Dog Harnesses

[ktoddmc]

Does anyone have any patterns for large dog harnesses (Giant Schnauzers)? I am looking for something simple that a dog is unable to "back out" of (which has happened with to me before). I will be using latigo leather once I determine a design. Is it possible to use the nylon pinch snaps with leather (like is used on nylon)?

[NoahL]

Does anyone have any patterns for large dog harnesses (Giant Schnauzers)? I am looking for something simple that a dog is unable to "back out" of (which has happened with to me before). I will be using latigo leather once I determine a design. Is it possible to use the nylon pinch snaps with leather (like is used on nylon)?

Well it isn't a pattern, exactly, but how about something like this one I made last year? When my dog grew out of it I made him a nicer one, but this is the only picture I have of the design laid flat:

It's very simple and straight-forward, and you can size it to fit as big a dog as your leather allows. That harness was made for my dog, who is roughly the size of a Basset Hound, but you can make it bigger. Basically just cut a long strap (I cut it 1.5" wide), then fold it over a large dee-ring leaving enough room in the loop for a 3/4" strap to pass through (assuming you started with a 1.5" wide strap) and secure it however you prefer (rivets/stitching/screws/etc.), then cut a slit for the head to go through (I found that the length of the slit should be about 20% less than the neck circumference of the dog you are making it for) and punch holes at the end of each slit to keep the leather from splitting, then slit the leather from the end that doesn't have the dee-ring on it to make two 3/4" straps that will wrap around the dog's chest. The chest straps are going to take some experimentation on your part because every dog is built differently, so start the slit from the end and put the head slit over the dog's head and wrap the straps around his chest (one should go through the loop holding the dee-ring) and continue cutting the slit and test fitting until the straps come up directly behind the dog's front legs without chafing them, then punch a hole at the end of the slit to keep it from splitting. Once you've done that, put a buckle on one of the straps and make your holes to fit, and it will wear something like this:

I had the same problem with my dog backing out of harnesses, but he hasn't managed it with this one, so long as the slits are the right sizes.

[ktoddmc]

Well it isn't a pattern, exactly, but how about something like this one I made last year? When my dog grew out of it I made him a nicer one, but this is the only picture I have of the design laid flat:

It's very simple and straight-forward, and you can size it to fit as big a dog as your leather allows. That harness was made for my dog, who is roughly the size of a Basset Hound, but you can make it bigger. Basically just cut a long strap (I cut it 1.5" wide), then fold it over a large dee-ring leaving enough room in the loop for a 3/4" strap to pass through (assuming you started with a 1.5" wide strap) and secure it however you prefer (rivets/stitching/screws/etc.), then cut a slit for the head to go through (I found that the length of the slit should be about 20% less than the neck circumference of the dog you are making it for) and punch holes at the end of each slit to keep the leather from splitting, then slit the leather from the end that doesn't have the dee-ring on it to make two 3/4" straps that will wrap around the dog's chest. The chest straps are going to take some experimentation on your part because every dog is built differently, so start the slit from the end and put the head slit over the dog's head and wrap the straps around his chest (one should go through the loop holding the dee-ring) and continue cutting the slit and test fitting until the straps come up directly behind the dog's front legs without chafing them, then punch a hole at the end of the slit to keep it from splitting. Once you've done that, put a buckle on one of the straps and make your holes to fit, and it will wear something like this:

I had the same problem with my dog backing out of harnesses, but he hasn't managed it with this one, so long as the slits are the right sizes.

