[NAGDU] Cait, please write me

Sat Apr 23 14:03:54 UTC 2016

Sorry for cluttering the list with this, but Cait, could you write me
privately we were corresponding but I can't find your Email

Sorry guys.

Dan W.

-----Original Message-----
From: NAGDU [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Caitlyn Furness
via NAGDU
Sent: Saturday, April 23, 2016 6:48 AM
To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users
Cc: Caitlyn Furness
Subject: Re: [NAGDU] Guide Dog Harnesses of the Past was Re:
PilotDogsHarness Question

Well, I used to have a pretty good collection, but have lost most of it in
various moves, etc.

I am a dog equipment junkie, though, so who knows??  lol

Cait

> On Apr 22, 2016, at 6:34 PM, S L Johnson via NAGDU <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
wrote:
> 
> Caitlyn:
> 
> Wouldn't it be interesting to have an exhibit of all kinds of old 
> guide dog equipment that we could feel and explore?
> 
> Sandra
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Caitlyn Furness via NAGDU
> Sent: Friday, April 22, 2016 1:29 PM
> To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users
> Cc: Caitlyn Furness
> Subject: Re: [NAGDU] Guide Dog Harnesses of the Past was Re: Pilot 
> DogsHarness Question
> 
> Lizzie,
> 
> The older harnesses had a rigid handle, but it wasnā?Tt metal, like today.

> the older handles were made of stiff leather, and the dogs back then 
> pulled like mac trucks.
> 
> My own guide dog use only goes back 30 years, so I bet there are 
> others here who can add to thisā?¦  and the rigid leather handles are 
> way before my own time with guide dogs..
> 
> Caitlyn
> 
>> On Apr 22, 2016, at 1:03 PM, Lisie Foster via NAGDU 
>> <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
>> wrote:
>> 
>> Thank you all so much for answering my questions, including the one 
>> about the harnesses used by Pilot Dogs.
>> 
>> I think the difference I've been noticing is the way the "ears" on 
>> Pilot harnesses are kept closer to the harness body when compared to 
>> many other schools, the chest strap that is plain, without 
>> reflectors, as well as the white handle. Those make it look very 
>> distinct, to me, at least! I think it's a very nice looking harness, too.
>> 
>> I had a second question along similar lines which is not specific to 
>> any guide dog school. I'm wondering, for anyone who's worked with 
>> guide dogs for many years, or for anyone who might know about it, how 
>> have guide dog harnesses changed over the years?
>> 
>> I've read before that the original Seeing Eye harnesses were quite heavy.

>> But, other than that, I don't know much about anything other than 
>> modern harnesses. I know about some recent changes, like the change 
>> to Swiss harnesses by GDB, and the inclusion of ergonomic and offset 
>> handle options at some schools.
>> 
>> What I'd love to know is whether modern harnesses are much different 
>> from the harnesses issued 20, 30, or even 40 years or more ago, and 
>> how they're different.
>> 
>> I don't know why, but I think this topic is interesting! I hope no 
>> one minds my questions about this. Thank you!
>> 
>> Sincerely,
>> 
>> Lisie and Finn ( the sleepy Golden boy )
>> 
>> lisiefoster at yahoo.com
>> 
>> Sent from my iPhone
>> 
>>> On Apr 20, 2016, at 12:17 PM, S L Johnson via NAGDU 
>>> <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
>>> wrote:
>>> 
>>> Hello Lisie:
>>> 
>>> I will try to give you a good description.  Our Pilot Dog harnesses 
>>> are made out of tan leather.  The handle is covered in white vinyl 
>>> on the sides and tan leather at the top and partly down each side.  
>>> The handle does not have clips or snaps to attach it to the D-rings 
>>> on the harness body.  The metal is wrapped around the ring and 
>>> tightened by using pliers.  The ears are smaller than most and 
>>> attached with another rib it at the top so they stay flat against 
>>> the back strap.  They do not flop to the side like some schools with 
>>> big floppy ears.  For example.  My previous guide was from GDF and I 
>>> hated their huge ears because the handle would flop off to the right 
>>> side of the dogs body and it allowed too much movement so it was 
>>> harder to feel the dog's movements, especially with a dog who had a 
>>> very light to almost no pull at all.  Pilot Dogs handles are 
>>> straight.  They do not use any of the other weird curved and other 
>>> strange looking handles I have seen.  I know some schools have been 
>>> trying out some ergonomic handles and for years GDF used the off set 
>>> handles which I also hated so much that my trainer finally gave me a 
>>> straight one with Tara.  The Pilot handles are a bit shorter than 
>>> some schools use.  For example, I am 5 feet 3 inches tall and my 
>>> little golden is about 22 inches tall.  My Pilot handle is 15 inches 
>>> long.  When the trainer gave it to me I thought it would be too 
>>> short.  However, I quickly found that  I liked it because it lets 
>>> you really feel what the dog is doing, especially with a dog like 
>>> Eva who is very gentle with an extremely light pull.  The harness 
>>> has a quick snap on the side so you don't have to fool with the 
>>> buckle when putting the harness on and off.  I think a lot of the 
>>> schools harness bodies have this type of clip.  The Pilot harness 
>>> does have two snaps across the chest strap where you can snap in a 
>>> strip of flat round prongs that discourage a dog that is pulling too 
>>> hard.  For dogs like Eva who do not pull, our harness has just a 
>>> plain leather strip that snaps into that place.  There is no 
>>> reflective material on the Pilot harness body or handle.  I have 
>>> heard of some graduates who have applied reflective tape over the 
>>> vinyl sides of the handle.  The Pilot Dog leashes are also different 
>>> from any others I have seen.  They are almost a foot longer with a 
>>> snap and adjustable buckle that are used to form a muzzle if it is 
>>> ever necessary.  I don't like the leash so I ordered a guide dog 
>>> style leash from a pet supply company that sells service dog 
>>> equipment.  I hope this gives you an idea of what the Pilot Dog 
>>> harness looks like.  It is interesting to compare the equipment that 
>>> the schools use.  I am also sure there are many opinions of what 
>>> trainers and graduates like and dislike when it comes to the 
>>> harnesses and handles.
>>> 
>>> Sandra and Eva
>>> 
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: Lisie Foster via NAGDU
>>> Sent: Tuesday, April 19, 2016 10:18 PM
>>> To: the National Association of Guide Dog Users NAGDU Mailing List
>>> Cc: Lisie Foster
>>> Subject: [NAGDU] Pilot Dogs Harness Question
>>> 
>>> 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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>> 
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