While the world was stuck indoors during COVID, I moved to the Bay Area and adopted Hildegard. The region is a dog lover’s dream, but hidden in the grass is *foxtail weed*, a pernicious seed that can lodge in ears, nose, eyes, and skin. Two weeks into the season, Hilde caught a foxtail in her ear, sending us to an emergency vet and costing a negative $400.

I first tried the “Out Fox Field Guard,” a $50 vinyl‑coated mesh bag that covers a dog’s head. It triggered aggression in some dogs, was difficult to use for treats, and could be pierced when Hilde chewed her toys. I wanted something tighter, more durable, and less obtrusive.

I designed a thin helmet shell that conforms to Hilde’s face, with replaceable mesh inserts for breathability. Using the iPhone TrueDepth sensor and the Scandy Pro app, I 3‑D scanned her head, then CAD‑modeled the shell and printed it in resin. The prototype fits well, feels comfortable, and even doubles as a Go‑Pro mount.

The helmet worked on Hilde, but larger dogs sometimes feel threatened by its silhouette. Future iterations might use a single “bonnet” for the ears or experiment with color. Feedback on better foxtail protection gear is welcome.