[nagdu] where to buy guide dog harnesses
Lyn Gwizdak
linda.gwizdak at cox.net
Mon Apr 22 22:38:48 UTC 2013
Julie,
Hmmmm, now that you mentioned it, you're right. I had forgotten about the
placement of those D rings on the sides of the carting harness! When you
mentioned the placement of the rings, I got a mental picture of the harness
and saw what you meant. LOL! Yeah!
Guide Dogs of America used to have all-white harnesses and yes, they looked
like crap after awhile. When the harness wore out, the frays looked black
and ugly with the dirty grey that used to be brilliant white. The white
harness I got was one without the leather sealant on it so I got some brown
leather dye and sealant and redid the harness body and it looked great!
Now, GDA uses harnesses with a black body and white leather handle and I
think their leashes are black to go with the harness body. these look
better in general. Still, my favorite harnesses are the ones we get from
TSE!
Lyn and Landon
"Asking who's the man and who's the woman in an LGBT relationship is like
asking which chopstick is the fork" - Unknown
----- 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: Sunday, April 21, 2013 3:06 PM
Subject: Re: [nagdu] where to buy guide dog harnesses
> Lyn,
>
> the problem with the carting style of harness is that the D rings where
> you could attach a handle are further back, more on the sides of the dog.
> You couldn't put stabilizer loops on a carting harness for the handle
> because the handle connection is essentially directly under where the
> loops would be. The handle couldn't thread through, unless you wanted the
> handle to stand straight up.
>
> I think a carting harness could work in a pinch, but you are going to lose
> much of the shoulder movement which is what you normally feel through the
> handle. For beach use I think it'd be fine, but I wouldn't use a carting
> harness if I needed those subtle movements to give me details about what
> the dog is doing.
>
> And yes, making a guide harness isn't terribly difficult, especially if
> you have the dog right there to periodically check for fit. It is a very
> time consuming project though. If you are fairly comfortable with basic
> sewing, you could probably use the harness you have as a pattern and end
> up with a good harness.
>
> I have the supplies to make a harness sitting on my desk. They've been
> there for over a month. I know how much work it's going to be and I keep
> putting it off in favor of more fun projects! *smile*
>
> Last time I looked EBay had guide dog harnesses listed. They were actual
> companies selling their products, not used program harnesses though.
>
> Bridgeport Equipment has nice quality leather harnesses. However they are
> pretty heavy and the fit can be problematic for some breeds. If you have
> a tall narrow dog, the front chest strap is probably going to ride too
> low, more on the legs than the chest. They are also using a fake
> sheepskin stuff and it flattens and gets nasty pretty quickly. The
> leatherwork is nice.
>
> I also have a harness from a company in Canada, maybe Canam? I can't
> remember. It's a nylon harness they use with their program dogs. I liked
> that there is space on the sides for a print message or picture. I did
> not like how the front chest strap was constructed. It was way too high
> up for Monty. Maybe one of those skinny dogs would fit in it better. I
> ended up taking off the front chest strap and replacing it with a Y shaped
> front chest plate. That worked out well, but after a few months I noticed
> that Monty had a couple of small places on his belly where the underneath
> strap was rubbing.
>
> I have an LDS harness that I had for Belle. The customer service was bad.
> It took forever to get my order and even more time to get the rest of my
> order that wasn't in the first box. There was one place on the inside of
> the harness where the metal rivets weren't rounded correctly. It could
> have caused nasty sores if I hadn't cobbled together a solution. I
> suppose I could have sent it back, but by then I had had it with their
> service.
>
> I think that's all the harness companies I have first hand experience
> with. Oh, I also have a Pawpower harness. Monty outgrew it though and I
> passed it on to someone who needed a harness. It was lightweight and
> overall a nice harness.
>
> There are other companies that make harnesses. Some of them look pretty
> good, and others I don't think I'd waste money on. So far I've resisted
> buying more equipment I honestly don't need. *smile*
>
> All you guys that told me that a white harness would get dirty really
> quickly and that I shouldn't go with white...well, you were right.
> *sheepish smile* that is why I have harness parts sitting on my desk.
> The once very pretty white harness is now a dingy gray brown. *sigh* It
> did look really classy there for a few weeks. I've tried soaking it in
> bleach water with no luck.
>
> Anyway that really is all I know about harness companies.
