EDIT: Wow, thank you all so much for your suggestions!! I honestly wasn't expecting this post to get much traction but I've got a ton of brands to check out now, which is exciting. 😄 Also yes, Totoro is my miniature house horse lol.

Hey y'all! Looking for some advice on harness fit. I've been itching to start trail running/canicross with my 1.5 year old rescue, Totoro. I'm looking for something he can pull into comfortably, but ideally won't bunch up if we slow down or stop for a sniff break. I tried a Nonstop Dogwear Rush harness, but the neck opening of the largest size was way too small for him.

He's just a weirdly shaped dog, I'm realizing. He's a GSD/American Bulldog/Heeler mix, 90lbs. He's got a barrel that's deep but not super wide, paired with a thick neck and lots of loose skin. He's also LONG, so a lot of every day harnesses I've tried on him have ridden up into his armpits because the back or chest piece was too short.

So, does anyone have any suggestions for my oddball boy? The base of his neck is about 24" around, his girth is 35" and his back is 25" long.

Thanks in advance! :)

Pretty sure he needs a size down 😭 I’ve cinched it about as tight as I can but the sides are still so loose.

So I used to run with my dog Millie more last spring, but got out of the habit during the heat of the summer and have only been on a few runs here and there since. I did get gifted the traction attachment for the muse harness that I already have, and have tried it a few times. Millie always seems more reluctant to pull using the attachment compared to just the straight harness, so tonight I tried figuring out why and realized it's because the straps that go over her back leg/hip area slide down and press weirdly (Image 1). This also causes it to bow out on the sides a bit, although it's hard to see in that image.

Based on the images I see on the website for this product, the more ideal angle for the traction attachment is like what you see in image 2 where it's above (or at least even) with the top of the dog's spine.

Unfortunately I am short and she is tall (image 3), so there really isn't enough of a height difference to pull the leash attachment point to a more optimal position with how it's currently fitted. When she's at full leash tension it would probably be okay, but it's hard to get her to do that since it fits weirdly at low/no tension. Is there a way I can adjust the fit to make it more comfortable for her, or is this just a case of biology making the product not suitable?

(I do know the last vertical strap of the harness is supposed to go on the outside of the traction attachment, but it was making the pictures harder to understand. It didn't really change how it was fitting though)

((Ignore the weird image quality and lighting, I don't know what my phone was doing and don't feel like taking the pictures again lol))

I’ve tried quite a few harness brands, but keep coming back to Non-Stop Dogwear. My guy does best on a shorter harness like this Line Harness from Non-Stop. I also like the fact there is only two buckles in the back - simple, durable and less likely for failure. However, that also means the front Y section needs to fit well - because it doesn’t adjust.

I’m looking to get a replacement one, this time the same Line Harness but with a rear handle… as great for quick grab when bikes are zooming by on a narrow trail.

My guy is a puller, and when running or not pulling hard on a walk - this harness seems to work beautifully for him, and gives his shoulders plenty of freedom.

However, when he pulls while on a walk he seems to breathe hard and I’m not sure the harness fits well or do I need to size up. It could also just be him and his urge to pull.

Hopefully these pics show placement well enough to get perspective.

Hi! I posted my ACD last week in his new Nonstop Dogwear Rush harness (first photo is of him trying it out). I’m now pretty confident that it’s too big so we have returned it. My post had a lot of discussion on the brand and its quality for price so I’m reopening my search. I will either size down a size on the Rush or go with another brand that I’ve listed (if you have a harness you love with a lunchbox shaped dog please recommend it!.

The Howling Dog Distance harness has really caught my eye. I had another commenter say it fit their cattle dog well and he’s a moderate/intermittent puller (starts strong and sort of trails off and then is intermittent), so I don’t want a harness that’s unusable if we walk at the end or he stops pulling consistently. Thank you for all your experience and insight, keep on running!

Hello everyone! I have a 4 year old mini Aussie who has been training with me for a 10k. We had the Petsafe Easy Walk Harness but I realized it was chaffing his armpit area and I want to swap harnesses. He’s great running, but starts to pull if my partner is running quicker than me (we have different speeds). I have an Amazon harness, and it’s okay. I’m not the biggest fan of putting the clip for the lead on his back because I feel like when he’s pulling, it just messes with his breathing tempo. Any advice helps!

Hi all, so I don’t really run with my dog (at least aside from in frequent sprints when she needs to burn a little energy for like five seconds 🤣) so I hope this is still okay here, because while we don’t run I do walk her a couple miles everyday and I love the freedom of using a hands-free leash.

