A trio of design students from Hongik University in Seoul has developed a walking aid for dogs that uses a mechanism similar to a car seatbelt to provide support while allowing a good range of movement.
Steady was designed as a non-motorised support system for elderly dogs that are susceptible to mobility issues due to disc problems, arthritis and bone dislocation.
Steady is a walking aid for dogs
Based on their own experiences of living with and assisting senior dogs, Hongik University students Jungmin Park and Chaewon Lee set out to create a walking aid that prioritises autonomy, flexibility and adaptability.
They teamed up with fashion design student Seungha Baek and experts from the University of Zurich's faculty of veterinary medicine to develop a solution that ensures a secure and comfortable experience for the animals. The device uses a seatbelt-style strap
Based on their research, the designers identified limitations with existing products that can prevent the dogs from behaving normally during their daily walks.
"We discovered pain points where dogs using wheelchairs or other assistive devices couldn't mark freely or smell scents along the roadside," Lee told Dezeen.
"Therefore, we aimed to design a structure that utilises the structure of seat belts to provide some degree of freedom but also firm support in the event of impact."

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