[nagdu] wagging and harness or not happy about working?

Mon Jun 17 13:27:17 UTC 2013

Hi all,
When I first got Pascal, he would get really excited when he knew we were heading out for a walk or to work. As soon as I put on my shoes or grabbed the keys, he thought he was going. But, as soon as I grabbed his harness, he would back away or go hide. In a hurry, I must have accidentally hit him in the head with the harness.  I was told by my field rep some good tips on how to get the harness on him without bumping his head. You have the dog heel, and sit. Then, you put the harness on in the way that Tracy and Meghan have described. When you have it on, have the dog stand back up so that you can buckle the harness. I am not sure how all the schools teach the dog to stand back up, but at GDB you gently press the dog under his/her stomach, or simply say stand or up. This maneuver has helped tremendously and Pascal hardly ever backs away from the harness. 
Deanna

-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Meghan Whalen
Sent: Saturday, June 15, 2013 2:25 PM
To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
Subject: Re: [nagdu] wagging and harness or not happy about working?

I was taught to do the same as Tracy. Put my left hand under the dog's chin. I was also taught to fold the straps up and hold them against the back strap while slipping the harness over the dog's head so that the straps won't bump the dog in the nose/face while harnessing up.
I grew sloppy about holding the straps with one of my dogs and noticed a definite loss in enthusiasm for the harness going on, so I have made a conscious effort since then to always hold the straps back. It doesn't take much longer, and it is only fair to make the process as pleasant as possible for the dog.

Meghan
On 6/15/2013 8:23 AM, Tracy Carcione wrote:
> I was taught, many moons ago, to put my hand under the dog's chin 
> while putting on the harness.  This tells me exactly where his head 
> is, so I don't bump him with the harness, and it keeps him from 
> backing up or turning his head and getting banged. I don't know if 
> they still teach this, but it's worked well for me.
> 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, June 14, 2013 8:34 PM
> Subject: Re: [nagdu] wagging and harness or not happy about working?
>
>
>> That's the same here, Cass gets so serious. She won't always back up 
>> when I
>> pull the harness over the head, but about 80% of the time. I have 
>> tried to
>> start getting real excited like we are going to have a real party and
>> sometimes that keeps her from backing up, not always.
>> I guess as long as she does a great job as she always does I won't worry
>> about it.
>> It's just when others talk about their pups jumping into their 
>> harness, it
>> makes me feel like a bad dad,, or like my kid is rebelling against me.
>> Silly, eh?
>>
>> Daniel and Cass
>> Lakewood, Colorado
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: nagdu [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Julie 
>> McGinnity
>> Sent: Friday, June 14, 2013 2:30 PM
>> To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users
>> Subject: Re: [nagdu] wagging and harness or not happy about working?
>>
>> Hi Daniel and all,
>>
>> I am the one who started this whole thing.  My dog does not like to
>> get into her harness.  She still enjoys working, and she never refuses
>> the harness, but it's like her whole demeanor changes when I put the
>> harness on.  She loses all her bounce.  The school told me that this
>> is just how she works.  Apparently, it's rare, but some dogs are just
>> like that.  But yes, she really hates when I put the harness on.  I
>> wonder if she has head issues too.  Interesting.
>>
>> It's awesome how these dogs have such different personalities.
>>
>> On 6/14/13, tina thomas <judotina48kg at gmail.com> wrote:
>>> Hello everyone all of my dogs couldn't wait to jump into their harness
>> even
>>> better yet when they saw me pick my purse up my keys or my shoes 
>>> they were
>>> ready to go Tina and the girls
>>>
>>> Sent from my iPhone
>>>
>>> On Jun 14, 2013, at 1:03 PM, "Daniel" <daniel.sweeney1 at comcast.net> 
>>> wrote:
>>>
>>>> Hi,
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> I am not sure how long the posts have been going about dogs being 
>>>> happy
>>>> to
>>>> get into their harness when you get ready to go since my email has 
>>>> been
>>>> messed up but here goes.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> I have always had an issue with Cass, with only a few exceptions where
>>>> she
>>>> pulls away from me when I put her harness on. After it is on, she 
>>>> works
>>>> like
>>>> a champ, and seems perfectly content. She is all work, and extremely
>>>> focused
>>>> on her job. She does not want to get the physical praise as much as 
>>>> just
>>>> verbal praise, and her usual kibble.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> When I brought this up to my field rep, who is no longer with me, she
>>>> said
>>>> that Cass was head-shy and that it had nothing to do with not 
>>>> wanting to
>>>> work.
>>>>
>>>> I must admit I am always taken a back a bit when she resists the 
>>>> harness
>>>> since I feel like she doesn't want to go, but I go with what my rep 
>>>> said.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Does anyone else have any similar issue?
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Daniel and Cass
>>>>
>>>> Lakewood, Colorado
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
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>> m
>>>
>>
>>
>> -- 
>> Julie McG
>> National Association of Guide dog Users board member,  National
>> Federation of the Blind performing arts division secretary,
>> Missouri Association of Guide dog Users President,
>> and Guiding Eyes for the Blind graduate 2008
>> "For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that
>> everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal
>> life."
>> John 3:16
>>
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