westiemum Posted June 25, 2013 Author Share Posted June 25, 2013 I think harnesses will be much more comfortable for all of them. and all different colours .... :) SO glad he's back home :) Thanks Perse - he's got a belly full of good dinner and is snoozing next to me. Its soooo good to have my beautiful old man home. Yes choosing colours for the three of them will be fun!!! What do you suggest?? Red, Purple and dark blue? Yes I think Red for Mac, Blue for Andy but maybe pink for the girl!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
persephone Posted June 25, 2013 Share Posted June 25, 2013 :) niiice . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
westiemum Posted July 2, 2013 Author Share Posted July 2, 2013 (edited) Hi everyone, Thanks everyone very much for all your suggestions. I looked at and considered every one of them. So after mulling for a few days I've ordered Mac a Walkeez fleece lined harness from Clean Run It appealed as it was fleece lined for old skin, but more importntly, the 'V' in the front is really deep and well away from his neck and it has wide straps - not quite the vest that I initially thought would be best (many of these ended up being quite high up the front of the chest) - but I think it will work very well for a boy with neck surgery. And a design away from the neck was critical and the most important factor. Interestingly, those that needed neck measurements were a bit of a give away as well - this harness only asked for a chest measurement which I took as a good sign. So thanks everyone - I'll post a pic when it arrives so you can hopefully see why I've been so fussy. In the meantime, if anyone is interested, I've posted a pic of his surgical neck wound on p28 of the dementia thread in health and nutrition which also shows why I've been so careful. Thank you all again - don't know what I would do without this wonderful community Edited July 2, 2013 by westiemum Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
westiemum Posted August 28, 2013 Author Share Posted August 28, 2013 (edited) Just thought I'd update the harness situation as its been useful to work this through with a dog with a severe disability. To recap, Mac had laryngeal tie-back surgery at 11 pm June 23. So he can't ever have anything around his neck again and has a permanently open airway. And I've discovered 'chunky' Westie bodies are not that easy to fit with a harness! If the harness fitted around the waist it was too long along his back and vice versa. The clean run walkeze harness is a lovely harness - but it's too tight over his head and drags across his neck. I'm sure the next size up would be too big. I also tried a vest style harness - it was OK but a bit high up around his neck and the strap too long along his back. Enter Karina from Adelaide Dog (wish I'd thought of her weeks ago)! She fitted Mac properly with an Ezydog Quick-fit harness. And it fits really well and the chest strap is a long way from his neck. Like it so much I'm going to fit the other westies with the same harness. So if anyone else has a dog who has had neck surgery I'd suggest going straight to an Ezy Dog Quick fit - and see if it suits. Edited August 28, 2013 by westiemum Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
persephone Posted August 28, 2013 Share Posted August 28, 2013 ..and where are the photos? :p I know you have so much time to sit around & take photos ....... ;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
westiemum Posted August 28, 2013 Author Share Posted August 28, 2013 Hoping to pick up the other two harnesses tomorrow night and will take some then. I'm so pleased to find a harness that really fits chunky westies! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
persephone Posted August 28, 2013 Share Posted August 28, 2013 :) Excellent!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ness Posted August 28, 2013 Share Posted August 28, 2013 Glad to see you found a harness. They seem very much like the comfortflex one and I love how that one fits on mine and use it for tracking. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
westiemum Posted August 28, 2013 Author Share Posted August 28, 2013 Ness you beat me to it! Thanks so much - yes they are almost identical to the comfortflex from Cleanrun without the wait. And I was actually able to have Mac fitted properly with Karina after the online false starts - which helped a lot! I didn't realise what odd shapes and sizes most harnesses are when compared with the 'superb lithe' Westie body - not! Once I get the other two harnesses, I'll see if one of the first two harnesses will fit Ollie, my recent foster who has gone to his new home and go from there. Halfwords and Minimax thanks very much for the Ezydog suggestion! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ness Posted August 28, 2013 Share Posted August 28, 2013 :laugh: try fitting a skinny chested BC - almost as difficult. I hate shopping for things online. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
westiemum Posted August 28, 2013 Author Share Posted August 28, 2013 I love shopping online! But not for harnesses for westies! I think there's room for a harness fitting service - would take some of the online guess work out of it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ness Posted August 28, 2013 Share Posted August 28, 2013 :laugh: sorry I should have clarified online shopping for items which require a "fit". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Little Gifts Posted August 28, 2013 Share Posted August 28, 2013 I had trouble finding a harness for Tempeh even though she is not a wrinkly pei. I had to get her fitted too and she now has a couple of Rogz step in harnesses (matching leashes and matching poo bags made by MTD!). I'm a bit late to the thread so was going to suggest Sporn harnesses might be worth a look for Mac as they are very soft and work even when you are a numpty like me and put them on upside down! The other option if you sew is to make your own. I've been collecting ideas and patterns in case Ams ever needs me to come up with a solution for a dog with special needs (ie an odd body shape). I almost had to make a breast plate for a pup with a hernia a couple of months back but that is as close as I've gotten so far! I've also been collecting suitable fabric, like the puppia harness mesh material and I have all the rings and clips as I also make collars and leashes for the fosters. When something is damaged the working hardware just gets reused. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
