New Leather Front Attaching Harness

[sjdavenport]

Just got Rhaegar a new leather Connected Control Harness from Bold Lead Designs. I pretty much raised Rhaegar on a front attaching harness, so he walks great on it, and I wanted to stick with that style. We've loved our Ruffwear Front Range harness for him, but I was a little concerned about the durability of the front attachment (made of rubber and thick fabric sewed to the harness), so I usually walked him with a leash with 2 attachements (one to the front, and one to the back just in case it ever snapped). Well that was getting pretty annoying, so I started to look for alternatives (note to self: include the word "dog" when performing a google search for black leather harnesses....). I also didn't want one that went straight across the shoulders, restricting movement like the Easy Walk harness does. I'm pretty sure this is the only front attaching leather harness on the market. We got it last night (size large), and it took me a while to get a good fit on Rhaegar (every part of it is adjustable). So far, I'm really happy. It seems super sturdy, and the fit isn't bad. It's a little heavy and a little stiff, but I know the leather will soften up significantly with time and use. I'm a little concerned about rubbing of the buckles in his armpit region, so I'll just keep an eye on that. He seemed comfortable in it on our walk today. Anyway, just thought I'd share! Also, trying to embed photos with flickr instead of photobucket for the first time, so hopefully it works......

 

[sjdavenport]

Edit, I will trim the silly little straps poking out on the top once I'm totally satisfied with the fit, lol.

 

[Boxergirl]

I love Bold Lead Designs and have been eyeing that exact harness since it came out. I want the pads for mine. Please update after you've used it for a while.

 

[sjdavenport]

I also looked at the pads, but they seemed bulky themselves, and maybe a bit hot down here in Alabama. I will deifnitely be getting them anyway if I notice any chafing or rubbing though.

 

[Boxergirl]

Oh yeah, you're in Alabama. They'd be okay for most of the year here in Indiana. I bet you could easily make something out of sherpa lining, flannel, or fleece. It would still give some padding but maybe not be as hot.

 

[sjdavenport]

And I thought the sheepskin might not hold up well to Rhaegar's favorite activities, lol:

 

[Hector]

Nice looking harness!! I've seen another design from bold lead designs where the front attachment works like a martingale. This one looks like it will tighten too like a slip collar or no?

 

[sjdavenport]

I don't know if things will change once the leather softens up, but right now, I'm pretty sure it's not going to budge even if he did pull really hard. Which I'm fine with, since we haven't been using one that tightens up. I can see where it looks like it would though.

 

[Hector]

I don't know if things will change once the leather softens up, but right now, I'm pretty sure it's not going to budge even if he did pull really hard. Which I'm fine with, since we haven't been using one that tightens up. I can see where it looks like it would though.

This harness doesn't have a ring for back attachment?

 

[sjdavenport]

It does. Just a regular back attachment. Rhaegar's little strap wings just hides it, lol. I also went and looked at the front attachment. Although it looks like it will tighten if they pull, it doesn't actually move at all (with all my strength, although that's not saying much, lol).

 

[karennj]

Can you loosen the front so the part that goes behind the legs can sit farther back? It looks really nice!!

 

[Joao M]

Nice harness !

(note to self: include the word "dog" when performing a google search for black leather harnesses....).

LOL !

 

[Boxergirl]

Can you loosen the front so the part that goes behind the legs can sit farther back? It looks really nice!!

I can't answer your question, but I can tell you that they make custom service dog harnesses. If this one doesn't do what you want, contact Katrina and ask. She's really good to work with and I bet that some customization could be done.

 

[tmricciuto]

Your puppy looks great.


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[sjdavenport]

So far, so good!

 

[Hector]

I cannot tell that is leather. At first I thought it was pleather/biothane/synthetic leather. He looks much more serious in that harness.

 

[sjdavenport]

I'm a vegetarian, and I don't buy a whole lot of leather.....so I'm just taking their word for it, lol. It came with leather care instructions, which is totally new to me! I don't think he particularly needed to look more serious than he already did, but he definitely needed something sturdier.

 

[Waffles]

Hello, Rhaegar looks so cuteee ! Now that it has been a while, how do you like the leather harness? Does it chafe at all? I feel like if it gets wet often it could crack? I was looking into a new harness for my EM, but the leather isn't in my budget. That leather one seems to have a similar design to the freedom no pull harness, except theirs is made of the typical nylon webbing, which is fine for my dog as she does not chew her leashes/ harnesses, but it also has a strange martingale type loop in the back.. but i guess its supposed to be used together like a double clip, but my EM wont really need both together, but its nice to have the option of the back clip. I was also looking into the Ruffwear front range just like Rhaegar has, but I too am a bit concerned that the front clip is not made of something sturdier.. but I really love everything else about the Ruffwear Front range harness so I am really on the fence. Did it ever seem like Rhaegar could break the front loop of the Ruffwear harness?Right now I use the easy walk and I HATE it because it seriously chafes my EM armpits that they have gone bald and sometimes get sores. Although, it does deter her from pulling most of the time, even if its just on her, I hardly have to even hold the leash and she will walk nicely beside me with the harness on, but if she sees something she really wants to run after, she will try, and it'll bunch her shoulders together and make her fall down .

 

[sjdavenport]

I really, really, REALLY wanted to love this harness. However, Rhaegar hated it. No matter what type of adjusting I tried, the bit that sits across the top of his shoulder blades is too tight and seems really uncomfortable when he moves. It's really odd, because I can have everything so loose that it's almost hanging off of him, but that top portion is still uncomfortably tight. I don't know if it's the weight of it or what (it is super duper heavy). It could just be a sizing/body shape issue. Rhaegar would see me coming with the harness, and would lay down on the floor with a pathetic face, which isn't like him. He also avoided running and playing while he wore it. I don't know if I need to keep trying adjustments or what, but I now have him in yet another harness. I kept seeing agitation harnesses with rings on the front, and I thought why can't I just clip the leash to that? Anyway, I didn't really want to yet again shell out a bunch of cash for a nice agitation harness, so we tried something a little more economical. I wanted something lighter and more comfortable, but something I could also count on to be a little sturdier than the Ruffwear. To answer your question, for the most part, I didn't have a problem with the front clip not being sturdy enough on an average daily walk since he's not a bit puller. However, he can be reactive to some other dogs while on leash, and if that front attachment ever broke, that could definitely be disastrous. We had an incident last weekend where I was super glad I didn't have him on the Ruffwear. We were at the park, and I saw a pair of off leash dogs coming towards us. I took my dogs about 150 feet off the trail to give everyone space, but one of the other dogs didn't listen to the owner when he called it (well, screamed at it really), and it charged at us. Of course, Rhaegar was game on. The dog postured and barked and circled about 5 feet from us around and around and around while the owner was chasing it, dragging the other dog along by the collar. Rhaegar lunged repeatedly. SOOO glad I wasn't relying on that flimsy Ruffwear attachment in this case. I only spent 25 dollars on the new harness. Sturdier than the Ruffwear, not as sturdy as the leather Bold Lead Designs harness, but much lighter and more comfortable for him. Hope that helps! I'm still on the quest for the perfect harness for us! Redline Nylon-Leather Dog Harness

 

[irina]

We have the same exact harness we are using for tracking and nose work.