Updated: Jan. 8, 2023
When we first got our dog, we knew that when we would take her for a walk, we didn’t want to use a choker or a collar or anything round her neck. We decided the best way to walk her would be with a dog harness. When we take her for walks now, she walks differently depending on which member of the family she is walking with. When walking with one member of the family, she is very good and walks side by side with them. When she walks with me, it’s a whole other story. When my dog walks with me, she likes to lead our walks. I actually don’t mind this because when we do walk, she knows to stop at every corner and wait for me before crossing the street. I also like that she dictates where we go for our walks, so we take a different path each time.
You may wonder what the best type of harness is for you and your dog, and for the types of walks or activities that you do together. Some types of harnesses are better for training your dog or for those that pull when they walk. Other harnesses might be better if you’re more athletic with your dog and like to run or hike. You may also want a harness that is good if you drive with your dog and need to restrain them in the back of your car.
Features To Consider When Choosing a Dog Harness
When choosing the material for the harness, you want to pick something that is comfortable and breathable, yet strong. Some are made from polyester, others are made of a tough neoprene or oxford nylon material, and still others are made of mesh. Most are made of a combination of these materials. Some also have padding or fleece for added comfort. I have used a harness with fleece and one made of mesh for my dogs. I can tell you that the fleece material does tend to get very dirty and needs to be cleaned often, but it does provide a nice padding for the dog. The mesh harness is more breathable and less bulky, but on the downside, provides less padding. Neoprene and Oxford Nylon are good due to its tough nature if you will be doing more physical or sporty activity with your dog, or if your dog tends to be a puller or chewer. Regardless of what material you choose, you want to make sure your dog is as comfortable as possible.
Another factor to consider when choosing a harness is how easy it is to get the harness on and off your dog. I once bought a step in harness for my dog and had a very hard time getting her to lift her leg to get into it. If your dog is stubborn like mine, you might be better off with an overhead harness. This harness has an area to put your dog’s head through. The main area goes underneath their chest and then fastens with two clips on either side. I can tell you this is a much easier type of harness to get a stubborn dog into. For those of you who have dogs that don’t like to put anything over their head, there are also harnesses that open up by the neck and then fasten closed, so your dog does not have to put their head through anything.
Another feature you may want to look for is a handle on the top of the harness. This will allow you greater control over your dog should you need to use it. This has come in handy several times for me, as my dog likes to chase rabbits and I’ve been able to grab onto the handle to have better control of her on our walks.
How To Measure Your Dog
When measuring your dog for the correct sized harness, you should check the manufacturer of the harness you want to buy from and check out their measuring guide. Generally speaking, you want to measure your dog’s girth, which would be right behind their front legs. You may also need to measure your dog’s neck size as well. Use a paper tape measure to take your measurements, and if you don’t have one, you can use a piece of string to wrap around them and then measure the string size. When doing the measurements, you want to make sure that you are able to fit two fingers width between the tape measure or string and your dog. If your dog is between sizes, you would be better off sizing UP.
Types of Dog Harnesses
No Pull Dog Harnesses
There are two types of harnesses that are good if your dog is a puller. One is the front clip harness and the other is the over the nose harness. The front clip harness goes around the chest and shoulders of the dog and has a ring in the front for which to attach your leash. The over the nose harness goes over the nose and shoulders of your dog. Both of these types of harnesses allow you to lead your dog instead of the other way around. It is up to you to determine which one you are more comfortable using on your dog, or which would be more comfortable for your dog to wear. Both of these harnesses are good if you want to train your dog to walk by your side or if you just want a leisurely walk without your dog pulling.
PetSafe Easy Walk Dog Harness has a front chest leash attachment to stop your dog from pulling when you walk, instead of fitting by its throat. This harness is designed specifically to just be straps to avoid any extra coverage on your dog to keep them cooler when they walk. This contains a quick snap shoulder and belly strap to make it easy for you to get the harness on and off your dog. Make sure to follow the manufacturer’s instructions to measure the girth and chest of your dog for a proper fit.
PoyPet Escape Proof No Pull Vest Harness has clips for both the neck and chest, so there is no need to bring the harness over your dog’s head to get it on. This has 2 metal D rings to attach to your leash, one by the chest to prevent pulling and another by the back. It is made of a nylon oxford material with padded mesh to keep your dog cool and comfortable and has a reflective trim to help your dog be seen in low light conditions. It also has a handle on top in case you need more control over your dog when walking them.
PetSafe Gentle Leader Head Collar. I know a lot of people like to use the Gentle Leader Head Collar, in fact, my dog trainer recommended it for training my dog to walk on a leash. That said, I have not actually used it on my dog, as I prefer a harness. But I wanted to include this in case you wanted to check it out. It is made of a nylon material with a nose loop that is a padded neoprene. Choosing the correct size for this head collar is different than with the harnesses, as if you are between sizes, you want to size DOWN.
Back Clip / Sports Dog Harnesses
Another type of harness is the back clip harness. This type of harness is also good if you are just walking with your dog, but it is also good if you’re doing more athletic activities with them, like running or hiking. These harnesses tend to go over the dog’s head and clip around the chest to cover the dog. Since the clip is towards the back of your dog, you have less control and your dog may tend to pull. That is why this type of harness is good if your dog is trained to walk properly by your side. The following harnesses are considered “sport” harnesses due to their quick drying and breathable material. They are also considered to be “no pull” due to the fact that they also contain a front leash attachment as well.
tobeDRI No Pull Dog Harness is an over the head harness made of nylon oxford with reinforced stitching by its 2 D rings, one in front and one on the back. It has adjustable straps with a locking feature to keep them secure when on your dog. It has a breathable, padded mesh lining that is also quick drying and has reflective stitching. This harness can also be machine washed.
