Taru Jain

Smart Toys for Dogs

Case Study UX Research Individual Contributor Quantitative and Qualitative First Research Project!

In the post-pandemic era, there has been a noticeable decline in the bond between pet dogs and their owners due to the resurgence of office work. This decrease in engagement has triggered the emergence of problematic behaviors in pet dogs. In conducting this study, my goal was to identify the underlying causes and provide actionable solutions to alleviate this situation.

Team Size

Individual

My Role

UX Researcher

Timeline

1.5 month

Hypothesis

The post-pandemic period has led to a decline in the relationship between pet dogs and their owners, resulting in the development of harmful behaviors due to decreased engagement caused by the return to office.

Methodology

The study will utilize both quantitative and qualitative research methods. A survey will be conducted to collect quantitative data on the behavior of pet dogs and their owners, the frequency of interaction, and the impact of the return to office on their relationship. Additionally, qualitative data will be gathered through in-depth interviews with pet owners to understand their experiences and perspectives on the issue.

Final Recommendations :

Toys that help control separation anxiety issues in dogs

Must: The toy must help out the pet dog to ease anxiety and aggressive behaviors

Could: The toy could also initiate the interaction with the dog around the time the owner is about to leave.

Should: The toy should not be harmful or become predictable to the pet.

Toys that can train the dog's behaviors resulting in spending less time in behavioral training.

Must: The toy must be able to keep the dog engaged repeatedly to create positive behavioral habits with minimum human engagement.

Could: Toys could also be helpful in creating abilities in other animals and pets.

Should: The toy should be able to stop or report negative behaviors.

Use toys as a way to understand or measure how the pet dog is growing in cognitive abilities.

Must: The toy must be able to measure the cognitive abilities of a dog.

Could: The toy could measure and develop more advanced abilities.

Should: The toy should have the capability to compare data with other dogs to understand the progression of their abilities.

The Process

Research

Literature and Domain Overview
Surveys
In-depth Interviews
Concept Maps

Synthesize

Affinity Mapping
Persona Creation
How Might We's

Evaluate

Co-Design Workshop
Product Opportunity Gaps

Concept Map

I started with the Concept Mapping method, to help me understand the breadth and depth of the topic as known by myself. Which gave focus areas for further in-depth research.

The comprehensive concept map of pet dogs aided me in narrowing my focus to the area of pet toys. These toys play a significant role in a dog's life, from their earliest stages of development to their senior years, and are therefore an essential aspect to consider when examining a dog's overall well-being.

This gave me the idea of all the emotional responses and needs that are fulfilled via dog toys, They are also a way for dogs to utilize their energy and keep them engaged. An important thing that I noticed was that toys are a medium for dogs to learn and express themselves. Which I further explored through literature and domain survey, followed by Interviews and Surveys.

Literature and Domain Survey

'Dogs have proven to show intelligence equal to a ~2-2.5-year-old human being. '*1

'Dogs demonstrate social cognition skills, called as “Theory of Mind”, i.e acknowledging another animal’s cognitive processes.' *2

'Toys make dogs independent and also are a way to channel their energy in the right direction. '*5

'Toys are a way to correct destructive habits and prevent anxiety.' *6

Interviews and Surveys

“Inu can recognize his stuffed animals distinctively by colors and words”

“He used to carry his stuffed soft toy everywhere, especially when he was new to a place”

-Owner of a Yellow Labrador, who was with the dog throughout their lifetime.

“Blake follows dad around the whole day, and tries to be involved in whatever he is doing”

"He brings his toys to guests when they visit our home to impress and play with them"

-Owner of a 7-year-old rescue dog (German shepherd+lab)

Synthesis

Affinity Mapping

To take full advantage of the data collected through the various exploratory methods I decided to affinity map the findings to understand the emerging themes and patterns from the data. This method helped me process a large data set.

The main themes that come up while clustering the gathered information is:

Dogs have repeatedly proven to show advanced memory skills and the ability to process complex cognitive emotions.

Dogs need a social life and tools to composite emotions, exercise, spend time. Or things to do.

Pet Owners spend a lot of time and money on pet training

When dogs are alone they need ways to channel their energy

Hypothesis

“Dogs interaction with toys leads to increased cognitive abilities.”

Analyze

Co-Design

I chose the co-Design method to understand what the pet owners value most and collaborate with them to find unique perspectives. This was also a way to validate my hypothesis from my synthesis.

Activities I conducted were:

Identifying pet vocabulary
Tone of voice and toys used.

Storytelling of high excited times

Findings:

Toys are a tool to support dogs through high-excitement times.
Owners and pet dogs have created a common language between them
It takes a lot of learning by reinforcement to increase vocabulary and learn skills.

Learnings and Next Steps

Through this project, I gained valuable insights into the importance of comprehending the behaviors of all stakeholders within the ecosystem. It emphasized the need to delve into the "why" behind their actions, whether human or canine. Additionally, I recognized the significance of a well-structured UX Research plan, aiding in uncovering existing studies and identifying knowledge gaps in the domain.

Furthermore, it underscored the importance of framing the right questions to ask and seeking answers to them. With more time dedicated to this project, I aspire to explore how different dog breeds cope with separation anxiety and whether their needs vary. I aim to delve into their training methods, understanding how they differ across breeds and how the habits of dog owners influence their pets' behaviors.

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