Product Review: Alpine Outfitters Adjustable Urban Trails Harness

Alpine Outfitters can barely keep up with the demand for their original custom Urban Trails Harness, so they've introduced a ready-to-go adjustable harness in standard sizes. Don't want to wait for a custom-sized mushing harness? Need something that buckles at the neck for your head-shy dog? Want one harness that can be adjusted to fit multiple dogs? The Urban Trails Ready-to-Go Adjustable Harness comes in four sizes and five colors to fit dogs 25-95 lbs.

Photo by Erin Koski

Once upon a time, back in 2005, I ordered an Urban Trails custom mushing harness for Brisbane. He was only eight months old, and I had grand plans involving scooters and trails and sled dog commands. Unfortunately, Brisbane was not a fan of pulling. In retrospect, I could probably have done more training to teach him that it was cool, but I did put quite a lot of work into it. 

Several years later, I realized Brisbane had outgrown his custom harness. I contacted Alpine Outfitters about possibly having his original harness altered, and they sent me a brand new custom harness in exchange for the old one back! That happened several years ago, so I was stunned when I met the people behind the company at SuperZoo, and they actually remembered me. They asked if I had another dog and then gave me a brand new ready-to-go Urban Trails harness for Sisci! I had been seriously considering ordering one to see how it compares to the custom Urban Trails, but I got this one free in exchange for my review.

Photo by Erin Koski

I was sure that the addition of adjustment sliders would detract from this harness, so I was very surprised when I got to play with it and see how well it was put together. The extra straps tuck in nicely, and don't leave too much unpadded length. 

I think my favorite feature of this harness is the buckles themselves. Not only are they curved to fit the shape of the dog, they are also wrapped in little elastic sleeves that help keep crud out of the buckle! Have you ever had a quick-release side-squeeze buckle get gunked up with sand or mud? Obviously someone at Alpine Outfitters did too. 

This is truly an all-purpose harness. It's awesome for regular walking, stays well clear of the dog's throat, and is padded to prevent chafing. The buckle at the neck means I don't have to pull it over anyone's head. It's comfortable to pull in, I've had Sis Godzilla help pull my wagon full of agility stuff from the car to the field. Basically the Urban Trails harness works for any activity where the line attaches to something higher than the dog's back. So, not sledding or weight pull or carting with shafts, but anything else.

Photo by Erin Koski

In a stroke of pure genius, the folks at Alpine Outfitters have added a ring at the front of the harness. When the leash is attached to this ring, it can be used as a no-pull harness. That's right, the best pulling harness can also be used the most comfortable no-pull harness. 

Alpine Outfitters now makes a backpack accessory for the Urban Trails Harness. It's designed to fit over the shoulders, keeping the weight off the dog's back. The pack also allows free movement of the shoulders, and sits nicely against their body so it's comfortable to wear on adventures.

Pros: Adjustable to fit different dogs. Reflective. Padded with non-absorbent polar fleece made mostly from recycled materials. Made in the USA. Front leash ring also allows harness to be used to discourage pulling. Really spectacular and personal customer service.

Cons: I'm a bit worried that the light pink color is going to get really dirty really fast. That's what I'm testing now.

Bottom Line: Whether you're using a bike, scooter, skis, skateboard, or baby stroller, this is definitely the harness you want. Dog with super sensitive skin? Right here. Got a hard to fit dog? Drop them a line and they'll happily help you figure out the right size. 

Four Ways to Get More Walk Out of Your Walk

Some dogs are happy with a simple daily walk around the block, but for many dogs this is simply not enough activity. Still, some dog owners have physical limitations, and just about everyone is busy. Happily, there are a few ways to make your walk MORE. More exciting, more physically demanding, and requiring more brainpower.

1. Use a backpack. 

This is my least favorite method of wearing out a dog on a walk. Strap a pack on your dog, weight it down with a couple of water bottles or cans of soup, and have him work harder. This is quite a popular idea in my area, but I dislike it because it gives the dog no choice. He's going to have to walk as far as you tell him to walk, and he's going to have to carry that pack the entire time. The weight puts additional stress on his joints, and can make him sore if the pack doesn't fit well. I think dog backpacks are great for backpacking and hiking and carrying useful things, but I dislike them being used purely to induce fatigue.