Embark Adventure Dog Harness is an over the head harness with buckles on either side and adjustable straps. It is made of a strong nylon material to withstand 130 lbs. of pulling pressure and contains reinforced D rings at both the chest area and the back. This also contains padding around the neck area for greater comfort and has a reflective trim to help your dog be seen in low light. A handle at the back will give you more control over your dog should you need it on your adventures.
BabyLTRL No Pull Harness is made of a oxford material and is an over the head harness. It has adjustable straps and 2 D rings in the front and back of the harness. It contains a locking feature on the straps to make sure they stay in place during your adventures. It is padded in the front of the harness for comfort, is made of a quick drying, breathable fabric, has reflective straps, and a handle on the top if you need it.
RUFFWEAR Front Range Dog Harness. This is made to wear all day long and has 2 leash attachment areas in the front and back of the harness. This harness contains padded strips at the chest and belly area for your dog’s comfort and reflective trim to be seen better at night.
Car Restraint Dog Harnesses
Car restraint harnesses are yet another type of harness that you may wish to get for your dog. These harnesses may contain an extra strap that clips into your car’s seatbelt buckle. I have used both one that has the extra attachment and I have used one where my own seatbelt went through the harness and into the buckle. Both harnesses restrained my dog, but the harness with the extra attachment allowed my dog greater opportunity to move around the backseat. To choose the one that is best for you depends on how restricted you want your dog to be in the back seat of your car.
Mighty Paw Dog Car Harness is an over the head harness and comes with adjustable straps and a breathable, lightweight padded front for your dog’s comfort. It includes two metal leash attachments, as this car harness can also double as a regular harness to walk your dog. A seatbelt attachment is sold separately.
Lukovee Dog Safety Vest Harness is made of a breathable mesh fabric and adjustable straps. It is an over the head harness and comes with a bungee seat belt attachment. I use this harness with my dog. A family member uses the seat belt attachment and my dog has maneuverability enough to lay on the seat or floor of the car when using this. When I drive with my dog, I just put my seatbelt through the back strap of the harness to keep her in place. When I do this, she is still able to sit or lay down on the seat of the car. For me, I feel she is more secure this way, but at least I know there is the option of using the bungee attachment if I wanted to.
VavoPaw Dog Vehicle Safety Vest Harness is made of polyester oxford fabric with mesh cloth for comfort. This comes with a strap that attaches from the harness to your car’s seatbelt buckle. It also has a D ring that you can attach to your car as well.
Harnesses for Service Dogs
For those of you that have a service dog, therapy dog, emotional support dog, or a dog in training, there are special harnesses for you as well. These harnesses come with areas that you can attach patches to let people know that your dog is a service dog or one in training. You can also add a patch that says “Do Not Pet”. These harnesses also have an area that you can attach a pack for you to put needed supplies as well.
Industrial Puppy Service Dog Vest is made of strong nylon and a quick drying breathable material. The straps are adjustable and has a reflective safety band and patch to be seen in low light conditions. This comes with two removable “service dog” patches and has an attachment to carry a “backpack” sold separately to hold supplies.
ALBCORP Service Dog Vest Harness has nylon and mesh padding and a front reflective chest strap and stitching for easy visibility. It contains a shatterproof buckle with lock for extra security and a plastic handle for more control over your dog. It also comes with 2 removable “service dog” patches.
Harnesses for Disabled or Amputee Dogs
Still another type of harness is one that can be used for dogs that are disabled in some way. They may have trouble walking due to hip dysplasia or other type of illness that may cause them to have difficulty walking. These harnesses work by having an extra long handle or something that may go over your shoulder that you can use to keep your dog upright and support them while they walk. I had a dog that had a degenerative spinal disease that resulted in her having difficulty walking. I can honestly say that these harnesses definitely helped by allowing me to give her the support she needed when she wanted to walk or do her business. They may also offer more “full body” support to help you lift your dog if you need to.
RUFFWEAR Webmaster Multiuse Support Dog Harness is made for working dogs, those that frequent ‘challenging terrains” as well as amputee dogs. The harness has a handle specifically designed for use to lift your dog up and over obstacles. This contains padded straps and has reflective trim. It also has a designated spot for patches and signage.
Rabbitgoo Escape Proof Dog Harness is a full body harness that can be used as a regular harness, but also help you assist your dog if they have mobility issues. It is made of a breathable mesh material, and is adjustable with a large handle on the back so you can lift your dog if they have trouble standing up or need help negotiating stairs.
Loobani Portable Dog Sling. While not technically a dog harness, it does provide extra support your dog may need due to hip or rear leg issues. This is lined with fleece and has adjustable nylon straps and padded handles. It is machine washable and has a bag to store in.
Going for walks with your dog can be a great bonding experience for the two of you. Having a good harness that provides your dog with comfort and you with control will give both of you a rewarding walk and time together.
Please check out our other posts on Health, Indoor, Outdoor, and Travel accessories for your dog, as well as Reviews of various products and travel destinations.