[Cagdu] What's the best sign for a dog's harness?

[Ken Volonte]

The Swiss harness is white and made of rigid plastic.  It has a single strap 
which you buckle together as you would buckle a seat belt.  The handle is 
removable, which is necessary because it sticks way up about three inches 
above the dog's back.  There is a blue and white logo just below the hand 
grip that  runs between the vertical bars of the U.  This is said to 
stabilize the handle.

    There are problems with this design.  You can't give a harness 
correction.  Removing the handle and the belly strap involves a pinching 
motion which is very hard if you have arthritis.  The user is positioned 
further back on the dog, for the hand grip is only a couple inches from the 
dog's tail.  the harness is supposed to alleviate stress on the dog and on 
the handler's back.  It is lighter in weight.
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "tina thomas " <tinadt at sbcglobal.net>
To: <cagdu at nfbcal.org>
Sent: Tuesday, August 12, 2008 6:59 PM
Subject: Re: [Cagdu] What's the best sign for a dog's harness?


>
> What does the Swiss harness look like?
> -----Original Message-----
> From: cagdu-bounces at nfbcal.org [mailto:cagdu-bounces at nfbcal.org] On Behalf
> Of Jonathan Lyens
> Sent: Tuesday, August 12, 2008 6:34 PM
> To: cagdu at nfbcal.org
> Subject: Re: [Cagdu] What's the best sign for a dog's harness?
>
> Well, I figure I'll throw in my 2 cense.
>
> I do not have a sign. I, like others, really believe that those who are
> going to pet your dog aren't going to bother reading the sign. My 
> experience
> is that people who want to pet Turbo are so transfixed on him, they can
> barely comprehend me saying don't pet him, never mind reading a little 
> sign.
> Besides, I live in San Francisco, where our biggest concern is homeless
> people sleeping across the sidewalk.
>
> Additionally, I really don't know what I philosophically think about them.
> Do I really need to carry around a sign to tell people not do do something
> to me or my dog? I am more of the mind set that blind people don't have to
> carry signs anymore.
>
> Also, I do have a Swiss harness. I have used both Swiss and the old 
> harness
> on my current dog, and have seen absolutely zero difference in the level 
> of
> access or public solicitousness towards my guide.
>
> Best-
>
> Jonathan
>
> Jonathan T. Lyens MPA
> Email: jonathan at lyens.com
> Fax: (321) 256-8896
> Skype: jlyens
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: cagdu-bounces at nfbcal.org [mailto:cagdu-bounces at nfbcal.org] On Behalf
> Of Ken Volonte
> Sent: Tuesday, August 12, 2008 5:25 PM
> To: Fred's Web; cagdu at nfbcal.org
> Subject: Re: [Cagdu] What's the best sign for a dog's harness?
>
> Hi Fred.  I don't have a sign on my dog, nor do I have one of the new 
> Swiss
> harnesses.  That's the problem.  Those harnesses don't look real, and the
> public doesn't think that you  have a real guide dog.  How are you being
>
> bothered?  It might be a matter for the police, or you might wish to write 
> a
> letter to your local paper.  Good luck. In the mean time, let us say that
> you are crossing the street.  It is a busy street and you and your dog 
> have
> to concentrate in order to get across safely.  There's a drunk homeless 
> lady
> who is chittering to your dog and trying to pet him while you are crossing
> the street.  When you get to the other side and all of you are safe on the
> curb, ask her in your most exasperated voice, "Do you want my death on 
> your
> conscience?  Then leave me alone while I'm trying to cross!"
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Fred's Web" <regenerative at earthlink.net>
> To: <cagdu at nfbcal.org>
> Sent: Tuesday, August 12, 2008 12:50 PM
> Subject: [Cagdu] What's the best sign for a dog's harness?
>
>
>>
>> Hi all,
>>
>> Do you have a sign on your dog's harness?
>> What does it say?
>> Does it do any good?
>>
>> I'm asking because I do not have a sign on Churchill's harness.  His
>> harness has a blue and white "Guide Dogs for the Blind" logo on the
> white
>> harness.  I thought that would've been enough, but I have to almost
> beat
>> the public away.
>>
>> I'm thinking that we really need some kind of sign.  If you have one,
> what
>> works for you?  If you don't, how do you keep the public at bay?
>>
>> Thanks,
>> Fred & Churchill
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> Cagdu mailing list
>> Cagdu at nfbcal.org
>> https://www.nfbcal.org/mailman/listinfo.cgi/cagdu
>>
>
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