>
> Julie
>
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Lyn Gwizdak
> Sent: Sunday, April 21, 2013 11:51 AM
> To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users
> Subject: Re: [nagdu] where to buy guide dog harnesses
>
> Harnesses also can be made. I have a friend who wanted a white leather
> harness so she bought the supplies based on her school harness and
> proceeded
> to make one. She did a nice jot of it! She did enlist the help of a
> leather worker who had a sewing machine for leather and he did that part
> of
> the project.
>
> Shannon, if you want a nylon harness and can't get one made anywhere, I'd
> get a nylon one at a pet supply place. the best kind are the carting
> harnesses that are very sturdy with fleece materal on the inside part -
> the
> parts that touch the dog's body. there are rings on each side and one on
> top. I've seen them mainly in black nylon. Then you can just attach a
> regular guide dog harness handle to this and you have a harness for the
> beach. For the handle, I'd strip the leather off so you're down to the
> bare
> metal. The harness body can be washed and dried - fleece is the fake kind
> like what fleece dog toys are made of and not real wool from a sheep.
>
> For the ears - the loops to pass the handle through - you can get two
> cheap
> nylon leashes and cut the handle loops off and have them rivetted on by
> someone who does leather work or a shoe repair place.
>
> The school harnesses are the property of the school you got them from.
> Most
> are stamped with the school name - usually on the back strap and sometimes
> also on the handle. I think the schools have asked eBay to not sell
> harnesses on their website but not sure if that pertains to harnesses that
> have a school name on them. But who knows, they can be stolen property or
> not and I don't think very enforceable.
>
> HTH
>
> Lyn and Landon
> "Asking who's the man and who's the woman in an LGBT relationship is like
> asking which chopstick is the fork" - Unknown
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Buddy Brannan" <buddy at brannan.name>
> To: "NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users"
> <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Sunday, April 21, 2013 8:41 AM
> Subject: Re: [nagdu] where to buy guide dog harnesses
>
>
>> Hi Ken,
>>
>> This is absolutely, completely, unequivocally incorrect.
>>
>> For one thing, of course anyone can buy a white cane. I've never, ever
>> been asked for proof of blindness to buy a white cane, and there are
>> several places you can get one.
>>
>> As for guide dog harnesses, I've said this a hundred times over the
>> years, at least. There's nothing magic about guide dog working gear, or,
>> for that matter, any dog working gear, and i believe the schools do us
>> all a disservice in their promulgating of the guide dog mystique in this
>> regard. While it's true that the harnesses we get from the school are
>> generally property of the school, there's nothing stopping you from
>> getting one from somewhere else They're really not terribly complicated;
>> I expect any decent maker of horse gear, for instance, could make you
>> one. But there are one or two places that will sell you a guide dog
>> harness; Bridgeport is one such. LDS used to be another, and I'm nearly
>> certain there are others besides. There's of course Paw Power Creations,
>> whose status seems to be a bit unknown at the moment. Point is, guide dog
>> working gear isn't particularly special if you know where to look.
>> --
>> Buddy Brannan, KB5ELV - Erie, PA
>> Phone: (814) 860-3194 or 888-75-BUDDY
>>
>>
>>
>> On Apr 21, 2013, at 10:04 AM, "Ken Ace" <ken at acenovels.com> wrote:
>>
>>> I am obviously misinformed because I am sure we were told by my school
>>> that
>>> "Harnesses are always the property of the school and where you get
>>> replacements". They likened it to white canes, you just can't go out and
>>> buy
>>> a white cane if you haven't gone through the training. Does anyone have
>>> any
>>> input?
>>> Ken & Ace
>>>
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: nagdu [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Christel
>>> Sogenbits
>>> Sent: Sunday, April 21, 2013 9:55 AM
>>> To: 'NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users'
>>> Subject: Re: [nagdu] where to buy guide dog harnesses
>>>
>>> Hello!
>>>
>>> It is very interesting question for me allso beacuse we have only one
>>> kind
>>> of harnesses here. Allso I would be really happy and thankful if
>>> somebody
>>> wants to write me offlist and describe their harnesses or send
>>> pictures.
>>> I can do picture of my guides harnesses and write there what part of
>>> it is
>>> made of metal and what part is made from leather if somebody is
>>> interested.
>>> Allso I can send you pictures do show how they are on my dog.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Tervitades / With greetings
>>> Christel Sogenbits
>>> GSM: +372 58 440 521
>>> E-mail: christel.chrissu at gmail.com
>>> Skype: christel.chrissu
>>>
>>>
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: nagdu [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Shannon L.
