Walking Belt
Walking belts are now widely used in the dog community for hands-free dog walking or jogging with your dog. The use of two connecting D-rings allows the force of a dog pulling to be dispersed evenly throughout the belt without putting any force on the clip holding the belt together.
Dogs can be extremely strong animals and some breeds, especially the sled dogs such as huskies and malamutes can be very difficult to walk on regular basis because it is in the dog’s nature to pull and let’s face facts, it is what they were originally bred to do over centuries.
Controlling such strong breeds with the use of a conventional lead can prove quite difficult. The strain on the owners joints, such as wrists, arms and shoulders can cause quite a bit of discomfort and over time may affect the posture. Walking more than one dog at a time is also precarious especially if the owner has slight or slender frame. That is why so many sled dog owners and others strong dog owners prefer to use a dog walking belt.
The dog walking belt itself fits around the waist of the dog owner, so that when walking commences and their dog or dogs start to pull, for the owner it means that they can use their whole body weight to control the dog or dogs and still have their hands free, in case the unexpected happens, such as a trip or fall, you can put your hands out, and your dog or dogs will still be attached to you via the walking belt. This is a huge benefit for many dog owners.
Walking belts are commonly used for hands-free dog walking or the sport of Canicross (jogging/running with your dog).
There are of course many different types of walking belts available on the market so how do you determine which dog walking belt is right for you?
The first thing you should be looking at is what do you require out of a walking belt, is it for recreational dog walking or Canicross? What material is the walking belt constructed from. Of course it should ideally be made from strong webbing with the part that goes around your back made from Cordura, which covers a foam pad for the back support and comfort of the wearer. This should be at least 4 inches wide to give appropriate support for the back. The webbing around the belt should be no less than 2 inches in width, and furthermore a strong clip is essential to close the dog walking belt around the body.
Typically there are two loops leading to the front to connect with a locking carabineer which links your dogs lead or leads (for those with of more than one dog) to the belt for total security. The best dog walking belts will have a bungee shock absorber to take any strain the dogs may place on you as your dogs pull. This then benefits the dog and the owner, ensuring they aren’t jolted by any sudden change of direction or at the sight of some distraction
.
Jogging with your dog can be enjoyable and when using a dog walking belt this makes he whole experience a delight.
If you are a competitive person and your dog loves to run, you could try the growing canine sport of canicross it might be the perfect outlet for you and your dog. This is where one runs with a single dog attached to a belt. If you are running competitively then obviously you need your arms totally free to run properly.
There are specialised canicross running belts available on the market, however, many prefer to use of a dog walking belt, and just use a slightly longer lead attached as it can be used for both activities that way.
I recommend using of a dog walking belt to anyone, whatever breed of dog you have. Once you have tried it, you will never look back, and I’m sure you will recommend it to any dog owner you see on your travels.
Walking belts are now widely used in the dog community for hands-free dog walking or jogging with your dog. The use of two connecting D-rings allows the force of a dog pulling to be dispersed evenly throughout the belt without putting any force on the clip holding the belt together.
Dogs can be extremely strong animals and some breeds, especially the sled dogs such as huskies and malamutes can be very difficult to walk on regular basis because it is in the dog’s nature to pull and let’s face facts, it is what they were originally bred to do over centuries.
Controlling such strong breeds with the use of a conventional lead can prove quite difficult. The strain on the owners joints, such as wrists, arms and shoulders can cause quite a bit of discomfort and over time may affect the posture. Walking more than one dog at a time is also precarious especially if the owner has slight or slender frame. That is why so many sled dog owners and others strong dog owners prefer to use a dog walking belt.
The dog walking belt itself fits around the waist of the dog owner, so that when walking commences and their dog or dogs start to pull, for the owner it means that they can use their whole body weight to control the dog or dogs and still have their hands free, in case the unexpected happens, such as a trip or fall, you can put your hands out, and your dog or dogs will still be attached to you via the walking belt. This is a huge benefit for many dog owners.
Walking belts are commonly used for hands-free dog walking or the sport of Canicross (jogging/running with your dog).
There are of course many different types of walking belts available on the market so how do you determine which dog walking belt is right for you?
The first thing you should be looking at is what do you require out of a walking belt, is it for recreational dog walking or Canicross? What material is the walking belt constructed from. Of course it should ideally be made from strong webbing with the part that goes around your back made from Cordura, which covers a foam pad for the back support and comfort of the wearer. This should be at least 4 inches wide to give appropriate support for the back. The webbing around the belt should be no less than 2 inches in width, and furthermore a strong clip is essential to close the dog walking belt around the body.
Typically there are two loops leading to the front to connect with a locking carabineer which links your dogs lead or leads (for those with of more than one dog) to the belt for total security. The best dog walking belts will have a bungee shock absorber to take any strain the dogs may place on you as your dogs pull. This then benefits the dog and the owner, ensuring they aren’t jolted by any sudden change of direction or at the sight of some distraction
.
Jogging with your dog can be enjoyable and when using a dog walking belt this makes he whole experience a delight.
If you are a competitive person and your dog loves to run, you could try the growing canine sport of canicross it might be the perfect outlet for you and your dog. This is where one runs with a single dog attached to a belt. If you are running competitively then obviously you need your arms totally free to run properly.
There are specialised canicross running belts available on the market, however, many prefer to use of a dog walking belt, and just use a slightly longer lead attached as it can be used for both activities that way.
I recommend using of a dog walking belt to anyone, whatever breed of dog you have. Once you have tried it, you will never look back, and I’m sure you will recommend it to any dog owner you see on your travels.
