[NAGDU] Pilot Dogs Harness Question

[I]

Here’s my history on the Pilot harness. They used to be made by Hennick’s Harness shop on South High Street. Not sure if that’s still there or not. That business made harnesses for the horses at Scioto Downs and Beula Park Raceway. You could not just walk in either and get one. You could get yours repaired but they would always call to verify your identity first. 

The harness itself is a very simple design. The handle fits into small D-rings so it doesn’t move much, and yes, it was heavy back in the late ‘80’s when I had them. 

OK, here’s the story of the white handle. When I had my Pilot dogs, from 1987 to 1990, I had my O&M instructor friend use the reflective tape they use on canes to cover my harness handle shafts and he also wrapped it around the breast strap. I worked a very early morning shift and often had to walk to the bus in the dark. This made us much more visible. I’m so psyched to see them incorporate it into the design. The orange handles did have some reflectivity but not as much as the white. I’m sure that makes the harness look pretty cool too. 

When I was there the handles only came in 3 sizes and if one of those sizes didn’t work for you, too bad. I lucked out with my second dog and she had the perfect handle fit. Not so for my first dog though. 

The smooth snap in piece for the breast strap is nice to strengthen that strap which gets quite stretched out over time.

On 4/20/16, 9:30 AM, "NAGDU on behalf of Caitlyn Furness via NAGDU" <nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org on behalf of nagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:

>Lizzie,
>My husband has a dog from Pilot.
>
>theharness is not anything spectacularly different from ost guide dog harnesses…
>
>the chest strap can accommodate a snap in peice, which is a leather strip with prongs or pegs on it.  they use this for dogs with a really strong pull.  the dog learns by himself not to pull too hard.  If you don’t need this strip, there is a “blank” leather peice which is smooth that you can snap on there instead of the prong one.
>
>there is a chest strap which goes around the front of the dog, and a back strap/belly strap which goes around the dog’s body just behind the front legs.
>
>the handle is pretty heavy.  It does not come off the harness unless you can unbend the metal at the dee ring where it connects to the harness body.  The metal is now covered in a reflective white material rather then the orange it used to be covered with.  the hand grip is leather, not really cushiony, but comfortable to hold nonetheless.  the bunny ears are longer then most guide harnesses, but they do sit closer to the harness body then others I’ve seen.  The harness snaps on the dog’s right side with a standard bolt snap.
>
>I know they are made by the Amish, but don’t know anything else other then that.
>
>hth,
>Caitlyn
>
>> On Apr 19, 2016, at 10:18 PM, Lisie Foster via NAGDU <nagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>> 
>> Hello, again! OK this is my last post for today, *smiles*!
>> 
>> If anyone on the list has or has had a dog from Pilot Dogs, I was wondering if you'd be willing to describe what their harnesses look like and what makes them different from other schools' harnesses?
>> 
>> I know that they are made to accommodate a clip-on chest piece, that they have a white handle with a leather grip, but other than that, I can't quite figure out why they seem so different. 
>> 
>> Are the stabilizing bunny ears attached differently? They seem different, somehow, perhaps closer to the body of the harness. Also, is there any reflective material on their harnesses at all? 
>> 
>> Despite Pilot harnesses being the ones I've seen most often, since we live not too far from the school, I've never been able to figure out what it is that makes them so distinct from the other schools' harnesses (like TSE, GDF, etc.). 
>> 
>> Also, I love Pilot's leashes. I really wish I knew someone who sold them to the public, because I'd buy one in a second! I like the fact that they're adjustable and are quite a bit longer than most guide dog leashes. The leash I'm currently using is a typical guide dog style leash, but is *much* longer, being seven feet long from one end of the leather to the other. I believe Pilot's leashes are about six feet long.
>> 
>> If there are any Pilot graduates who might be willing to answer, I'd appreciate it so much. I love the look of Pilot's harnesses, yet can't exactly figure out what makes them so distinct.
>> 
>> You can email me off-list, too, at lisiefoster @ yahoo.com. Thank you all, again!
>> 
>> Sincerely,
>> Lisie and Finn, the Buckeyes
>> 
>> Lisie and Finn
>> lisiefoster at yahoo.com
>> Sent from my iPhone
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