Last Updated on August 27, 2024 by Dogster Team
Dog harnesses have become one of the most popular ways to keep your dog safe while walking them. There are thousands of dog harnesses on the market, and this can leave foot pet parents feeling overwhelmed as they search through the reviews to find the best harness for their needs. dog training collars
Pet parents are tasked with figuring out the best items for every situation or dog, and they understandably want nothing but the best for their animals. Here is our list of top 10 best dog harnesses.
Check Price on Chewy Check Price on Amazon Harness Type Over-the-Head Strap Clip Placement Front Minimum Girth 12 in (Petite Size) Maximum Girth 50 in (X-Large Size)
PetKeen’s choice for the overall best dog harness is PetSafe’s Easy Walk harness. The Easy Walk harness is a front clip strap harness that goes over your dog’s head and places pressure on the legs when the dog tries to pull. The Easy Walk Harness is designed to make your dog feel like they are tripping when they pull to help them understand that pulling is bad.
The Easy Walk harness is an excellent value for what it provides. It is a fantastic training tool highly recommended by vets and trainers alike. Pet parents looking for a harness that can grow with their dog and a training tool will find that the Easy Walk harness provides everything they’re looking for.
Check Price on Chewy Check Price on Amazon Harness Type Step-in Vest Clip Placement Back Minimum Girth 13 in (X-Small) Maximum Girth 23 in (X-Large)
Our choice for the best dog harness for the money is Best Pet Supplies’ Voyager harness. The Voyager is a step-in vest harness that features a clip on the back. The back clip comprises two D-clips that are put together to provide extra security to keep the harness closed.
The Voyager comes in five different sizes. The smallest size of the harness is 13 to 14.5 inches in circumference, while the largest size is 21 to 23 inches in circumference. Its adjustability is very low since it is a harness without a strap.
Check Price on Chewy Check Price on Amazon Harness Type Step-in vest Clip Placement Both Minimum Girth 12 in (X-Small) Maximum Girth 44 in (X-Large)
Pet parents who have a little more money to spend will love our choice for the best premium dog harness. Kurgo’s Tru Fit Enhanced Strength Dog Harness is crash-tested like a car to ensure that your dog will be safe in its embrace.
This dog harness comes in five sizes, and its step-in design is highly secure for dogs of all sizes. It features both a front and back clip for dogs that are still pull training and those that are leisurely walkers. Because it has a vest shape, it’s not as adjustable as a strap harness. However, the best features adjustable straps on the neck and chest allow you to adjust the size as your dog grows.
Check Price on Chewy Check Price on Amazon Harness Type Step-in Vest Clip Placement Both Minimum Girth 13 in (X-Small) Maximum Girth 42 in (X-Large)
Chai’s Choice makes the Premium Outdoor Adventure Dog Harness in five sizes. It’s a step-in vest harness with adjustable straps for the neck and the chest. It doesn’t feature the broad adjustability of a figure 8 harness as a step-in vest harness. However, the neck and chest straps offer some adjustability for dogs that won’t grow as large as others or have already reached their adult size.
The position of the ring on the back takes the pressure off the neck and puts it onto the chest. This position can be helpful for dogs who pull or dogs with throat problems. While the O ring on the front can help discourage pulling, dogs were still pull training. The harness also features reflective straps that allow high visibility even in the dark.
Check Price on Chewy Check Price on Amazon Harness Type Step-in Vest Clip Placement Back Minimum Girth 8 in (X-Small) Maximum Girth 24 in (Large)
Sporn’s Mesh No-Pull Harness is unique in that it does not feature a chest strap. This harness wraps around the leg joints. The girth measurements for this harness are for the neck. They feature a wide variety of sizes for any dog.
This harness features a mesh vest area that allows the dog to distribute weight over the straps without breaking them. But because of the small vest area, the strap adjustability is more like a figure 8 harness.
The harness’s padded arm restraints control your dog when they try to pull without choking them. This method allows the owner to control their dogs without harming them.
