Force transfer harness and method

Abstract

A force transfer harness that utilizes the harness structure to redirect the handler's forces through the harness structure and into the underlying ground is provided. The harness creates a moving support for a handler. Through the act of the dog sitting, the associated dog and handler cause a change in the orientation of the harness legs, both fixed and moveable, and cause the moveable legs to be brought into an angular relationship with the fixed legs that allows the harness to form a support structure. After the dog sits, the harness legs are brought in contact with the ground, whereas previously they were hovering above the ground in a ready orientation. As a result, the dog's act of sitting enables the human to transfer his or her weight through the harness and into the ground. As a consequence, the need to use a highly trained large breed dog for motion assistance is eliminated since all of the handler's forces are directed through the harness structure and into the ground rather than through the dog's body.