What is an X-back dog harness?

Canicross, bikejoring, cani-hiking, skijoring, sledding... For these pulling sports, choosing the right harness for your dog is essential so that it can run while comfortably developing its power. In harnessed dog sports, X-back harnesses are the most common. In this article, we explain what this means and what the benefits are for your dog.

Table of contents

• What are the different types of harnesses?
• A closer look at the four main types of pulling harnesses
• How to use an X-back harness

What are the different types of harnesses?

First, dog harnesses can be divided into three types:

The walking harness

It is a short harness with the attachment point in the middle of the back.

For walks, it is more comfortable for the dog than a collar. Models are available in different sizes, with adjustable settings to fit most dogs.

Warning, a walking harness is not designed for making your dog or puppy pull.

The pulling harness

It is specially designed for harnessed dog sports such as sledding, as well as canicross, bikejoring, cani-hiking, and skijoring.

There are different pulling harness designs: X-back, H-back, open-back, and short harnesses.

We will explain this in detail in this article, focusing on the most common type: the X-back harness.

The specialized harness

This type of harness is used for the various needs of search-and-rescue, assistance, or intervention dogs. It is therefore generally intended for professionals working with their dogs.

A closer look at the four main types of pulling harnesses

There are four main harness designs in the pulling harness category.

The X-back harness, the most common type for pulling

It is easily recognized by the two straps that cross over the dog’s back (hence its name). These straps keep the harness at a constant height along the back (the attachment point cannot slip down behind the hind legs) and stabilize the rear section of the harness. Finally, this X prevents excessive curvature of the spine while pulling, making the effort less tiring and more comfortable.

It is a long harness, meaning that it wraps around the dog’s body with an attachment point located at the base of the tail. The dog’s pulling force is distributed across its chest by padded straps, eliminating the risk of choking associated with a collar.

Apart from our Open-Back harness designed for small dogs, all our pulling harnesses feature an X-back design, which in our opinion is the best suited for pulling. This type of harness is suitable for almost all dogs.

At Inlandsis, we offer a range suitable for most medium to large dogs (such as Huskies, shepherd dogs, or hunting-type dogs, up to Malamutes and Leonbergers), including the Polar Quest and the Storm. For racing dogs such as ESDs, Braques, Greysters, and racing Husky lines, we offer the Blizzard Beast.

There are also length-adjustable models for dogs with unusual builds (very long and slender or very compact), such as our Polar Evo harness.

The Open-Back harness, with an open back

The open-back harness (French for "open back") has a design similar to the X-back but without the X on the back.

We recommend it:

- For small dogs weighing less than 15 kg for which there is a significant difference in height between the dog and the leash attachment point (the runner's hips in canicross, the bike's steering column in cani-MTB). The pulling angle is then directed upward, so the X system is no longer on the dog's back and becomes superfluous. (photo or illustration)

- For compact dogs for which no suitable X-back harnesses are available: Bulldogs, Staffies, American Staffs, etc.

The open-back design is the one we chose for our Open-Back small-dog canicross harness.

The short harness with a T-shaped back

This T-shaped design, with a strap running along the spine, is mainly used for walking harnesses, which are not intended for pulling. However, there are a few short T-shaped harnesses described as "pulling" harnesses, but we believe this design is not optimal for harnessed dog sports.

The H-back harness

For this type of harness, the two dorsal straps of the X-back are replaced by two straps parallel to the dog's spine. This design is best suited to long, low-intensity efforts because it offers less stability and lateral leverage than an X-back harness.

How to use an X-back harness

Choosing the right harness model and size

For your dog's comfort and safety, it is essential to choose a harness model and size that are perfectly suited to your dog's build. You will find plenty of information on this in our harness guide.

You can quickly check whether your dog's harness is the right size by checking these four points:

- the neck straps meet just in front of the withers and at the point of the sternum (+/- 1 cm)

- the stitching at the end of the harness reaches the base of the tail (+/- 2 cm)

- the main padded strap passes under the point of the pelvis

- the straps meet before the end of the rib cage, ideally at the last two ribs

Putting an X-back harness on and taking it off your dog

Putting an X-back harness on your dog may seem complicated at first, especially when your dog is excited to go running! First of all, get your dog used to staying calm while you put the harness on. Your dog can even sit if you prefer.

With practice, your dog will even certainly help you by holding out its paws!

If you're confused by your new X-back harness, you can follow our step-by-step guide to putting your dog's harness on.

To remove the harness, bring the attachment point forward to loosen the harness and remove it more easily. Take your dog's legs out of the harness, then remove it from your dog's neck.

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Usage tips and care instructions

Some dogs with a slender head can manage to remove the harness on their own by turning it inside out like a sock. While this can be convenient for removing the harness after your outing, your dog may also decide to free itself on its own. You can then use our safety belly strap to prevent your dog from removing its harness by itself.

When the dog is not pulling, it is normal for the harness to hang loosely on its back.

Finally, we recommend that you rinse your dog's harness regularly, especially after a muddy or dusty outing. If necessary, our Inlandsis harnesses (like most of our products) are machine washable in cold water or at 30 °C on a short cycle.

Recognizable by its two crossed straps on the dog's back, the X-back harness is a must-have that has been used for many years. This design is still widely used today in canicross and other traction sports, for leisure and performance harnesses, and on most of our Inlandsis harnesses.