Benefits of harnesses
The slings of this accessory do not compress the respiratory organs, jugular vein and thyroid area. This is why a harness is the best choice for short-necked breeds such as pugs and bulldogs. It is also often used for greyhounds with a graceful neck. Such dogs are not suitable for regular collars because it is easy for them to wriggle out of them.
Dog harness
There is an opinion that a harness negatively affects the shoulder girdle and the posture of the pet's forelimbs, but this is not at all true. The correct choice of equipment helps to eliminate inverted paws and metacarpus, and clubfoot.
Types of harnesses for domestic dogs
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There are many types of this accessory, so in order to choose or sew the right one, you need to study the pros and cons of each.
Medical
Medical equipment differs from the standard in its design and is intended for pets with injuries or partially paralyzed. Such harnesses resemble vests in appearance, occupy two-thirds of the body and are attached near the hind legs, which reduces the load on the hind legs.
Medical harness for dogs
For puppies
For puppies less than six months old, special harnesses are designed that allow you to monitor the formation of the pet's body and prevent improper formation of the limbs.
Important! Choosing the right product according to your pet’s figure promotes better development of the chest.
Puppy harness
Riding
Riding harnesses have a special design, which is based on two belts that run along the dog’s back and are attached at four points. A rope is attached to the belts, connecting the team and the pet. Thus, the load is distributed evenly along the body, without squeezing the cervical vertebrae, and the hind legs are free.
Important! The use of such riding equipment does not cause inconvenience when running, and at the same time allows the owner to conveniently control the team.
Freight
This type of harness is designed for training pets. Weight harnesses promote the development of the thoracic spine as well as muscles. In addition, they improve the dog’s health and make it possible to use them to move light loads during walks. Thanks to the equipment with a spacer, the load is evenly distributed throughout the animal’s body.
Weight harness
Walking
Walking harnesses are the basis for securing the leash. Such products are comfortable, suitable for dogs that like to pull and do not injure the neck when jerking. In addition, this variety is suitable for pets who have previously been injured.
With the help of walking equipment, you can accustom your dog to physical activity, thanks to the provision of removable elements that make it possible to regulate the load.
Walking harness
Cross-country
The design of a running harness is similar to a riding harness, or rather, it is a kind of modification. The straps pass through the pet's back, and the leash is fixed to the croup. This protects the dog from injury during a walk due to sudden jerks. This equipment is made to order by craftsmen for pets who practice canicross.
Running harness
What is pulling for dogs?
A dog tug is a cable (rope) about 2.5 meters long. But what distinguishes it from a regular rope or leash for walking is the presence of a shock absorber. It can be “built-in” - located in the middle of the rope, or fastened to one of the ends of the line. The shock absorber consists of a dense braided rubber band or several rubber bands connected together and hidden in a cover. When fully extended, the rod reaches approximately 3 meters in length.
Shock absorbers are selected individually for each dog. The size (breed) of the pet and its level of physical fitness should be taken into account. Also, rubber bands should not be used for other purposes: a shock absorber for four dogs is not suitable for one and vice versa. Choose a medium-hard elastic band. It should not stretch completely, turning into a rope. But it shouldn’t be too tough either.
At one end of the pull rod there is a carabiner for attaching to the harness. This should be a special carabiner with a swivel, which allows you to quickly unfasten or fasten the dog if necessary, made of steel or brass. Other carabiners, including construction ones, are strictly prohibited from being used for such purposes. They take some time to fasten/unfasten and have sharp edges that can harm the animal.
The other end of the pull rod ends with a loop for securing a load or sled. The runner's belt most often has a built-in carabiner or hook for connecting to the pull loop. You can use a so-called “soft carabiner” - a flexible rope attachment. The use of metal carabiners on the load securing side is prohibited by safety regulations.
Why is traction needed?
Sled sports, canicross and carrying loads during training are associated with stress on the spine and skeleton of the dog as a whole. During the sudden jerk required to dislodge the load or runner, there is a risk that the dog or person may be injured. The shock-absorbing pull for dogs eliminates this possibility. By stretching, it provides compression to the dog's spine and safety to the person at the other end of the cable. Proper distribution of the load allows you to avoid deformation of the animal’s skeleton, which is very important if sports activities are regular.