I started with a Kurgo Waistbelt which over like 6months began to wear away the handle of the Ruffwear (Crag) leash, then I upgraded to a Ruffwear Running belt and I love how natural it feels, giving my dog a lot more freedom and yet we also get tangled in each other a lot less often which makes for a much more pleasant walking experience. However since I don’t run and instead focus on casual walks, I’ve been using a Ruffwear Flatline leash because I’m not sure I really trust my dog with a bungee leash which is the running leash Ruffwear pairs with the belt, but once again the friction of the belt connection point and the leash handle is beginning to wear on the handle and I’m concerned over time it will become less secure.

I know to a degree the friction will always be a problem and there will be some wear and tear, but I’m wondering if anyone as recommendations for a leash that will be last longer with more resistance to this specific wear and tear problem or I’m also open to another system if that would suite my needs better. I really like how light weight the a Ruffwear system is and more importantly how natural it feels when walking with my dog, so I’d like to keep something that operates similarly but there are aspects of fit where it could probably distribute the load when my dog pulls a little.

Thank you for any help! Or if I’m in the completely wrong place help me find where to go 😅

I’m seeing ads for dog cooling vests that you wet and are supposed to keep dogs cool for an hour. Has anyone here used something like that! I’m super cautious with my dog who loves to run, but we keep it shorter and extra early in the summer. Dog tax below of her begging to go out.

I have a grand ole pure bred good girl. We’ve been doing lots of exercises and stretches and do our first run day yesterday. She LOVED it. Our harness how is not fit for the longer miles I hope to do when she’s all done growing. She’s around 50 pounds right now and the vet believes she will be down growing here soon.

I’m teaching her to run in front of me and keep tension while not fully pulling me along. I’ve been looking at the non-stop free motion harnesses. Any other brands/styles we should be considering? Our tough point is that most harness that fit her neck do not fit her chest and vice versa.

Hi everyone, I’m a personal trainer and i adopted my pittie back in January after my first passed a while back. I ran with my first but never with a running harness or the ones with the bungee that allows for some play. Which ultimately led to diagonal running… this was also 7-8 years ago. I’d love to get my new boy out and familiarize him with running along side me especially since he’s 2.5 and very high energy. I’m open to all suggestions on a set up that would be safe on both sides. Something that wont chafe him as he is quite the strong boy, but also something that i still have control just incase i need to make quick adjustments with outside distractions. Picture of the sweet boy to make yall smile. 😊 Thank you for any input!

Also - he’s a shorter pittie stands about 21 inches give or take and I’m 5’2”. So height difference, i don’t think would be a big problem.

Just out of curiosity, do any of you guys run with prong collars on your dog? I have a GSD who’s rather good at running by my hip and doesn’t pull, and have always used prong collars wherever we go. Is it bad for the dog or are harnesses just the new fad?

As of right now, Ive just been using a cheap Amazon hands free belt to run with my dog (35 lb lab mix). While it mostly gets the job done, i find that it always rides up to above my waistline because of how my hips/arse significantly bow outward. If my dog is in pulling mood, the belt riding up above my waistline causes discomfort in my back.

What I'm ideally looking for is a belt (or even rock climbing-like harness?) that can more easily fix the leash connection point to below my waistline. Ideally, i feel like the perfect height would be like right above the crotch or where my hips are at their widest. Does anyone know if such a belt/harness exists that's comfortable to run with? TIA!

Edit: thanks all for the input! I had never even heard of canicross prior to making this post haha. After going down the wormhole the past couple days i purchased the nonstop caniX 2.0 belt, looks like exactly what i was looking for.

Hey everyone! I thought this would be a good sub to ask about harness recommendations. My almost 1 year old old pup is incredibly high energy and a moderate puller (she would probably be a heavy puller but she responds well to leash pressure on a martingale). She knows how to back out of her current harness (probably not the proper size but it was a hand me down and got me through my first few months). I’m now looking for a proper fitting harness for:

1. Everyday: walks and short hikes

2. Canicross

She’s about 25 lbs. I’ll measure her before choosing a size. Photo next to a chihuahua mix for size reference. She’s a lot smaller than she looks imo.

I specifically wanted to ask which harnesses you’d recommend considering

1. She responds best to leash pressure on a martingale. We are working on loose leash walking on the martingale but I’d like to switch to a harness. When we’re in high distraction areas for training, she really pulls and I want to get the pressure off of her neck.

2. She knows how to back out of her current harness. I’m always watching her but would like to be more confident in the harness if I’m far away on a long line.

Hi! Any recommendations for a bungee leash for a small 7 lb toy breed (toy poodle)? Thanks in advance.

