GROUND DOG
Where the forest, the dog and the human circuit meet
HOW A DOG WALK BECAME AN EXPERIMENT IN GROUNDING
From Studio Short-circuits to Nature's Ground
Ground Dog is the practical outcome of a life spent studying resonance, frequency, and electrical integrity.
As a working audio engineer for the past 25 years, grounding is more than a concept to me, it’s a daily necessity. I’ve spent decades in studios where "earthing" delicate circuits is standard practice to prevent equipment from blowing up. I’ve lived through those high-stress sessions where everything seems to "short out” - blown mixing desks, fried motherboards, and speaker fuses popping in rapid succession. During one particularly chaotic week, an electronics engineer handed me a grounding lead and a wrist strap, telling me to plug myself into the Earth until my "life calmed down a bit."
It worked. I was basically using a "Ground Dog" lead but with a plug socket instead of a dog at the other end.
Years later, while working through my own recovery from PTSD, I experienced that same "short-circuit" sensation. I began grounding every morning by standing barefoot on the grass, often joined by my dog. I realised then that nature had handed me a design brief: if the dog is already grounded, why not use that natural connection to ground the human?
What began as simple voltage observations during daily walks has evolved into a patent-pending system designed to bring that same "protection" into an everyday ritual many of us already share with our animals.
Ground Dog is developing step-by-step through craft, observation, and careful experimentation. I’m still working in the studio, and I’m still applying those same engineering principles to Ground Dog ensuring our system is as stable and resonant as the gear we use to record our favourite tracks. Our aim is to provide a simple, science-backed tool that connects people, animals, and the Earth beneath their feet.
The Prototype
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The first working Ground Dog system was produced as a handcrafted leather prototype made locally in Devon. The aim was simple: create a durable dog collar and lead that could carry a continuous core pathway from the dog’s natural contact with the Earth through to the human hand. Careful attention was given to materials, construction and comfort for both dog and walker. The leather version proved the concept and allowed the first real-world testing to begin.
The next stage was to refine a prototype made from cotton webbing, developed in collaboration with Storeys & Tails. This version is designed to be lighter, more accessible and easier to produce, while maintaining the conductive core that allows grounding to take place. Working with Storeys & Tails brings together practical craftsmanship and thoughtful design, helping to shape a version of Ground Dog that can move from prototype into wider use.
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​​The Pilot Observational Study
The leather prototype was used in an initial 4-week observational pilot study with a volunteer participant. The aim was not to make medical claims but to observe whether any measurable or experiential changes occurred during normal use of the grounding lead during daily walks.
The participant reported improvements in sleep quality, reductions in chronic pain, greater emotional calm and increased creativity and energy. These early observations are encouraging and have helped shape the design of the next round of prototypes and a broader pilot study.
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Voltage Experiments
Alongside the observational study, simple electrical measurements have been carried out using a digital multimeter. These tests demonstrate the basic principle behind Ground Dog: when the system is connected to the Earth, human body voltage drops significantly through the core pathway created by the collar, lead and handle contact.
These experiments are intentionally simple but important. They help confirm that the system is functioning electrically as intended, grounding the human body through the natural contact of the dog with the Earth.
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​Craft and Place
Ground Dog is being developed slowly and carefully in Devon, with a strong emphasis on craftsmanship and thoughtful design. Wherever possible, prototypes are made locally and tested in the landscapes that inspired the idea in the first place - woodland paths, fields and quiet country lanes.
Our Mission
Ground Dog® was born from a simple insight: if our animals are grounded by nature, we can be too. We are building a platform that reconnects humans, animals, and Earth through design-led, passive grounding technology. We are currently scaling our R&D and manufacturing to bring this reconnection to the everyday walk.
Standard continuity test on the full assembly. The resistance across the entire length of the conductive core, including the connector - zero ohms. We have successfully created a low-impedance path from collar to lead.
System Integrity & Voltage Drop
In this test, we demonstrate the system integrity of the Ground Dog® prototype using a standard bench-test protocol.
We are measuring the electrical continuity and voltage potential across the Ground Dog® system:
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The Setup: One end of our multimeter is connected to a verified Earth source (grounding cable).
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The Pathway: The multimeter is bridged through the Ground Dog® lead assembly.
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The Subject: The human user completes the circuit by making contact with the lead’s conductive handle.​​
The Full Pathway (Dog to Human)
In this test, we demonstrate the full-system continuity of the Ground Dog® prototype with a live, real-world subject: Binky, measuring the electrical resistance across the entire functional loop:​
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The Interface: The contacts integrated into the collar.
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The Link: The connection through the collar hardware to the lead.
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The Path: The lead’s embedded core.
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End Point: The conductive handle where the human hand makes contact.​
Binky is the active link. The moment the conductive pathway is completed, the multimeter reading drops, demonstrating the continuous, low-resistance connection that keeps you and your dog connected to the Earth, together.
The response is immediate. As the conductive pathway is completed, the multimeter reading drops, demonstrating the continuous, low-resistance connection between the user, Ground Dog and the Earth. The effect can also be seen in the body-voltage demonstration: the moment contact is made with the grounded lead, the measured electrical potential drops dramatically.
