[NAGDU] Roughware harness

Wed Mar 6 16:43:36 UTC 2019

I'd love to try it. I wonder how someone could go about getting their chosen guide dog school to get it.

You can't control the wind, but you can adjust your sails

Cheers,

Cherie Newton & White Shepherd Guide Windy

-----Original Message-----
From: NAGDU [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of David via NAGDU
Sent: Wednesday, March 6, 2019 11:39 AM
To: Tracy Carcione via NAGDU <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Cc: David <david at bakerinet.com>
Subject: Re: [NAGDU] Roughware harness

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://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.rei.com_blog_
> run_ruffwear-2Dunifly-2Dharness&d=DwIGaQ&c=bxPc2m0ObpqDZEXBKvMy_w&r=Hc
> rwhdhMdAGUwsB5Y24ptJnRJIWAvwPlNQXimYyib7o&m=-0u9yT3cyVsZ1yvhCeHQskxRfS
> jy_HNRKDvUD0yHPIs&s=2IBvQ4Jzu6ZHkO-UH0JNv7-jtV22Z3Bb_0fipJa7y0M&e=
>
> 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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