Urban Trail Harness vs X Back Harness

[Linds]

So I need to get real harnesses for the Koolies for our bikjoring adventures. But I can't decide between these two:

Urban Trail Harness

Or

X Back Harness

So, those with experience, what do you think? I'm leaning towards the Urban trail one because it can easily be used just as a harness but I don't know.

Also, is there anything else other than the Line that you would recommend I get? I'm looking at getting this one Double Scooter Line because it can be used for one or two dogs. That way if I get up the courage to go with both Didgie and Traveler I have the option.

 

[stardogs]

The main difference to me is that the X Back can only be used with the dog fully in front of you or you risk them getting tangled or loose. The UTH can be used with the dog beside you, however. I used the UTH while rollerblading with Maggie with no issue, but couldn't use the sledding harness I had because she wasn't consistently ahead of me and it would start to twist or pull over her shoulders when she got even or behind me.

The UTH also seems to be better for those hooking the line to a human or a bike (higher connection point) than a sled/scooter (lower connection point).

 

[Shai]

The trouble with X-backs is it's easy for the dog to back out (if so inclined or just confused or something happened) and for it to twist around.

I use an X-back for rollerjoring Mira and it works but there is probably an urban trail harness in my immediate future...

 

[sassafras]

I personally prefer the x-back for dogs who are consistently pulling for the whole run. I feel like it really distributes force differently and also helps prevent too much up-and-down movement under the X. Squash's chiropractor said that she most often sees tightness and problems in pulling dogs just behind the withers, and the urban trails just attaches so much closer to that spot I am wary of using them. I personally haven't had problems with my dogs backing out of x-backs but they can get tangled easily.

Having said that... bikejoring is a lot different than scootering. The dogs are actually weight pulling 100% of the load most of the time with the scooter unless I am kicking or jogging with it, which I normally do on hills or more irritating surfaces, but a lot of the time I am just riding. Bikejoring is more like skijoring, where the person is participating more in the locomotion and there is less straight-up pulling.

As for the lines. I don't think it's super critical for you since Traveler and Didgie are a similar size. Because Maisy and Squash are such different sizes, I actually have a set-up where their lines are slightly different lengths. So they each have their own tug that attaches separately to a single main towline. But with two similarly sized dogs I don't think you need to worry about stuff like that unless one of them turns out to be a harder puller than the other.

 

[meepitsmeagan]

Bumping this up.

This morning on our bike ride, Harlow was pulling like a freight train out front of me for about 3 miles. I had her ComfortFlex on, but it makes me really nervous since it runs straight across the front of her. Sometimes she stays beside me, but it is becoming less and less usual.

I kind of feel like a y-front isn't going to be much different? I've been looking at the Hurtta y-front, but the point where it hits there back is in the same area. Should I be looking at an x-back to help distribute more evenly?

 

[sassafras]

It doesn't have to be an x-back, but you should get a harness designed specifically for pulling.

There are a lot of mushers and skijorers who don't like the "halfback" style harnesses like the Urban Trails where the line attaches in the middle of the back, not because they don't distribute force/work properly (the design of the chest plate primarily does that) but because many believe they are hard on dogs' backs. But on a bike the line angles/attaches higher up than it would on a sled or a skier so many people who bike exclusively like them fine and don't experience problems. Still, just doing a quick skim of the Hurtta on a GIs I'd worry that the attachment is really far forward on the dog's back. It's also hard for me to tell how well-padded it is.

The one disadvantage to an x-back in your situation is that when she is running beside you the x-back will bunch up a bit and some dogs can purposefully or accidentally slip right out of the harness once that happens. You can get belly straps to prevent that, but of course everyone has opinions about that, too.

 

[HayleyMarie]

So glad linds made this thread. As I am looking for a harness for panzer. We started biking with him on mostly soft dirt roads so I will need a proper harness for him.

I wonder if I should wait to order one until he is a tad older, he still has some
Growing to do. Height wise for sure.

 

[meepitsmeagan]

It doesn't have to be an x-back, but you should get a harness designed specifically for pulling.

