So Ryuk can do this amazing flying trot that covers an insane amount of ground with little energy output....I'd like to use it if I can.

I'd like him to hold this nice trot while bikejoring since when he gets going we'll cruise along at about 15 mph. For the short time we played with a proper dog sulky he'd pick this up when I pushed him into the "trot" command. He would hold the gait for a good 3 miles (then we'd slow a bit for a break, then pick it up again). However when we lost the access to the sulky and went to bikejoring he stopped. I think it had to do with the harness I had for bikejoring. It was an H back padded pulling harness (because the angle was to sharp for the sledding harness). He WOULD NOT trot in that harness at all. He would canter for miles, but would not break into a trot. I checked the harness and my dog for signs it was uncomfortable on him but found nothing.

Now today I took him out today with our new harness ( http://leerburg.com/1293.htm ) with the line clipped to the D ring on the back and found it worked wonders getting that great trot back. He moves better in the harness all together and performed all gaits on command. He REALLY like the harness over any of the other ones he's used I intended to use this harness for carting with my old modded wagon (which is a walking only adventure to the store) since I didn't think it was designed for bikejoring. I did do a few tests to see how it pulls on him when hooked to my bike and it seemed okay. Can I use this harness for bikejoring? We never go more than 10 miles.

I checked out the Leerburg harness, as I'm always interested in new harness designs for bikejoring. From the picture on the mal, it looks to me like the front strap would restrict the forward movement of the shoulders, inhibiting the gait. Almost like one of those 'stop-pull' harnesses. Also, I would think the dog's chest might be somewhat constricted by the strap (when galloping hard). And I generally like the pull to be higher on the shoulders...

I'd be willing to try the harness on my dog, just was wondering how it could work better than an X-back or variations there-of for harder running pulling dogs (not carting).

Aside from the x-back, here's a harness for pulka and skijor http://shop.sundpro.se/description.php?II=4&UID=2010090718481175.149.141.189, and another variation on the X-back to let the back fully coil: http://store.skijornow.com/merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=SN&Product_Code=1111200&Category_Code=DH. I'd like to try this one, but it's quit expensive. Also, another varition is the man-mat: http://www.howlingdogalaska.com/index.php?page=guardharnesspage, I use for cani-cross, and finally the g-cel: http://wolfsdenkennel.com/G-celHarness.html, which I like the look of better than the man-mat, as it appears to allow more freedom of movement.

I bike, scooter or ski behind my dog, but I saw this link to a fairly easy 'sulky' design from a re-vamped baby jogger: http://sweetjuniperwoodcraft.blogspot.com/2010/04/how-to-build-your-own-easy-dirt-cheap.html. She also has a link to carting dog harnesses.

But, if your dog likes that harness, go with it!

My pup's not a big fan of the man-mat. I was going to try the skijornow harness next. I use the X-back for anything other than canicross. I'd like the try the G-cel too.

My friend uses this type of harness on her dogs for bite work, but she tightens the front strap so it sits higher across the front of the dog and it does not inhibit the dog at all.

I would say let the dog tell you which he prefers. Obviously the harness is not inhibiting his movement or he wouldn't be able to get into that trot that you were trying to achieve.

As with any sort of exercise, do a little warm up before and watch for any signs of strain or extreme fatigue!

You know, I may just try bikejoring! It really sounds fun and it would be an awesome way to exercise my huskies.

Hi Niomi,
Totally agree, let the dog tell you what works.

Here's a group in your area for dryland races/dog sports. Looks like they enjoy themselves and the dogs,too. http://www.copperhaultwister.blogspot.com/

I have a friend from college who lives in Whitehorse and used to run her white german shepherd.

Wow, small world.

Usually when people see or I tell them I am from Whitehorse - they look at me like it is the crazy made up place.

I have a friend who runs her Canadian Eskimo x and her Pitbull x in these races. This is exactly the group I was thinking about when I posted that comment about wanting to join.

I am going to contact them to see how to get involved. Right now my training schedule is packed with 4 dogs (one of which is an 8 month old WL Shepherd) but I hope in the spring to do more. I am attempting to train my shepherd to a SCH I this winter, so her BH in the spring and her SCH I later in the summer, so I have a lot of work ahead of me!

Sorry, topic derailed....

And back to harnesses