We haven’t been doing much canicrossing recently due to the warmer weather, so we’ve been doing a lot more early morning walking instead. Most of the K9 Trail Time team can be let off lead but there are times when they all have to be under control, for example if there are fields with livestock or if we come across a road. It’s at these times when we use slightly different equipment to the canicross kit we usually use, as it’s good to have another style of belt and harness if you want your dog to recognise when you will be walking and when you are canicrossing.
Our walking belts can also be used as canicross belts but for canicross we prefer something with less padding and for walking we prefer the more padded styles, so for regular walking we like the Zero DC canicross belt found here:
https://www.k9trailtime.com/shop/zero-dc-canicross-waist-belt.html
It has a big pocket and the cord on the front means we can easily have 4 separate lines attached, plus the extra padding is useful if they do all decide to pull and leg straps prevent it riding up the body. It comes in a range of colours too.
We also like the Dragrattan Simple Canicross Belt which also has a cord at the front, leg straps to keep it in place but no pocket. It’s thick padded waist band should be worn low on the hips and offers great comfort when walking strong dogs:
https://www.k9trailtime.com/shop/dragrattan-canicross-belt.html
The Non-stop Trekking Belt is also a very padded, comfortable belt with leg straps but with a fixed point at the front in case you prefer a little bit of extra control when walking, perhaps not so suitable for multiple dogs but perfect for one or two dogs. It comes in a range of colours.
https://www.k9trailtime.com/shop/non-stop-trekking-waist-belt.html
If leg straps are not your thing then the Neewa Trekking Belt is a great value walking option and has a central webbing strap to keep it in place on your hips plus two straps which meet in the middle to attach your dog/s to. It has slight stretch through these straps as they have an elasticated section and has a decent sized pocket attached to it:
https://www.k9trailtime.com/shop/neewa-trekking-waist-belt.html
We also have the Howling Dog Alaska Canicross/Skijor Belt which is great if you prefer a supportive option for a walking belt. The belt has a good sized pocket and a webbing strap which adjusts, sliding through the middle and you attach your dog/s to a solid ring stitched into the webbing, which provides a very secure option for attaching dogs to a fixed point in front of you:
Top of the range in walking belts is the Non-stop Ferd Belt which moulds to your body once you’ve used it a few times. It is extremely comfortable with a thick technical foam construction and has detachable leg straps for you to choose if you need them or not. You can purchase an additional belt bag which slides over the belt and is big enough to carry a full water bottle plus a big, rigid, zipped pouch for all the essentials you might need on your travels.
All of the belts we stock provide you with a much better experience for walking dogs than simply holding a lead, as you will have your hands free and will be far more comfortable, especially if your dog pulls. Hands free hiking with your dog is a great way to exercise together without the worry of your dog being loose if there are roads or livestock nearby and you can use it as an opportunity to train your voice commands at a slower speed. Hiking with your dog is also perfect for younger or older dogs who might not be fit for canicross and can give you a similar experience to canicross at a much more sedate pace. You might also enjoy hiking with your dog if you are injured yourself and need to build up strength slowly.
If you have any questions about hiking with your dog please do contact us by e-mailing info@k9trailtime.com – Happy Trails!