[NAGDU] New equipment! YEEEEEHAAAAAAA!!!!!
Buddy Brannan
buddy at brannan.name
Sat Nov 19 23:48:28 UTC 2016
Hi,
I'd agree. The harness isn't the problem here. You need more and better control. I've seen the Pilot leashes and I agree, they're way too long. A shorter leash will probably help. Are you sure your prong is fitted properly? It should be up behind her ears. Anyway, I like the sport harness. I'm not sure why it's called that, but the freedom of movement in the handle would definitely allow for a lot faster movements, tighter turns, and the like. But yes, I like it very much.
--
Buddy Brannan, KB5ELV - Erie, PA
Phone: 814-860-3194
Mobile: 814-431-0962
Email: buddy at brannan.name
> On Nov 19, 2016, at 6:11 PM, S L Johnson via NAGDU <nagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>
> Dar:
>
> I don't think a different harness will help with your current problem.
> Remember what the Pilot trainers had you do on class. To have better
> control put the leash into your right hand. This allows you to feel what
> she is doing and gives you much better control when she is sniffing or
> trying to grab stuff off the ground. You will want to hold the leash as
> short, about the middle of the length of the Pilot Dog leashes. The reason
> is to have it short enough so it is a bit taught, just enough so your dog
> knows you are ready and willing to correct her if she puts her head down. I
> purchased a shorter leash because I do not like the Pilot Dog leashes they
> give us on class. Eva does not sniff or scavenge but I use the leash in my
> right hand to control her tendency to be over friendly and wanting to play
> with anyone who comes close to her. As for waiting until the dog is three,
> Eva is almost four and still wants to play with everyone she sees.
> Sometimes we just have to deal with a behavior as long as we can keep it
> under good control and that you are safe. Penney's distractions causing you
> to fall off a curb is definitely not safe. I hope your ankle was not
> injured too severely. Good luck to you with your very stubborn girl.
>
> Sandra and Eva
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: d m gina via NAGDU
> Sent: Saturday, November 19, 2016 5:31 PM
> To: nagdu at nfbnet.org
> Cc: d m gina
> Subject: Re: [NAGDU] New equipment! YEEEEEHAAAAAAA!!!!!
>
> Why is it called a sports harness, do you like it better than the regular
> one.
> My dog gets to a place and nose goes on the ground or carpet in a building.
> I try to stop her but that is out of the question until she thinks she
> is done to see if there is anything for her to pick up first.
> I had a person walk away because they didn't like the way I was
> training the dog.
> Using anything over the nose just doesn't work, I am not strong enough
> to fight her.
> She knows this.
> She also doesn't listen to the the prong collar, she feels when she is
> good and ready to listen she does.
> We do everything that is sugested.
> My husband feels this lady here in town is to expensive.
> The other day I twisted my ankle falling off a curb because we wanted
> to visit with the uber driver.
> I screamed was worried my face would hit the car, glad it didn't.
> She got truly corrected.
> When wwalking and someone comes by on the left side sniffing is what you do.
> I even take my knee and bump her on the side to get her back to working
> mode again.
> I was told to get a smaller collar as I did, but all that does is when
> correcting she gets it that she needs to stop doing what she was told to
> stop.
> Where I will stop when I am ready.
> She gets lots of loving playing when we can play outside, quite cold now.
> We also play in the house to get rid of energy.
> I am told give her to three she will grow up really?
> What happens when she turns four loll.
> on a one to one she is good, she wants to do what ever I request.
> So I love reading this stuff to see if there is just one more thing
> that I could buy that would help me out.
> Now I know one shouldn't call the dog a bad name, trust me, when I
> landed on the ankel I echoed all the way down the block.
> A couple came by thinking that the driver pushed me down, where he didn't.
> I am afraid of curbs and steps for this reason.
> Ok my rant is over, I am sure I will be blamed for all of it and that is
> fine.
> Until the shoes I wear are walked in, the blame can't be all of me, and
> I don't give up I will keep trying.
>
> Original message:
>> Buddy:
>> thanks for sharing this, and i need to check out that harness:)
>> hoping your well, and keep the wonderful work up!
>
>>> On Nov 19, 2016, at 6:37 AM, Buddy Brannan via NAGDU <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
>>> wrote:
>
>>> Posted to Hilde's blog yesterday. Feel free to share. I'm happy to too
>>> Julie's horn for her :-) (since she sort of can't on this list...) No
>>> financial interest and all that jazz.
>
>>> New Equipment! YEEEEEEEHAAAAAAA!!!!
>
>>> November 18, 2016
>>> We interrupt this streak of not posting anything with a post.
>
>>> Oohā?¦a post? Really? Maybe Iā?Tll post about our trip to the NFBP
>>> convention next, but this isnā?Tt that post.
