RUFFWEAR Doubleback Strength-Rated Dog Harness for Rock Climbing & Backpacking - 2000 lbf/8.9 kN Load Capacity - Durable Adventure Gear for Hiking, Camping & Outdoor Activities with Your Dog

I purchased this harness for my GSD who is almost 15 and experiencing muscle wasting in his back legs from Cushings and difficulty with his front shoulder due to a weight bearing toe amputation because of melanoma. I should disclose that I own the Flagline which is a rock star harness for a dog with front end difficulties. I had high hopes for the Doubleback but it did not deliver and I am returning it after an unpleasant 30 minutes that we spent trying to make this work for the dog. It is no doubt a good harness if you go into the wild with your dog as the video shows.Problems: Unlike the Flagline, the entire harness does not open up. The dog has to be able to put one front leg into the harness through an opening. Harness is not difficult to adjust, as some reviewers suggested and the buckles are frankly easier to adjust than the Flagline design. It was the rear end harness portion that we really needed. Unfortunately, the straps are very narrow and do not include any sort of padding which most competitors who make this type of harness do include. Oddly, the video of the labrador shows leg padding which should be included. Biggest problem, the rear straps slip below the knee if it is left on the dog which was our intention because he needs continual help getting up. The back straps and handle are also much less strong than I expected....again, take a look at your competitors. When we tried to lift the dog, it was clearly painful for him under his rear legs.This is not my first time dealing with a handicapped dog. Our previous GSD had degenerative myelopathy and owned a cart along with several whole body and rear and harnesses. I also moderate a support group for people whose dogs have degenerative myelopathy. So why did I buy this one? After owning the Flagline, I expected the same quality and liked the fact that it was designed without an underbelly strap which can be misplaced on a male dog. What am I going to do? Return to the harness which was custom made for my previous GSD and purchase a new one for this dog.For anyone who is leaving this harness on their dog for ease of movement, remember to check frequently for skin irritation and remove it so that the skin and limbs can relax a bit.My dog is 15 years old and has rear hip dysplasia and arthritis. I bought this to aid in helping her up into the car and similar. It is very nice with a good fit. I love everything about this product but 2 things, and would recommend it. What I wish was better.1. The rear leg straps fit into a pocket on the top rear of the vest. However it is such a small pocket it takes stuffing and slow zipping to get it to stay fully inside. Very much what I call a 1 way box. The machine packs it in a way that it doesn't ever fit inside the same way by hand. Once you get it in it is so bulky that it presses on the back of my dog. A bigger pouch would have been easier and more comfortable.2. I wish it had some reflectors built into the vest.I used this for hiking while on steep terrain with a dog. It is great for quick lifting and maneuvering with a pup. Hilariously our dog takes a while before learning he can walk with the harness on. One of my favorite purchases!Any review less than 5 stars is from someone who didn't know what they were looking for. I wanted a harness that hold my dog and keep him from slipping out and falling. Period. I don't care how bulky or time consuming it is to install. At the end of the day I want my dog alive and happy. This harness is built far better than I expected and made in Vietnam NOT CHINA. Every piece of this harness is built with safety in mind. From the quality of strapping to the stitching to the steel buckles. I fly powered parachutes so I have an eye for quality stitching and materials. My purpose for this harness for my dog to enjoy open cockpit flight safely. I bought this harness simply hoping it may be a good harness at a reasonable price. I'm blown away at the value of this harness. For the price I expected mediocre quality. I'm absolutely pleased with this harness. I plan to update once we use it for it's intended purpose.This dog harness is made for rock climbing with a dog. Since I'm not a rock climber I can't understand why anyone would take their dog rock climbing but to each his own. I actually purchased this harness so that I could lower our full grown 80 lb German Shepherd out a second story window in