>>> Dillon
>>> Sent: Saturday, April 20, 2013 11:21 PM
>>> To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
>>> Subject: [nagdu] where to buy guide dog harnesses
>>>
>>> Hi, does anyone know where to get guide dog harnesses (other than the
>>> ones
>>> we can get from our schools)? I got my previous harness from Paw Power
>>> Creations but their web site doesn't seem to be functioning anymore.
>>> I'm
>>> looking for another lightweight, flexible, nonleather harness to use on
>>> the
>>> beach this summer, and I would have gotten it from Paw Power Creations
>>> if
>>> they were up and running. I love my old one but I had it made without
>>> stabilizer loops and I wanted to have one made with the stabilizer
>>> loops.
>>> Does anyone know of alternatives?
>>> Thanks.
>>> -Shannon and Yalie
>>>
>>>
>>>> From: graduate56 at juno.com
>>>> To: nagdu at nfbnet.org
>>>> Date: Sat, 20 Apr 2013 12:57:23 -0600
>>>> Subject: Re: [nagdu] my surgery
>>>>
>>>> thats a really good description of the exhibit hall.
>>>> I remember when I took my girl to convention for the first time. We
>>>> got through the crowd in the exhibit hall and to tables. She found the
>>>> Gdf table right away. she was so happy with herself for it. She knows
>>>> her school.
>>>> Lol!
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Blessings,
>>>> Sincerely,
>>>> Melissa and Pj
>>>> Find me on:
>>>> Twitter melissa5674
>>>> facebook Melissa R Green
>>>> Linkedin www.linkedin.com/in/melissagreen5674
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>>> From: "Jenine Stanley" <jeninems at wowway.com>
>>>> To: "'NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users'"
>>>> <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
>>>> Sent: Saturday, April 20, 2013 12:43 PM
>>>> Subject: Re: [nagdu] my surgery
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Hi Mary,
>>>>
>>>> So glad the surgery went well. Please give us a call at GDF and Barb
>>>> can talk to you about recovery and getting back to work with Felix.
>>>>
>>>> As for the national convention, what's really nice about the exhibit
>>>> hall is that there is a great description printed ahead of time and
>>>> possibly even a tactile map you can look at prior to going in so you
>>>> know where you are going.
>>>>
>>>> I use the "Find the counter" command a lot to have Swap take me to the
>>>> edges of tables when he can. Sometimes, and not to be crude here, you
>>>> just encounter a wall of butts. That's why when reaching out to see
>>>> what's in front of me, I use the back of my hand initially to see how
>>>> close we are to people. <grin>
>>>>
>>>> Enjoy.
>>>>
>>>> Jenine Stanley
>>>> jeninems at wowway.com
>>>> http://www.twitter.com/jeninems
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>> From: nagdu [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Mary
>>>> Wurtzel
>>>> Sent: Saturday, April 20, 2013 1:18 PM
>>>> To: 'NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users'
>>>> Subject: [nagdu] my surgery
>>>>
>>>> Hello all,
>>>>
>>>> I wanted to share about my recent surgery and how it went fore Felix
>>>> and
>>> me.
>>>> First, for some reason, the hospital said I could bring my dog but had
>>>> to find my own way to take him out. I didn't have family who could be
>>>> there whenever Felix needed to go out. I decided to board him at the
>>>> vet for the three days I was in the hospital. That went fine.
>>>> The rehabilitation facility allowed me to bring my dog. They were
>>>> willing to have staff to take him out. I could not walk for two weeks
>>>> after surgery.
>>>> I am very grateful to all of the nursing care aids who took Felix out
>>>> for me.
>>>> Felix was on a tie-down on one side of my bed. I was fortunate to have
>>>> a private room.
>>>> Friends of mine who also have guide dogs came and groomed and
>>>> exercised Felix for me.
>>>> I took him on leash with me to the dining room in a wheelchair.
>>>> Because I did not use the harness, I let people pet him. The other
>>>> clients and the staff really enjoyed having a dog to pet. Some of the
>>>> people were seniors who had ffallen or had replacement type surgeries.
>>>> They love to remember dogs that they had during their lives.
>>>> It was kind of neat because Felix seemed to know I was in pain. He
>>>> would come right up to the side of the bed and stand close so I could
>>>> pet
>>> him.
