Ole Posted April 27, 2010 Report Share Posted April 27, 2010 A BRIEF GUIDE FOR BEGINNERS HARNESSES X-back or shoulder - which to choose? The racing/recreational x-back, an x-back harness is designed for the efficiency and comfort of a dog pulling a light load at anything from a walk/trot to a gallop. This may be either as an individual or working in a team. The X-back harness gets its name from the straps that form an 'X' across the back of the dog. The X-back design keeps the harness in place, controls vertical motion, but doesn't restrict the dog's gait. The "Sliding X" on top allows the harness to compensate for different dogs, and for the off-center pull of standard gangline hitches. This harness is not well suited to heavy weight pulling. It is important the harness fits snugly but not tightly around the neck and extends along the back stopping just short of the tail. The X-back harness when used correctly captures the complete power of the dog from the shoulders through to the back legs A harness fits when the tug base is at the beginning of the tale while pulling. The neck opening should be tight, but not too tight. You should be able to put two fingers betweeen harness and neck. If the connection point is significantly higher than the dogs topline, then the use of an X-back harness can cause the dogs back legs to be lifted slightly reducing the power. You can see in this photo that the dogs are been pulled up because of the use of a bikejoring/scootering antenna. Shoulder Harness This style of harness connects around the shoulders of the dog with the hitching point just below the shoulder blades. The Shoulder Harness has the advantage of allowing all the power generated at the shoulders to be harnessed directly, which is particularly useful when the hitching point is not directly in line with the dogs topline, such as with cani-cross, skijoring and bikejoring. Some long distance mushers in the Iditarod have also cited shoulder harnesses put less stress on the lower back and hips of the dog. For canicross it's recommended that this harness is used instead of an xback. This is due to the higher attachment point on a runner compared to a sled which the xback is designed for. The stress induced by the lead/bungee line was directly on to the dogs intercostal muscles in the stomach. Photo of the shoulder harness My recommendations XBack Harness - scootering or 3 wheeled rig Shoulder Harness - canicross or bikejoring (due to higher points of attachment) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jayjay060708 Posted April 27, 2010 Report Share Posted April 27, 2010 We only have the xback right now for sledding and skijoring but now that it is spring/summer we are going to get a shoulder harness because we want to do bikejoring and have also heard that you should use a shoulder harness for it. If anyone wants a custome made harness this is our favorite site to get our supplies from http://www.affordabledogsleds.com/ . Just for fun I will add a pictures of Akira with her xback harness :-D. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarah Posted April 27, 2010 Report Share Posted April 27, 2010 great post, added to rep Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cebollig Posted April 28, 2010 Report Share Posted April 28, 2010 Thanks for the info guys! Attila is 11 weeks and I'm anxiously waiting to get him in a harness and working. I'm an avid runner, putting on 3-6 miles a day and he'll be joining me when he gets bigger. In the winter I'd love to have him Skijoring. When should I start harness training? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BingBlaze n Skyla Posted April 28, 2010 Report Share Posted April 28, 2010 is this harness ok for cani-cross (aka me jogging with blaze - most ov the time he runs next 2 me - http://www.ezydoguk.co.uk/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=24&zenid=n0j867vocvd74onfanhkj2ufn6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
valkyries Posted April 28, 2010 Report Share Posted April 28, 2010 you can start getting him used to a harness any time, Odin got his first one at 10 week, but do not run him till he's at least 1 year old xxxx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ISDW Posted April 28, 2010 Report Share Posted April 28, 2010 is this harness ok for cani-cross (aka me jogging with blaze - most ov the time he runs next 2 me - http://www.ezydoguk....74onfanhkj2ufn6 I personally wouldn't use these type of harnesses for any pulling activity, I don't think its what they're designed for. I use X backs with the scooter and rig, but am going to try Diesel with a shoulder harness. He had an incredibly high hip score when he was tested, and the vet said I had to keep an eye on it. He's 4 now and never shown any indication of problems, but I'd rather be safe than sorry, so am going to give it a go and see how it works. