Selecting a Harness for Scent Work

One of the most frequently asked questions in our scent work classes is what type of harness teams should use.

The ideal harness for scent work includes the following features:

  • Does not restrict freedom of movement
  • Has a D-ring so the line can be attached behing the withers (shoulder)
  • Is easy to put on and take off
  • Is comfortable for your dog
  • Is not used for any other purpose

Here are a few popular harnesses often used in scent work and where you can find them:
ComfortFlex Harness
The Comfortflex harness is very popular in the sport of nosework.  It is easy to put on and take off, does not restrict movement and comes in a wide variety of colors.  It is padded for your dog’s comfort.  You can purchase a ComfortFlex harness online at CleanRun.com and Amazon.com.  You can also purchase them at the Scraps Dog Company on Robb Drive right here in Reno!  Be sure to tell them Liz sent you!
Brilliant K9 Harness
The Brilliant K9 Harness comes in a variety for patterns and fits while also being easy to take on and off.  It does not restrict movement and features two strips of velcro for custom patches.  You can purchase a Brilliant K9 Harness online directly from Brilliant K9.
Eezwalker Dog Harness
This padded harness is comfortable, does not restrict movement, easy to fit and comes in variety of sizes and colors.  It can be purchased online at Leerburg.com.
Julius K9 Harness
The Julius K9 Harness comes in a variety of patterns and colors.  It features a padded saddle with two velcro strips that allow you to add fun patches to your dog’s harness.  It is comfortable, easy to fit and does not restrict movement.  You can purchase a Julius K9 Harness online at CleanRun.com.
There are many other types of harnesses out there as well that work great.  Here are a few things to avoid:  No pull harness, harnesses with a front clip, harnesses that require lots of special fitting each time they are put on.

Tracking and Scent Work
If your dog also participates in tracking, I highly recommend selecting a different harness type for scent work.  The two sports require two different search behaviors from your dog and having a separate “uniform” for each job can alleviate confusion.

Leads and Lines

We use and recommend Palomine Lines for our scent work (and tracking) lines.  They come in a variety of colors, which can be coordinated with your harness, hold up to changing weather conditions, are easy to clean and easy on your hands.  Typically, we use a 10-12′ line for scent work.

Need more help?

No problem!  Drop us a email at training@revolutiondogsports.com or simply reply to this email!

Happy Sniffing!
Liz at Revolution Dog Sports

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Email: revolutiondogsports@gmail.com
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