What types of pulls are there?
The equipment can be designed for one dog, two or more animals. In this case, some additional devices are required. A pair of tail lines are attached to the main rod. A collar is a short leash with small carabiners at both ends. It is attached to the dogs' collars so that they stay at the same distance, do not pull in different directions and do not run around the obstacle from different sides.
For a larger number of dogs (4,6,8,9), two types of harness and, accordingly, pulling are used - fan and train. Each type of harness is used depending on the terrain and purpose. Basically it's a pull pull. The number of lines depends on the number of dogs in the sled. Additionally, neck straps are used for rear dogs and collars for front ones.
Types of harnesses for sled dogs
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The sled type of harness is suitable for massive dogs such as Malamute, Husky and Samoyed. The riding harness for dogs has a high level of durability and provides comfort for the animal. These products are difficult to find in a regular pet store, so the equipment is made to order. The device has several belts and rings with which they are attached.
The tow belt is designed for use in canicross, skijoring and bikejorring competitions. Using this type of harness is very convenient, because the skier’s hands remain free.
There is a shock absorber between the tow belt and the traction leash, which softens sharp jerks and increases the efficiency and comfort of the dog and skier. There are also several modifications of the tow belt: sports, touring and children's.
Tow belt
Manufacturing of the product
The beauty of making your own harness is the ability to combine different materials. Nylon goes well with canvas or faux leather. Synthetic fabrics make the product light and comfortable. When making ammunition, it is necessary to cut out parts of the pattern, keeping allowances of 3-5 mm for the seams. Polyester, thin felt, or fleece can be used as lining fabric. Parts made of lining and base material are connected with seams. For greater strength, a soft braid is sewn around the perimeter of the accessory. The seams need to be done well to avoid damage to the husky harness.
Make the belts on adjusting rings. This way you can control the length of the product. All accessories, including fasteners, should be purchased at the store. You need to choose high-quality fittings. After all, the strength of a DIY husky harness depends on it. The pattern of ammunition is quite simple and understandable even for a novice seamstress.
How to take measurements
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In order to provide comfort to your pet and make an accessory that will not rub, you need to take the measurements correctly. You can use a regular meter for this, which are used by tailors when sewing.
The main measurement is the width of the back from the beginning of the withers to the base of the tail.
You also need to record the following pet parameters:
- Chest circumference: when taking measurements, you should focus on the widest place, which is located behind the front legs.
- Neck circumference: when taking measurements, you need to measure the area where the collar is located.
- Back length: measure the distance from the withers to the base of the tail.
At the end, you need to add 2 cm to the results obtained, which will avoid a tight fit of the harness.
How to measure a dog
Which dogs is it suitable for?
First of all, it is worth mentioning sled dogs - Siberian Huskies, Malamutes, Samoyeds. These are active dogs for whom movement is an important physiological need. They easily learn to walk in a harness and get used to the equipment. But almost any dog can do it. In principle, there are no strict restrictions on breeds. Any pet that needs physical exercise and loves to run can do weight training or canicross.
Cynologists recommend engaging in such sports with dogs at least 35 cm at the withers. Dogs with short legs or anatomical features of the head structure that make breathing difficult should not run with weights. And yet, you should not force an animal that does not like it to run.
How to cut
Despite the large assortment of harnesses for large, medium and small breeds of dogs, sometimes you want to make a harness for your pet of the desired shape and size with your own hands. Moreover, this is very easy to do thanks to the availability of a variety of step-by-step instructions and diagrams online that allow you to sew a product to suit every taste. Some manage to do this so well that they take part in master classes.
First you need to take measurements, and then select the fabric. It is better to give preference to fabrics that are used for factory production of harnesses. Mixing them is also allowed. For example, you can combine the use of leather and nylon.
Important! The combination of synthetic and natural fabrics will provide the product with high strength and lighten the weight of the equipment.
Speaking of light weight, paracord collars are characterized by high strength and low weight. For small dogs, such as Yorkies, pugs, dachshunds, and Pomeranians, you can use velor, which is attractive in appearance and inexpensive.
DIY dog harness: step-by-step instructions
There are a large number of options for cutting and sewing a dog harness. The classic option is to sew a pair of leashes together and fix them at 4 points.
