Do you find it hard to decide when there's so much to choose from? If you're like me, it's best to try out the harness first before you buy it for your four-legged friend. Today, the selection of dog harnesses is truly varied. There are harnesses for mushing, canicross and regular dog owners! We tested some harnesses for you to see how it's done and why it's important.
Just like when you buy clothes or shoes for yourself online, online stores with pet accessories also provide size tables and instructions to help you choose the right one. Until recently, I thought that the size of the harness, or making sure it's the proper size for your dog according to size tables, is the most important thing. I measured the circumference of the dog's neck, the length from the withers to the base of the tail, etc., and then I chose the design I liked best. However!
It's not as simple as I thought. In order for the harness to really fit the dog properly and serve the purpose for which you are buying it, it's not just the measurements that are important; you have to try it out to see how it "fits" when your dog is on the move - walking and running. Moreover, what may seem too tight to me as a layman may be deemed too large by a professional. ‘The correct size of a harness will usually look small when it’s on the dog,’ says a specialist from the MushGO organization; she organizes tours throughout the Czech Republic in which people and their pets can try out accessories.
It's one thing to measure your dog, but assessing whether the harness fits properly is an entirely different matter. I listened to the advice of a specialist, who explained to us that harnesses are a very individual matter and they vary from one type to another. It's therefore impossible to say with certainty that certain types of harnesses are suitable for a specific breed. In addition to the way the dog is built, the purpose for which you are buying a harness is equally important.
The same harness you use for dog sports should not be used for regular walks. Some harnesses may require more force from the dog to ‘stretch’ - that is when the end of the harness is above the base of the tail when fully extended. ‘That's the first thing we ask dog owners - why they are buying the harness for their dog?’ adds the professional musher.
In other words, if you buy a basic harness for walking your dog, but you go jogging with your dog and he (naturally) pulls the harness, the harness can block his shoulder blades, cut into him under his ribs or armpits, slide from the centre of his chest, rub against him, etc. On the other hand, a long harness for sports that may fit the dog perfectly when he's running may not fit the dog at all when he's on a slow walk. These are all factors you should take into account.
One type of harness is suitable when dogs are pulling a load, such as in mushing, dog-trekking or canicross, i.e. for sports. And then there are harnesses suitable for regular walks in nature or the city. The advantage of a personal consultation, however, is that they will simply explain everything to you, you will get to try out different harnesses with the dog, and you will see the difference when the dog is walking and running. According to the expert, the long harness I chose for my dog has the following advantage: ‘A long harness allows the dog to make full use of traction force - it can fully lean into and pull the harness.’ And that is exactly what I was looking for. After trying out four harnesses and making sure that the chest, shoulder blades, armpits and ribs are as they should be, we chose a harness.
If you are not able to receive a personal consultation, I recommend at least taking a photograph of your dog in various situations in a harness and sending it to experts for an assessment.
Arthritis ranks among the most frequent diseases of the joints in dogs. It is accompanied by pain and limitations for physical activity. And because it cannot be cured I’ll give you some tips how to make the life of your buddy with arthritis easier.
It is nowadays completely normal to have dog restaurants, saloons and spas. People try to indulge their pets with all the luxurious things. Some procedures are more helpful than others. But thalassotherapy is one of those that can have a positive...
Nowadays even our pets are subject to diseases of civilization. Obesity is no good for them as well as for people. Do you know how to tell if your cat is obese and what are its causes and consequences?
The season of ticks is back again and so it is the right time to start protecting our pets. These parasites also bring anaplasmosis except from borreliosis. And the fact that this disease is not generally know does not undermine its serious impacts on...
You, as cat keepers, will probably be frightened when hearing “cat plague”. But precisely this phrase is sometimes used for panleukopenia which is a very dangerous cat disease. You may not only prevent it thanks to information obtained but to identify...
The whiskers on cats’ face are probably too noticeable to ignore them. But do you know all the places where cat’s whiskers with sense of touch are? And do you know how this comprehensive tactile body functions?
As you might know, the assistance dogs help people with various physical or mental disabilities nowadays. But there is a program in the US and in other countries which helps children to improve their reading and communication skills.
We are all try to give our dog companions the best, from health care to the leisure activities. Nutrition is no exception to that and it is prone to modern trends similar to those of regular human food. Reducing or opting out the grain from the diet is...
Whether it has undergone castration or any other surgery, your dog needs to rest more after it. But this can sometimes seem almost impossible. To “force” your beloved pet to rest is not easy, indeed. A few tips how to handle this situation follow.
The last time, I shared with you my opinions on castrations in general and I’ve named the advantages and disadvantages of this procedure in bitches. Now, let’s take a look, how it is with dogs.
Castration is still quite a tricky and discussed topic. Today, I will introduce you to the facts about this procedure and about its consequences and I will also share my opinion.
If you have one of the furry furring balls at home, maybe you know, in what kind of devil some of them are capable of turning into, if you need to give them a pill. If your cat belongs precisely among those, in which it’s almost a superhuman task, I...
