[nagdu] new harness

Sat Oct 8 15:00:20 UTC 2011

Julie mink oil will help, but they do loosen up after a while with use.  The 
more you handle the leather the oil from your skin will also make it softer.
Julie Phillipson
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Julie J." <julielj at neb.rr.com>
To: "NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users" 
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Friday, October 07, 2011 5:57 PM
Subject: [nagdu] new harness


> Hello all!
>
> I have a harness review and some questions.  As you already know I broke 
> my foot quite spectacularly.  Resulting from that, I haven't been able to 
> walk for almost three months now.  Beginning on Wednesday I can begin to 
> put weight on the foot, which will eventually lead to being able to walk! 
> I'm excited!
>
> I decided to cross train Monty to assist me with mobility tasks as well as 
> his guiding.  We have been working on brace for a while now.  He's doing 
> great.   Up to this point I've had him brace with no harness or a soft 
> vest.
>
> The new Bridgeport mobility harness arrived today.  Here are my first 
> impressions.  Please be sure to note this is primarily a mobility harness 
> that I'm
> hopefully going to be using temporarily while I recover from my foot 
> injury.  I'm hoping to transition back to a guide harness later.
>
> I got the two strap 6 inch rigid handle mobility harness in brown, size 
> large. I haven't used a leather harness in many years.  I was surprised at 
> how stiff the
> leather was when I first picked it up.   I bent and twisted the straps to 
> try to soften them, but I think it's going to take quite a bit to really 
> work
> the leather.
>
> Next observation was that this thing has a load of buckles.  It took me 
> quite a while to get them all adjusted to fit Monty.  He was not amused 
> with how
> many times I had to put the harness on and take it off again.  Both of the 
> shoulder straps adjust, the martingale, the girth strap and the second 
> strap
> that goes further back on the rib cage has adjustments on both sides. 
> It's a total of 6 buckles.
>
> The front of the harness is essentially in the shape of a print letter Y. 
> The center of this Y has a padded leather plate that sits against the 
> dog's
> breastbone.  I really like this feature.  It doesn't restrict the 
> shoulders and keeps any pressure on the breastbone.  It's almost the same 
> as the front of his nylon guide dog harness.
>
> the main body of the harness consists of two straps that go around the 
> dog.  This is to keep the harness stable since it's used to help you keep 
> your balance
> or support some of your weight.  the harness cannot slip around or shift. 
> the girth strap is wider, maybe 1 inch.  At the top of this strap is where 
> the
> handle is attached.   The top of this strap is wider, maybe 2 inches. The 
> handle is covered in leather.  It comes straight up and is fixed in place. 
> the second belly strap is a bit narrower, maybe 3/4
> of an inch. These two straps are connected by leather straps at the top 
> and bottom of the harness.
>
> What I don't like:
> The straps are very stiff and difficult to adjust.  I think this will 
> correct itself with time and use.
> The fake sheepskin padding is cheap.  It's already coming off.  I think I 
> will replace it with different padding, but I'll wait to see how it wears.
> the  belly strap is sewn into the martingale, which means that I have to 
> either buckle and unbuckle the shoulder straps to get the harness on or 
> pull a
> foot through the loop of the belly strap and martingale.
> The fixed handle sits right behind his shoulders.  any weight put on the 
> handle is going to be on his spine instead of the shoulders, which are 
> much
> stronger.   I don't think this will be a huge problem, since I am 
> anticipating needing balance help more than weight bearing help.   I think 
> if I do need
> more than the occasional weight bearing assistance, I will need to look 
> for a different harness.  I don't think this one would be safe for long 
> term use.
>
> What I like:
> the front Y shape of the harness and the chest plate are a good design 
> feature.
> The leather used is high quality.
> The buckles and other hardware are also excellent quality.
> The second strap helps a lot to keep the harness from twisting on the dog 
> without adding a lot of weight.
> Customer service was courteous and helpful each time I called.
> The price of the harness is extremely affordable.
>
> I think it will work for what I need in the next few months.  I think 
> though if I decide I need a mobility harness long term, I will have one 
> custom made
> with the handle over the shoulders.
>
> My questions are about leather care.  I haven't had a leather harness for 
> quite a few years.  Is there something I can do to make the leather 
> softer?  I've been bending and twisting it.  Is that all I need to do is 
> just keep working it?  Also is there something I should put on it, like 
> some sort of oil or leather protector?  I think I have some stuff I bought 
> for leather boots, but I can't remember what it is and I don't know if 
> it's still good.
>
> If there is anyone here that uses your guide for mobility assistance, I'd 
> love to hear what you've found helpful and what didn't work. So far all 
> I've taught Monty is brace, which means to stand still and steady while I 
> push or pull to get up from a chair or the floor.  Eventually I plan to 
> walk holding onto the rigid handle, using it primarily for balance.  I 
> will have him brace on curbs and steps.
>
> I think for the next little while I'll be moving slowly enough that I will 
> be able to have him guide with the rigid handle.  When I can walk at 
> something approaching a normal pace I will either go back to his regular 
> guide harness or add a guide handle to the mobility harness.  If I go with 
> the second option, I would most likely use the guide handle when walking, 
> then switch to the rigid handle for curbs, steps and uneven ground. That's 
> the plan and plans change. *smile*  I'll just have to wait and see how 
> things go in the next few weeks and months.
>
> Julie
>
>
>
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