[nagdu] help finding appropriate harness requested

[Ann Edie]

Hi, Diane and Everyone,

When my miniature horse guide, Panda, was in training, back in 2002-3, I
wanted a guide harness for her that was similar to those used by the guide
dog schools, but custom made for her and me.  So I got in touch with Dave
Shabbot of American Leather Specialties in Massachusetts. At that time, Dave
was making leather harnesses for most of the major guide dog training
programs, GDB among them.  He spent part of each year traveling around the
country to each of the schools, getting their feedback and ideas for
improvements and changes they wanted him to incorporate into his harnesses
and of course, making suggestions of his own.  I don't know whether he is
still making harnesses for GDB or indeed, whether he is still in business at
all. But I know that at the time I was in contact with him, he was also
making custom harnesses for other guide dog teams.  I can say categorically,
that Dave was wonderful to do business with, and that he produced a harness
which has held up wonderfully over these more than 10 years that Panda and I
have been a team.  It was great fun visiting Dave at his home/workshop and
looking at and trying out different styles of harness and handles and all
the different hardware, etc.  Having Panda fitted for her harness was like
taking my daughter out for her first flower girl dress or her prom
gown--great fun! I decided on a harness that is a combination of features
from TSE's and Fidelco's harnesses (I had had guide dogs from these two
programs), plus some features that are particularly designed for horses. I
got an ergonomic handle, which I really like, also. Dave was great about
making adjustments after the harness was made, and he even provided an extra
matching belly strap in case Panda needed a slightly longer one once she was
full grown. I was lucky to be located within easy traveling distance of
Dave's home, so I could go there and have Dave take all the measurements he
needed and show him what I thought we needed that was different from a
standard dog harness. But I believe he was occasionally making guide
harnesses for guide dog users without seeing them in person.  At the time
Dave was not on the internet, but he did have an 800 phone number, which I'm
sorry, but I don't have right at hand.  Anyway, I would highly recommend
Dave to anyone who wants a quality custom-made leather guide harness.

Good luck in your search for the perfect harness, and much success with your
poodle guide partner.

Best,
Ann

-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Diane via nagdu
Sent: Monday, July 28, 2014 5:03 PM
To: nagdu at nfbnet.org
Subject: [nagdu] help finding appropriate harness requested

I have been working with my fourth guide dog for about a month now.  I chose
to wait for a standard poodle from a school new to me.  I am extremely
pleased with all of her guide work.  As is typical at this school we were
given a new harness to use at home.  The small size harness we were sent
home with is inappropriately large for her.  In fact our trainer pointed out
that if I bored another hole in the girth strap the harness would fit Jaxi
better.  So, after flying home with this boat of a harness I bored another
notch into the girth strap and went about our merry way.

Since the suggested remedy did not address the fact that the harness was
inappropriately large through Jaxi's chest Jaxi chewed through the chest
strap during an evening out about a week ago.  Now her harness is duct taped
together.  

I contacted the school about a week ago in an effort to obtain an
appropriate sized harness for Jaxi.  The only option was to try the training
harness as Jaxi's regular harness.  This harness arrived Free Matter a
couple of days ago without a handle attached nor any directions on how to
remove and replace the handle to the new harness.  But I regress.
Unfortunately this training harness is different from the one she wore
during our training and is not adjustable through her chest.  Unless I can
get a harness with either an adjustable chest strap or an extra small
harness Jaxi will simply chew through successive harnesses. (This does not
even address the fact that an inappropriately fit harness could impact our
guide work).  

I am willing to purchase an appropriate harness for our use.  I previously
received my dogs through GDB and would have again had they had a poodle as
an option.  I do, however, prefer their Swiss style harness with the
removable ergonomic handle.  My effort to locate the company GDB purchases
their equipment through has been unfruitful to the present.  Does anyone
know either the company they use or a retailer from whom I could purchase
the same equipment without the GDB logo?  Failing that does anyone know of a
company from whom I could purchase an extra small harness similar to that
GDB uses?

Any assistance would be hugely appreciated!  Thank you in advance.


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