>
>>> Over the past few weeks, Iā?Tve gotten some gear from Julie Johnson,
>>> whose site can be found at http://guide-and-service-dogs.com/. Besides
>>> useful information, Julie manufactures a line of some dead useful things
>>> at really good prices. You can also buy from Amazon if you like, as she
>>> sells there. Iā?Tve gotten a few of them that Iā?Td like to talk about.
>
>>> Iā?Tll briefly mention the first aid kit, which doesnā?Tt appear to be on
>>> her site. Itā?Ts a handy zippered bag full of, surprisingly, first aid
>>> supplies. There are bandages, ointment, vet wrap, and an emergency
>>> blanket. Itā?Ts a handy size to stash either in your home or in your
>>> luggage for travel.
>
>>> Next, the collar bells are a pretty good idea for keeping track of your
>>> dog around the house, so that s/he will (theoretically) stay out of
>>> trouble. Julie sent me a set in trade for an honest review, and then
>>> Amazon changed their review rules. Still, Iā?Tll happily give an honest
>>> review for them anyway. These are just your standard jingle bells on a
>>> nylon strap with side release buckle. The set comes with three sizes: one
>>> set with two very small bells, a medium sized bell, and a larger bell,
>>> each on its own strap. These would be great for a fairly quiet indoor
>>> environment. The bells arenā?Tt very loud, so they wouldnā?Tt be
>>> appropriate for outdoor use. The strap is only a couple inches long, with
>>> the plastic side release buckle closure, sort of like the buckles that
>>> snap your backpack together. Be aware, however, that these buckles are
>>> very small, so if you have dexterity issues, you may have trouble with
>>> them. The set I have is not adjustable, but Julie is thinking about
>>> making some that can be shortened if necessary. These would be most
>>> appropriate on a flat collar; just put the strap around the width of the
>>> collar and close, letting them hang down. I donā?Tt think these would
>>> work very well with a slip collar, though they might with a martingale
>>> collar. I can usually hear these, when Fiona isnā?Tt barking loudly, or
>>> if Hilde is not in stealth mode, so theyā?Tre pretty handy. Iā?Td
>>> probably get louder bells, just because we have some loud household
>>> members, but it wouldnā?Tt matter a lot, because this dog can move
>>> unbelievably quietly.
>
>>> There are two things that a guide dog user must have. OK, three. One is a
>>> collar of some kind. Hilde wears both a flat collar, for tags, and a
>>> training collar, either a toggle collar or a prong collar, depending.
>>> Julie has flat collars and martingale collars, but I donā?Tt have either
>>> one of those. I do have a collar with Hildeā?Ts name and my phone number
>>> on it, in case she gets lost. This collar also has reflective stuff on
>>> it. I have a link somewhere if anyoneā?Ts interested.
>
>>> But the other two things that a guide dog handler really has to have are
>>> a leash and a harness. Julie makes both out of quality nylon webbing.
>>> Weā?Tre most of us used to leather, and leather is really nice. I have a
>>> leather harness as well, and itā?Ts great. Durable, classy, practical,
>>> fairly easy to maintain. Nylon, however, also has advantages. Itā?Ts
>>> light weight and even easier to clean, and donā?Tt forget, itā?Ts also
>>> inexpensive. Iā?Tve used a nylon harness over the past six or seven years
>>> on and off. I like them especially for these Erie winters with all the
>>> dirt and grit and road salt and heavens only know what. So really,
>>> donā?Tt discount the nylon.
>
>>> First, the leash. You can get any length you like. I prefer shorter
>>> leashes, such as the Seeing Eye uses, about four feet long when in its
>>> extended long leash length. However, you can get one thatā?Ts 5 or 6 feet
>>> if you prefer.
>
>>> Julie does something kind of neat, for which I will take at least partial
>>> credit. I say partial because I think thereā?Ts a school that does the
>>> same thing, but I canā?Tt remember which one.
>
>>> Iā?Tm lazy. So last year, when Hilde was a pup, I called Handcraft
>>> Collars to ask if they could make me some guide dog leashes out of
>>> tubular nylon. I had to describe what I wanted. So, instead of the usual
>>> arrangement where you can hook to one ring for a short leash, towards the
>>> bottom snap, and another ring near the top, for a long leash, I just had
>>> Debbie put in one ring at the bottom, to make a short leash, while
>>> leaving a standard handle with the bolt snap strung on the end of the
>>> handle. That way, all you have to do to get a long leash is disconnect
>>> from the bottom ring. Several months later, I told Julie about that, she
>>> said, ā?oHey, why didnā?Tt I think of that?ā?, and thus, the Quick
>>> Convert Service Dog Leash was born.
