# Towards Robotic Companions: Understanding Handler-Guide Dog Interactions for Informed Guide Dog Robot Design

arXiv: https://arxiv.org/abs/2402.06790 · HTML: https://mlsanity.com/paper/2402.06790/

## Key facts

- Cited by 9 papers in the map (data through 14 Oct 2026).
- First posted on arXiv 9 Feb 2024.

## Built on by (most cited first, 9 of 9)

- [Generating Contextually-Relevant Navigation Instructions for Blind and Low Vision People](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2407.08219/) (2024)
- [Space-Aware Instruction Tuning: Dataset and Benchmark for Guide Dog Robots Assisting the Visually Impaired](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2502.07183/) (2025)
- ["We are at the mercy of others' opinion": Supporting Blind People in Recreational Window Shopping with AI-infused Technology](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2405.06611/) (2024)
- [GuideNav: User-Informed Development of a Vision-Only Robotic Navigation Assistant For Blind Travelers](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2512.06147/) (2025)
- [Pet-Bench: Benchmarking the Abilities of Large Language Models as E-Pets in Social Network Services](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2506.03761/) (2025)
- [Birds of a Different Feather Flock Together: Exploring Opportunities and Challenges in Animal-Human-Machine Teaming](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2504.13973/) (2025)
- [Understanding the Use of a Large Language Model-Powered Guide to Make Virtual Reality Accessible for Blind and Low Vision People](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2603.09964/) (2026)
- [Lightweight and Resource-Efficient Perception for Robotic Guide Dogs](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2610.03187/) (2026)
- [NavAble: A Large-Scale Dataset and Synthetic Data Generation Pipeline for Blind Navigation](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2610.19330/) (2026)

## Abstract (arXiv)

Dog guides are favored by blind and low-vision (BLV) individuals for their ability to enhance independence and confidence by reducing safety concerns and increasing navigation efficiency compared to traditional mobility aids. However, only a relatively small proportion of BLV individuals work with dog guides due to their limited availability and associated maintenance responsibilities. There is considerable recent interest in addressing this challenge by developing legged guide dog robots. This study was designed to determine critical aspects of the handler-guide dog interaction and better understand handler needs to inform guide dog robot development. We conducted semi-structured interviews and observation sessions with 23 dog guide handlers and 5 trainers. Thematic analysis revealed critical limitations in guide dog work, desired personalization in handler-guide dog interaction, and important perspectives on future guide dog robots. Grounded on these findings, we discuss pivotal design insights for guide dog robots aimed for adoption within the BLV community.