Pet harness
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A pet harness is equipment consisting of straps of webbing that loop nearly around—that fasten together using side release buckles—the torso of an animal, typically a quadrupedal mammal such as a dog, cat, pig, or rabbit; however, there are harnesses for parrots and other birds.
These harnesses generally are made to have both a strap on the chest in front of the forelimbs, and a strap around the torso behind the forelimbs, with straps in between connecting these two for reinforcement. Having a D-ring suitable for (pet tags and) a leash to clip to, they are most often used to simply restrain an animal, but dogs also particularly wear them to assist a person with a disability or haul people and items. There is also the lifting support harness, covered in this article.
Most are tailored with a specific species’ anatomy in mind, so as to comfortably fit it. Some come in different sizes, although many are size-adjustable with tri-glide slides to loosen or shorten the straps’ length. The straps may come in a range of different colors, and some that are meant in particular to have high visibility have a reflective coating. These straps are usually made of hemp, cotton, polyester or nylon, while the slides', rings' and buckles' material is almost always either plastic or metal. A harness may be sold in a set together with a matching leash.
Use
The sole original purposes of these harnesses were for them to be attached to weight for draft dogs to pull, and to mount flashlights or alerting signs on them;[citation needed] however, while they are still used for this, they are now commonly attached to a leash for restraining an animal, such as an untrained dog who has a tendency to run out in front of cars, severely maul/kill neighborhood cats, etc, that is taken for a walk. When used as such, the harness is worn in conjunction with a leash; one end of the leash has a metal clip that is attached to the ring on the harness, while the other end is typically a loop held by the human.
While a collar only encircles the neck, harnesses have loops that surround the thorax. Harnesses with loops placed around the dog's chest are known as front-clip harnesses, while back-clip harnesses have the loop placed on the back[1]. This design allows for the distribution of force, which reduces pressure placed on the animal's trachea, and therefore, possesses a significantly lower risk of strangulation. Harnesses also possess a much lesser chance of said animal slipping out than possible if it wears a collar.
Pet clothing frequently sports a properly-placed buttonhole for the D-ring of the harness worn under the garment. In addition, there are in fact some pet harnesses that are designed to look like clothes, some made of denim.[2]
Sled dog harnesses
Sled dog harnesses vary depending on whether the dog is hauling freight or racing. Harnesses come in two main types: the freight harness and the racing harness. Dog sports are growing and more types of harnesses are being developed, including the Y-back style and guard or distance harness. This type of harness is quickly becoming a favorite for those who enjoy skijoring.
The freight harness, often an H-back harness with a wide chest-band and sometimes extra padding, is designed to help the dog pull heavy weights efficiently, and may feature a spreader bar behind the wheel dogs and before the sled or cart. The straps form an 'H' or ladder-like effect across the back of the dog. These harnesses help distribute the weight of the cargo over a broader body area.
Racing harnesses are lighter and shorter than freight harnesses. The X-back harness, so called because the straps form an 'X' across the back of the dog, is used more frequently than the H-back, with short versions that ride farther forward on the dog's body recently gaining in popularity.
The Y-back or hybrid harness is similar in appearance to the H-back. The tugline attaches to the harness on top of the dog's back and stretches parallel to the ground or upwards to the skier, bicycle, or other load.
In contrast, dogs that participate in weight pulls (as compared to a regular freight harness) will wear very heavy, padded harnesses, with broad chest-bands to help spread the weight and prevent harm to the dog.
Assistance dog harnesses
Assistance dogs may wear specialized harnesses, although not required by the Americans with Disabilities Act in the United States. Mobility assistance dogs may wear specialized, custom-designed harnesses that allow them to bear a small portion of their handlers’ weight so that they may offer balance assistance, counterbalance, bracing and stability. These harnesses usually include a rigid metal bracing handle, but some include lightweight soft handles to allow for minor support. Guide dogs work in specially designed harnesses which allow the dog to communicate properly with the handler while leading. A handle of a guide dog harness is different than that of a mobility assistance dog one—a guide handle is slanted at an angle to allow for a more natural and comfortable hand position for the handler, and is not intended to bear weight. Custom harnesses for assistance dogs can generally range in price from $100-$600.
Lifting harnesses for dogs
A dog lifting harness, also referred to as a dog lifting sling, is a harness with at least one handle that wraps around your dog’s body that allows a pet owner to help lift the weight of the dog off of their hips, spine or legs. There are several different types of dog lift harnesses available, each of them providing their own unique advantages. They include: front lifting harness, rear harness, front and rear combo, mid-section support harness, amputee harness and full body harness. There are several conditions that may make it necessary or at least helpful to use a dog lifting harness, some of the most common being: hip dysplasia, broken bones, sprained knees, spine injuries, arthritis, recent surgery, strained muscles and missing limbs.[3]
Car safety harnesses
Safety harnesses designed for use in an automobile restrain the animal in a car seat using the car's seat belt. These harnesses are marketed as reducing the risk of injury to a pet that is riding in a vehicle during a traffic collision. The harnesses are also said to keep the pet from distracting the driver, or escaping from a vehicle.[4][5] The Center for Pet Safety found "a 100-percent failure rate to protect either the consumer or the dog [or other animal]" in a 2013 crash test study of existing car safety harnesses.[5][6] Since then, several car safety harness have been designed that pass crash tests conducted by the Center for Pet Safety.
Legislation
In 2012, New Jersey became the first US state to pass a bill that requires dog and cat owners to restrain their animals while traveling in a moving vehicle. Since the bill's passing, all pets not traveling in a crate and not wearing a safety harness can earn the violator a fine of up to $1,000 and/or six months in prison.[7]
Gallery
References
- ^ "Back-clip harnesses". https://.daydreamdog.com. Retrieved 16 June 2019.
- ^ "Back-clip harnesses". www.snugglezzz.com. Retrieved 20 January 2016.
- ^ "Pet-Up.com". pet-up.com. Retrieved October 3, 2019.
- ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2011-09-28. Retrieved 2011-09-26.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link), Car Safety for Canines, Retrieved on 2011-9-26. - ^ a b "Travelling by Car with Pets : The Humane Society of the United States". Humanesociety.org. Retrieved 2012-10-19.
- ^ "Tests On Dog Harnesses Show 100 Percent Failure Rate « CBS Miami". Miami.cbslocal.com. 2013-06-21. Retrieved 2013-09-05.
- ^ "An update to the New Jersey pet seat belt law". Lombardo Law Office. 2012-06-12. Retrieved 2019-10-06.
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