If you want to discover how your canine companion views the world then find this guide to fitting a GoPro on a dog will do just that. GoPro is one of several brands which has made a dog harness with a camera mount, and it’s just launched a camera – the GoPro Hero 9 Black - designed with dogs in mind. Here’s how to make your four-legged friend the star of his very own blockbuster.
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Harness how-to
The key thing to remember when working out how to attach a camera to your dog is that neither the camera nor the harness should restrict your dog’s mobility in any way. For this reason, only use harnesses designed specifically for dogs - fashioning one out of an old pair of pants is a bad idea for multiple reasons. A harness which hasn’t been designed with dogs in mind won’t allow enough freedom of movement, and could easily lead to injuries and accidents, whether it’s joint-related issues or problems caused by excess pressure of vital organs and airways.
“The harness should not affect movement in any way,” emphasises Anna Korzeniowska, a doctoral researcher at the University of Sussex’s Dog Lab. “The dog should be able to flex every limb freely, so the straps of the harness should not go across any joints. I recommend avoiding so-called ‘non-pull harnesses’ which tighten when the dog pulls (by straps being pulled beneath the dog's armpits). These can be very uncomfortable, and there's a reason why dogs will stop pulling while wearing this type of harness. Quite simply, the sensation is unpleasant.”
Try and see the situation from your dog’s perspective. How would you like to be manhandled into a tight-fitting tangle of straps and loops on a regular basis? “Key features to look out for include lots of clips so the harness can be put on without having to pull it over the dog’s head or lifting the dog's feet up into it,” points out Anna Korzeniowska. “Wider straps are better than thin straps because they will not dig into the skin. This is especially true with long-haired breeds - you don't want to have too much fabric as it will rub against the fur and lead to matted areas.”
In the same way it takes time to wear in a new pair of shoes, allow your dog plenty of time to get used to the sensation of wearing a harness and camera. “It’s important that the dog gets used to it gradually,” says Anna Korzeniowska. “Don't just stick it on and hope for the best. Put it on for a short period of time, have fun with your dog, then take it off. By slowly prolonging the period of time the camera is on, and by making the whole process fun, the dog should gradually get used to the sensation.”
Finally, the whole man’s best friend thing could quickly take a turn for the worse if you use a camera which is too heavy, chunky or unstable. Take a moment to check the quality of the camera mount - a cheap, flimsy mount could snap or crack, potentially exposing sharp edges which could injure your dog. Unsurprisingly, weight is one of the most important factors. “The camera should not weigh more than 10% of the dog’s body weight if it’s going to be attached to your dog for a long walk, or 20% for a short walk,” says Dr James Bennett, a vet based at London’s Wolfe Vets. “Make sure the camera does not pitch, yaw or roll around. You don’t want it hitting your dog on the head. It’s also important to ensure that the bracket does not end up resembling a tiny spike if the camera falls off or the bracket snaps.”
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