[NAGDU] First Post plus Offset Handles?

[Buddy Brannan]

I’ve never had an offset handle, but it puts you further away from your dog. Helps with, as Janelle says, stepping on your dog, or crowding your dog. Perhaps your trainer noticed something like this? 

So here’s the trouble though. It seems like a lot of places make guide harnesses these days, relatively speaking, and the handle is probably the hardest thing to get right, even when you’re talking about a standard straight handle. Where’d you get your current harness, and what kind of handle attachment does it have? It seems likely that your best shot at getting an offset would be to ask the harness manufacturer if they make one. They don’t appear to be very common in equipment available to at least most owner trainers. 


Buddy Brannan, KB5ELV - Erie, PA
Email: buddy at brannan.name
Mobile: (814) 431-0962



> On Aug 23, 2019, at 5:59 PM, Piper Morton via NAGDU <nagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> This is my first post to the list thank you for letting me join!
> 
> My name is Piper and I have a four year old Golden guide dog named Carey as
> in Carey Grant. I did not attend a school, but Carey was trained by a local
> trainer who trained guide dogs years ago and was willing to try with me
> because I have a background in AKC competition obedience and some study of
> dog behavior as well.
> 
> Carey has been working as my guide now since the end of 2016 when he was 23
> months old and if anything, he seems younger now than when I first met him.
> 
> I have RP and cataracts. My central vision is still OK, but I have about
> 15° of visual field left.
> 
> Our trainer came out to help with an odd street crossing last weekend. It
> turned out to be a lot easier than I was making it out to be. But, while
> here, she suggested I try an offset handle on Carey's harness. When  I
> asked why, she said just try it and let her know how it works.
> 
> So, what is the purpose of an offset handle? I don't crowd my dog, ever,
> which seems like the only reason I can think of to use one. She dropped it
> off today and I'm going to try it in a little bit, but wondering what
> others' experiences are like?
> 
> Thanks!!
> 
> Piper and Carey
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