As of today (4-6-14), my little man is 1 year old! And I know there's some debate on how long to wait before jogging/running with a pup, but I'm thinking a year is long enough to at least start trying. No worries, we won't be going for 10 mile runs every single day or anything crazy like that.

I have read a lot about hands free belts on this forum and it seems like there's A LOT to choose from! Right now it's just Ryder (55lbs) I would be walking/jogging with on a regular basis, but we do keep my sister's dog (50lbs) several times throughout the year, (and I'll never say never to getting a second husky in the future ) so I'd like for it to be strong and safe for at least two dogs.

I looked locally in our pet stores and wasn't super impressed, basically just saw nylon belts that didn't exactly look durable or comfy. Any recommendations? Thanks!

You can always get a musher's/ski-jor belt set up from a gear manufacturer. Ones off the top of my head that people from the forum have gotten are Adanac Sleds and Alpine Outfitters. If you don't want to do that set up, Ruffwear makes a couple leashes that you can convert to around the waist. They're not as comfortable, especially if your dog pulls, but it's a cheaper and easy way to do hands-free. Some people don't like how short the leash becomes after it goes around your waist though. I have the Flat Out leash and it's really useful. I don't use it for long hands free trips, we have a ski-jor belt and tow line for hiking, etc...But I do use it for quicker trips around the neighborhood.

Nordkyn outfitters mushers belt

A couple options.

Nooksack (Personal experience borrowing it and I love this belt)
http://nooksackracing.com/skijoring.html

Alpine
Lead With Shockline: http://www.alpineoutfitters.net/scripts/prodView.asp?idproduct=88

norbreedslove wrote:

Nordkyn outfitters mushers belt

I second this. Good quality, inexpensive, and functional. Make sure you double check your size. I wish I would have had mine made a bit smaller. It's perfect in the winter over my coat but will be too big in the summer.

I wouldn't do the Alpine belt. I haven't had the best luck with mine, because it doesn't pull from the middle and we have had some problems with it coming undone because when the dogs pulls on one side the belt just goes flying. I know other people have had good luck with them, but I would suggest saving the stress and going with the Nordkyn.

Thanks for all the info, everyone! I've been considering getting a belt as well after I hooked Ghost and Shadow to my backpack the last time we went hiking. It made life so much easier to have both hands available

siku&nikolai wrote:

I wouldn't do the Alpine belt. I haven't had the best luck with mine, because it doesn't pull from the middle and we have had some problems with it coming undone because when the dogs pulls on one side the belt just goes flying. I know other people have had good luck with them, but I would suggest saving the stress and going with the Nordkyn.

Although I have no experience with the alpine belt, the design of the cani-cross belt does not seem to be the case of what you have described. I believe thats only the walking belt that attached on the sides, the cani-cross belt has two straps that come together in the center (picture shown the link without leg loops). It personally looks like something I'd like to try but I've already got two walking belts from sass and indi-dog and don't need another rofl.

I have the musher's belt and the canicross belt and the musher's belt was what I was talking about. Its the cheaper one. Also although I like my cancicross belt from them, I can't imagine running with that one either. I use that only for skijoring, it is better construction though.

I've just had both of my musher's belt from them slip. The first couple of times, I felt it slip and I was able to grab it, the third time it flew completely off and Siku went running into the road, so when I told them about it they had great customer service, and they sent me a new one with a new safety feature, and it worked great for awhile but I still can feel it slip. Now I only use this sprecific thing that they made for me so it pulls in the middle. Its just not something that I would personally recommend. I haven't heard anyone having problems with Nordkyn on here as far as I know. And don't get me wrong. I LOVE alpine, I buy everything from there.

I would highly recommend their jogging leashes! I have two, and there built in shockline is awesome and they are really high quality.

siku&nikolai wrote:

Its just not something that I would personally recommend. I haven't heard anyone having problems with Nordkyn on here as far as I know. And don't get me wrong. I LOVE alpine, I buy everything from there.

I would highly recommend their jogging leashes! I have two, and there built in shockline is awesome and they are really high quality.

Ah thanks for the clarification there. I just know I would never recommend the Musher's Belt, I definitely don't like the design of it and as you said its very easy for the dog to pull on it and pull it loose. But the cani-cross one had looked pretty good thus I linked in. As I said I buy all my belt stuff from the UK, so I have no experience with the US companies with the exception of Nooksack. The bf has their skijoring belt and I felt very secure in it when I tried it out, and am debating ordering it as a third belt to have. I think I will stick to just recommending them, because although Alpine's customer service is good, I'm not a fan of harnesses and looks like I wouldn't be a fan of their belts now that you've detailed further into that, I do however like their lines and leads but thats about it.

http://stores.adanacsleds.com/skijoring-and-canicross/

i have both belts, one with leg loops for winter and one with out for summer. i had a friend put in more padding on mine for the summer as it would bunch up and feel weird. i also disconnected the quick release and just hook the ends of the lines right through the outside buckle so there is not chance of losing them.

Thanks for the reccomendations! We tried jogging last weekend and there was just too much going on for him to focus enough to jog. It's been pretty muddy here so we had to go on the road and what with the running water in the ditch, birds flying everywhere, leaves blowing around, ect, we just did a normal walk! Haha. But it's starting to dry out a bit, so trails should be a go soon! I've never been much of a 'runner', but for some reason Ryder is motivating me to want to become one! Have actually started looking at dog runs/5k's, thought that might be fun and hands free would definitely help