Calling all harnesses! - Doberman Forum : Doberman Breed Dog Forums

Asmit · 10-28-2012, 05:20 PM

I am looking to buy a leather harness for protection work. I really like a couple of the Dean Tyler harnesses, but they are a bit 'pricey' and I'm sure that's not the only company out there making good working harnesses. I for some reason can't find much though.

Can anyone recommend some good agitation harnesses? And of course post any pictures of your dobes wearing them!

Sam1491 · 10-28-2012, 05:35 PM

Padded Leather Harness

I love the one I got from activedogs, much less than most other places and awesome, amazing, great quality...can ya tell I love it? I love activedogs stuff in general, they have a store front up north 6 hours from me, and all the things I've bought have lasted really well!

I really prefer that the buckles aren't on the chest as well, it's just a security thing I have. So that's one reason I really went for it, the sheepskin hasn't padded down at all yet with some minimal use. Mabel got a large and she's on the third hole on each side

I think juno has the same one, not sure if it's from the same people, and nox got the same one in black from activedogs

Asmit · 10-28-2012, 07:14 PM

Has yours gotten any less stiff or have you tried oiling it? It seems in pictures with yours and Juno's that the leather looks very stiff. I'd assume it'd be able to be worked with oil and time, but there were always some halters and leather works in the horse world that no matter what never loosened up.

Also what size do you have and how wide is mabel's girth? The bitch is almost exactly juno's size, so I assume whatever she got would work.

Sizzledog · 10-28-2012, 07:21 PM

Mine is from Fullgripgear | Harnesses & Capes

It showed up soft and pliable, but still very sturdy. They fit Dobes VERY well, which for me has been hard to find because so many harnesses aren't designed to work with the shape of the Doberman chest.

Sam1491 · 10-28-2012, 07:24 PM

Mabel measured at 30/31 so i got a large and she is in the third/middle hole on each size.

It's stiff but from putting it on and messing with it I wouldn't worry about it staying that way, (she hasn't worn it much) but I can see it softening a decent amount fairly quickly with good work and some oiling (maybe 1-2 grades above the average latigo collar which is softer). I wouldn't say it's super stiff to start with though, kind of a medium grade of all the leather I've worked with. The straps are mildly stiff but basically come at a good softness, it's moreso right by the chest that needs a bit of breaking in, mabels had hers on about 5 times for short periods and has "molded" hers to her shape much nicer now than how it sits in the pictures (the day we got it)

p.s. i've seen the exact same harness on a few other sites including an amish one for 2-3 times as much so if you pick it activedogs is the cheapest by far! and has some pretty fast shipping

Rosemary · 10-28-2012, 07:25 PM

I've been looking for a harness, too. I've looked at a bunch of websites.
K9 Guardian, Professional K9 Equipment
Leerburg Dog Training | 16,000 pages of dog training information, 500 free dog training streaming videos, free eBooks, podcasts, by Ed Frawley and Michael Ellis
Hortons Quality K9
Police K9 Training Equipment | Military Working Dog Gear | Professional K9 Training Gear | Ray Allen
Dog Equipment - Police Dog, Schutzhund, Service Dog, Dog Agility
I'm pretty sure I've looked a some more, but this is all I can find, right offhand.

Asmit · 10-28-2012, 07:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sizzledog

Mine is from Fullgripgear | Harnesses & Capes

It showed up soft and pliable, but still very sturdy. They fit Dobes VERY well, which for me has been hard to find because so many harnesses aren't designed to work with the shape of the Doberman chest.

I really like that one. Beautiful dog by the way. And I too am worried about it fitting the dobermans. That's why I'm considering the dean tyler's more 'custom' fit. I'm currently working my boy in an old style agitation harness that was built for a rottweiler. Needless to say the straps are all on the lowest settings and still not quite right. Is the first harness on that link the one you use?

Asmit · 10-28-2012, 07:42 PM

Wow I really like this one from those links rosemary Padded Double Ultra Leather Quick Release Dog Harness - $84.95 : Dog Equipment, Police Dog, Schutzhund, Service Dog, Dog Agility

DogsR4Life · 10-28-2012, 08:05 PM

I love this website, and the products are very well made:

Dog harness , Dog collar , Dog leash , Dog muzzle - Dog training equipment from Trusted Direct Source - Home, Dog Supplies

Cathy43 · 10-29-2012, 06:24 AM

They favor Ray Allen at my club.

Cathy43 · 10-29-2012, 06:44 AM

If money is an issue, what's to keep you from just using nylon?

Lulu2012 · 10-29-2012, 06:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DogsR4Life

I love this website, and the products are very well made:

Dog harness , Dog collar , Dog leash , Dog muzzle - Dog training equipment from Trusted Direct Source - Home, Dog Supplies

I agree, my dog has a leather harness and matching leash from them and its great.

Asmit · 10-29-2012, 07:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cathy43

If money is an issue, what's to keep you from just using nylon?