westiemum Posted August 30, 2013 Author Share Posted August 30, 2013 Thanks LG - great minds think alike. I think there is some demand for a harness fitting service for non-standard dog shapes and sizes (is there such a thing as 'standard'? ). And your ability to customise harnesses for special needs dogs is brilliant. I really like the mesh chest plate sort of harness design but the one I bought went too far up Mac's neck for my comfort. I really liked the Sporn simple control harness - thanks for posting - but apart from a commitment to buy the Ezydog from Karina, I've learnt that I think there are certain breeds, westies are one of them, where I think it's better to have the harness fitted. Very easy to make mistakes! :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boronia Posted September 2, 2013 Share Posted September 2, 2013 Thanks LG - great minds think alike. I think there is some demand for a harness fitting service for non-standard dog shapes and sizes (is there such a thing as 'standard'? ). And your ability to customise harnesses for special needs dogs is brilliant. I really like the mesh chest plate sort of harness design but the one I bought went too far up Mac's neck for my comfort. I really liked the Sporn simple control harness - thanks for posting - but apart from a commitment to buy the Ezydog from Karina, I've learnt that I think there are certain breeds, westies are one of them, where I think it's better to have the harness fitted. Very easy to make mistakes! :) I bought an Ezydog harness at the local market yesterday for $5 (I also bought a $3 fishing rod but left it at the stall!) The harness fits Penny really well and she is pretty happy to trundle along with it on, It also had a brand new car restraint clip with it which I will not need so if anyone wants the clip (FTGH) I can post it off, it is the same as this one--> http://www.ezydog.com.au/car-restraint/ I think the postage will be about $9 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
westiemum Posted September 2, 2013 Author Share Posted September 2, 2013 1378089885[/url]' post='6289263']1377836393[/url]' post='6287600']Thanks LG - great minds think alike. I think there is some demand for a harness fitting service for non-standard dog shapes and sizes (is there such a thing as 'standard'? ). And your ability to customise harnesses for special needs dogs is brilliant. I really like the mesh chest plate sort of harness design but the one I bought went too far up Mac's neck for my comfort. I really liked the Sporn simple control harness - thanks for posting - but apart from a commitment to buy the Ezydog from Karina, I've learnt that I think there are certain breeds, westies are one of them, where I think it's better to have the harness fitted. Very easy to make mistakes! :) I bought an Ezydog harness at the local market yesterday for $5 (I also bought a $3 fishing rod but left it at the stall!) The harness fits Penny really well and she is pretty happy to trundle along with it on, It also had a brand new car restraint clip with it which I will not need so if anyone wants the clip (FTGH) I can post it off, it is the same as this one--> http://www.ezydog.co.../car-restraint/ I think the postage will be about $9 What size harness did you buy Boronia? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boronia Posted September 2, 2013 Share Posted September 2, 2013 Thanks LG - great minds think alike. I think there is some demand for a harness fitting service for non-standard dog shapes and sizes (is there such a thing as 'standard'? ). And your ability to customise harnesses for special needs dogs is brilliant. I really like the mesh chest plate sort of harness design but the one I bought went too far up Mac's neck for my comfort. I really liked the Sporn simple control harness - thanks for posting - but apart from a commitment to buy the Ezydog from Karina, I've learnt that I think there are certain breeds, westies are one of them, where I think it's better to have the harness fitted. Very easy to make mistakes! :) I bought an Ezydog harness at the local market yesterday for $5 (I also bought a $3 fishing rod but left it at the stall!) The harness fits Penny really well and she is pretty happy to trundle along with it on, It also had a brand new car restraint clip with it which I will not need so if anyone wants the clip (FTGH) I can post it off, it is the same as this one--> http://www.ezydog.co.../car-restraint/ I think the postage will be about $9 What size harness did you buy Boronia? size M Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boronia Posted September 2, 2013 Share Posted September 2, 2013 Thanks LG - great minds think alike. I think there is some demand for a harness fitting service for non-standard dog shapes and sizes (is there such a thing as 'standard'? ). And your ability to customise harnesses for special needs dogs is brilliant. I really like the mesh chest plate sort of harness design but the one I bought went too far up Mac's neck for my comfort. I really liked the Sporn simple control harness - thanks for posting - but apart from a commitment to buy the Ezydog from Karina, I've learnt that I think there are certain breeds, westies are one of them, where I think it's better to have the harness fitted. Very easy to make mistakes! :) I bought an Ezydog harness at the local market yesterday for $5 (I also bought a $3 fishing rod but left it at the stall!) The harness fits Penny really well and she is pretty happy to trundle along with it on, It also had a brand new car restraint clip with it which I will not need so if anyone wants the clip (FTGH) I can post it off, it is the same as this one--> http://www.ezydog.co.../car-restraint/ I think the postage will be about $9 What size harness did you buy Boronia? size M and this is the FTGH clip Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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