When we tether another sentient being to ourselves,
we have to expect some pulling.
A harness’ job is to protect a dog’s body when there is inevitably tension on their leash. The goal is for your harness to allow the most freedom of movement possible while also maintaining safety.
Construction Matters! Look for a “Y” shape
I recommend dogs wear a well fit, non-restrictive harness when they’re on leash. These ‘Y shaped’ harnesses enable higher quality movement. Quality of movement is more important than quantity.
An anatomically sound harness will protect your dog’s neck and body from the risks of sudden impacts on leash. Tension isn’t only caused by your dog pulling; our world is chaotic and so much is out of our control!
Note the “Y” shape the front straps of a well-fit harness make on a dog’s chest.
Collars (flat, martingale, slip, chain, shock, electronic, beep, spray, prong), gentle leaders (head collars/halters), leashes wrapped around dog’s nose/stomach, and many ‘anti-pulling’ harnesses can cause problems when used on leash.
Most ‘leash walking tools’ are designed to inflict pain when there is tension on the leash, theoretically to punish that behavior. If the tool did not hurt, it would not decrease pulling.
These tools can also cause quality-of-life-changing health problems like arthritis, bursitis, shoulder problems, even anxiety and aggression, especially with long term use.
Linked is a short clip showing different harnesses on a dog and how they can impact their bodies.
The following are some harnesses I recommend, ordered from least to most expensive.
ROMAN DOG TRAINING from LUPINE PET. Adjustable neck, sternum & girth straps, a back leash attachment, 1/2", 3/4" or 1" strap width choice, & 20+ patterns. Fits girths from 9-44 inches.
H HARNESS from ZEE.DOG. Adjustable neck & girth straps, 2 leash attachment points on the back, & 60+ patterns. Fits girths from 9-42 inches.
CASUAL PADDED Y-HARNESS from HURTTA. Padded straps, adjustable girth strap, front & back leash attachment points, reflective stitching, & 4 color options. Fits girths from 12-39 inches.
HI & LIGHT from RUFFWEAR. Lightweight design, adjustable neck & girth straps, front & back leash attachment points, reflective trim & 6 color options. Fits girths 9-42 inches.
VENTURE NO-PULL HARNESS from HURTTA. Adjustable neck & girth straps, front & back leash attachments, a handle, reflective trim, & a padded front for comfort. Fits girths 14-40 inches.
FRONT RANGE from RUFFWEAR. Adjustable neck & girth straps, padded construction for comfort, front & back leash attachment points, reflective trim, & 8 patterns. Fits girths 13-42 inches.
MOTION HARNESS from TAGES FOR HOPE. Adjustable neck, girth & sternum straps, a front & 2 back leash attachment points, a padded handle, 1" or 1.5" strap width choice, hardware color choice, & 70+ patterns. Fits girths 24-44 inches.
PERFECT FIT HARNESS. FULLY adjustable design w/ 3 individually sized pieces, 5 points of adjustment, front & back leash attachment points, neck buckles (harness doesn’t need to go over the dog's head), fleece padding on all straps, 15mm, 20mm or 40mm strap width choices, & 14 color choices (3 w/ reflective stitching). Fits girths 9-48 inches & ships from the UK. My dogs’ daily driver & my first choice for gear-shy dogs.
COMFORT WALK AIR HARNESS from DOG COPENHAGEN. Adjustable neck & girth straps, a neck buckle (doesn’t need to go over a dog’s head), front & back leash attachment points, reflective stitching, a padded front, & 10 color options. Fits girths 13-45 inches a& ships from Denmark.
MULTI-WAY HARNESS from WOOFTOWN. Custom, made-to-order fit, a front & back leash attachment points, 16mm, 20mm, or 25mm strap widths, hardware choice, & 25 color choices. Made of biothane (durable & waterproof) & ships from the UK.
TRI-HARNESS from BULLYBILLOWS. Adjustable neck, girth & sternum straps, a front & two back leash attachment points, one girth buckle, & 15 colors to choose from. Fits girths 19-35 inches & ships from the UK.
RAMBLE HARNESS from NON-STOP DOGWEAR. Adjustable neck & girth straps, front & back leash attachments, a handle, reflective trim, & 4 colors to choose from. Fits girths 15.7-49.6 inches.
LINE HARNESS from NON-STOP DOGWEAR. Padded straps, adjustable girth strap, a front (in larger sizes) & back leash attachment point, reflective trim, & 4 color options. Fits girths 11-44 inches.
HURRICANE HARNESS from BULLYBILLOWS. Adjustable neck & girth straps, front & back leash attachments, a handle, reflective trim, & a padded front. Fits girths 11-50 inches. Excellent choice for giant dogs!
FLAGLINE HARNESS from RUFFWEAR. 2 adjustable girth straps, an adjustable neck strap, a front & two back leash attachment points, reflective trim, a handle, lighterweight construction than the Web Master, & 6 color options. Fits girths 13-42 inches. Excellent choice for flight risks & escape artists!
WEB MASTER from RUFFWEAR. 2 adjustable girth straps, an adjustable neck strap, a neck buckle (doesn’t need to go over the dog’s head), front & 2 back leash attachment points, reflective trim, a handle, and 4 color options. Fits girths 13-42 inches. Good choice for escape artists!