Dog harness

[4][5] In sports such as mushing and skijoring, where the dog's pulling power is utilized, the harness provides effective use of force while maintaining freedom of movement.

[8] Archeological evidence shows that humans bred dogs for pulling sleds some 10,000 years ago.

[9] Artifacts, including rings and parts that connect reins to sleds, have been found on sites throughout the northernmost stretches of mainland and on arctic islands.

[10][7] No-pull harnesses rely on a level of discomfort, force and avoidance to alter the dogs behavior.

[citation needed] This type of harness originates from ancient China, its first depictions on draft animals date back to around 150 B.C.

Wandering, conquering peoples, such as the Avars, Huns, Hungarians, played a major role in its spread in Europe.

Nowadays, among horse riders, the chest harness is the most used in the field of coachman leisure activities due to its simplicity.

[16] [17] It is less suitable for pulling heavy loads, as the bearing area of the strap is smaller than that of “hames” harnesses.

To prevent this, the chest harness serves as an alternative to the collar, which is essential for dogs prone to tracheal collapse.

The X-back style harness is the typical choice for recreational and sprint/mid-distance mushers, due to their lightweight and durable make, ease of accessibility and fit customization, as well as the speed at which they can be put on and taken off dogs.

[citation needed] A harness with thicker lining and a wider chest strap is preferred for pulling heavy weights.

It is a harness with at least one handle that wraps around a dog's body to allow a person to help lift the weight off of their hips, spine or legs.

There are several conditions that may make it necessary or at least helpful to use a dog lifting harness, some of the most common being: hip dysplasia, broken bones, sprained knees, spine injuries, arthritis, recent surgery, strained muscles and missing limbs.