Step-by-step instruction:
- Take the braid (it is better to use durable material) and take a measurement using a sewing meter. You need to get the length of the braid that corresponds to the volume of the dog’s body.
- The resulting result is multiplied by two.
- Take a good quality cotton fabric and then cut a strip from it that will match the length of the braid.
- Place the cut strip of fabric between the sides of the braid and machine sew the side seams. It is best to use nylon threads.
- Then sew on a strap that fits on the owner’s hand.
- Make loops along the edges and then secure them with a knot.
- On the side of the ring, leave space for the hem, and on the side of the buckle, for the buckle and hem.
- Secure the rings and buckle onto the loops.
It is necessary to sew, or rather sew together elements of the equipment, with high quality, otherwise the product may tear after the first walk with an active pet that loves to pull.
Important! Fastening hardware must be of high quality.
Rules for self-tailoring
When sewing your own dog gear, it is important to take into account the pet’s temperament and physical strength. The purpose of using the equipment is also important: for regular walks or training.
The material from which the harness will be sewn must be durable, wear-resistant and soft, and should not rub or cause discomfort to the pet. In addition, there should be no difficulty in washing it.
The harness should fit snugly to the animal's body, but should not rub or squeeze, or interfere with the pet's freedom of movement. Checking whether the product is sewn correctly is quite simple: you need to place your palm between the dog’s body and the harness. If it fits easily, then everything is in order: the harness is sewn to the correct measurements, and the dog will be comfortable walking in it. However, the product should not dangle too much, otherwise it will not be difficult for your pet to take it off in a matter of minutes.
Important! It is better to equip the equipment with several fasteners. This is due to the procedure for putting a harness on a pet. The product should be easy to put on and take off.
The straps at the top of the product should not be narrowed, cutting into the animal’s body, as this will be accompanied by pain for the pet. The pattern must match the measurements.
Weights for harnesses
Weights for harnesses are designed for large breeds of dogs. Fighting and service dogs need training that allows them to develop endurance and restore their lack of muscle mass. A weighted harness is ideal for this.
Harness with weights
However, such a product is not made for pets under one year old. This is due to the fact that the bones are just beginning to form, and weights can cause irreparable harm to the dog.
Rings for fastening
In addition to the method of fastening, the product differs in the number of rings with which the leash is secured. For everyday walks with your pet, one ring will be enough.
Working ammunition, as a rule, is distinguished by a large number of rings. There may be three of them. There may also be a special “handle” that allows you to conveniently secure the dog nearby.
Sled dog harnesses include three rings. The harness is fixed on the sides and helps to distribute the load evenly.
Towing type harnesses do not have rings, and therefore the leash is not fixed.
Lining
Riding, cargo and winter types of harnesses must have a lining. It can be played by any material that is soft and duplicates the product from the inside. Many people use old clothes or other fabrics that are low cost. Felt, fleece and plywood are often used. To reduce pressure, foam rubber is sometimes placed between layers of fabric.
If you choose the right type of harness, then accurately take measurements and cut out the product, you can make a dog harness with your own hands. And when there is no time for sewing yourself, ready-made products from zoological stores will help out.
Origin story
The idea of founding such competitions first arose as a result of the use of large dogs of northern breeds to move heavy objects. The first mention of waitpulling is on the pages of the book “The Call of the Wild,” authored by Jack London, as well as in some other books and works of that time. They talk about working dogs that carried heavy loads for gold miners. Initially, this dog competition was just a part of sled dog racing.
The winners of these competitions then participated in weight-shifting competitions to find out which dogs were not only the fastest, but also the strongest. Since then, some things have undergone changes and today, weightpulling is an organized strength sport with a clear set of rules, requirements and restrictions.
In weight-pulling competitions, the most important piece of all equipment is the aforementioned harness - a belt-like piece of equipment that fits around the dog's torso, like a seat belt on the driver of a racing car.
The harness must be suitable for this type of competition, so it is usually made from synthetic fabrics, such as nylon or Kevlar. In fact, the entire design of this harness resembles an elongated sled harness. Some parts of the harness must have special soft sealing pads, since there will be a high load at the points of contact with the body and hence there is a high risk of injury.
