Dog owners wanted for research into how harness designs affect movement
Researchers are appealing for help from dog owners to help understand how harness designs affect dog movement.
By Dave Rogers | Published on 7 April 2022
Categories: Press office; Research; School of Animal, Rural and Environmental Sciences;

The team, from Harper Adams University and Nottingham Trent University (NTU), 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.
The research team - Dr Ellen Williams and graduate researcher Violet Hunton from Harper Adams University, and Dr Anne Carter and Dr Jacqueline Boyd from NTU - are asking dog owners to complete a short 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.
Participating dogs will be walked over a pressure sensing mat in three different harness designs. Data collection will be undertaken over one day between May and July. Those taking part will be able to attend sessions at Harper Adams University, Nottingham Trent University or at Canactive in Tewkesbury. Anyone wishing to participate can do so by completing a registration form.
Dr Jacqueline Boyd, senior lecturer in Animal Science in NTU’s School of Animal, Rural and Environmental Sciences, said: “Harnesses are an increasingly popular way to keep our four-legged friends safe and under control. This project will help us to understand whether there are any implications of different harness designs on canine biomechanics in some of the most popular breeds in the UK.”
Dr Anne Carter, senior lecturer in Animal Science at NTU, added: “This is really important in helping owners to make informed decisions about harnesses that are most suitable for their dog, and will help ensure canine welfare is not compromised by harness design.”
The team have previously undertaken research of canine movement to help understand how dogs physically respond when taking part in activities such as agility and working trials. If you would like further information about previous research or the harness design trial please contact Ellen Williams.
Notes for Editors
Press enquiries please contact Dave Rogers, Public Relations Manager, on telephone +44 (0)115 848 8782, or via email.
About Nottingham Trent University
Nottingham Trent University (NTU) received the Queens Anniversary Prize for Higher and Further Education in 2021 for cultural heritage science research. It is the second time that NTU has been bestowed the honour of receiving a Queen’s Anniversary Prize for its research, the first being in 2015 for leading-edge research on the safety and security of global citizens.
NTU was awarded Outstanding Support for Students 2020 (Times Higher Education Awards). It was the University of the Year 2019 (Guardian University Awards, UK Social Mobility Awards), Modern University of the Year 2018 (Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide) and University of the Year 2017 (Times Higher Education Awards).
NTU is the 5th largest UK institution by student numbers, with over 33,000 students and more than 4,000 staff located across five campuses. It has an international student population of 4,000 and an NTU community representing around 160 countries.
In the past 15 years, NTU has invested £450 million in tools, technology and facilities.
NTU is in the UK’s top 10 for number of applications and ranked first for accepted offers (2019 UCAS UG acceptance data) It is also among the UK’s top five recruiters of students from disadvantaged backgrounds.
75% of NTU students go on to graduate-level employment or graduate-entry education / training within fifteen months of graduating (Guardian University Guide 2021).
NTU is 4th globally (and 3rd in the UK) for sustainability in the 2021 UI Green Metric University World Rankings (out of more than 900 participating universities).