WAG’D: Towards a Wearable Activity and Gait Detection Monitor for Sled Dogs

Sled dogs have performed vital services to mankind throughout history, transporting people, goods, mail, food, and medicines. Today, sled dog teams still provide transportation as well as sport, such as the famous Iditarod race. Studies show that of the 38% of dogs which drop out of long distance sled races, 51% drop due to orthopedic injuries. Sled dog mushers have limited ways of quantifying their dog’s health while training and racing, mostly relying on visual observation. According to Iditarod mushers and veterinarians, the easiest way to detect injuries in sled dogs is through analysis of pull force and gait. We created a Wearable Activity and Gait Detection (WAG’D) monitor in an effort to identify early signs of gait and pull force changes, with the intent of reducing the number of injuries in sled dog racing. We sought to identify requirements for a wearable sled dog monitor and build a high-fidelity prototype to demonstrate proof-of-concept. The WAG’D monitor may also prove useful for other canine athletes, such as those who participate in Canicross or Bikejoring. A gait detection monitor may also have important applications for veterinarians for lameness detection. We evaluated the prototype’s functionality and received feedback through semi-structured interviews with 5 Canicross athletes and 2 Bikejorers in Georgia USA as well one Iditarod musher in Alaska USA. We have demonstrated the feasibility of the WAG’D wearable computing device which can collect inertial and pull force data in-situ during field studies.