Choosing your Canicross harness can be a little daunting. What should you be looking for in your harness? What makes a Canicross harness different to an everyday harness?
Canicross has resurged a love of running for many over the last few years, helping both human and dog stay active and strengthening their bond. Not only do most of our furry friends love it, but our dogs are a great motivator!
A suitable harness ensures that your dog runs comfortably, at their full potential. Below we'll outline the main features you're looking out for in a pulling harness, and we also suggest a few great harnesses to check out.
Harness Shape
The ideal harness shape for a pulling harness is the Y-shape. This means that the neck of the harness is in a Y-shape, with the chest piece sitting on the sternum and the neck straps sitting away from the throat, as pictured above.
This allows freedom of movement around the joints when running, and keeps the airways free.
H-style harnesses are not ideal for pulling sports, because of the way they fit the dog.
Great Fit
Your Canicross harness being a great fit is very important. An ill-fitting harness can cause sores, or impede movement and breathing.
The harness' girth straps should sit a good distance away from the armpits. You should be able to fit two fingers vertically around the entirety of the harness, without it feeling too loose or tight. For pulling sports, the chest piece should sit right on the sternum, and shouldn't rest where the dog's airway is.
Leash Attachment
Everyday harnesses often have the leash attachment further towards the head of your dog, but for a Canicross harness, the attachment should be further towards the back.
If your dog isn't particularly strong, a harness like the Line Harness v5 would be suitable. It's designed for sports with a high pulling point, like canicross, bikejoring & more.
For strong, big dogs, or dogs that pull hard, the leash attachment should be near the base of the tail, instead of the middle of the back - this helps keep pressure off the spine as they pull. A harness like the Freemotion Harness v5 is a great choice for this.
Choosing Your Harness
Use the above guidance to select a suitable harness! An overview of some of our favourites are as below. If you need any advice, you can contact us on our customer service email - bark@mountaindog.uk
Line Harness v5
The Line Harness v5 is Y-shaped, with plenty of room around the neck to keep the airways free. The girth straps leave plenty of space for the swing of the front legs when fitted correctly, giving your dog full freedom of movement.
This is a great harness for smaller dogs, or dogs who don't pull hard.
Freemotion Harness v5
The Freemotion Harness v5 is designed for any pulling sport with a high pulling point. It's expertly designed to distribute force evenly across the body when pulling, without putting strain on the spine.
This harness is the best choice for large dogs, or dogs that pull very hard, as the high pulling point alleviates pressure on the back.
Any Questions? Reach Out!
We're always more than happy to help with sizing, or helping you choose a harness! You can reach us via email, at bark@mountaindog.uk.