Pictured above is Harmon, raised by John and Amy Dowdy and graduated May 16, 2009.
The Guide Dog Harness The harness worn by a guide Dog is a necessary piece of equipment to help communicate messages from the blind person to the Guide Dog. Each harness is handmade by a leather craftsman. There are many operations involved in the making of each harness including cutting, skiving, edging, finishing, cementing, sewing, riveting and welding. The pieces of the harness include a chest strap, belly strap and handle. The harnesses come in four different sizes, although the two middle sizes are the most commonly used. The harness handle is made of a tempered steel bar bent to shape, then wrapped tightly with leather and stitched. The handle part has an additional thickness of leather cushioning. Guide Dogs are trained to pull forward in their harnesses in order to lead their blind partners. The Guide Dog School inventories its supply of harnesses each month to ensure that it has a ready supply available for every class. These harnesses bear the brand of Guide Dogs for the Blind, Inc., and are never sold or given to anyone aside from those blind people who have completed the Guide Dog program at the school in San Rafael, California or Boring, Oregon. Harnesses that were used by retired Guide Dogs or by ones that have died are returned to the school where they are recycled into the training program. When a Guide Dog is wearing its harness it knows that it is "on the job" and must act accordingly. The harness is the Guide Dog's official work uniform. It is a uniform that is earned and worn with pride. It is a uniform deserving of respect by all those who observe one of these special dogs at work.
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