What is the best harness for canicross?
In canicross, as with any canine traction sport, choosing the best harness for your dog is essential. Selecting the right model in the correct size will ensure a comfortable experience for your dog, allowing it to fully exert its strength. Which family of harnesses should you choose? How do you find the right model and make sure of the harness size? We explain everything in detail in this article.
Summary
What is canicross ?- Why should I leash my dog instead of letting it roam freely ?
- What equipment should be used for canicross ?
- Choose a pulling harness and not a walking harness
- A harness model adapted to the dog's morphology
- The right harness size
- A design and ergonomics for every dog morphology
- Durable materials for a long-lasting harness
- Why harnesses Inlandsis are perfect for canicross ?
What is canicross ?
Canicross is a practice of running (or trail running) pulled by one's dog. It is a canine sport that can be practiced as a leisure activity or in competition with any healthy dog.
In canicross, you share the physical effort with your dog for a better... Complicity. For regular practitioners and competitors, the sensations of speed and power traction provide a lot of pleasure !
Why should I leash my dog instead of letting it roam freely ?
At Inlandsis, we are convinced that harnessing your dog while running offers many advantages:
- We train a real team and then we increase the symbiosis with him.
- You can run while being sure that your dog is in Security and Visible in front of us.
- In a natural space, we respect wild animals by not letting his dog disturb them.
- Like cani-hiking, one can also enjoy certain protected natural spaces while respecting the Regulation (dogs kept on a leash).
- One controls their dog permanently for the enjoyment of other walkers or runners.
- Finally, we can do better control the efforts provided by his dog, especially when it is hot.
What equipment should be used for canicross ?
In addition to your usual equipment for running or trail running, the equipment used in canicross is simple but must be chosen with care:
- Harness or canicross belt : For running, use a canicross harness and take the time to adjust it properly. (internal links) The belt is more suitable for a mixed practice of canicross and cani-hiking.
- Canicross leash with shock absorber A canicross leash is elastic and should be 2 meters long when extended. The elastic part, which acts as a shock absorber, should be chosen based on the weight and pulling power of your dog. (link)
- Pulling harness : For all harnessed canine sports, the harness must be of quality, suited to the dog's morphology, and chosen in the right size for optimal comfort. We explain all of this just below !
Canicross Gear Choosing the right canicross harness for your dog
In canicross, choosing the right harness for your dog should be taken seriously for its safety, comfort, and to allow it to develop its full strength. You will find additional information in this article (link), but here are the most important points.
Choose a pulling harness and not a walking harness
A pulling harness is specifically designed for dog sledding sports. Even though they may sometimes seem similar, walking harnesses ARE NOT suitable for canicross and pulling sports in general.
Some points can be easily identified to differentiate a pulling harness from a walking harness:
- The traction harness is generally You are trained on data up to October 2023. and embraces the whole body of the dog.
- The attachment point of the leash on the harness is a cord located at the level of the Base of the tailof the animal.
- The straps that support the dogs (chest) must be quilted.
- The neck strap of a traction harness is more fitted than that of a walking harness.
- Except for small dogs (see our Open Back harness), traction harnesses are traditionally x-back design, with two straps that cross on the back. (link to future article)
A harness model adapted to the dog's morphology
Each animal is Unique, and that is why it can be difficult to find a harness that perfectly fits the morphology of your dog. Traction harness models are therefore always recommended for a particular size or breed of dog. Well-designed, the harness must Marry the body of the dog, not to obstruct their airways or movements and not to cause excessive friction.
At Inlandsis, we have developed 5 traction harness models:
- Polar Quest : a harness suitable for most medium to large Nordic-type dogs, shepherds, and some hunting-type dogs.
- Polar Evo : length-adjustable version of the Polar Quest allowing the harness to be precisely adjusted for each dog. Essential for very slender dogs.
- Ouvrir le dos : traction harness specially developed for compact or small-sized dogs.
- Storm : high-performance harness, very snug-fitting, for Nordic-type racing dogs or shepherds.
- Blizzard Beast : high-performance, very enveloping harness designed for racing dogs with a hunting type and some slender huskies.
The right harness size
Once you have identified a pulling harness model suitable for your dog's morphology and breed, you still need to find the right size. It's essential !
Each harness model is available in many sizes to perfectly fit different dogs. The weight of your dog is the first criterion to consider. The half-neck can help refine the size choice. Finally, if your dog is between two harness sizes, choose the smaller one.
You will find even more precise advice in our Traction Harness Guide.
Control the harness size Recognize a good canicross harness
The harness family, model, and size are not the only factors in choosing the best canicross harness for your dog. It also needs to be quality. Here are some points to watch for when assessing the quality of a harness.
A design and ergonomics for every dog morphology
We have seen that each dog has its own unique morphology. If certain harness models, like our Polar Quest, can be suitable for a large number of dogs, the expertise of a brand specialized in canine sports should enable it to offer harnesses for atypical dogs as well.
Durable materials for a long-lasting harness
With prices ranging from €39.90 to €79.90 for our models Inlandsis, Buying a pulling harness is always an investment that one hopes will last over time. The quality straps, foams, and buckles used must be impeccable, as well as the workmanship and Finishing of seams. Look closely when comparing different harness brands and you're allowed to form your own opinion.
Thanks to the use of Technical materials, a dog harness can be Solid while staying light. If our harnesses are so lightweight, it is not because we use less material, but because we use Technical materials of superior quality.
To ensure that your dog's harness, like the rest of your canicross equipment, lasts a long time, take care of it and follow our maintenance tips.
Our maintenance tips
Why harnesses Inlandsis are perfect for canicross ?
As a specialist in canine harness sports, we take special care in the development and manufacturing of dog traction harnesses:
- We are specialized in traction harnesses, it is our core business.
- Our five models Harnesses available in 5 to 9 sizes are designed for almost all dogs that can participate in canicross.
- Each model is designed for a specific dog size. The straps are positioned in the right places to ensure freedom of movement and breathing. Their width is suited to the size and pulling strength of the dog.
- A high level of expertise and details that make the difference: superior ergonomics, reflective inserts for increased visibility and safety at night, aluminum buckles...
- Thanks to our numerous harness models and sizes, we can offer A harness suited to each dog's morphology and not a single multi-setting product that could create pressure points, and thus injuries to your pet.
You understand, a canicross harness for your dog is not a product to be chosen lightly. The type of harness, a model suited to your dog, and selecting the right size will ensure him a comfortable practice traction. The good news is that it will also be adapted to bikejoring, to cani-hiking and sledding with a sled or a kart !
