Academic researchers are appealing for help from dog owners to help understand how harness designs affect dog movement.
The team, from Harper Adams University and Nottingham Trent University, are undertaking work which aims to enhance understanding of the types of equipment people use to walk their dogs and the impact of harness design on movement in adult dogs when walking.
The first part of this work is open to all dog owners (over the age of 18 years) anywhere in the world, and the research team are asking dog owners to complete a short online survey.
Questions are related to the activities owners do with their dog and the kind of dog equipment they use to walk their dogs. This work will lead to increased understanding of the preferences of dog owners for different types of dog walking equipment, and from where information and advice is sought when choosing equipment.
Dr Ellen Williams, lecturer in animal behaviour and welfare at Harper Adams University, said: “This is a really exciting opportunity to understand customer buying preferences and how they are shaped by market knowledge. Anyone who owns a dog is warmly invited to take part.”
For the second part of the study, the project team is seeking owners of pure-bred Labrador retrievers, Staffordshire bull terriers, French bulldogs and Cocker spaniels between the ages of two and eight. This part of the study will help them examine how different walking harnesses affect movement.
Those taking part will be invited to attend sessions at Harper Adams University, Nottingham Trent University or at Canactive in Tewkesbury over one day between May and July. Participating dogs will be walked over a pressure sensing mat in three different harness designs and data will be collected.
The survey can be accessed here: https://harper-adams.onlinesurveys.ac.uk/dog-harness-questionnaire
