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		From Debi Davis, Delta Society's 1999 Service Animal Award Winner. Her website is at ClickerTales I've spent the last few days as a Beta tester for the new working dog harness-vest called "Har-Vest", created and produced by listmember Rachel Friedman. When I agreed to test to product, I wasn't sure I'd have a lot of use for it, as I'm not a wild fan of head harnesses, and have never used any type of anti-pull harness. I tend to prefer to teach the dog what I want it to do instead of pull, and I really am not fond of directing a dog's head with a head halter. I enjoy teaching the dog what to do with his head, teaching attention and focus, rather than rely on mechanics to keep the dog's head where I want it. Still, I have a dog who loves to run, and who, in bursts of enthusiasm, will often attempt to run slightly ahead of my front wheelchair tires on brisk days, or when he's full of energy. He can easily maintain a loose leash from the moment he steps out the door in a walk, but when we are out doing long distance running next to my powerchair, or if he is really distracted and excited, then it's stop and go constantly, since I don't allow forward movement when there is a tight leash. This isn't always handy, as I'm not as comfortable in cold weather or wet weather as he is, and I just need to get the aerobics out of the way quickly. For the last three days, I've been running him with the Har-Vest, and it's been a total Godsend for me. My hands are not tired, my energy is higher because I'm not constantly stopping and starting as the leash gets tight and loose. I just run the dog next to me, or out in front of me, and the Har-Vest keeps my hands from getting numb and keeps the leash from ever tightening. The Har-Vest is a combination vest and harness, with a front loop attachment. I have no idea what makes it work so well, especially when it appears to be totally non-aversive to the dog. I have been watching for body language that tells me my dog is uncomfortable, stressed--I'm watching body position, head movement, ear twitches, tail positions--and I can see no changes, even when it's obviously working. It's like power steering, and I can hold the leash with the lightest of touch, and never do my hands get tired, no matter how enthusiastic he is that day and how much he's been cooped up and how much he wants to run. We've been giving this product a heck of a workout, both on short leash and on a Flexi-Leash. There is no concern for the dog running ahead and hitting the end as there would be on a Head Halter, as the leash attaches to the front of the vest, on the chest area. We've tried it at all different speeds--walking, trotting and running on both short and flexible leashes. We've tried it with no leash, while I put him through his off-leash paces to watch his body movements as he is running with it on. Again, I am seeing no discomfort, no stress, no signs that the dog doesn't find it extremely comfortable and non-aversive. We have tried it while playing frisbee, ball and doing roll-overs and sprinting. After each energetic session, I check him for signs of chafing, anything that would red-flag me. I have found nothing. He shows no awareness that it's any different than his normal everyday service vest, except his enthusiastic pulling is not a constant issue during major distractions and during exercise periods. I'm more than sold on this product---I'm ready to break into song and sing its praises to the highest power! I love that it looks like nothing more than a simple, everyday well-made vest, but works like a head halter in terms of control, when control is needed. I don't always need any extra control, nor want it, but the Har-Vest gives me the choice: I can simply loosen one strap under the dog's front legs to turn it back into an everyday vest. And yet, when I need to get somewhere quickly, I can tighten it back up quickly and have absolute control when we are running at 12 miles per hour, without having to stop and start continuously. I like this option. It allows me to train without control when I can, but to have a back up for those times when I most need it and don't have the energy nor time to shape loose leash work at every change of pace. I like that it isn't noticible in public and that unlike a head harness, no one thinks I'm using a "muzzle" on my dog. And since I only need it some, but not all of the time, I just love that I can quickly adjust it with one hand so that it's just a normal vest in a couple of seconds. As a disclaimer, I have no financial interest in this product, I'm not selling it nor have I made any agreement to promote it. I am simply one very satisfied service dog trainer/user who finds it the answer for sticky-wicket times when I must have control, while my dog is still in-training. Another neat thing is that once the dog is fully trained and the working control strap is no longer needed, it's still going to be a smart and fashionable, well constructed everyday working vest! Even when it's no longer needed to control pulling, it won't be put in a drawer and never used again. It will continue being an everyday vest. Take a bow, Rachel Friedman. I'm knocked out by the design and function. I'm ready to nominate it for product of the year. Check it out at http://www.har-vest.com . Debi Davis ClickerTales Nevada

From Debi Davis, Delta Society's 1999 Service Animal Award Winner.
Her website is at ClickerTales

I've spent the last few days as a Beta tester for the new working dog harness-vest called "Har-Vest", created and produced by listmember Rachel Friedman. When I agreed to test to product, I wasn't sure I'd have a lot of use for it, as I'm not a wild fan of head harnesses, and have never used any type of anti-pull harness. I tend to prefer to teach the dog what I want it to do instead of pull, and I really am not fond of directing a dog's head with a head halter. I enjoy teaching the dog what to do with his head, teaching attention and focus, rather than rely on mechanics to keep the dog's head where I want it.

