The Best Harness: My Favorites
- by Maia Golman
- Feb 25, 2016
- 4 min read
I love using harnesses for dogs. They come in numerous styles that can fit different body types or different needs, and are less likely to cause damage to your dog while on a walk. Picking the right harness for your pooch is essential because each dog’s body, needs, and walking style varies.
Pro tip: both collars and harnesses are not a miracle cure for unwanted behavior and the use of them alone is an inadequate replacement for training. There is nothing more effective than training for loose leash walking.
For the Beginner or Puppy: If you’re not sure what your needs are, the easiest place to start is a simple Roman harness. They can be found in almost every pet store and they clip on the back.
Roman harnesses are easy to put on, come in all sizes, and widths. They are highly adjustable, so they will fit on most dogs, and can be adjusted as your puppy grows. My favorite is the Sure-Fit Harness by Petsafe. They do have some disadvantages though. This harness may not be for you if you dog pulls a great deal while on walks. Some dogs can back out of Roman harnesses, so if your dog is particularly squirmy or is a Houdini dog, you may want to go for a different style.
For the Puppy Who Needs Something Soft: Whether your puppy is small breed, large breed or somewhere in-between, one thing is for certain. You are probably going to buy more than one harness as she grows. That is why I suggest Petco’s Adjustable Mesh Harness.
With the adjustable belly straps AND adjustable neck straps, this can fit a puppy for a few growth phases without hurting his neck. It has two different clip points on the back for you to choose from. If you have a particularly large breed dog, I might skip to a Roman Harness or a Freedom No Pull Harness, and know you’re probably going to buy another harness or two before your puppy is done growing.
For the Small or Short Legged: The Buddy Belt is a wonderfully crafted step-in-harness that is great for relieving pressure from the neck for small and short legged dogs.
These harnesses come in leather or synthetic leather at a lower price, and every color. Buddy Belts are unique due to the special shape of the leg holes that give a free range of motion to the dogs legs. They are comfortable, effortless to put on, and they look snazzy too.
For the Heavy Puller: The Sense-ible Front Connection Dog Harness by Soft Touch Concepts is a great option for dogs who pull. Because it connects in the front across the chest, if he tries to drag you along, his shoulders get redirected towards you and he cannot move forward.
Front clip harnesses come in many widths, sizes, and colors and fit well for most dogs. Compared to other no pull options, this is very easy to use and works well with loose leash walking. It is even a great option for small dogs who have a tendency to tug, tug, tug their way along walks.
For the Houdini Dog: The Web Master Harness by Ruffwear was originally designed for maneuvering and assisting dogs up and over obstacles for hiking and climbing. It is very sturdy, has a handle on the top, and an extra strap that goes around the dogs belly. This strap is what prevents the dog from squirming out of it.
So if your dog is notorious for mastering himself out of everything he’s put in, this harness comes highly recommended. This is also a good option for dogs requiring mobility assistance.
For the Dog Who Could Use More Control: The Freedom No Pull Harness by 2 Hounds Design is one of my favorite harnesses.
The additional chest strap and the two connection points, one on the back and one at the chest, make this harness a bit more sturdy than other front clip harnesses. Additionally, you can add a specially designed leash that allows you to clip both the front and the back of the harness at the same time, giving you more control over your dogs movement. The Freedom Harness is often a favorite of wider chest dogs for this reason. It comes in many colors, sizes, widths, and has an additional bonus of having a velvet covered underbelly strap for additional comfort.
For the Big and Strong: So this technically is not a harness, but it is a great option if your dog is just two big and strong to handle. A head halter, either Halti by The Company of Animals or Gentle Leader by Petsafe works under the same principles as a horses halter.
How is it that I am able to lead a 1,000 lb horse across a field without being pulled along? Because I have control over his nose. If introduced to the dog correctly (you can’t just slap this on his mug and go), a head halter is a fantastic tool for training. I do recommend going into the store and trying on the different sizes to get the right fit for your dog.
For the early morning/late evening walker: It’s easier to be safe in the dark if you can be seen. This awesome light up Sighthound harness is from Noxgear is a great option to use.
Even though you can’t hook a leash to this harness, it works really well in conjunction with another harness, because it fits effortlessly overtop. It has multicolor, blinking light options, is rain proof, machine washable, and has a rechargeable battery. Since Zoe is black, I prefer this over a light attached to her collar because it is very easy to locate her whatever direction she faces.
Whatever harness you pick, make sure it fits comfortably. Harnesses that are too loose or tight are not as effective as a well fitting harness. It helps to know your dog's around-the-chest measurements when picking your harness out to ensure you're purchasing the correct size.
And as always, use a harness in conjunction with teaching your dog to walk nicely on a leash. Enjoy your walk!
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