[nagdu] Harnesses Re: Introduction

[The Pawpower Pack]

Jewel,

I live in Louisiana and I can tell you that my dogs much prefer their  
nylon gear.  I'm not just saying this because my husband makes them,  
either.  I bought my first nylon harness long before he made them and  
I swore I'd never go back to leather.  My dog used to hide from her  
leather harness but she runs and all three of my dogs shove their  
heads into the nylon one, all at once.  It is kind of funny, actually.

One of the things I love about my nylon harness, besides the fact that  
my dog loves it is that I can just toss it in the wash with her  
collar.  Louisiana is rainy and dirty.  My dog's gear gets dirty and I  
found with leather that I was always having to oil it and dry it out  
and caring for it became a big pain in the neck.  If my harness gets  
muddy; I just toss it in the wash and hang it up to dry.  Actually I  
washed dog gear today and it was super easy.

As for the sports vs standard style harness it's all individual  
preference.  I have very serious balance problems and although I do  
love how much freedom of movement I could get with a sports style  
harness; I need the stabilizer loops to keep me from over-walking my  
dog and to keep my handle from moving all over the place.  One of my  
close friends works her guide from a wheelchair and she finds that the  
sports style allows her dog to have more movement and it works best  
for her.  It really just depends.

The relieving harness is only put on the dog when it is time to  
toilet.  It is never warn otherwise.  Well I guess if you wanted to  
put it on you could, but it's there to be used as to pick up dog  
droppings.  I have meniere's disease and my balance is pretty  
terrible.  I can't bend over without experiencing horrible vertigo and  
falling over.  A relieving harness means that my dog's droppings are  
already in the bag and I just unclip it from the relieving harness and  
toss them.
It is also helpful for people in wheelchairs or people with spinal  
problems who find bending over to the ground impossible.

As for the programs approving or not of the harnesses-- I really don't  
no and I'd imagine that such things as use of specific equipment on  
the program trained dog may be laid out in the contract which most  
programs have the graduate sign upon completion of training with the  
dog.
Since I don't have a program trained dog; I can't personally speak to  
those issues.


Rox and the "Kitchen Bitches:"
Bristol (retired), Mill'E SD. and Laveau Guide Dog, CGC.
"My goal in life is to become as wonderful as my dog thinks I am."
http://www.pawpowercreations.com/retreat.html
pawpower4me at gmail.com
AIM: Brissysgirl