I have an elderly dog with a broken leg. Back in late 2019 I started hiking down by the river with the dog and have continued to this day. However she broke her leg, and then had to have surgery to add a plate, she is still unable to walk much during the healing. So I purchased a garden cart to tote her with us (my wife and my dog), but the extra weight and the quick harness I made are starting to make it too difficult.
Currently I have two equal length leashes attached to a clip on the handle.
The leashes crisscross my chest like Sean Connery’s bandoliers.
I have been thinking about maybe some replacement backpack straps, but I am unsure what to do with them on the back. Maybe a rope web of some sort, that attaches to the cart handle?
If anyone has any ideas, I would love to hear them, because I have a feeling even after her leg is healed I will still be carting her around for at least some of the hike.
Edit to add a picture of said dog, Mocha, this morning.
What about it is too difficult? Is your harness hurting? Or is there a jarring sudden load with every step?
Thank you for that wonderful image of Sean.
I imagine you’re spending a lot of extra energy pulling up against the downwards component of the tension, and similar effects from the curved rigid cart handle. I agree with the comment that suggested a sled-pulling harness because more of your force would be in the direction you’re interested on.
The additional 100+ lbs behind me. Also the leashes slide up press against my neck and down into my shoulders. I end up spending a lot of the time during the walk with the leashes off my shoulders and across my biceps. I was looking at the sled pulling belt and that led me to the sled pulling harness. I am going to pick up one of each and see how that works.
Yeah I think getting the attachment point down to your hips should help a lot. Less wasted energy working against gravity, and you’ll be applying force more directly with your legs, rather than using a lot of core strength.