calliecritturs
Posted : 3/10/2010 12:15:37 PM
Several ideas:
1. The Easy Walk -- you can actually put that on so it attaches in front OR between the shoulders. (David likes it one way, I do it the other way).
2. They make actual "dress" harnesses that are like a whole "shirt" that just fits tight. But it would need to have danged good fasteners (not just a little velcro) but that would give support all the way down the back as far as THIS dog needed it.
Where abouts is this person?? My friend Rita does a TON of sewing -- and she (or someone she knows) might make something like this just to earn a bit of money for rescue and help a dog. I'm thinking it would be pretty easy to make one even out of a doubled-T-shirt with a band around the low belly to keep him from peeing straight in it?? You'd probably need to sew some relatively stiff gross-grain ribbon a couple of places around the body in order to reinforce it for D-rings to be attached but it would be easier that way to ensure that it wasn't putting tension on the wrong area.
This is Dog.com's version -- it's way too small for a beagle, but this is sorta/kinda what I mean
http://www.dog.com/item/harness-dress-denim-for-dogs/312757/
3. NEXT SUGGESTION -- talk to her about a WAGON!!! Man, we've used a couple and for a special-needs dog they rock. For Muffin -- who had an iffy spine and a lot of arthritis, we used a child's "Step-2" wagon because it actually had a side door that opened. I made a sturdy "false bottom" for it but when we opened the side door that meant he didn't have to jump the whole height of the side of the wagon to get in -- BUT when you shut it, it provided the edge the whole way around for safety.
The Radio Flyer (it's a red one and there is a picture in My Photos with Kee Shu in it) actually COMES with a fold-down to the seats that MAKES a false bottom (see these wagons with seats all have "dips" to accommodate the kids feet and provide a 'seat' for them but for a dog you want a FLAT bottom).
I simply took two thick, but cheap, bathroom rugs and basted them together roughly the size of the interior of the wagon -- it makes a thick cushion to lie on but is non-skid as well.
This way you let them ride as long as you want, then they can walk as long as it's comfortable but the FIRST SIGN of stress they can lie down (while you continue on your way). Heck, the Radio Flyer actually has its own little canopy to avoid harsh sun and everything.
It sounds WEIRD ... but when you've got a dog with spinal issues they are a MUST. Suddenly you go from having to "carry" the dog (and then you don't GO anywhere because the dog gets TOO heavy) to being COMPLETELY portable. Generally a dog with spinal issues is pretty smart -- they tend not to just want to "jump" out and you just plain train them to "tell" you when they want out or in.
Gina either have her email me or just pass on my phone number (if you don't have it, holler and I'll give it to you) and I can tell them exactly how I've done the wagons in the past.
Shoot -- we plumb wore out Muffin's wagon and HAD to get the new one for Kee Shu and Tink thinks it rocks!! She's obviously not handicapped, but it gets her up high enough at Give Kids the World so kids in wheelchairs can pet her -- and Luna uses it for the same thing.
When you have a handicapped/or special needs pet, you tend to drag half the world with you and the wagon is danged handy because in that space UNDER the false bottom you can carry cold water and paper towels and treats and all the things you can't otherwise live without!!
But in the wonderful world of those who SEW (not me) there are actually such things as "patterns" for a harness like I've mentioned. It's really not that far out of the ordinary.