Disability assistance dogs have been trained to strip beds, help a person with dressing and undressing, and even loading washing machines. Now they can even turn the machine on! Woof to Wash is an invention by John Middleton of UJ laundry company JTM, unlocks by a foot pad and activates with a "woof."
Clients aided by the Jessops Riverside based Support Dogs charity – which provides canine assistants for people with disabilities, epileptics and children with autism – will now be able to benefit from the invention.
Two-year-old golden labrador Duffy did the honours of demonstrating at the organisation’s base on Brightside Lane.
A doggy footpad and a microphone system have been added, which recognise a dog’s bark.
That means dogs are able to unlock the machine by pressing the pad with their paw, pull a rope with their mouths to open the machine, close the machine again with their nose, then activate the cycle by barking.
Measured amounts of detergent are automatically added from a storage bottle on the machine.
The Woof to Wash machines will be manufactured by appliance company Miele. Now the only thing left to do is to get dogs to hang and fold shirts properly. -via Arbroath