If you are wondering how much to spend on a harness for your dog for running, our guide to pricing and suitability of harnesses should help you in your decision…
How much will it cost me to buy a running harness for my dog?
Typically, a proper canicross harness for your dog will cost you an average of around £55 for a decent, well-made and suitable harness for your dog to run with you in. When you are choosing the harness for your dog there are a few things to help you make a decision about which harness will be most suitable for your dog and price may be a factor for you. There are harnesses on the market from £25 and other up to £100 in different dog sport brands which may be perfect for your dog but you will need to choose something that suits your dog’s breed, personality and shape.
Specific dog sport harnesses range from £25 (Howling Dog Alaska Second Skin pictured) to £100 in price
Why can’t I use a cheap harness? I can get one for £15 at my local big pet store / online from Amazon.
You can buy something cheap for your dog but the likelihood is that one of two things will happen and possibly both.
1 – The normal cheap pet walking harnesses are not designed for running with your dog, they are made from materials not built to withstand mud, rain and the rougher environment you are likely to encounter running with your dog. This will lead to breakages fairly rapidly and deterioration of the product, so it will not last a long time – The result, you will need to buy another harness!
2 – The regular dog harnesses are not designed to support your dog’s body when they are running, they might be too loose, they might be too restrictive, they might also be completely unsuitable and designed with a ‘no pull’ element. The problem with these harnesses is they can potentially cause harm to your dog. By rubbing, twisting and restricting your dog can get sores, knotted fur and even problems with their muscles leading to injury, if the harness is continually working against your dog’s natural movement. The result, you will need a different harness but you might also have a vet or canine physiotherapy bill to pay too!
Why are the running harnesses more expensive? They don’t look that different.
A specifically designed running harness for your dog may look similar to other harnesses but as already mentioned, they will be designed to stand up to muddier and more challenging environments, meaning the materials will be stronger and less likely to break.
The design of the dog running harnesses means they are snug on your dog’s body, won’t move around and cause sores but they are non-restrictive around the neck, shoulder and chest area so your dog is free to move as naturally as possible and, if fitted correctly, won’t cause your dog any short or long term damage.
The sports harnesses are designed with durability and function in mind, they should last upwards of 5 years
Why should I pay £50 odd for a dog harness? That seems like a lot of money.
If you think about the fact that a half-decent pair of running trainers will now set you back around £100 which is double the price of your dog’s harness and they are designed to last between 6 and 12 months, your dog’s running harness will be designed to last upwards of 5 years (provided you don’t allow it to get damaged or chewed).
If you take your dog running twice a week for 5 years that makes the cost of a £50 harness around 9p a use, compared to 96p per use for your trainers (provided they last a whole 12 months). £50 is also around the same cost as a veterinary consultation in the UK now, or the price of a physiotherapy appointment both of which you won’t need relating to the harness for your dog if you buy the correct harness from the outset. £50 is certainly worth it to ensure your dog is comfortable when they run with you and far better than having to pay for multiple cheap harnesses or pay for the damage done to your dog by an unsuitable harness.
You want your dog to be comfortable and happy in their harness, so £50 isn’t a lot when you consider how often you will use it
What about the cheaper or more expensive dog sport harnesses?
It might be that you decide to go for a cheaper harness and it might be that this is the most suitable for your dog, you also might decide to opt for the more expensive harness option if that particular brand and style seems to fit your dog best. Whichever you decide to go for, it is MORE important that the fit is correct for your dog, rather than the price dictating which harness style is better for your dog. That is why at K9 Trail Time we carry a full range of dog sports harnesses, starting at £25 and going up to £100, so we can offer you a decent fitting dog sports harness for your dog which also suits your budget. Everything we stock is a tried and tested dog sport-specific brand and you can always come back to us for guidance and fitting, we only ask that if use our free fitting or consultation services, you buy from us too, as we are a small business that has developed our expertise in harness fitting for over 15 years.
Please do take advantage of our experience and purchase from us so we can help you with any follow up questions
I’d like to buy a proper harness for my dog, how do I choose one now?
We have LOADS of resources on our website to help you but you could start by watching our quick video guide here: https://vimeo.com/905180863/b3a9dc982d?share=copy
You can also fill in our Harness Consultation Form for some suggestions here: https://www.cognitoforms.com/K9TrailTime1/HarnessConsultationForm
You can book a free fitting at one of our events here: https://www.facebook.com/K9TrailTime/events
Or you can book a proper detailed consultation here: https://www.k9trailtime.com/shop/bikejor-scootering/k9-trail-time-virtual-consultation-15-minutes/
Whatever you decide to do, remember the adage ‘buy cheap, buy twice’ ? Well we like to think of it as ‘buy non-specific, buy twice’ because you really do need to be specific in your kit choices for running with your dog and we can help you narrow down your options so you get it right the first time!
