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Dog Harness Help!

Original Post
Avalon · · East Longmeadow MA · Joined Jun 2013 · Points: 50

Anyone have advice or experience with a dog harness to rap a dog? I have a working gsd and I'd like to rap him into our crag. My plan is to get a dog harness (for climbing not an anti-tugging one) and use a sling and beaner to sling him over my shoulder so I can have him under my arm. I'm just looking for anyone with advice or experience with this. I'm not concerned with how he'll handle it as he's 100% environmently sound and tough as nails. Thanks!- Joe

RoadTripRyan · · Salt Lake City, UT · Joined Dec 2005 · Points: 40

I've got a ruffwear one:

ruffwear.com/DoubleBack-Har…

For a 55lb. german wirehair, it works really well. She is submissive, and fine with it.

I put a sling from her and one from me up to a belay device. This way her fur is out of "catch-in-the-belay-device" range and we are side by side as we go down. (Similar to how I would rap with an injured human.)

Make sure you have plenty of friction for the added weight.

-Ryan

wivanoff · · Northeast, USA · Joined Mar 2012 · Points: 674

You'll probably hear a lot about not bringing you dog to the crag.....

I have no personal experience in lowering dogs, but I've seen it.

If you have a valid reason to do this, check out the SAR sites. They lower dogs out of helos and have harnesses designed for that. BTW, be prepared for the dog to pee on the way down.

rocknrescue.com/acatalog/Do…

rayallen.com/product/rappel…

Chas Waterman · · Prescott, AZ · Joined Sep 2011 · Points: 40

i've rapped with a dog using an improvised harness before. pretty sure it was just two double slings using the diaper method, one around the hips and one around the shoulders. It worked well but we didnt have to go far and the dog didn't wiggle much. make sure you get it snug enough and balanced incase your dog isn't psyched....or buy a legit one. good luck!

Tyler Tylerson · · The Swamp · Joined Jul 2013 · Points: 20

Yer gonna die

peepeedance · · Western NC · Joined Oct 2007 · Points: 210

I did research on a safe harness for rappels and tyroleans a while back and found the ruffware dbl back harness mentioned above to be the ticket. They can ware it all day, the back leg straps make it impossible for them to come out in a wcs yet tuck away for when you're on the ground. The design also makes it super easy to equalize their position for maximum comfort. It's a little fiddly to get on because of the double back buckles but for the peace of mind, worth it I think. It's really well made .To bad you don't have a miniature gsd :) I would gladly sell you my small for a good deal. My dog made it rigor mortisly clear she had no interest in raps, being hauled or tyroleans.

Cheers, Tracy

Avalon · · East Longmeadow MA · Joined Jun 2013 · Points: 50

Haha " yer gonna die". I really doubt he will squirm or pee. He's a working dog and has zero fear. I do like the idea of minimizing movement by adding a second sling, I was thinking about one over the head and wearing him like a man purse. Im planning on basically "carrying" him in the belay so not belaying him. but im also new to this world and my partner/mentor wouldnt allow me to do this if its not safe. I could also secure him into a harness loop on my own harness. I will be trailing him out, it's about an extra 20minutes of bush whacking that's why I'm looking to do this in the first place. Thanks for the tips and concern lol

Aric Datesman · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Sep 2008 · Points: 145

Kong makes them. It's the Smeus #844.01 on this page: kong.it/pr_resc_new.htm

More importantly, they also make them for cows.

Avalon · · East Longmeadow MA · Joined Jun 2013 · Points: 50

Ahhhh I love the minds on mp

Benjamin Chapman · · Small Town, USA · Joined Jan 2007 · Points: 18,797

Joe.....I have a lot of experience getting large dogs (a Great Dane & a Mastiff...180 - 200#) and a Dalmatian/Pitbull (70#) into and out of climbing areas generally considered inaccessible to dogs. That Ruffwear Doubleback harness looks awesome, but wasn't available back when I needed it. I got the rafting/float version with the handle for my 3-legged Dashshund/Beagle. For swimming, not lowering. Great gear.
As Chris indicated you'll want two slings or points of attachment as you will need complete (multidirectional) control because, submissive or not, the dog WILL resist at the lip and, then, go for it once committed to the abyss. That transition can be tricky (balance, strength, and coordination). I have utilized a cordalette and double runners to fashion a seat and chest/torso harness (NOT just a collar). Again, two attachment points that you can secure!! It really helps if you can locate an entry/exit point that permits you to pin the dog (gently) between you (on or against your thighs) and the wall occasionally to calm the dog, relax, or free up a hand. Practice somewhere safe because this endeavor could cause injury or the death of you and/or your dog. Good luck.

ps the responses to your post were generally more positive then most, except for Tyler ASSH#€%LE). Remember when owning big dogs learn to keep your knees flexed and with small dogs learn to shuffle your feet.

