How to Make Dog Sled Dog Harnesses

When you own your own sled dog team, the cost of harnesses and other gear can quickly add up. Even if you only own a team of one, custom-made harnesses (especially for nontraditional sledding breeds) are pricey at best, and unaffordable at worst. Make your own harness quickly, easily and cheaply, and bypass the cost, the wait and the hassle.

Follow a general pattern for an average-size dog of about 60 pounds, and adjust the pattern to fit your own needs via trial and error. Remember: Always measure twice and cut once.

Things You'll Need

  • 1-inch brass O-ring
  • 3/4- to 1.5-inch nylon webbing, 4.5 yards
  • 10 to 15 pins
  • Utility knife
  • Fishing line
  • Needle
  • Lighter
  • 1 yard neoprene, wool or synthetic fleece
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Instructions

  1. How To Make a Sled Dog Harness

    • 1

      Slip your O-ring onto your webbing, and fold your webbing in half. Leave just enough room for the O-ring to have slight wiggle room. Cross the webbing into an "X" and ensure it crosses perpendicularly. Pin the joint, and sew it with close, tiny, tight stitches.

    • 2

      Lay the newly sewn joint at the base of your dog's tail. Pass the ends of the webbing down his flank and along his ribs. Starting at the bottom of his rib cage, begin to pin the harness to together to form the breastplate. Continue for 4 to 6 inches (about midway up his chest), then allow the webbing to split again at the base of your dog's neck.

    • 3

      Pull the webbing snugly around your dog's shoulders, allowing it to cross at the top of the shoulders. Lay the webbing in an "X" shape, crossing it perpendicularly. Pin the joint at the top of the shoulders.

    • 4

      Pull the trailing ends of the webbing tight, and allow them to follow the natural curve of both the webbing and your dog's body to join at the base of the rib cage on each side. Pin the webbing, and cut off everything below the joint with a utility knife.

    • 5

      Pick up one of the pieces of webbing you just cut, and pin it to the middle of the rib strap. Cross it over the dog's back to join over the dog's flank with the opposite flank strap. Pin it, and repeat the process with the other length of webbing, forming an "X" over the dog's flank.

    • 6

      Remove your prototype harness from your dog, and sew all of your pinned joints tightly, carefully and completely using a needle and fishing line. Sear the cut edges of the webbing with a lighter to prevent fraying.

    • 7

      Sew your padding (fleece, wool or neoprene) all the way along the shoulder and chest straps. Continue up to the last rib for increased comfort.