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BingBlaze n Skyla Posted April 28, 2010 Report Share Posted April 28, 2010 its not for pulling tho i go jogging and take blaze with me so hes running next 2 me apart from the odd spurt ov energy when we 1st set off Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ISDW Posted April 28, 2010 Report Share Posted April 28, 2010 its not for pulling tho i go jogging and take blaze with me so hes running next 2 me apart from the odd spurt ov energy when we 1st set off OK, thats not really cani cross then its a bit like Toy Stoy, we're not flying, we're falling with style I wouldn't know what they're like for jogging together, rather than the dog pulling, if you use it for walking and you like it, I'd say it would be okay. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BingBlaze n Skyla Posted April 28, 2010 Report Share Posted April 28, 2010 ah ok cool i thought cani cross was just running with ur dog lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ISDW Posted April 28, 2010 Report Share Posted April 28, 2010 ah ok cool i thought cani cross was just running with ur dog lol Get into the cani cross, then when Skyla's old enough you would fly along Its good training for scootering and bikejoring etc. I'm not fit enough for it though, no way I could keep up with any of my lot at the moment. Can I ask, how do you attach the lead when you're jogging together, do you have it on a belt, or just hold it in your hand? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BingBlaze n Skyla Posted April 28, 2010 Report Share Posted April 28, 2010 i use a double ended lead - clip that around my waist - i hold it when we first set off so i dont go flying then once blaze is at a decent pace i just let go ov the lead and have him tied round my waist - will try and get pics 1 day for u Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BingBlaze n Skyla Posted October 25, 2010 Report Share Posted October 25, 2010 so if i get a walky dog which harness would i need (im guessin the H one, but where do i attach the line on the walky dog to the harness? does it only have 1 the bit where it can attach? also where do i need to put the walky dog ON the actual bike? lol- or would my ezydog harness be ok? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ole Posted October 26, 2010 Author Report Share Posted October 26, 2010 so if i get a walky dog which harness would i need (im guessin the H one, but where do i attach the line on the walky dog to the harness? does it only have 1 the bit where it can attach? also where do i need to put the walky dog ON the actual bike? lol- or would my ezydog harness be ok? I'd use the shoulder harness for the walky dog. You attach the walky dog line then to the clip on the shoulder harness. The Walky Dog bar will attach to underneath the seat (stem). If your ezydog harness is padded enough it will be fine, depends on how much your dogs pulls though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BingBlaze n Skyla Posted October 26, 2010 Report Share Posted October 26, 2010 she doesnt really pull much at all, ezydog harnesses have a padded chest plate Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tikaani&Aiyana Posted October 26, 2010 Report Share Posted October 26, 2010 Just a thought Nix if you are going to do it regularly she may start to pull the fitter and more used to it she gets xx I have just had my belt delivered and will be ordering a shoulder harness when i get paid, want to get into cani cross cant wait! :D I need to get fit again Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BingBlaze n Skyla Posted October 26, 2010 Report Share Posted October 26, 2010 well so long as she gets fitter she can pull all she likes! lmao , i need to get fitter too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tikaani&Aiyana Posted October 26, 2010 Report Share Posted October 26, 2010 Just had images of you being pulled along by a polar bear bless her x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beachhusky Posted November 16, 2010 Report Share Posted November 16, 2010 It makes a difference if you have trained your dogs to heel when you walk them or not. I never did, so they are always out front when I run them, though they pull a little less as they get tired. I always used the shoulder harness and it works well. The lead that I use is only about 5 ft with bungees and all, and Im six foot four, so an xback would just pull thier back legs off the ground. Wait a minute, thats about 1.5-2M and im like 75 cm tall... you crazy brits with your metric system lol jk. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beachhusky Posted November 16, 2010 Report Share Posted November 16, 2010 [quote Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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