case of a fire or other quick egress situation that would prevent us from being able to use our internal stairway. I also purchased it to lower our dog out of a hotel or motel if we could not safely exit the building via internal stairways during a fire.This harness easily holds the weight of our German Shepherd and I have no doubt that it will work just fine. My reason for giving this harness 4 stars is because the straps are not really made to fasten quickly. The dog won't fall out of it for sure but I hope I can get the dog into it fast enough to avoid being burned up in a fire. Obviously it's people first and pets second but it would break my heart to have to leave our GSD behind in a structure fire so I really wish I could get our dog into this harness much more quickly.Our 50 kile German Shepard don't mind this harness. No issues putting it on, or allow him to run around with. I expected it to be bigger or longer than it is. When fitted, it more or less stays around his neck and shoulders. Even with the tale straps on the hardness could have been longer. He goes completely ballistic if I try to lift him it in. I would think some training will be required. High-quality material, the best hardness I have seen.Bought this for our 14 year old dog who has back problems to help with our holiday walks usually on coastal paths. Brilliant to help him get his back legs up steps and you can lift him completely over streams or gaps he can’t jump across anymore. Has been a lifesaver and with the high cost.Mit diesem Geschirr lässt sich der Hund sehr gut an schwierigen Stellen bei Bergtouren sichern. Ich habe damit meinen Hund am Kletterstaig gesichert.Die Passform des Geschirrs ist individuell einstellbar. Leider ist dies etwas kniffelig. Im Bauchlatzteil sind Klettpunkte, die das Verschieben der Gurte sehr anstrengend uns schwierig machen. Aber wenn sie dann mal angepasst sind, dann geht's schon.Die Gurte müssen genau nach Plan verschlossen werden, da sie sich sonst lösen können. das material macht einen soliden, stabilen eindruck. Am Rückenteil befinden sich mehrere Laschen. Diese sind jedoch nicht als Haltepunkt gedacht. Das Gewicht darf nur an den roten Griffen hängen.Die Hinterbeinschlaufen sind ohne Polster, was allerdings auch kein Problem ist, wenn es nur zur Absicherun ist. Sie liegen gut an und lassen sich auch gut einstellen. Auf dem Hinterteil ist noch ein zweiter Hebegriff. Die Hinterbeingurt können am hinteren Ende dess Geschirrs in einem Reißverschluss verstaut werden. Hier muss darauf geachtet weren, dass es nicht auf die Wirbelsäule drückt oder zu dicken für den Hund unangeheme Knubbeln kommt. Hier muss man sich zum Verstauen einfach etwas mehr Zeit nehmen.Wir haben die Größe L für unseren 30 kg Golden Retriever gekauft. M wurde zur Auswahl gekauft war aber deutlich zu klein.Pro:+ Material sehr stabil und gut verarbeitet+ Griff am Rücken des Geschirres+ verstaubare Beingurte+ gute anatomische Passform des Geschirres+ Beinschlaufen können im Geschirr verstaut werden+ Hund sitzt sicher im Geschirr mit Beinschlaufen kein Herausrutschen möglich.Contra:- schwere Einstellung durch Klett im Bauchlatz- es ist schwer die Bauchgurte anatomisch nicht störend im Rückenteil zu verstauen. Gefahr, dass es eine Wulst gibt, die auf die Wirbelsäule drückt.Das Geschirr lässt sich gut anziehen und einstellen, was mich allerdings sofort störte: die kleine Tasche am Rücken in der die Beinschlaufen untergebracht sind. Die trägt sehr auf und ich finde auch es drückt auf den Rücken, wenn die Schlaufen darin sind, obwohl sie von unten gepolstert ist. Der bereich liegt nicht richtig auf, wölbt sich und ich kann mir vorstellen wenn der Hund sich mal rumrollt, dass es doch weh tut. Das hätte anders gelöst werden können. Ich finde die Tasche auch viel zu klein für den verstauten Inhalt. Ich habe einen Australien Shepherd Mix mit langem Rücken und Größe S genommen, keine Ahnung ob es bei größeren Größen besser ist. Ansonsten passte das Geschirr gut und der Hund lies sich gut damit tragen. Ich werde jetzt das Webmaster pro testen, welches ja auch zum klettern geeignet sein soll und hoffe dass dies weniger auf den Rücken drückt.das Anlegen des Geschirrs benötigt viel Zeit - es gibt keine sonst üblichen Schnellverschlüsse. damit bestimmt besonders sicher aber auch sehr zeitaufwendig. wir hatten es als Geschirr nach einer Hüfte OP gedacht aber da der Rücken nur zur hälfte mit dem Geschirr abgedeckt war war es schlicht für unsere zwecke unbrauchbar da der rest so immer in der Luft hing. Dir Hüftaughängung hat aus meiner Sicht nur alibi Funktion.