Avalon · · East Longmeadow MA · Joined Jun 2013 · Points: 50

Thanks that's useful.

bearbreeder · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Mar 2009 · Points: 3,065

eat the dog then climb back up ..

problem solved

;)

Dobson · · Butte, MT · Joined Oct 2011 · Points: 215
Aric Datesman wrote:Kong makes them. It's the Smeus #844.01 on this page: kong.it/pr_resc_new.htm More importantly, they also make them for cows.
That cow harness is the best piece of climbing gear ever made.
Aric Datesman · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Sep 2008 · Points: 145
Dobson wrote: That cow harness is the best piece of climbing gear ever made.
Without a doubt.

That said, I'm not sure whether it works for regular and chocolate milk cows, or just strawberry milk one.

Or is it that you first need to flay/skin the cow before rapping?

Or is it just a cow that spent too much time on the beach?

I'd drop them an email, but am kinda afraid of the answer.

EDIT- May as well add something useful to this post. Their dog harness is listed in the Rescue Equipment section, and to me looks a lot more lighter/more comfortable than the ones linked above.

Kaylee Catmull · · Riverside, CA · Joined May 2013 · Points: 0

Lighter, yes, but I'd disagree regarding the comfort, especially as the dog's weight increases (as in progressively larger dogs). The Ruffwear Doubleback harness looks great.

Aric Datesman · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Sep 2008 · Points: 145

I'm thinking more along the lines of wearing it the whole time you're at the crag rather than for the rap itself.... The ones above that basically have them in a sack look bulky and hot, and for the 10 minutes it takes to rap a pitch (crag to me = single pitch) is reasonable. Especially since you can then leave the harness on the pup (and short-roped to you) while scrambling talus or narrow trails with a steep drop off.

Or to put it another way, place local to me has some trails with nasty fall potential and I was never happy about leaving my pup to either figure it out on her own or risk catching her by only the collar (she was a 120# Great Dane). The Kong harness looks to me to be light enough to leave on all day, yet supportive enough to rap with. YMMV.

btustison Tustison · · Tacoma, Washington · Joined Oct 2011 · Points: 5

I have good experience with Ruffwear. I have used the Singletrack Pack for scrambling up loose terrain and simply lifting the dogs up and over obstacles, but never anything more technical than that. I spent a couple years working a pet specialty store and I have always been impressed with the design and construction of the Ruffwear products.

Just my two cents.

SavageMarmot · · Nederland, CO · Joined Jul 2012 · Points: 190

The problem is convincing Fido to do it. Lily and Ike did the first canine descent of Scoggins Draw in Dinosaur in this manner. Once over the lip they were fine but going over the edge really made them nervous and squirmy. You might want to sling them a few feet below you to avoid issues.

John Husky · · Unknown Hometown · Joined May 2011 · Points: 5

I bet your dog would really not like being rapped off a cliff, or hauled back up. They would more than likely endure the pain and fear, but is that the best that you can do for your pet? The other climbers, whose experience you are also affecting, would also probably appreciate not having to watch someone abuse their pet. Find a dog sitter and bring home a bone.

You asked for advice.

Avalon · · East Longmeadow MA · Joined Jun 2013 · Points: 50

Dear John Husky: I asked for advice/opinions on a dog harness. Not whether or not my dog (which is a K9) would like it. I specifically said he was a working dog for a reason, they don't react like your average dog, he will be fine. I also didn't ask how other people would feel about it because this particular crag is on private property and there are only 4-5 of us that climb there. I'm glad you wasted your valuable time to inject some sarcastic knowledge. Hope you can find something better to do in the future.

Aric Datesman · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Sep 2008 · Points: 145
Joe Assad wrote:Dear John Husky: I asked for advice/opinions on a dog harness. Not whether or not my dog (which is a K9) would like it.
Dear Joe Assad: Are you not aware that K9 is an abbreviation for "canine", which is the Taxinomic grouping that includes all dogs? And regardless of whether your dog is a member of Caninea or not, animals in general aren't usually all that happy being hucked off cliffs?

Frankly I don't see John Husky's comments as being out of place even given my links to dog (and cow) harnesses above.

Perhaps the bigger question is whether you're simply looking to rap with the dog because you're too lazy to hike in? I mean, are you going to be jugging the dog in a pig or what? If you're hiking out, why not hike in?
Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

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