TriPawd: A New Lease on Life for Handicapped Dogs

Designer Dosun Shin's Innovative Wheelchair for Dogs Wins Silver A' Design Award

Dosun Shin's inspiration for TriPawd came from a tragic circumstance. A dog had lost its left front leg, leaving it with no bone structure. This led Shin to design a wheeled mobility device similar to a human wheelchair. The device allows the dog to jump on and off easily without any strapping mechanisms, enabling it to sit and lie down freely without the owner’s assistance.

The unique properties of TriPawd lie in its design and functionality. It is an assistive device that helps three-legged dogs walk and stand independently. Two large rear wheels improve both the stability and mobility of the device, while a front small wheel on the metal tube frame provides strong support for the chest cup. The bent metal frame provides just enough space for the dog to walk without any interference from its legs. The pole is height-adjustable to accommodate dogs of different sizes.

The TriPawd is constructed using a bent metal frame and a fiberglass chest cup. The device measures 685 mm x 630 mm x 550 mm. It is designed to help handicapped dogs walk and stand on their own for extended periods without any assistance from their owners.

The design and development of TriPawd involved extensive research and usability testing with a series of working prototypes on a dog. The project, which started in July 2019 in Tempe, Arizona, U.S, was completed in December 2020. The device is specifically targeted for a 5-year-old mastiff who lost one of his front legs due to a gunshot accident in California, U.S.

Designing TriPawd was not without its challenges. Dogs do not understand what is happening in the same way human subjects would. They are also unable to communicate and provide feedback regarding comfort and overall effectiveness of the device. To overcome these challenges, Shin produced a series of different-sized chest cups, followed by repeated measurements.

In conclusion, TriPawd is a testament to Dosun Shin's innovative design skills and empathy for handicapped dogs. This wheeled-based assistive device has not only won the Silver A' Design Award but also brought a new lease of life to dogs who have lost one of their front legs. It is a shining example of how design and innovation can make a significant difference in the lives of animals.