It's not necessarily an "issue" but if I can get a decent leather one for under $120, I'd rather do that than spend more. I assumed that logic made sense lol

I'm not going to save money and signifcantly compromise quality though. I always bought nice horse tack in the first place and never had to worry about replacing any of it or repairs for years so I understand the quality thing. But even then I always found 'deals' I think $100 is a decent budget for a harness

Gruntdobermann · 10-29-2012, 07:41 AM

Call Zuka K9.........The best leather harness made for a Dobe.....this guy is very breed specific leather crafter.

Check them out.

Good Luck!

Also....You may want to call them and tell him what you want, we did this and received a beautiful harness......he also attends local trials and shows in the North east.

Asmit · 10-29-2012, 01:15 PM

Looks like I'm going with one from Ray Allen! I want them all, but that one turned out to be the best compromise of what I was looking for.

ajp240 · 10-29-2012, 01:31 PM

I have a nylon one from Dean & Tyler I purchased for my puppy. Can't say much about the leather ones, but I am really happy with the quality of their nylon harness and leash!

Cathy43 · 10-29-2012, 05:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Asmit

Looks like I'm going with one from Ray Allen! I want them all, but that one turned out to be the best compromise of what I was looking for.

I really like that quick - release one that Ray Allen has although I prefer the neoprene padding on the other. if anyone ever insists that the nylon one I already have isn't good enough, I'd go with Ray Allen. In the meantime, that money goes to agility expenses.

Asmit · 10-29-2012, 06:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cathy43

I really like that quick - release one that Ray Allen has although I prefer the neoprene padding on the other. if anyone ever insists that the nylon one I already have isn't good enough, I'd go with Ray Allen. In the meantime, that money goes to agility expenses.

Yup that's what I'm getting! If Im not happy with the leather quality when it gets here ill buy the more expensive one. Figured the clips seemed handy considering I usually handle three dogs back to back and/or rushing after helping the decoy take a break.

Cathy43 · 10-30-2012, 06:05 AM

Yep, way too much fumbling with dogs eager to get on with it.

sonterra2002 · 10-30-2012, 11:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Asmit

It's not necessarily an "issue" but if I can get a decent leather one for under $120, I'd rather do that than spend more. I assumed that logic made sense lol

http://www.dogsportgear.com/Padded-L...ess_p_173.html

Holy Crap! I spent $65 on my harness from Schutzhund equipment, Police k9 equipment supplier , dog equipment, dog harness . I had it for 8 years (everyone in canada pretty much has the same harnesses, gets crazy at seminars cause they get all messed up with everyone elses!). I had a medium and it fit a huge range of dogs, from my dobe, to my gsd, to the mali puppy I had. The only reason I do not have it now is that my van was stolen with all my training equipment in it. They also have a "rubber" version that is much more supple and easy to manage cause all it needs is a wipe down if its dirty.

Most ppl I know have had theirs since they started ring, and we use our harnesses alot! Very rarely do we every train just on a collar.

Here are two pics of the same harness on two different dogs. One on my dobie and the other on a gsd.

styric · 10-30-2012, 07:10 PM

K9 storm makes an interesting tracking harness

Asmit · 11-09-2012, 10:20 PM

Well I received the harness today! I ended up contacting the manufacturer of the harnesses that Ray Allen sells and gave them the dog's exact measurements to get a custom fit. My decoy also talked my out of the snaps, and after thinking about it, I do prefer the flat look much better.

Just wanted to add to anyone who reads this thread, that the leather quality is amazing! It arrived so soft and supple, and is a very good quality for the price. Will be putting it on the dogs tomorrow, might snap a picture!

Rosemary · 11-09-2012, 10:34 PM

Man, I wish I could afford a custom harness for Ilka. So far, I like the one I got her (she got to wear it today), but I've got it adjusted about as small as it can go. If they'd had a smaller size, I would have gotten that. As it was, it's the smallest one I could find. She's such a Skinny Minnie.

Sizzledog · 11-10-2012, 12:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Asmit

I really like that one. Beautiful dog by the way. And I too am worried about it fitting the dobermans. That's why I'm considering the dean tyler's more 'custom' fit. I'm currently working my boy in an old style agitation harness that was built for a rottweiler. Needless to say the straps are all on the lowest settings and still not quite right. Is the first harness on that link the one you use?

Yep, first on e in the ink. I told them it was for a dobe, and they sent me the one I needed. Really great folks to deal with.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Asmit

Wow I really like this one from those links rosemary Padded Double Ultra Leather Quick Release Dog Harness - $84.95 : Dog Equipment, Police Dog, Schutzhund, Service Dog, Dog Agility

I know you already got a harness, but I want to mention this one since you linked it.... DO NOT BUY THIS ONE! This was my first harness, a hand-me-down, and it SUCKED. The back "padding" flips up and bunches, it cuts into dobe armpits like crazy, it's an awful harness.

Asmit · 11-10-2012, 01:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sizzledog

Yep, first on e in the ink. I told them it was for a dobe, and they sent me the one I needed. Really great folks to deal with.

I know you already got a harness, but I want to mention this one since you linked it.... DO NOT BUY THIS ONE! This was my first harness, a hand-me-down, and it SUCKED. The back "padding" flips up and bunches, it cuts into dobe armpits like crazy, it's an awful harness.

Wow glad I didn't go with that! Makes me feel better about my choice haha thanks!