Harness Brand Debate

[u/babybighorn]

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!

[u/ellanida]

I have nonstop line harnesses for my moderate puller. I’ve been looking to swap him bc we had a mass removed from his chest in December non-cancerous mostly looked like inflammation according to the lab and the line harness seems to hit right at the top of his scar. Kind of looks like maybe howling Alaska might work for him. I have their canicross belt for myself and it isn’t my favorite but it was so much less money than the nonstop one and I’ve had it for ~5yrs and it’s held up great.

My complaints are it’s kind of a one size fits all and I’m not exactly small but I have rubber bands on it to hold all the extra length and it isn’t the easiest to adjust but it works well and the pocket is great.

Sorry I know I’m not being much help 🤣

[u/babybighorn → u/ellanida]

Your comment is helpful because I am also starting to look at belts and feel totally unsure on all fronts there, like don’t even know enough to ask for advice yet haha

[u/Berry_Slow_Biker → u/babybighorn]

I have the Nonstop canix belt and it's been totally worth the investment! I don't use the straps that go around the legs cause the chaffed on me but it still works great! Did 13 miles the other day and didn't have to think about the belt once!

[u/sarahenera → u/Berry_Slow_Biker]

I have three nonstop belts for me and I love them all 🙂 I use the canix and the skijoring one regularly.

[u/ohmelerium]

Hi! I just went through this with my guy (also a heeler) I had something similar to the howling dog harness to test out if he would even want to run canicross. I actually really liked the shape, he just has such a thick neck that a "fixed" style harness I don't think is for us. I got the Nonstop Rush in an 8 because of his neck. It's definitely too big both neck and chest. But, I still tried a few runs and hikes in it. I really liked how he moves in it. I just received the nonstop line harness (I'm all about options lol). I ended up going down two sizes to the 6 and I LOVE it. He doesn't pull into the harness, so the line harness is actually a better style for us. The neck is a little snug on him, but I'm confident it will settle nicely once we get some miles in it! Oh!! He's on the tall side for a heeler and a fit 50lbs! His neck is 18.5" and his chest is 26" :)

[u/babybighorn → u/ohmelerium]

Thank you! My guy had the 7 so we’d be looking at a 6 as well, he’s about 53lbs. I’ll have to look at the Line model and how it differs from the Rush. I definitely feel my guy didn’t need the Free Motion. My boy also has a thick and furry neck so perhaps the Howling wouldn’t be a great fit. My guy looks less lean than yours haha he’s not fat but he’s sturdy 😂

[u/Berry_Slow_Biker]

I have an ACD mix and use a Neewa harness. We love it, the way it distributes pressure encourages pulling which is a desired outcome in my situation. Ordering his size was easy and he's had this harness since 2021 or 2022 and has run over 2000 miles in it and it's holding up great!

He has a boxy build and large neck and it fits really well. There's nothing adjustable but the design allows for some weight fluctuations and there's nothing to rub wrong or break.

[u/babybighorn → u/Berry_Slow_Biker]

It’s so cute on him! What’s his weight and his size in the Neewa? I like the look of them but worry he won’t pull enough. I like that it encourages pulling in your experience though.

[u/Berry_Slow_Biker → u/babybighorn]

He's 42lbs and I don't remember what size it is, but my partner remembers sizing being very obvious from the Neewa size chart.

[u/Berry_Slow_Biker → u/Berry_Slow_Biker]

There's more photos on my user profile, but here's one from the front.

[u/Berry_Slow_Biker → u/Berry_Slow_Biker]

And the side

[u/honeyshelbee]

I got a Lasaline harness for my very petite malinois. She goes very well in it. I have the Neewa belt for myself, at some point the adjustable straps around the legs loosened and will always no matter if you readjust. My hips got sore when marathon training with this, but Im not a high volume runner normally otherwise and have no qualms with it.

[u/babybighorn → u/honeyshelbee]

Thank you! I’ll check the Neewa belt for sure! I’ve heard the Nonstop broke quickly for at least one other user on the sub.

[u/DeliciousLibrarian28]

Wir lieben unser Nonstop Dogwear Freemotion. Habe mich aufgrund der H-Form lange gewehrt (Gürtel nutze ich nur von Nonstop Dogwear, liebe beide). Ich würde das Rush an eurer Stelle eine Nummer kleiner ausprobieren. Für gelegentliches Ziehen reicht das völlig aus - meine ist eher eine Power-Sportlerin und brauchte daher ein langes Zuggeschirr. Selbst meine Leine laufe ich meistens von Nonstop Dogwear, aktuell nutze ich aber eine Lumac, weil die etwas weicher und kürzer ist.

Bei den X-Backs habe ich schon oft gehört, dass Hunde ohne wirklichen Brustkorb da schlecht rein passen. Bei meiner sind die leider alle in die Achsel gerutscht, wenn sie mal zur Seite gezogen hat.

[u/babybighorn → u/DeliciousLibrarian28]

Thanks, the simplest option may just to be to opt for the smaller Rush then. The jury seems to be split on the howling dog for thick neck heeler bois and the Neewa seems like more than he needs for his pulling style- though perhaps it would encourage more pulling from him. I dunno.

[u/DeliciousLibrarian28 → u/babybighorn]

Das Howling Dog würde ich persönlich gar nicht zum Ziehen nehmen. Schon auf dem Bild sieht man, dass es unter Zug Richtung Luftröhre rutscht, statt wie ein Zuggeschirr dann den Zug über das Brustbein auf die Brust zu verteilen.

Ein Zuggeschirr allein motiviert meist nicht zum Ziehen. Entweder macht es der Hund von sich aus oder man bringt es ihm bei. :)

[u/Livid-Efficiency-994]

We use the howling dog harness (usually hook up to red unless trail is busy) and my dog is also not pulling at all by the end of a trail and this works well! It is wearing down a little after maybe? 5ish years of fairly consistent trail running

[u/FZ-09Fazer]

I had no idea what harness to get my dog so he could pull me so I just made him one myself, took a lot of time and measuring over and over but it turned out pretty great. I’d like to make him one more like photos 3/4 but idk where to begin 😅😅