[nagdu] Middle-aged Ben

Fri Sep 23 19:37:30 UTC 2011

Holly and I will always be young!
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Tracy Carcione" <carcione at access.net>
To: "NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users" 
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Friday, September 23, 2011 3:04 PM
Subject: [nagdu] Middle-aged Ben


> Tami, darned if I know how he got to be middle-aged!  But here he is,
> going to be 7 in a couple weeks.  Amazing!
> I guess Mitzi must be middle-aged, too, though that seems crazy.
> Tracy
>
>> Tracy,
>>
>> Mitzi says to tell Ben the Laveau style with all the extras is *very*
>> comfortable! She believes it is as comfortable as the sports style. She
>> likes it! /grin/
>>
>> How'd Ben get to be middle aged when I still think of him as a young
>> dog? /lol/
>>
>> Tami
>>
>> On Fri, 2011-09-23 at 13:10 -0400, Tracy Carcione wrote:
>>> Thanks Buddy.  This is exactly the kind of thing I needed to know.
>>> Benny
>>> is slowing down a bit, now he's middle-aged, so I do have to be careful
>>> not to overwalk him sometimes.  The Laveau sounds like it might be what
>>> I
>>> want.  I like the TSE harness, but I think a Pawpower harness will be
>>> handy to have.
>>>  Thanks for your input.
>>> Tracy
>>>
>>> > Hey Tracy,
>>> >
>>> > You're right: the total freedom of movement in the sport style harness
>>> > handle does require some care, as you can, if not careful, over walk
>>> your
>>> > dog. It seems unlikely that the handle would flip up in the way you
>>> > indicate, although I suppose that is a possibility, albeit a slim one.
>>> > However, the handle does move far enough that it could literally go up
>>> > over your dog's nose, but the backward pressure as your dog moves and
>>> as
>>> > you move would probably preclude this. Though it would be very
>>> possible to
>>> > over walk if you're not careful. The advantage is that you can make
>>> > extremely tight turns.
>>> >
>>> > It's not on the sight, but order the sport harness, and in the
>>> comments,
>>> > ask Bob to make you the Laveau style. This is a sport style with
>>> > stabilizer loops. I have one for Leno and absolutely love it. The
>>> loops
>>> > keep the handle at  a natural angle, the handle can't go up over your
>>> > dog's head, but you still feel all the movement through the shoulders
>>> the
>>> > way the straps are configured. Truly, I think the Laveau style gives
>>> the
>>> > best of both styles. It definitely has a different feel from the
>>> standard
>>> > American harness as you'd get from school. You really feel, not only
>>> the
>>> > pull into the front of the harness, but also the shoulder movement to
>>> some
>>> > extent. I quite like it.
>>> >
>>> > To tell you the truth, the only real reason I wanted another harness
>>> was
>>> > the removable handle. It's the one feature of Seeing Eye's harnesses
>>> that
>>> > I wish we had but don't. I don't have any issue with their name on the
>>> > back strap or anything of that nature. So, yes, the harness with loops
>>> > still has a removable handle. Just thread the handle through the
>>> loops,
>>> > then snap it together. The plastic backpack type fasteners that Bob
>>> and
>>> > Rox'e use are surprisingly sturdy; I think you'd have to try pretty
>>> hard
>>> > to damage one. Now having said that, beyond the removable handle, I
>>> really
>>> > enjoy using my Paw Power harness. It's lightweight, gives great
>>> feedback,
>>> > and looks sharp. Definitely count me as satisfied. And I got mine with
>>> all
>>> > the options: reflective tape and padding, I mean. Bob assures me the
>>> > reflective tape is sewn on, not glued, so it will hold up just fine in
>>> the
>>> > laundry.
>>> > --
>>> > Buddy Brannan, KB5ELV - Erie, PA
>>> > Phone: (814) 860-3194 or 888-75-BUDDY
>>> >
>>> >
>>> >
>>> > On Sep 23, 2011, at 10:56 AM, Tracy Carcione wrote:
>>> >
>>> >> I'm thinking about getting a Pawpower harness.  It would be nice to
>>> have
>>> >> something I can throw in the wash, especially with winter crud coming
>>> >> along.  I'd also like something where I could detach the handle.
>>> >> What I'm not sure about is which to get, sport or standard.  I need
>>> to
>>> >> be
>>> >> able to tell instantly when Ben is stopping for traffic or dodging a
>>> >> pedestrian.
>>> >> I'm a little worried that, with the sport, the handle might flip over
>>> >> his
>>> >> head.  I'm a little worried that, with the standard, it would be
>>> harder
>>> >> to
>>> >> take the handle off and on because of the stabilizer loops.
>>> >> What do those of you with Pawpower harnesses have to say?
>>> >> Tracy
>>> >>
>>> >>
>>> >>
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