“I talkedtomytrainersandmostofthemsaidit’s
notpossible,butI saidlet’stryit andseewhat
happens,”Paneksaid.
Thefirststepwasredesigningthedog’sharness.
“Thetraditionalguidingharnessis leatherand
metal,morelikea saddlefromhorseandbuggy
days,”Paneksaid.“Youholdonandgetpulled
along.It’snotidealforreallymoving.Andit
restrictsthedog’sshoulders.”
Trainersworkedwiththecanineequipment
makerRuffWeartodevelopa lightweight
paddednylonvestthatallowsthedoga full
rangeofmotion.A modifiedNordicskibinding
onthevestconnectsanadjustablealuminum
polewithanergonomichandgrip.Thesetupis
comfortableforthedog,allowstherunner’sarms
toswingnaturallyandprovidesbetterfeedback
thanthetraditionalharness,Paneksaid.
“Thesecondthingwastoproveit wassafe,”
Paneksaid.Thetrainingteamworkedon
buildingendurance,avoidingobstaclesand
learningtechniqueslike“shorelining,”following
theleftsideofa path.
“Whatwelearnedwasreallyamazing,inspiring,
almostmagical,”Paneksaid.“Thedogswere
perfectlycapableatguidingata fasterpace.In
fact,someofthedogsenjoyedit more,andtheir
otherguideworkbecamemoreaccurate.”
Panekhasgivenpresentationsontheprogram
toguidedogorganizationsaroundtheworld,
encouragingotherstoadoptthetraining
techniquesandusethegear.
GuidingEyeshasabout300-400applicantsa
yearfora guidedogandis abletoserveabout
150,Paneksaid.About10-15%ofapplicantswantImage: Zoe Bennett