[nagdu] The Requirement of a Harness

Mon Aug 31 01:31:54 UTC 2009

Oh, I think I see. You are talking about leaving her with staff at the
doctor's office? I was thinking of times when I have left my dog with a
friend. In those instances, I leave the harness on. I am nnot sure what I
would do if I had to leave her with a stranger.

I don't think the harnesses are particularly uncomfortable. Each of my dogs
has had occasions where she has been in harness for many hours. I recently
left Yani's on for a nine-hour train ride. I know some people would handle
things differently. But I did not want to try to find a place to stowe the
harness along with everything else I was carrying. Yani still slept through
most of the train ride. 

There's certainly nothing wrong with removing the harness in similar
instances. I often remove it for car rides of a half-hour or more. 

Angie

-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
Of Nicole B. Torcolini
Sent: Sunday, August 30, 2009 8:30 PM
To: 'NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users'
Subject: Re: [nagdu] The Requirement of a Harness

Although I do let people lightly pet Lexia when she is in the harness, I do
not generally allow them to interact with her fully.  Also, not that it
would happen, but I prefer not to leave her with someone who is not versed
in guide dog use with the harness on in case they somehow tried to use the
harness.  I also do not necessarily consider the harness comfortable.  For a
few occasions , I had to leave her for over an hour and a half.

-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
Of Angie Matney
Sent: Sunday, August 30, 2009 1:58 PM
To: 'NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users'
Subject: Re: [nagdu] The Requirement of a Harness

Hi Nicole,

The vest sounds interesting. In that situation, I would leave the harness
on. I am not criticizing your choice to do otherwise. Why do you choose to
remove the harness in that instance?

Thanks,

Angie

-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
Of Nicole B. Torcolini
Sent: Sunday, August 30, 2009 3:35 PM
To: 'NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users'
Subject: Re: [nagdu] The Requirement of a Harness

For those times that Lexia is out of the harness, but I still need people to
know that she is a guide dog, she has a vest that I bought and sewed two
patches on; I don't remember what the patches say.  .  An example of a time
that I would use it is I take her to the doctor with me and have to leave
her with someone because she can not go into a certain area. 

-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
Of Julie J
Sent: Sunday, August 30, 2009 8:04 AM
To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users
Subject: Re: [nagdu] The Requirement of a Harness

Marion,

*let's consider our stays in hotels. During convention, I always give my dog
a day off in the middle of the convention. However, our policy requires us
to not leave our dog unattended in the rooms. Therefore, I allow my dog to
accompany me out of harness. From your perspective, would this be unethical?

*
For me this is not something I would do.  When I went to convention with
Belle I did give her time off, but I did have her harness on while I used my
cane and took her along on leash.

*suppose I want to relieve my
dog. Should I be required to harness my dog to take her out if I do not wish
to work her? * Again for me it would depend on where I was, how far it was
to the place to relieve her and what I would have to go through to get
there.  At a large, no pets hotel, with a long way to go to get outside, yes
I would probably put the harness on whether or not I was working her or
using my cane.

*And, if while I am out, I decide to stop into the restaurant to get a
couple of cups of coffee to take back to my room for merry and me, should I
be restricted from entering into the restaurant if my dog is not in harness?
* Restricted, I don't know.  Again I would not be comfortable taking my
guide dog into a restaurant out of harness.
*Does my dog pose any greater threat to those in the restaurant if she is
not in harness?* No, not at all.  But I don't think that is the issue.

*    While I am at work and the dog is lying under my desk, should I be 
required to keep my dog in harness to satisfy some ethical consideration? *
no.  That is your space.

*Some schools and even more users train their dogs to guide on leash without
the harness.  Again, if I am at work and wish to get a drink or step outside
for some fresh air, should I be required to put the harness on my dog?*
Required? no, I don't think so, but again I think I would put the harness on
to do these things.  I also teach my dogs to leash guide, but even if I am
using leash guiding in a public situation, I still have the dog in harness.

I don't think it's an easy distinction to make, when to put on the harness
and when not to.  I think Ann Edie said it all better than I could ever
explain in her post from last week or the week before.  I don't think that
we should be required to have our dogs in harness in particular situations. 
I do think we need to make every effort to make sure that the public knows
that our guide dogs are guide dogs.  I think this is best done by having
them wear their harnesses.  Incidentally I also think that other types of
service dogs should wear a vest or other identifying equipment, not because
it is required, but because it is an easy way to identify them as service 
dogs.   It's like a name tag.  Sure people can do a job without a name tag, 
but doesn't it make things easier for the public when you can be easily
identified?

I definitely don't think we need more rules about when or where or how to
handle our guide dogs, but at the same time I think we need to do everything
in our power to help the public understand what is what so that no one feels
that more rules are in order.

Of course this is JMHO
Julie

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