>>>> After two and a half weeks I could come home. I have a boot on my foot
>>>> and still cannot work Felix. I worry about this. I now have about a
>>>> week and a half before I can walk again.
>>>> I have let Felix out in the fenced in yard to play with our pet dog.
>>>> My husband took Felix for a walk, but he dragged back and wouldn't go.
>>>> All I can think is that maybe he didn't want to leave me.
>>>> This surgery is hopefully going to make it possible for me to have
>>>> better balance when I walk. I am excited to see how successful it will
>>>> be. I am just praying that my pup will still remember how to be a
>>>> guide
>>> dog.
>>>> I am so blessed to have such wonderful friends and a great family.
>>>> This will be my first national convention to have a guide dog. I think
>>>> the thing I dread the most is going to the exhibit hall with a dog
>>>> guide.
>>>> I AM SO ENJOYING THIS LIST AND HOPE TO MEET SOME OF OUR FOLKS IN
>>>> Orlando.
>>>> Mary
>>>>
>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>> From: nagdu [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Tracy
>>>> Carcione
>>>> Sent: Saturday, April 20, 2013 10:29 AM
>>>> To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users
>>>> Subject: Re: [nagdu] coming on command - was no follow up
>>>>
>>>> My first dog Glade thought running away and not coming were a great
>>>> game. A
>>>>
>>>> couple times, she accidently got loose, and I had a heck of a time
>>>> catching her again. She would always come when she saw her harness,
>>>> though, so I'd try to get close enough to her to show it to her, and
>>>> the game would be over.
>>>>
>>>> I quote the Irish Rovers, sort of:
>>>> Those labradors were hiding, playing silly games.
>>>>
>>>> From the Unicorn song, explaining why there aren't any more around.
>>>> Tracy
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>>> From: "Daniel" <daniel.sweeney1 at comcast.net>
>>>> To: "'NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users'"
>>>> <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
>>>> Sent: Friday, April 19, 2013 3:07 PM
>>>> Subject: [nagdu] coming on command - was no follow up
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>> Hi Eve and everyone,
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> I was having the same problems with having Cass coming to me when I
>>>>> called, and to some extent still do. Although I never allow her to
>>>>> be off leash in the common area behind my townhome, I will go out on
>>>>> a 25 foot leash and practice recall with food treats. This is what
>>>>> my field rep advised me when she visited me on my second month home
>>>>> after complaining about this problem.
>>>>> I explained to her that I was having problems with recall both in
>>>>> and out of the house. After returning home and keeping Cass on leash
>>>>> for about 5 weeks, I let her off and when I called her she would not
>>>>> come to me. We would do obedience training, sit, down, stay, and
>>>>> come at short distances and she would do just fine, but when we were
>>>>> at ease she would not come to me when
>>>>
>>>>> I
>>>>> called. Talk about frustrating - to be upstairs and call and have no
>>>>> dog come, or to be ten feet away and call her to come to me and she
>>>>> would just ignore me. Things really came to a head when I went to a
>>>>> friend's house and she was playing in the yard with his dogs. He
>>>>> called his dogs to come in and Cass refused to come inside. He went
>>>>> to the back door and she would run from my friend. I went to the
>>>>> door and she would ignore my command to come inside. I finally was
>>>>> able to get her to come inside by filling her food bowl, and then
>>>>> snagging her with the leash. That was the last time she was off
>>>>> leash until the field rep came. We started working with high value
>>>>> food rewards. This has seemed to work for the most part, but there
>>>>> are still some occasional instances where she will stay just out of
>>>>> my reach when I call her, and not come to me as if I am playing a
>>>>> game. Needless to say this really ticks me off since I have never
>>>>> had a dog that has done this. I have had quite a few dogs. She has a
>>>>> HUGE stubborn streak. I would never let her be off leash outside
>>>>> unless the area was securely enclosed, and then only with
>>>>> hesitation. I am just glad she is food motivated. The fact that we
>>>>> have only been together for a bit over 4 months lets me think that
>>>>> in time she will become a little more attached and this problem will
>>>>> solve itself.
>>>>>
>>>>> I apologize for the long winded emails, but when I get going, I
>>>>> really get going.
>>>>>
>>>>> Daniel and Cass
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>> nagdu mailing list
>>>>> nagdu at nfbnet.org
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>>>>> .net
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> _______________________________________________
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>>>>
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>>
>>
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