As a dog trainer, you probably spend a great deal of your time teaching dogs not to pull on leash. But in some situations, pulling is perfectly fine. However, if you are going to allow a dog to pull with strength, they need to be in a well-fitting harness, and you need to avoid having your arm dislocated. Enter from stage left: the Ruffwear Omnijore™ Joring System. The system includes a harness, stretchy towline, and a padded hipbelt for the human half of the fun, as well as a mesh bag for keeping it conveniently contained when not in use.
With the optional rear waist strap
Minus the optional rear waist strap
The Harness
Ruffwear makes superb products, so we were not surprised to find that this set was fantastic. We’ll start with the harness. Their measuring guide is spot-on, and if you already have a Ruffwear harness you are safe ordering the same size. It was a little unwieldy to get on as it has minimal clips, so you have to slide it over your dog’s head and then maneuver their legs through the straps. Have treats handy if your dog does not enjoy weird handling. Once it is on though, it’s marvelous. The straps are incredibly adjustable, in 4 separate locations, ensuring a perfect fit. The harness goes a little longer down the dog’s back, and then has an extra removable strap that fits at the smallest part of their waist to ensure more comfort for the dog when it is pulling. Instead of a standard d-ring to attach a leash to, it has cording with a loop at the end so the leash/pressure pull more from behind the dog instead of above it. This helps maintain a comfortable fit for the dog even when pulling.
Hipbelt and color-coded towline
The Towline
The towline stretches from 6.5′ to 8.75′ to provide superior shock absorption. On one end it has Ruffwear’s patented Talon Clip™ to easily attach/detach the leash to the harness. It has a handle loop down low near the clip, as well as a standard loop at the top, where it attaches to the hipbelt. The ends are color coded to avoid confusion.
Notice the padding over all the straps, no buckles touching dog’s body
The Hipbelt
The hipbelt is designed to ride snugly and comfortably around your
Notice the mesh for coolness and the thick padding.
hips, keeping your back safe and your center of gravity lower and more secure. The hipbelt is very padded and fits hips sized 27″-48″, so it is quite adjustable. It has removable straps for around your thighs to help keep the hipbelt from riding up. It has a water bottle pouch and two zippered pockets. The tow bridle that the towline attaches to gives the line side-to-side mobility or permits you to attach multiple towlines/dogs. It features a quick release for the towline in case of emergency.
Padded, comfortable design
Thoughts On The System
I thoroughly believe that some dogs can benefit, both physically and mentally, from being allowed to pull once in a while. Obviously it is important to get vet clearance if you are going to have your dog pull you, whether on a bicycle, rollerblades, skateboard, or skis. But most dogs thoroughly enjoy the opportunity to use their muscles. This
Kit bag includes instructions sewn to inside
Ruffwear Omnijore™ Joring System keeps both them and you safe. The towline very firmly attaches to the harness and stays there until purposefully released. It is possible to use a regular leash as well if you want something shorter and more practical for regular walks in the neighborhood. Even when my dog really lunged, the leash stayed securely attached and the hipbelt kept me from getting jolted. The pockets and water bottle holder in the hipbelt were much appreciated to keep my hands empty of keys, poop bags, water bottle, treats, etc. The harness, once adjusted, fits beautifully, keeping pressure off the dog’s neck and shoulders and the center of gravity for pulling safely low and back instead of upwards. As with all Ruffwear products, each component is sturdy and well designed, made to withstand strong forces whilst remaining comfortable for both dog and human. This package definitely gets a solid, “heck yes and thank you!”
Ergonomically designed
Mesh kit bag
The Ruffwear Omnijore™ Joring System can be purchased here.
*This set was given to The Modern Dog Trainer for free for the review. Our opinion of this product was not affected by Ruffwear’s generosity. We participate in Ruffwear’s affiliate program in order to support this blog and our dedicated contributors.