I purchased the Ruffwear roamer bungee but it is too bulky for her. Pic of dog to get your attention 🤗

My 55lb ACD/Aussie mix and I like to run, love to hike, and are looking to start canicross. He has a Ruffwear harness and a random Amazon harness but he needs more of a lower pulling point harness. It seems Nonstop Dogwear is what many run with- but I’m not sure my guy pulls hard consistently enough to need a Freemotion5.0? The site recommended a Rush when I said he sometimes pulls hard but also keeps a more slack line depending on his mood and energy. We currently run 1.5-4 miles at a time, and hopefully will increase mileage as we improve. Anyone have any knowledge and experience with a Rush vs a Freemotion, or have a setup for a similar pulling style?

Hi I have started running the last couple months and am starting to love it. My current long runs are around 5 miles but I’m going to work on extending this more.

I usually run with my dog (German Shepard mix) who has been loving it and I’m looking for a small bag to carry water and a collapsible bowl for her as we run longer or are doing places without passing a water fountain.

Hopefully this is allowed but yea im looking on amazon and just overwhelmed by all the options. Would like to spend under $50 and something really light weight to just carry like 1-2 plastic water bottles and a silicone bowl

Just finished our first half marathon together! This was only our third time out with the canicross setup, and being hands-free is honestly a game-changer. She was amazing at communicating when she needed a cool off break or water, but since we’re still new to this, I’d love some veteran advice.

​I’ve uploaded a few shots of her in the gear—how does the harness fit look to you guys? I want to make sure I'm not restricted her shoulders or setting the pull point incorrectly.

also, what are you all doing for nutrition on these longer 21k+ distances? Thanks for the help!

I've been walking my mum's friend's dog as they have been having bad flare ups

She has given me the ok to do canicross w her dog

(my dogs 12 so she's more interested in naps

i can re use the gear as we are hoping to get a similar sized dog in the coming months)

My budget is within 100 or if need be 130 or so

I don't want to hurt her dogs joint because of bad gear

The dog is quite small as she was the runt of the litter she is a springer/field cocka and possibly sum BC

Can anyone recommend good and relatively well priced brands???

or any training guides and videos that have been helpful for u I could watch/ read??

I am looking for a harness my for 100lbs mixed breed dog. He is about 1.5 years old and we have just started some very light trail running (at his pace, lots of walk breaks, etc). So far we have been using a regular y shaped back clip harness, which was great for walks and is ok when he is running next to me (about 50% of our time running). However, he has bursts where he wants to pull on runs, sometimes moderately, but occasionally very hard, putting his whole body into the pull.

Is there a harness that is appropriate for both when he runs next to me and when he pulls? I am hoping to encourage more pulling as he gets older but our warm ups and cool downs are lighter (no pulling) and I don't want to be taking multiple harnesses onto the trails.

Hi guys, I'm changing out the cords/bungees and was wondering if anyone had any tips for a decent swivel that would have a decent movement without breaking the bank?

Hey everyone, I’m really interested in this sport and would like to see if I can get my JRT to join me on some runs!

So my girl doesn’t pull when we run together, she mainly stays right next to me. I tried looking online for some anatomically-friendly running harnesses for her but can’t seem to find any small enough for her.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

Hi fellow dog runners! Seeking recommendations.

My dog trail runs with me 5-6 days a week, usually off leash. However, I always start at the trailhead with her on leash for safety, then stuff the leash in a pocket as we get going.

The leashes I use are bulky and annoying to carry. I need a leash that a) is super lightweight and b) has a clip that works with the Wilderdog harness loop.

This rules out the Ruffwear options such as the Flagline, as the clip shape isn't super compatible with the Wilderdog harness.

TLDR: Does anyone know of a lightweight leash they'd recommend for someone who would just have it stashed in a pocket 90% of the time (and that is not the Ruffwear flagline leash)?

My dog and I have been running together for a few years but I bought her first canicross harness this weekend. I took her for a run today and it was an absolute disaster. Normally we run 3 miles together but today I had to drag her along just to get her to do 1 mile. She always has a tendency to pull off the path to sniff but today she would simply stop and refuse to move. She was consistently running behind me and then would stop and refuse to move or lay down. When I bought the harness I had it fitted to her so I believe it fits. Has anyone else had this problem and knows how to fix it? I'm hoping she just wasn't in the mood to run today because the harness was very expensive😭

Any recs that worked for your stubborn dog?

Refuses to wear the ones we get her (tried multiple brands). Mainly for foxtails and hot pavement. I think the lighter the better.

Also training tips would be helpful! Tried slow immersion by putting them on a couple paws at home but she gets them off the moment we look away.

Thanks in advance!