Still, I have a dog who loves to run, and who, in bursts of enthusiasm, will often attempt to run slightly ahead of my front wheelchair tires on brisk days, or when he's full of energy. He can easily maintain a loose leash from the moment he steps out the door in a walk, but when we are out doing long distance running next to my powerchair, or if he is really distracted and excited, then it's stop and go constantly, since I don't allow forward movement when there is a tight leash. This isn't always handy, as I'm not as comfortable in cold weather or wet weather as he is, and I just need to get the aerobics out of the way quickly.

For the last three days, I've been running him with the Har-Vest, and it's been a total Godsend for me. My hands are not tired, my energy is higher because I'm not constantly stopping and starting as the leash gets tight and loose. I just run the dog next to me, or out in front of me, and the Har-Vest keeps my hands from getting numb and keeps the leash from ever tightening.

The Har-Vest is a combination vest and harness, with a front loop attachment. I have no idea what makes it work so well, especially
when it appears to be totally non-aversive to the dog. I have been watching for body language that tells me my dog is uncomfortable, stressed--I'm watching body position, head movement, ear twitches, tail positions--and I can see no changes, even when it's obviously working. It's like power steering, and I can hold the leash with the lightest of touch, and never do my hands get tired, no matter how enthusiastic he is that day and how much he's been cooped up and how much he wants to run.

We've been giving this product a heck of a workout, both on short leash and on a Flexi-Leash. There is no concern for the dog running
ahead and hitting the end as there would be on a Head Halter, as the leash attaches to the front of the vest, on the chest area. We've tried it at all different speeds--walking, trotting and running on both short and flexible leashes. We've tried it with no leash, while I put him through his off-leash paces to watch his body movements as he is running with it on. Again, I am seeing no discomfort, no stress, no signs that the dog doesn't find it extremely comfortable and non-aversive. We have tried it while playing frisbee, ball and doing roll-overs and sprinting.

After each energetic session, I check him for signs of chafing, anything that would red-flag me. I have found nothing. He shows no
awareness that it's any different than his normal everyday service vest, except his enthusiastic pulling is not a constant issue during major distractions and during exercise periods.

I'm more than sold on this product---I'm ready to break into song and sing its praises to the highest power! I love that it looks like nothing more than a simple, everyday well-made vest, but works like a head halter in terms of control, when control is needed. I don't always need any extra control, nor want it, but the Har-Vest gives me the choice: I can simply loosen one strap under the dog's front legs to turn it back into an everyday vest. And yet, when I need to get somewhere quickly, I can tighten it back up quickly and have absolute control when we are running at 12 miles per hour, without having to stop and start continuously.

I like this option. It allows me to train without control when I can, but to have a back up for those times when I most need it and don't have the energy nor time to shape loose leash work at every change of pace. I like that it isn't noticible in public and that unlike a head harness, no one thinks I'm using a "muzzle" on my dog. And since I only need it some, but not all of the time, I just love that I can quickly adjust it with one hand so that it's just a normal vest in a couple of seconds.

As a disclaimer, I have no financial interest in this product, I'm not selling it nor have I made any agreement to promote it. I am simply one very satisfied service dog trainer/user who finds it the answer for sticky-wicket times when I must have control, while my dog is still in-training.

Another neat thing is that once the dog is fully trained and the working control strap is no longer needed, it's still going to be a smart and fashionable, well constructed everyday working vest! Even when it's no longer needed to control pulling, it won't be put in a drawer and never used again. It will continue being an everyday vest.

Take a bow, Rachel Friedman. I'm knocked out by the design and function. I'm ready to nominate it for product of the year. Check it out at http://www.har-vest.com .

Debi Davis
ClickerTales
Nevada