Choosing the Perfect Mantrailing Dog Harness for Comfort and Fit
- dogtrailing
- Sep 4
- 5 min read
Updated: Sep 8
Finding the right harness for your dog is essential for their comfort and safety, both for everyday use and for mantrailing. With numerous options available on the market, the task can seem daunting. This guide focuses on key aspects of dog anatomy and how to match that with the perfect harness. This ensures that your dog is comfortable and reinforces positive associations with mantrailing.
Understanding Dog Anatomy
To select the best harness, it's important to know your dog's basic body structure. The variety in dog shapes and sizes can greatly influence which harness will provide the best fit and comfort. It's also important to allow your dog freedom of movement. This applies to any harness, not just one used for mantrailing.
A Dog's Musculoskeletal Anatomy
It's essential to consider a dog's internal structure when selecting a harness. To do this, visualise your dog's skeleton, as demonstrated in the diagram below.
The coloured area highlights the scapula. In dogs, the scapula (equivalent to our shoulder blade) is an important anchor point for muscles, connecting the forelimb to the body and forming the shoulder joint. Its structure allows for a greater range of motion and endurance in activities like running, which our dogs are great at.
Why Does Their Anatomy Matter?
The answer is simple, and if you tried to walk with a tight belt around your body and arms at the top of your chest, you'd understand very quickly!
A harness that restricts the movement of the dog's scapula is similar to this scenario, so it's like our dogs trying to move while wearing a belt around their shoulders. Except that they have their forelimbs on the floor, unlike us, so it's even more important.
Harnesses that restrict the movement of the scapula can ultimately lead to discomfort and anatomical problems, so it's vital to choose a harness that allows full freedom of movement.
Body Shape and Size
Dogs vary in body shapes, including broad-chested, narrow-chested, long-bodied, and short-bodied. Each type requires a suitable harness design. For example, a Bulldog, known for its broad chest, benefits from a wider harness to fit comfortably. Conversely, a Greyhound, with its slim body, needs a sleek and snug design to prevent slipping.
Research shows that improperly fitted harnesses can lead to discomfort or injury. According to a survey by the American Kennel Club, 30% of dog owners reported their pets chafed due to a poorly fitting harness. Choosing wisely based on body shape can prevent this.
Types of Dog Harnesses
The most important consideration is comfort, and to ensure this, you need a good fit. Measuring your dog is required to achieve this. For mantrailing, there are other considerations too, but comfort comes first, so this is what you should look for.
'Y'-Shaped Harnesses
A 'Y'-shaped harness is the easiest way to ensure your dog will have freedom of movement. When viewed from the front, it is easy to identify it as the shape looks like a 'Y' with a single strap that goes under the front legs. This type of harness has all the straps above the scapula to allow complete freedom of movement. This design is recommended by canine physio experts and veterinarians.
Avoid any harness that, through fit or design, restricts movement at the scapula or creates discomfort, and check for chafing even when you believe the fit is right.
Measuring Your Dog for a Harness
Accurate measurements are crucial for ensuring a proper harness fit. Here’s how to measure:
Neck Measurement: Wrap a soft measuring tape around the base of your dog's neck. Aim for a snug fit without too much pressure.
Chest Measurement: Measure the widest part of your dog's chest, typically just behind the front legs. This will ensure the harness doesn’t restrict movement.
Length Measurement: For some harnesses, measure from the base of the neck to the base of the tail to ensure a good fit.
A good practice is to refer to the manufacturer's sizing chart once you have these measurements to find the best fit.
Ensuring Comfort and Fit
A well-fitting harness is key to your dog’s comfort. Here are ways to ensure a good fit:
Adjustability
Choose a harness with adjustable straps to fit your dog snugly. A well-adjusted harness will be secure without slipping off or causing chafing. Many harnesses now come with four or more adjustable points, allowing for maximum customisation depending on your dog's shape.
Test the Fit
Once you secure the harness on your dog, verifying the fit is essential.
You should be able to insert two fingers comfortably between the harness and your dog's body.
Ensure no rubbing occurs around sensitive areas like the armpits or neck.
Confirm your dog can move freely, bending and stretching without restrictions.
Special Considerations for Mantrailing
For dogs participating in mantrailing, there are other factors in harness design to consider. Don't forget that if you already use a suitable harness that your dog doesn't need another for mantrailing, although it is good to use a separate one that can become a 'uniform' for your mantrailing buddy. If you do use a daily harness for mantrailing, then consider using a bandana or similar on your dog, so they build an association that when in this 'uniform', they are trailing.
Fixing Points
The point where you attach your long line to the harness is important too, and might vary with your dog, their confidence and how intensely they pull when trailing. An ideal fixing point would be just behind the whithers / shoulders. This allows a good connection and management as dogs move in front of you. Many harnesses will have this attachment point, but it is something to look out for, as some may only have a front-fixing point that is unsuitable.
Mantrailing and Specialised Harnesses
There are a variety of specialised harnesses, and those marketed as specifically for mantrailing often have a design that is similar to those used for canicross. Whilst these might be good for experienced handlers, canicross and mantrailing-specific styles can encourage pulling and might be less easy for a handler to manage without good line-handling skills.
Particularly when getting started in mantrailing, it is common for a dog that isn't actively pulling to return towards the handler, and so the fixing point can then come over the top of the dog's head. Certainly, for getting started in mantrailing, it may be better to use a more domestic-style harness with a fixing point just behind the shoulders rather than nearer the tail, which is more common in mantrailing or canicross-style 'pulling' harnesses.
Your Road to the Right Harness
Finding the ideal harness for your dog is a significant step toward ensuring their overall comfort and safety. By understanding your dog's anatomy and the various types of harnesses available, you can make informed decisions that enhance your dog's experience. Pay attention to proper measurements, prioritise comfort, and consider your abilities when selecting a harness for mantrailing. With the right fit, your dog will be prepared for any adventure, from leisurely strolls to mantrailing.
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