take it and they ll have serious injuries. Call Pat if you have questions. Again, although the ZippityDog is easy to use, we do not recommend children using this equipment unless accompanied by an adult. Kids don t always have enough life experience to understand consequences so, to be safe, just go out there with them. ANGLES AND CORNERS In order to prevent injuries to your dog, you ll need to keep the angles on your turns between 120 and 150. Remember, dogs just can t turn on a dime, so please refer to this guide when laying out all your courses. Make sure there s nothing in or around the path of your dog that could cause an injury such as gopher and squirrel holes, trees, posts, rocks, twigs & branches, fences, etc. Remember, they ll run wide and on both sides of the line. One last thing: You can let your dog catch the lure but don t let her drag it away, as this will create the dreaded backlash! You might want to just have an extra lure handy to let her have - and destroy - instead. Shake it at her and throw it down away from the line. Fortunately, most dogs are easily diverted so the switch shouldn t be too hard! 20
As always, if you have any questions at all, to order more pulleys or to find out about our reversible machines, or other updates, please call Pat at Wicked Coursing. The phone number is 619-741-9940 PST. Please don t call in the middle of the night or very early in the morning! Between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. will work just fine. You can reach me by email, too, at pat@wickedcoursing.com. http://wickedcoursing.com Talleyho! Our mailing address is: 2790 New Jersey Avenue La Mesa, CA 91945 Each consumer is responsible for determining the suitability of these products for their individual situation. Consumer accepts all responsibility by purchasing and using these products. 21