Dogs are undoubtedly man’s and woman’s best friend! Your furry friend is there for you through thick and thin and is willing to get involved in everything you endeavor in. Dog weight pulling activities are a fabulous way to bond with your dog. However, safety and comfort are key whenever you engage in outdoor adventures. If you’re searching for the best dog harness for pulling sled, we have reviewed some great options to help you explore the snow planes with your pooch come winter.
The type of harness you choose for your pup will depend on a variety of factors. The breed of your dog, the weight of your dog, the weight he is pulling, and the design purpose of the harness all come into play.
So, if you’re looking for a dog harness that can safely and effectively pull a sled, we have a few exciting heavy-duty choices for you to check out. These dog pulling harnesses will help you and your pup succeed in any weight pulling activity.
| Brand | Product Name | Editor's Pick | Price | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Weight Pulling Sled Dog Harness With X-Back From Dogs My Love | Best Overall | $$ | 4.8 |
 | PET ARTIST Dog Sled Pulling Harness For Large Work Dogs | Best for Large Dog Breeds | $$ | 4.3 |
 | Non-Stop Dogwear X-Back Harness | Best for Sled Dogs Body Shape | $$$ | 4.2 |
 | Northern Howl Weight Pulling Dog Harness | Best X-Back Design | $$ | 4.4 |
 | Canine Equipment Ultimate Pulling Dog Harness | Best H-Back Design | $$$ | 4.9 |
Top 5 Best Dog Harnesses for Pulling Sled
When it comes to weight pulling activities, you can’t trade in efficiency, reliability, and cost-effectiveness. Fortunately for you, we have gone ahead and done thorough research to bring you five of the best dog harnesses that pull sleds. Here are the reviews:
1: Best Overall: Weight Pulling Sled Dog Harness with X-Back from Dogs My Love
Dogs My Love’s Weight Pulling Sled Dog Harness with X-Back is our top choice for the best dog harness for pulling sled, and for good reasons. This sturdy X-back style harness is designed to enhance your dog’s comfort while providing solid support to pull heavy loads.
The harness is available in six different sizes for added flexibility. The sizing is based on the neck circumference of your dog, but depending on your dog’s breed, you may need to choose a different size to achieve the right fit.
The webbing on this harness is robust since it’s made of strong nylon-type material, making it a top-of-the-line choice for sled dogs. The durable webbing is also resistant to icing and moisture. With its extended foam-like chest plate padding, the harness is extremely comfortable on dogs.
Moreover, the X-back style makes the harness great for racing or training in any season.
2: Best for Large Dog Breeds: PET ARTIST Dog Sled Pulling Harness for Large Work Dogs
If you want to train a larger dog breed to pull sleds, this special dog pull training harness could just be right for you. The PET ARTIST Sled Pulling Harness is extremely strong and durable as it features extremely durable 50 mm wide nylon webbing with reinforced stitching.
The harness resists up to 1200 lbs of weight, making it perfect for training large dog breeds, pet dogs, as well as work dogs such as Siberian Huskies, American Bully, Alaskan Malamute, Boxers, American Pit Bull Terrier, and Rottweiler.
This training harness is also has wider padding strips to provide soft, breathable, and tear-resistant fabric on the neck and chest areas of your dog for safety and comfort.
If you wish to use this dog weight pulling harness as a training tool to improve your pup’s behavior or develop his muscle and strength without hurting him, this harness works great.
It’s the perfect choice for large dogs and fits 31.5″(80cm) dog neck circumference. The X-back style makes it great for racing or training in any season. And to crown it all, the manufacturer provides a 100% quality guarantee; meaning that you can return the product and get your full refund if you’re not satisfied with the quality.
3: Best for Sled Dog Body Shapes: Non-stop Dogwear X-Back Harness
This unique X-back harness is specifically designed for sled dog body types. The Non-stop Dogwear X-back harness is an extremely versatile product. It has a thick material with lots of padding to make your dog feel comfortable while pulling the load.
The whole harness features 3M reflective strips to make it both safe and visible at night. It is also durable and comfortable to use when harnessed. The chest section is wide, ensuring optimal force transmission when your dog hauls a heavy load.
While many X-back dog harness options fit different dog breeds based on their size measurements, this harness takes into account the specific shape of the sled dog body. Most popular sled dog breeds often have a particular shape, and this harness will work best for them.
4: Best X-Back Design: Northern Howl Weight Pulling Dog Harness
The Northern Howl Weight Pulling Dog Harness is another impressive X-back option, but it is made of breathable fabric to prevent irritation, making it better than many competitors.
With a professional X-back design, the force that your dog exerts when pulling forward is nearly completely transferred to the load that he is pulling. This harness has multiple and overlapping straps that run all the way to the tail end at the bottom of the harness, ensuring that your dog makes more of his hard work!
In terms of comfort, the harness is made of 25mm webbing material, and the padding itself is made of a breathable fabric with air mesh. All stitching is reinforced at least three times, ensuring that the harness stands up to even the harshest conditions.
