[nagdu] Belly strap?

[S L Johnson]

Daryl:

Oh yes, I've never seen a guide dog harness that really fits well, 
especially with the smaller thinner dogs.  I've had dogs get completely out 
of their harnesses.  Sometimes they get their front feet out of the chest 
strap but the belly strap was still where it should be.  I've suggested to 
schools before that there be a way to also adjust the chest straps to better 
fit each dog.  With Eva's harness, it is either too tight or too loose in 
the belly strap and the chest strap is too big for her thin narrow chest. 
When she is lying down I frequently reach and touch her to be sure she isn't 
wiggling out.  It is very frustrating when you discover your dog has herself 
all tangled up in a half on harness when it is time for you to get off the 
bus or board a flight.  I often take her harness off when we're in a car or 
on long bus rides or flights to avoid her getting all twisted up but, then 
this does mean taking the time to quickly put it back on when it is time to 
leave.   There are all shapes and sizes of dogs and I guess it is difficult 
to find sizes that will fit all of them.  I'm sure the guide dog schools 
come up with the average measurements for most of their dogs,  which in most 
schools is the labrador.  Most of the male labs and some females are a bit 
broader in the shoulders and chest than some of the other breeds.  I know my 
female golden and some female labs I've seen all have chest straps that are 
too big for them.  It would be easy to add buckles on the side of the chest 
strap where it meets the rest of the harness body that would allow for 
adjustments

Sandra and Eva, the harness escaper

-----Original Message----- 
From: Daryl Marie via nagdu
Sent: Wednesday, November 11, 2015 8:22 PM
To: nagdu at nfbnet.org
Cc: Daryl Marie
Subject: [nagdu] Belly strap?

Hi, everyone! I know I asked this before, but I can't find the archives with 
that info.

Jenny's filling out really nicely, probably partly due to being on good food 
and preparing for winter. I came back from a run and noticed that the belly 
strap of her sports harness was basically resting against her belly. That 
one's easy to adjust, but her work harness seems to be a bit more 
problematic.
At her regular length, the belly strap rubs against her belly and the backs 
of her front legs. At the next length, I can fit my fingers between them, 
but working with that, it's a little floppy.        I think I can work with 
this, especially if I end up putting a coat on her. Anyone else's dog grow 
into this kinda funny no-dogs-land?

Daryl
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