That is exactly what I was looking for. It's simple, yet very nice. All the other harnesses I looked at had hardware all over the place and made the harnesses gawdy. I will let you know how they turn out. Thanks

[oldtimer]

Well it isn't a pattern, exactly, but how about something like this one I made last year? When my dog grew out of it I made him a nicer one, but this is the only picture I have of the design laid flat:

It's very simple and straight-forward, and you can size it to fit as big a dog as your leather allows. That harness was made for my dog, who is roughly the size of a Basset Hound, but you can make it bigger. Basically just cut a long strap (I cut it 1.5" wide), then fold it over a large dee-ring leaving enough room in the loop for a 3/4" strap to pass through (assuming you started with a 1.5" wide strap) and secure it however you prefer (rivets/stitching/screws/etc.), then cut a slit for the head to go through (I found that the length of the slit should be about 20% less than the neck circumference of the dog you are making it for) and punch holes at the end of each slit to keep the leather from splitting, then slit the leather from the end that doesn't have the dee-ring on it to make two 3/4" straps that will wrap around the dog's chest. The chest straps are going to take some experimentation on your part because every dog is built differently, so start the slit from the end and put the head slit over the dog's head and wrap the straps around his chest (one should go through the loop holding the dee-ring) and continue cutting the slit and test fitting until the straps come up directly behind the dog's front legs without chafing them, then punch a hole at the end of the slit to keep it from splitting. Once you've done that, put a buckle on one of the straps and make your holes to fit, and it will wear something like this:

I had the same problem with my dog backing out of harnesses, but he hasn't managed it with this one, so long as the slits are the right sizes.

Please , don´t take all credit for this harness , NoahL !

http://leatherworker.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=18798

/ knut

[Spence]

I don't have a pattern either. I borrowed a friend's harness and duplicated it. I use it on my German Shepherds for "attack/agitation/tracking". A bit more work than Oldtimer's but very secure also. I'd be happy to give you strap measurements and you can lengthen accordingly.

I finished this one over the past weekend.

[NoahL]

Please , don´t take all credit for this harness , NoahL !

http://leatherworker...showtopic=18798

/ knut

Of course not! I just couldn't remember for the life of me who made the original thread! Sorry about that--you are definitely the reason I made it in the first place

[ktoddmc]

I don't have a pattern either. I borrowed a friend's harness and duplicated it. I use it on my German Shepherds for "attack/agitation/tracking". A bit more work than Oldtimer's but very secure also. I'd be happy to give you strap measurements and you can lengthen accordingly.

I finished this one over the past weekend.

This is nice. How long did it take you to make it? I would be interested in the strap measurements. Giant Schnauzers are about the same size as German Sheperds

[8thsinner]

THats a neat little design there I really like that, and I am thinking I can maybe braid one similar...ohhh...

[ktoddmc]

Hi

I wanted to thank you for the dog harness pattern. I made 3 for my Giants a while back. I din't get back with you because I wanted to go for a few trial runs before I let you know how it worked out. After about 20 good, long walks, the harnesses performed and continue to perform beautifully! I was concerned about chafing behind the legs but, that has not happened. There has been many occasions were one of them could have backed out of the harness but could not. Thank you for helping a newbie with a great design so I could get a good product the first time without wasting my limited funds on trial and error.

Thanks again,

Todd

Ps I know the other guy gave you some static about giving me the design. I know you did not say that you published the design and I also did not care who gets the credit, however you were the one that put forth the effort to help me and that is more important than who came up with the idea first. I didn't see him offering to help.

[NoahL]

Hi

I wanted to thank you for the dog harness pattern. I made 3 for my Giants a while back. I din't get back with you because I wanted to go for a few trial runs before I let you know how it worked out. After about 20 good, long walks, the harnesses performed and continue to perform beautifully! I was concerned about chafing behind the legs but, that has not happened. There has been many occasions were one of them could have backed out of the harness but could not. Thank you for helping a newbie with a great design so I could get a good product the first time without wasting my limited funds on trial and error.

Thanks again,

Todd

Ps I know the other guy gave you some static about giving me the design. I know you did not say that you published the design and I also did not care who gets the credit, however you were the one that put forth the effort to help me and that is more important than who came up with the idea first. I didn't see him offering to help.

Hi Todd,

I'm glad it worked well for you. I readily admit that oldtimer did come up with the design, and I should have given him credit when I posted it, I just couldn't remember who had posted it originally but I should have made an effort anyway, so that was my fault. I'm sure he would have provided you the link to his original thread, or some instructions on how to do it, if I had not posted anything.