Bridgeport Mobility Harness Review
(Modified chest strap on Bridgeport 6" fixed handled leather mobility harness)
2004 I started with the Bridgeport 3" rigid fixed handled leather mobility harness, size M, then had to buy the 6" rigid fixed handled mobility harness, size M when I changed to taller shoes and I couldn't reach the handle without leaning sideways as the handles are not adjustable. I have had to have both Bridgeport harness chest straps modified by a local saddle shop because Bridgeport refused to help me. The harnesses, before modification, impeded Rain's reach for steps and loading in the truck which ultimately made her harness shy. The fake sheepskin padding which cannot be wasshed or cleaned, matted down immediately and I shaved it off and glued on real sheepskin for padding. The fixed harness handle is behind the dog's shoulders directly in line with the girth strap which puts any weight on the handle on the dog's back not its shoulders. Customer service with Bridgeport did not exist for me and either of these harnesses. Bridgeport now had changed the chest strap of their mobility harness, similar to the modification I had had done, and I do not have personal experience with one of their new harnesses, but based on my personal experience with mobility harnesses I have purchased from them and the way I was treated, I would not recommend this company. Even with the modifications made to their harnesses it didn't take Rain long to again become harness shy and I needed to find a new, better fitting, harness that allowed her more or full range shoulder unrestricted movement.
LDS Mobility Harness Review
(LDS leather mobility harness with left ergonomic articulating adjustable handle with the insulated LDS modified pack)
(LDS leather mobility harness with ambidextrous articulating adjustable handle with custom modified SDIT vest affixed to the harness)
2004 Rain and I now use the LDS leather mobility harness. The things we like about the harness: the fit is perfect due to the many measurements; the "saddle" padding is a high-tech honeycomb that is washable and will not mat down; the rigid handle can be adjusted up and down in height and it can be released to lie on the dogs back when/if necessary; the rigid handle can be purchased in either right ergonomic, left ergonomic or ambidextrous depending on which side your dog usually works; there is a choice of leather color and hardware color (brass or nickel); the handle is directly over the dog's shoulders and the girth strap is set back; LDS is very easy to work with. Also LDS recently came out with a nice insulated pact that comes in many colors that affixes to the saddle on the shoulders of the dog. I first purchased the ambidextrous handle but later go the left ergonomic handle. The handles are very easy to change so if my left wrist hurts too much to hold the handle I put the ambidextrous one on and work Rain on my right side.
What I dislike about the LDS leather mobility harness: the price is high in my opinion for a harness that is riveted and not sewn; the leather edges are not smoothed; optional pulling handle*, for use when using a wheelchair is expensive and puts the dog out in front and leaning sideways; and the buckle tongues are flared and difficult to insert in the holes punched in the leather - I had to make the holes larger using a leather punch. The insulated pack sits too far back on the saddle and I modified it by moving it forward directly over the dog's shoulders.
All in all, I highly recommend the LDS leather mobility harness.
*I have a less expensive "fix" for the pulling handle that leaves the dog directly along side the wheelchair and not leaning when pulling. I used a rolled leather horse English bit converter as it has buckles on both ends (come 2 in a pack for less than $20) buckled to the "O" ring on the shoulders and attached as low as possible to the girth strap where it lies on the saddle. I have also used a rolled leather dog collar of the appropriate length...but this took more work as I had to remove the hardware on the collar - not an easy task, punch new holes adding snap clips which I secured with chicago screws, then clipped it to the harness.
Circle-E Harness Review
(Rain wearing her new Circle-E mobility harness with the handle set at 3" in height. Photo taken 03/06)
(Rain SD wearing her new Circle E custom made mobility harness with handle set at 5" in height. Photo taken 2/06)
2006 I became disenchanted with the LDS harness for several reasons and began looking for another harness that wouldn't have the problems I had experienced with the LDS harness. My search brought me to Circle-E and the saddlemaker Arnie Epstein. This harness is wonderful!
As I had continued to use the LDS harness with the ergonomic handle I noticed that the handle had become unstable and I did not feel safe and secure as I had when it was new. I noticed, upon looking over the LDS harness that the leather saddle had in fact twisted/bent allowing the handle shaft to shift, it's leather was not of uniform thickness. I had considered having the local saddle maker fix the harness by replacing the saddle leather, but the straps were also very wide (over kill in my opinion) and if I was going to have the saddle replaced I would have the straps replaced with narrower ones with beveled edges and sewn in place not rivoted as the original ones were...the cost stopped be dead in my tracks! It would cost me as much to have the harness rebuilt using the handle and the handle hardware as it would to purchase a NEW harness from LDS, and that wasn't going to happen. That is the primary reason I went looking for another mobility harness.
Additionally, Rain had begun ducking her head when I brought out the LDS harness, though she had not out and out refused to wear it as she had with the Bridgeport harnesses. This indicated to me that she did not like the LDS harness any more.
Arnie Epstein of Circle-E, the creator and maker of the harness that Rain now uses knows his leather as he is a saddle maker himself. He had created a custom mobility harness and thru working with disabled persons using his harness on their Service Dogs he has made modifications to better reflect what the users need and want. He is on his "New Generation M2" harness with Rain's and he made yet another modification to the M2 generation harness for a friend who's Service Dog's chest is not like Rain's deep well defined chest with a tucked up belly but is more "tube" shaped - basically a straight bottom line..who knows, maybe hers is a New Generation M2.5 or possibly even a New Generation M3.
I took the measurements as the Circle-E website described and when I got the harness I had to make no adjustments...it fit Rain PERFECTLY!!
I had ordered the adjustable handle that could be lowered to Rain's back (her signal that we are staying put for a while, go to sleep). As Rain is a tall girl and I have long arms the handle is not very tall - 3" and 5" settings. When I went to lower it on her back I found that there was a problem with it, called Arnie and sent it back to be adjusted. It only cost me shipping both ways. When the handle came back it worked beautifully. The slides easily go up and down unlike the LDS harness handle. When Rain has a good shake though, I must double check to make sure that the slides are still in position to properly secure the harness handle. That is how easily they slide.
The harness has: a leather saddle beautifully sewn and sealed with real sheep skin for padding; center chest piece that evenly distributes pressure unlike the LDS harness which only has a large "O" ring; narrower leather chest straps than the LDS harness, that go from the center chest piece to the saddle with a lot of adjustment options; now the really neat thing about this harness is that it utilizes medical orthotic strapping for the girth and from the center chest piece to the girth with special ratchets and the girth has a special padded leather piece in the center where it lies on the lowest part of the dogs chest - for comfort. These ratchets are very easy to use, to make adjustments, to release - especially easy for those with limited hand dexterity or diminished hand strength. This harness is extremely light weight, although I don't know exactly what it weighs it is considerably less than the LDS which I had thought was light compared to the Bridgeport harnesses. I would doubt that the Circle-E harness weighs 2 pounds, I think it is less than that.
In addition to the options that I got (adustable height of the handle and a handle that can be laid down on the dog's back) one can also get the "no pull" option. It is a wonderful invention of Arnie's as the disabled person using the harness can easily stop the dog from pulling (leaning into the harness).
Arnie Epstein's customer service is absolutely excellent as well has the workmanship and design of this custom made mobility harnesses. I HIGHLY recommend the Circle-E harness to those who need a rigid handle mobility harness.