Photo by Erin Koski

2. Mush! 

Does your dog pull like a sled dog? Although polite leash walking is considered by many to be a crucial skill for a well-mannered dog, pulling is actually incredibly good exercise. Sometimes called "roading", pulling on leash is used to condition hunting dogs and canine athletes. It can be done with a very wide collar, but pulling is safest and most comfortable for the dog in a harness designed for the purpose. A sledding or mushing harness and a stretchy leash are easiest on your dog's body, and a wide belt is easiest on your own body. Best of all, pulling is a low-impact activity where your dog gets to decide how hard he's going to work. I allow my dogs to pull when they are wearing harnesses, but require them to walk politely on a collar.

3. Play games.

There should be more than just a leash connecting you and your dog on a walk. Everyone needs some down time to sniff, but you can add some mental gymnastics for your dog to help make the whole outing more stimulating. I like teaching loose leash walking by making leash pressure into a cue for my dog to check in with me. Even after my dogs have mastered the skill of walking politely, I reinforce the behavior by occasionally giving the leash a little tug and rewarding them for looking at me. I also reward them for offering attention without being prompted, I like having a dog that occasionally looks back at me on a walk. When we see something exciting, like a skateboarder or another dog, I reward my dogs for looking at that thing, which turns scary or exciting things into cues to check in with me. 

4. Interact with the Environment

Your daily walk can become a little adventure when you ask your dog to interact with the various objects that you pass. My current suburban neighborhood has a lot of small retaining walls and little short markers between the lawns, these are fun for my dogs to jump or stand on. Depending on where we walk, we might encounter low walls to balance on, rocks to sit and stay on, or park benches to crawl under. Even asking my dog to put her front paws on a fire hydrant or the low branch of a tree challenges her balance and makes her think. I might send her around a signpost, or ask her to touch her nose to a flower. Practicing her tricks with novel objects helps strengthen those behaviors, and provides a surprising amount of mental stimulation.

Remember, a tired dog is a good dog, but it may take more than a simple walk around the block to tire your dog out. A flirt pole or springpole is a great way to get them some exercise in a small space, and you can fit quite a bit of exercise into that walk around the block if you try.

Product Review: Howling Dog Alaska Tough Skin Harness

Howling Dog Alaska's Tough Skin Harness is an awesome piece of gear for dog-powered sports. This mushing harness conforms to the dog's body and distributes pressure to make pulling comfortable. It is made from super light, breathable mesh fabric This is a tougher version of the company's Second Skin Harness, these are commonly used by both recreational and professional mushers. It comes in two colors and five sizes.

Photo by Erin Koski

Want your dog to pull you on your bike/skateboard/hovercraft? A regular walking harness just won't do, you need something specifically designed to make pulling comfortable and effective.

Traditional mushing harnesses are designed to attach to a sled at a point near the ground, so they curve back over the dog's hips. The Tough Skin harness is intended for attachment points at the same level or higher than the dog's back, making it ideal for skijoring, biking, scootering, canicross, and all sorts of other dog-powered sports.

Photo by Erin Koski

Pulling is a great way to build more exercise for your dog into an ordinary walk. I've taught my dogs to walk nicely on a loose leash when wearing neck collars, but they are allowed to pull in a harness. Hitched to a nice supportive belt, a dog can pull all they like without hurting anyone's arm or shoulder. I much prefer this to using weighted backpacks to make my dogs work harder. Pulling in a proper harness builds muscle and is much easier on the joints than carrying extra weight.

Pros: Tough and durable. Very visible. Comfortable for pulling. Harder to back out of than a traditional mushing harness.

Cons: They don't really make these for small dogs.

Bottom Line: This is an awesome mushing harness! It's a very different style than Brisbane's Alpine Outfitters mushing harness. I can't decide which I like better.

Product Review: Howling Dog Alaska Trekking Belt

Howling Dog Alaska's Trekking Belt is a nice hands-free way to let your dog pull like a sled dog without sacrificing your arms or shoulders. It spreads out the force of your pulling dogs while providing nice back support. It has a pocket and bottle holder, and a nice big ring for any sort of leash attachment. Comes in one size and one color.

