[nagdu] wearing a harness.

[Shannon Dyer]

Viviana,

I definitely prefer the harness over the leash. All of my dogs have come from GDF where leash guiding is trained. I use it upon occasion, but not in public. I use it if I'm navigating an unfamiliar house. I use it to work my dog out to where he relieves himself. Like you, I feel the harness is appropriate, if not required, in public places.

Having said that, I suppose there are exceptions to every major rule. If someone does use leash guiding in public, I would hope they would ensure the good behavior of their dog. Leash guiding isn't an excuse for a free-for-all, IMO.

Shannon and the Acelet
On Nov 10, 2014, at 8:46 AM, Vivianna via nagdu <nagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:

> OK, it may not be the law that a guide dog has to wear a harness however, i respectfully strongly disagree that folks should just take their dogs around on a leash in public.  
> i am a college graduate myself and spent 4 years on a university campus working my dog, in harness.  it’s a huge place with, traffic, busses, stairs, ramps, bicycles, paths going off in all directions, etc.  i often had to walk a mile between classes and, sometimes had to take a bus to the next class.
> all of us on here know that, the public recognizes a guide dog by the harness.
> we are encountering more and more folks taking their pets around and saying that they are service dogs.
> allowing your dog to act like a pet during guide work is, IMO, not helping those of us who use our dogs as guides.  
> guiding on a leash, while possible, is not the recommended way to work a guide dog.  just ask any school.
> you can most definitely not feel the movements of the dog nearly as well as in a harness.
> man, all i can envision is a bunch of folks deciding that harnessing up is not necessary.  next thing, i will be in a store or restaurant, or, even at a national convention with a bunch of dogs, guides or not, on leashes, their owners feeding them treats and never giving them a correction for anything.  yuck!
> 
> i am proud to be a woman with a harnessed up guide at my side;
> Vivianna
> 
> 
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