Any one have a good site on how to make a dog carting harness?

Question

I'm getting a dog cart in about a week (YAY!! CAN'T WAIT!!)
here's a link to it: http://www.k9carting.com/carts.html
However, I'm not ready to shell out $40-50 on 3 harnesses, when I'm pretty sure that, with the right instructions, I could make one myself for much cheaper. Any one know how/ where? Thanks!

I was planning nylon, anyway.. I can sew through it using either polyester or fishig line. Thanks!

The one I'm getting also includes the team bar.. in addition to the single. THx.. I will be doing both individual and team pulling... as the dogs are trained. My older pit is already trained, and once the pit puppy and great dane pup reach maturity, they will be added. I will be runng them with the aut, though, just wihout them pulling weight. thx

Could you possibly find a site w/ a picture of the parade harness? Is it the simple one with the gig to hold the shafts, and the front breast plate?

The resha site looks to have cheaper harnesses.. thanks! Also. the Nordkyn Pulk harness? Is that a substitution for a carting harness? I also emailed the site to ask this. As far as carting goes, I am knowledgable in everything but harnesses!! I'm headin to the library to look up more stuff. can't seem to get what I need offline.. But a few of the sites that have been posted have been different than what I've found in the years I've been loking!

Also, in the last site you gave me, how do I attach the shafts to the harness?

Sorry I keep posting.. but you're being quite helpful!! THanks!

oh, ok! You seem like an historian of sorts on harnesses. thanks again for all your assistance!

Answer 1

It is really easier and better to buy them. If the harness is not correct for the dog and the cart (or travois) that you use, the dog can suffer injuries.

Those are not really what you would call "starter carts" either. A parade harness can work and is easier to go about making than a siwash would be. You can search some sites and see which you prefer, and ask the maker of your cart which they would advise.
If you get a single dog cart, you only need one harness at a time. If the dogs are about the same size, you can use the same one for all. We have 5 Newfs, and have two harnesses. One for the boys and one for the girls.

Personally, I do not like the leather. We have the nylon siwash type with the lambs wool lining. We have used this type for 16 years. You would need a pretty heavy duty sewing machine to stitch a harness also.

http://dogworks.com/store/index.html
http://www.nordkyn.com/models.htm
http://www.reshaequip.com/products/harnesses.html
http://www.kristalas.com/harnesses/687pulling.htm

The leather one in the last site is what we commonly call a parade harness. It does not give the same stablility and control as the siwash. We do not use them much for competition.....unless it is decorative carting and not so much pulling.
The good old siwash is the best in my opinion. They are adjustable also.

Nordkyn is really good. If you contact them, tell them the breeds and the cart type and what you want to do, they can tell you what you should get. They have always has real people that had a clue answer the phone in the past.

On most like the last one, you are given the option to have them add the shaft adapters. That would allow you to attach the shafts as well as use the singletree or spreader bar. The one shown...without the attachemnts..is what I think they used to call a "roading harness". Have no idea why.

We went through a LOT of harnesses back in 1993 when we first started carting. None seemed to work well and they were hard to fit. thank GOd that today the companies have gotten a lot better and there are more choices!!!!!!! The carts have gotten a lot better also....but my favorite is a cheap little model that DogWorks made called the Snap Cart. Great for competition and hauling in the groceries!!!!!

Best of luck with the carting!!! It sure is great fun!!!!!!

Answer 2

Carting Harness

Answer 3

I agree with everyone else. Just buy it.

When I decided to try carting, I was poor and in high school. Nevertheless, I rigged up a wagon based on instructions from an old Dog Fancy and started shopping around for the cheapest harness I could find.

I ended up getting a modified sledding harness from Nordkyn Outfitters because it was cheapest.

Well, carting never really took off with my dog, but if I had it to do over again I definitely would have just gotten the correct harness for him. The modified sledding harness just didn't really work right.

I think also, since you are new to the sport (as I was), it's difficult to look at it and determine if a harness fits properly and is doing its job of evenly distributing weight.

Good luck!

Answer 4

You'd need leather working tools and access to thick leather (and probably a special sewing machine that can work with the thicknesses).

I found a few:
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=making+dog+cart+harness

But considering the start up cost for making these, it's probably easier to just buy them. However if you can make them with nylon webbing and can get the metal parts, only an industrial machine would be needed (standard sewing machines can't sew through two to four layers of that webbing, I've tried).

Tip if you do try the webbing---to keep it from fraying once it's cut use a lighter or candle flame to sear the ends. That way the plastic melts and keeps the edges from unraveling.