UKH

I sadly had to have my four-legged running buddy put to sleep in January. He was a rescue and I didn't start running with him until we had his recall sorted, and I just carried a lead to clip him to if we went past stock in fields or encountered other walkers/runners.

Hopefully we'll be getting another rescue in the near future and I've been looking at canicross kit. 

Seems very expensive to me, although I think it might be very useful to train a dog to differentiate between walking on a lead and running in a harness, as I don't want to encourage pulling when on a leash.

Any dog owning runners have any thoughts on this? Does the kit offer any advantages to the recreational trail/fell runner in terms of comfort for dog and runner, or is it a bit of an expensive niche thing?

Really sorry to hear about your dog - as a fellow owner of two rescues though I reckon you no doubt gave a great life to a deserving dog.

My two wear harnesses all the time, whether we're running or just out for a walk/hike. They can tell whether we're meant to be running or not and act accordingly based on what I'm wearing etc so I think teaching the distinction has less benefit but it probably depends on the dog.

We've got a joring harness but I actually prefer to run with a short bungee lead in my hand because then I can ease the tension in relation to the terrain/speed/whether or not they've just seen a deer etc - it also make it easier when running in the forest as one of the dogs inevitably goes the opposite way round a tree to the other.

Hi, I think it depends on the size of the dog and how competitive you want to be. I have just bought a cheap shock absorber lead and thin waist band for about £10, more than adequate for my spaniel and small collie. The canicross specific are designed to sit on the hips so as not to jolt the spine as much.

   My dogs have harnesses for running and yes they know what the difference is between using that for running and clipping into their collar for a walk. Just takes a bit of time / different commands.

Glad you're going down the rescue route. Good luck. 

Gwain. 

Thanks for that. It was a real blow when Jack was taken ill, and I like to think he had a great life with his 'pack'. (As do yours looking at UKC strava!).

Jack certainly picked up on what was running kit when he saw it, so maybe a bungy lead larksfooted to a bumbag or race vest would be a good compromise.

Thanks Gwain. 

Sorry to hear you lost your dog.

Running with a dog-tractor on the waist belt is much nicer than with a lead in hand, it'd be better still if I could actually control the speed/pull!

The human end of the harness we have was I think cheap-ish off Amazon, it works fine though the elastic leash has gone saggy over the years. The dog end is one of several harnesses we've acquired, none of them specialised running ones. He pulls just as hard if it's clipped to his collar, just not for as long, he's not the brightest!

jk

If the dog pulls well then a walking harness will make him wheeze as the pull point is different. A canicross harness is designed to be pulled into. 

Look up your local canicross group, they usually have kit available to borrow to see what fits best etc

No advice really other than to agree how expensive the kit is, I was amazed.  How can a canicross harness cost more than my safety critical climbing harness???

Cheers

Toby

Sorry about your buddy. I'm sure that he had a good and happy life but it's still a wrench.

We used to use some canicross stuff for the Huskies but gave it away some time ago. It was good stuff but I always considered it expensive for what it was. It was mostly used for forest trots as I'd pretty much packed in competitive running. If you want to be competitive however it would be the way to go.

Present Husky is on a harness attached to a Manmat walking belt with a short length of bungee and a long bit of climbing tape. Does fine but you do need the bungee to avoid the shock loading when pooch sees a deer, pheasant, rabbit etc.

SASS & Manmat make some nice belts and bungee leads if you want to go down that road. Failing that your old climbing belt would do to start off with. Attach the bungee and some old climbing tape and off you go. Get a good harness though for the pooch.

Best of luck with your new best pal.  

Thanks Alan, and thanks to all who have offered advice and sympathy.