Photo by Erin Koski

Pulling is a lot of work, and one way to help tire out a dog with seemingly boundless energy. While loose leash walking is an essential skill to have, there's a good reason to let your dog pull in certain circumstances.

I've taught my dogs to walk nicely when they are wearing neck collars. However, I do allow them to pull when they are wearing back-clipping body harnesses. I started out teaching Brisbane to never pull on the leash at all, and this turned out to be a mistake as I'd like him to be comfortable enough with leash tension to handle being on a retractable leash.

Sisci knows she is allowed to pull when wearing a harness, so she doesn't mind the tension from the Flexi leash. However, walking her on a harness can be tiring after a while. When I wear the Trekking Belt, I can hook her up with an elastic line and she can pull her heart out for the entire walk. This helps build muscle and also wears her out without putting extra stress on her joints. A lot of people put weighted packs on their dogs to help tire them on walks, but this is lower impact and better for doggy body building.

Pros: Distributes force well. Very supportive and nice on the lower back. Goes with everything.

Cons: It tends to ride up a bit on long walks.

Bottom Line: This is an affordable, durable, comfortable mushers belt.

Product Review: Alpine Outfitters Urban Trails Custom Harness

The Urban Trails harness from Alpine Outfitters is designed for all sorts of dog-powered sports. It features wide straps padded with Polartec polar fleece, and allows the dog to pull comfortably. This is a custom-fitted harness, made to order. It is available in 11 different colors.

Photo by Erin Koski

When Brisbane was a baby, I had many ambitions involving dog sports. One of these was dog-powered sports. Often known as 'joring', these activities basically involve hitching a dog to anything and everything and having them pull for fun.

Sledding is the most obvious dog-powered sport out there, but it requires snow so is not an option for us out here on the beach. Scootering is one dry land alternative, involving pneumatic tire scooters like we all had in the 80's.

Photo by Erin Koski

Bikejoring is dogs hitched to bicycles and running out front, as opposed to running to the side via a bike attachment. I'm not sure if there are specific words for having a dog pull you on skates or a skateboard. Skijoring is the sport of having a dog pull you on skis. Canicross is the sport of running while having a dog hitched to your belt.

I had all these plans for teaching my fabulous, talented dog to pull me on various wheeled objects. We were totally going to start scootering. This harness was the first step. The second step was to teach Briz to pull while wearing it. This is where the entire process broke down, because Brisbane does. Not. Pull. Not at all. He is a master of loose leash walking, and nothing can convince him that leash pressure is ok.

After many months of failing to teach Briz that pulling in a harness was great, mostly involving marking and rewarding him for putting even the slightest amount of pressure on the leash and tossing treats and toys ahead of him as additional motivation, I finally abandoned my original plan. I still love the Urban Trails harness, though. As I ordered it when he was a puppy, Briz eventually outgrew the harness.

Several years after purchasing our original Urban Trails harness, I contacted Alpine Outfitters and asked about having it adjusted or extended. They promptly made me a brand new harness in exchange for sending back the old one. How cool is that! The custom harnesses have several inches of adjustment in the chest strap to accommodate changes in weight or coat. There is also an Urban Trails harness with an adjustable neck, and non-custom harnesses available in four sizes.

Pros: Great for hitching your dog to anything except a sled or cart, need a different type of harness for those. Custom-made for a perfect fit even on your weird-shaped dog. Soft, snuggly fleece does not rub on delicate skin. Includes dog's name or phone number embroidered on back. Can order it with additional leash rings on the sides or front. Super customer service.

Cons: Can take several weeks to arrive since they have to make it first. Needs to be pulled over dog's head and have their leg put through a strap, not great for head-shy dogs.

Bottom Line: Pulling is great exercise for dogs, but they need the right gear in order to do it safely and comfortably. The Urban Trails harness works for almost any dog-powered activity. It's also a nice soft, cushy harness for everyday wear, particularly for dogs with sensitive skin. And shaved dogs. This is the only thing Brisbane has worn since his haircut.