There are a lot of mushers and skijorers who don't like the "halfback" style harnesses like the Urban Trails where the line attaches in the middle of the back, not because they don't distribute force/work properly (the design of the chest plate primarily does that) but because many believe they are hard on dogs' backs. But on a bike the line angles/attaches higher up than it would on a sled or a skier so many people who bike exclusively like them fine and don't experience problems. Still, just doing a quick skim of the Hurtta on a GIs I'd worry that the attachment is really far forward on the dog's back. It's also hard for me to tell how well-padded it is.

The one disadvantage to an x-back in your situation is that when she is running beside you the x-back will bunch up a bit and some dogs can purposefully or accidentally slip right out of the harness once that happens. You can get belly straps to prevent that, but of course everyone has opinions about that, too.

Thanks! I'm looking at the CanaDog Collar pulling harness for off-breed body types. Heard anything good/bad/otherwise about the company?

 

[Ozfozz]

Thanks! I'm looking at the CanaDog Collar pulling harness for off-breed body types. Heard anything good/bad/otherwise about the company?

Just got my Canadog canicross kit last week. LOVE it for the most part.
My only semi complaints don't even have to do with the quality - the waistbelt is massive (I have it on the smallest it can go, and I'm not a tiny person), and the lines were too long for my liking. 8 feet is a bit long unless you're totally alone on trails.
And that the neck is very loose on Rig, but being a little dog it's to be expected and not their fault.


Which one is the pulling for off-breed body types? I'm not seeing that specific name on their site If it's the Shorty Ripstop, that's what we have and it's awesome. Well made, lots of areas for adjustment (aside from the neck as mentioned), very sturdy.


As for the x-back harness vs standard

Got this off the Canadog site. From what I've been told, the biggest issue when doing things such as bikejoring/skijoring/canicross in the x-back is this. Since you're not having them pull from a level or lower platform, the harness lifts at the back and can potentially cause an inappropriate shift in where the weight is being pulled from.

 

[sassafras]

I will say, in that picture ^^ I think the angle is mostly due to how short the tugline is choked up and how the skijorer is holding it up even above their waist rather than what type of harness the dogs are wearing. I use x-backs exclusively and my dogs' harnesses never look like that unless I'm choking up on the line (and generally if I'm choking up on the line it's because we're trying to get by something or the dogs are tired and I'm taking up slack and they're not really working, anyway).

Even here where there's slack and a bow in the line because we're at the end of a hill, the harnesses don't have that kind of angle.

 

[meepitsmeagan]

The off-breed style is the collared harness: http://www.canadog.ca/dog-harness-collared-heavyduty-ripstop/?setCurrencyId=1

Which I really like, but am worried about the higher connection point screwing up the physics of.

The Shorty is recommended for bikejoring, but when she was pulling, she was hunkering down and really digging in which is why I was leaning towards the x-back style. Shorty: http://www.canadog.ca/dog-harness-shorty-ripstop-vivid/

Maybe I should just buy both and experiment.

ETA: I wanted to mention, too, that I was thinking about trying my hand at skijoring this winter. Kind of OT, but any good resources I should look at for teaching directional cues and such? I've done some, but we've always had the bike to guide and she's always been beside me so it hasn't been crucial.

 

[Ozfozz]

The x-back is probably best if she's really pulling. As sassafras showed, the longer line doesn't show nearly as much lift, plus I'm sure with the bike you'd be able to configure a lower pulling point somehow.

I think that the shorty has the same padding through the neck and armpits if I'm not mistaken though.

 

[Shai]

I rollejor with Mira periodically and just hold the line in my hand (yeah, classy) and she uses and X-back and it hasn't been a problem. The only issue is that I've never really trained it so basically she pulls me all the way to the river then swims and gaits with me back...the X-back is great on the way there but not so much for the way back when she's next to me. I've just been stuffing the X-back in the my pack for the way home and letting her run on a collar but it'd be nice to have a more versatile harness so I didn't have to switch.