[NAGDU] Roughware harness

[David]

I tried at last year's convention and loved it.  I find the single point 
gives more directional info.

*David in Clearwater, FL*
*david at bakerinet.com*
On 3/6/2019 10:36 AM, Tracy Carcione via NAGDU wrote:
> Thanks Madison.  I pasted the article into this message.
> It sounds like a nice harness, but I'm not at all sure about the
> single-point connection.  It seems like it wouldn't give as good information
> as the 2-point connection.
> Tracy
>
> Roughware rethinks guide dog harnesses
>
> Aer Parris//February 1, 2019
>
> Guide dog harnesses haven't changed in decades. Until now.
>
>
>
> This story begins in 2014 at the Boston Marathon. At the end of the race,
> Thomas Panek, the CEO of Guiding Eyes for the Blind, a nonprofit that trains
> and provides guide dogs to people with vision loss, and Richard Hunter, an
> avid runner and former Marine who is visually impaired, asked themselves:
> What if runners who were visually impaired could use guide dogs instead of
> human guides to run marathons?
>
> In a matter of months, their idea became reality: Guiding Eyes for the Blind
> launched its Running Guides program to train guide dogs to run with visually
> impaired runners. Hunter and his German shepherd, Klinger, were the first
> graduating team of the program in 2015. Klinger was trained to do things
> like clearing objects and stopping for changes in elevation like stairs and
> curbs. He was also taught to guide Hunter on exercise routes at a faster
> pace than usual using Ruffwear's Front Range Harness, a popular harness
> frequently used for running and hiking, modified with a makeshift, two-point
> handle.
>
> Just that simple modification marked a major shift for the Guiding Eyes
> program. Prior to 2015, guide dog harnesses had stayed the same: They were
> made from hard leather, inspired by horse tack used by equestrians. "The
> traditional leather guide dog harnesses that have been used since the early
> 1900s were designed for pulling," said Benjamin Cawley, director of
> admissions and graduate relations at Guiding Eyes for the Blind. "[They
> don't have] the best ergonomics for a dog moving out in a trot comfortably
> for long distances."
>
> Guiding Eyes for the Blind, which puts its service dogs through an intensive
> 12-month training program and then matches each dog with an owner, has been
> around since 1956. But guide dog schools have been around much longer than
> that. The first guide dog school opened in 1916, just after World War I,
> when a German doctor discovered that his dog seemed to be helping a veteran
> with vision loss find his way. That single observation sparked an idea that
> would eventually lead to the development of the International Guide Dog
> Federation, and accredited programs like Guiding Eyes for the Blind.
>
> Since then, both training methods and breeds have changed, but guide dog
> harnesses have stayed the same. Now, even that has changed.
>
> Shortly after launching their running program, Guiding Eyes for the Blind
> reached out to Ruffwear to ask if they'd be willing to collaborate on the
> development of a highly-adjustable, ergonomic harness for the Running Guides
> program. The result is the Unifly Harness, which Guiding Eyes and Ruffwear
> began making available to guide dog schools on February 1, 2019.
>
> "We jumped at the chance to help them," said Greg Freyberg, specialty
> product line manager for Ruffwear. "We realized we could build a great
> harness that also works great for a running harness. It was always more than
> just a running harness." Ruffwear designers wanted this new harness to be
> lightweight, adjustable and washable-all things that traditional leather
> harnesses aren't.
>
> For example, leather harnesses fit right over the dog's shoulder joints,
> which can lead to discomfort for the guide dog while running or after
> long-term use. And traditional harnesses aren't height-adjustable, which can
> be  uncomfortable for the person being guided by the dog when wearing taller
> shoes, like high heels or platform shoes, or when navigating hills. In fact,
> one woman who completed a Rim-to-Rim of the Grand Canyon needed to buy two
> separate harnesses-one for the way down and one for the way up.  Also,
> leather harnesses place the runner's arm in a non-ergonomic position,
> causing possible damage down the line.
>
> "I was out on the trail thinking through these issues," said Timothy
> Gorbold, product designer for Ruffwear. "[My dog and I] were running along,
> out on this singletrack trail. [I was] looking down at the harness, looking
> at the B-ring connection right in the center: a center point attachment that
> can give you lateral control, but also flexibility."
>
> Runner and dog jog along a paved path with greenery in the background.
> Photo Courtesy of Ruffwear.
>
> "Where have I seen that type of connection before?" he wondered. Then, it
> hit him: Nordic ski bindings. When he got home, he attached a Nordic ski
> binding to a harness, and the harness' current locking mechanism was born.
>
> The single-point handle offers the same kind of information the two-point
> handle does, just with an easy way to disconnect and reconnect. This allows
> the team to convey the important information needed between guide dog and
> human and easily transition in and out of guiding (most guide dogs are
> trained to only use the bathroom when off-duty).
>
> "To go from two points of contact to one is pretty revolutionary in the
> industry," said Cawley, who extensively tested the Unifly through all phases
> of its design and currently uses the harness for day-to-day use as well as
> running. "Many individuals, including myself, who have tried out the harness
> feel that they are able to feel the dog's movements better than ever before
> through the Unifly connection. But I'm biased because I helped design it."
>
> The handle doesn't stop there. It's super adjustable in the length, hand
> position (now always in a comfortable, ergonomic position) and offset angle.
> Gorbold, an avid mountain biker, crafted the adjustability like the
> quick-release in a bike wheel-extend the lever, rotate, change position and
> flip the lever back down. Even the grip design is crafted to be ergonomic
> and (thanks to feedback from testers who realized their dog's legs could get
> tangled in the loop) snag-free.
>
> Then there's the harness. It's not only responsive, but also washable, so
> trail runs don't need to stick with you for the rest of your harness' life.
> It comes in three colors: an elegant gray, high-visibility yellow and
> dressed-down blue. The harness and handle attach at the same point as the
> leash portal of the rest of Ruffwear's garments, opening up a new world of
> performance. Guide dogs can now utilize the same gear other dogs have had
> access to this whole time, from rainwear to cooling vests.
>
> Guiding Eyes for the Blind has been involved in the process every step of
> the way. From the number of buckles to the size of the neck opening to the
> feel and size of the handles, testers who are visually impaired have been
> instrumental in ensuring the finished product was actually what was needed.
>
> "The work that Ruffwear's done to help make this harness is really part of a
> really important component of our mission as a guide dog school: helping
> people achieve greater independence through a guide dog," Cawley said.
> "Traditionally runners who are blind or visually impaired can run on a
> treadmill or ask a friend or volunteer to take them running. This harness
> opens up more opportunities to enjoy the outdoors."
>
> The new harness from Ruffwear and Guiding Eyes for the Blind will be
> available to guide dog schools beginning February 1. Visit Guiding Eyes for
> the Blind to find out more.
>
> Want to be involved? Become a sighted running guide or, if you live on the
> East Coast between Maine and North Carolina, consider training to become a
> puppy raiser with Guiding Eyes for the Blind.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: NAGDU [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Madison Martin
> via NAGDU
> Sent: Wednesday, March 06, 2019 10:19 AM
> To: chat at guidedogusersinc.org; 'NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association
> of Guide Dog Users'
> Cc: Madison Martin
> Subject: [NAGDU] article
>
> Hi all, I got this link from another guide dog list, and I thought that you
> guys might find it interesting. It certainly sounds like a very nice
> harness. What do you guys think? Here's the link:
>
> https://www.rei.com/blog/run/ruffwear-unifly-harness
>
> I wasn't able to click on the link; so if any of you guys can't then you'll
> have to copy and paste it into the address bar of whatever browser you're
> using. Enjoy!
>
> Madison
>
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