>
>>> I now have one of those, too. Itā?Ts a little heavier than the ones from
>>> Handcraft. Still, the stitching is quality, as is the hardware. Rather
>>> than a standard ring, Julie uses a D-ring. The bolt snaps are heavy duty
>>> ones, thicker than the ones on my Handcraft leashes. She uses nylon
>>> webbing, which is a bit grippier than the very slippery tubular nylon is,
>>> as well as a bit wider. Actually, the 3/4 inch width is as close to
>>> perfect as it gets. Itā?Ts good stuff, and I highly recommend these, and
>>> not just because it was sort of my lazy idea. Sort of. I stole it from
>>> somewhere else. Southeastern maybe?
>
>>> Finally, the harness. Iā?Tm a budding guide dog equipment nerd. I love
>>> guide dog equipment. Iā?Td love to see all sorts of different harness
>>> designs. Even so, I have very definite opinions on what makes a good
>>> harness. Of course, it has to be as comfortable as possible for the dog.
>>> Ease of putting on and taking off is desirable. A removable handle is a
>>> definite plus, and, while I wouldnā?Tt say Iā?Td never have a harness
>>> without a removable handle, Iā?Tll always take a removable handle over a
>>> fixed handle. One thing thatā?Ts an absolute deal breaker, however, is
>>> the martingale strap. Ever since I got my first Seeing Eye dog, I have
>>> gotten very spoiled by this seemingly simple extra strap that runs
>>> between the dogā?Ts front legs, from the belly strap to the chest strap
>>> in whatever configuration. Besides giving the dog more to pull into, the
>>> extra strap stabilizes the harnessā?Ts movement from side to side (so it
>>> doesnā?Tt move so much), and makes it harder for your dog to accidentally
>>> back out of the harness.
>
>>> The Sports Style Guide Harness meets all of these requirements. This is
>>> the second harness of this design that Iā?Tve owned, and Julie has made
>>> some improvements. Itā?Ts made with wide 2-inch nylon straps and comes in
>>> several different colors. For Hilde, I got it in blue. The harness straps
>>> are padded to make it more comfortable for the dog to wear. Youā?Tll
>>> notice right away that the design of the harness is different from most
>>> guide dog schools. Instead of one strap that goes around the chest from
>>> one side of the dog to the other, the harness is made with two straps
>>> that run from the back strap, over the dogā?Ts shoulders, and meeting in
>>> the center of the dogā?Ts chest at the breastbone. The martingale strap
>>> then runs back from this juncture, such that the three straps form
>>> something like a print letter Y. Youā?Tll also notice the absence of
>>> handle stabilizing loops, or ā?obunny earsā? that are present on most
>>> American harnesses. This isnā?Tt nearly as scary as you might suppose.
>>> While it does afford the opportunity for more freedom of movement for the
>>> dog, the new handle has a much more rigid connection with the harness, so
>>> the handle really isnā?Tt in a lot of danger of flipping up too high as
>>> it could with the previous PVC handle. Anyway, since there are no loops,
>>> thereā?Ts less bulk, and less bulk for your dog to have to lie on, which
>>> sounds a lot more comfortable. The belly strap is adjustable with a
>>> sliding buckle, and closes at the right side with a plastic side release
>>> buckle of the sort that youā?Td use to close a backpack. This buckle is
>>> quite large and sturdy.
>
>>> The handle, as I said, is an improvement over the previous generation.
>>> The new handles are made of a flat metal stock wrapped in nylon. It is
>>> removable, attaching to the harness with plastic side release buckles.
>>> Donā?Tt let that put you off, however; Iā?Tve used a harness with similar
>>> handle attachments for a while with no problems. The buckles are sturdy
>>> and Iā?Tve never had one disconnect during travel. Julie has also put a
>>> comfortable rubber handgrip on the handle, with finger grooves in the
>>> front. Itā?Ts a very comfortable grip, even for a dog with quite a bit of
>>> pull. I'd maybe prefer a bit more of a rounded grip, maybe a little
>>> padding under the grip, but even with that, I like it. Youā?Tll have
>>> absolutely no trouble following your dog due to ā?osloppyā? handle
>>> connections, because the connections are definitely not sloppy and
>>> donā?Tt have excessive play in them at all. Highly recommended,
>>> especially for the price.
>
>>> Anyway, if youā?Tre owner training, or if you just need or want
>>> alternative equipment, give these a look. You wonā?Tt be sorry.
>
>>> --
>>> Buddy Brannan, KB5ELV - Erie, PA
>>> Phone: 814-860-3194
>>> Mobile: 814-431-0962
>>> Email: buddy at brannan.name
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>>> --
>>> Buddy Brannan, KB5ELV - Erie, PA
>>> Phone: 814-860-3194
>>> Mobile: 814-431-0962
>>> Email: buddy at brannan.name
>
>
>
>
>
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>
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> --
> --Dar
> skype: dmgina23
> FB: dmgina
> www.twitter.com/dmgina
> every saint has a past
> every sinner has a future
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