In addition, the straps have reflective tapes on them to make your dog visible at night and during snowy days.
5: Best H-Back Design: Canine Equipment Ultimate Pulling Dog Harness
The Canine Equipment Ultimate Pulling Dog Harness is a solid, dependable harness with a simple design yet it gets the job done. Even though X-back dog harnesses are preferred for pulling sleds, this H-back harness does the job perfectly well.
The high-quality product is made of durable material and exceptionally thick padding that will protect your pup while he pulls. You can choose from a wide range of sizes, and each size has specific measurements from the manufacturer to help you to find the right fit.
The harness features fleece lining for added traction, which minimizes shifting. It also has extra heavy padding in the shoulder and neck, ensuring comfort for your pooch. The manufacturer did a good job at ensuring that the harness distributes weight uniformly across the shoulders and chest of the dog while avoiding intense pressure on the back and throat.
You can fully adjust the harness for an excellent fit, and the anti-slip sliders eliminate constant adjustments during use. Additionally, it comes with a safety shackle snap for quick release from the joring system. The large size comfortably fits a girth size between 29-39 inches and weights of between 40 and 75 pounds.
The Buying Guide
If you’re a proud owner of a sled dog, you can enjoy vital transportation services while still spending time to bond with your furry friend in all weather conditions. However, you will need a sturdy and comfortable weight pulling harness to keep your dog from getting hurt during outdoor endeavors.
You can also use e same harness for strength training, normal walking, dog cart or wagon pulling, skijoring, or bikejoring. Overall, the best dog harness for pulling sled should be strong, comfortable, versatile, and durable.
How To Choose the Best Dog Harness for Pulling Sled
Shopping for the best dog sled harness can get stressful for many dog parents. We have been through the same journey of dog sled and harness research. Through hands-on experience, we have learned a few critical features to look at before making a purchase decision.
They include:
1: Measurements
The fit is very important for sled dog harnesses. Be sure that you are choosing one that comes in the appropriate size for your specific dog.
Start by measuring the girth, shoulder, and length of your dog, and then compare these measurements against the manufacturers’ sizing charts for the sled dog harness. Pick the one that your dog snugly fits into. If the measurements are within one inch of the top end of a particular size, it is best to go up a size.
If the dog harness that you were considering does not come in the right size that you wanted for your pup, you should probably go with a different brand or model instead of trying to force it to fit. You want to make sure that your pooch measures into the size appropriately.
2: Comfortable Padding
Whichever brand you choose to go with, the sled dog harness should have extra padding in the following key areas:
- Chest
- Neck
- Shoulders
When pulling sled, your dog exerts most of his force into the chest, neck, and shoulder areas. Without proper padding, the excessive force in these areas can cause the harness to dig into your dog’s skin, and the result could be very painful and unbearable for your furry companion.
Always choose harnesses with wide, thick padding for enhanced comfort and safety. Additionally, find a sled dog harness that includes a breathable base padding to prevent irritation on their skin.
3: Durable Materials
Every part of the sled dog harness you choose should be made of high-quality and durable material. Since the harness will be constantly exposed to harsh environmental conditions, you want to be sure that the material will not deteriorate too rapidly.
The best sled dog harnesses are usually made of at least one of the following materials:
- Nylon webbing
- Polypro mix
- Leather
Both poly and nylon materials are weather-resistant and will not easily morph. The padding on sled harnesses is mostly made of non-absorbent polar fleece to ensure easy cleanup. The material also dries up quickly, ensuring long-lasting service.
4: Clip Position
Since you will use the harness to pull a sled instead of a cart or other objects, you need to choose a sled dog harness with a clip at the rear of the dog’s back. Sometimes known as the sling, the right clip ensures that all of your dog’s pulling force is channeled into this point and then distributed to the lead that pulls the sled.
Some types of harness come with two side clips as opposed to a single back clip. Depending on how you plan to hook up your sled, you’ll want to check the specifics of the sled instructions or seek professional advice before you use such harnesses for a single dog pull. This will ensure that you don’t injure your dog.
5: Leash Match
While this is purely a cosmetic issue, you may want to choose a harness that matches with the leads and leashes you will be using.
Regular Reassessment
Always keep in mind that your dog is growing and his body is changing by the day. Even if he is already an adult, you never know how his body might morph as he continues working out. Additionally, the sled dog harness can loosen up or change shape over time.
Be sure to do a periodic reassessment of your dog’s harness every few months to ensure that the harness is holding up well and still fits correctly on your dog.
Wrap Up
When deciding on a sled pulling harness for your dog, take your time to do thorough research and seek advice from experts in the industry. When it comes to sled pulling and other weight pulling activities with dogs, comfort and safety are of utmost importance. The six sled dog harnesses we have reviewed here will ensure that you and your dog enjoy a very rewarding bonding experience! More importantly, train your dog appropriately to respond to various commands to ensure safety for both of you.