Check Price on Chewy Check Price on Amazon Harness Type Simple Strap Clip Placement Back Minimum Girth 11.8 in (X-Small) Maximum Girth 42.5 in (Large)
Red Dingo’s Nylon Back Clip Harness is the perfect option for pet parents who need a simple, no-frills dog harness to keep their dog safe. This harness does run a bit large, so people with small or toy-sized dogs will want to make sure that they properly measure the girth of their dog’s chest before purchasing the harness.
However, the harness is great for people with large or extra-large dogs because of its huge range of adjustability in the bigger sizes. The simple strap design makes it easy to adjust, and this harness aims to cater to larger-sized dogs that often get left behind by the harness market.
Check Price on Chewy Check Price on Amazon Harness Type Simple Strap Clip Placement Back Minimum Girth 13 in (X-Small) Maximum Girth 42.5 in (Large)
PetSafe’s 3-in-1 Reflective Dog Harness is great for people who live in darker or wooded areas. No light? No problem with this harness since the reflective straps will keep you and your dog visible even with very little perceivable light.
The simple figure-8 style harness is great for pet parents who need something highly adjustable, but like the one from Red Dingo, this harness runs a bit large for some dog breeds. Pet parents of very small dogs will want to make sure that their dog will be able to fit securely into the smallest size.
Check Latest Price Harness Type Step-in Vest Clip Placement Both Minimum Girth 16 in (Small) Maximum Girth 44 in (X-Large)
Frisco’s Premium Outdoor Ripstop Nylon Dog Harness is another great option aimed at pet parents of larger dogs. Like some of the other harnesses on here, it runs a bit large and might be unsuitable for extra small dogs. However, it features two clips in the back and the front, which makes it a versatile option for dogs that can fit into it.
The vest and straps are padded in the joint area for extra comfort while walking your best friend. The design also features a padded back vest, which isn’t as common but offers significant extra security and comfort for your pooch.
Check Latest Price Harness Type Step-in Vest Clip Placement Both Minimum Girth 16 in (Small) Maximum Girth 43 in (X-Large)
The Frisco No-Pull Padded Nylon Dog Harness is technically a step-in vest harness but functions a bit more like a simple strap harness. The two straps loop through the vest for extra comfort. This runs a bit large and might be unsuitable for very small dogs.
However, it features versatility in having a clip on the front, and the back means that this harness is great for both easy and difficult walkers. It is also very adjustable within its size ranges, so it can grow with your dog if they’re still a puppy.
Check Latest Price Harness Type Step-in Vest Clip Placement Back Minimum Girth 11 in Maximum Girth 23 in
We’ve had a few that ran large, so here’s one that runs small. Large dog owners will want to pass on this one as it’s designed for the safety and comfort of small breed dogs. The padded Frisco Small Breed Soft Vest is soft and comfortable on the skin, even if your dog is a puller.
The back clip uses a plastic clip to hold the vest closed and is held together by two D-rings for added security; if one D-ring fails, the other will continue to function. Unfortunately, this harness doesn’t have a front clip, so pet parents looking for that will have to find a different harness.
Getting a dog can be a very daunting task. Prospective pet parents are tasked with learning as much as they can before getting the dog and learning on the fly as they navigate the waters of pet ownership. Dog harnesses have become a popular restraint method, and getting the proper dog harness is a matter of your dog’s safety.
With so many dog harnesses on the market, it can be hard to figure out what makes a good dog harness. Different dog harnesses have additional features, and you want to make sure that the harness you purchase satisfies the needs of your specific animal. Here are some things you should consider when purchasing the best dog harness for you and your dog.
The most crucial factor to consider when purchasing a dog harness is the minimum and maximum girth of the harness. The harness’s security will be determined by how well it fits along the circumference of your dog’s chest.
To measure the girth of your dog’s chest, you want to gravitate around the area immediately behind the dog’s front legs. Some dogs, such as bully breeds and razor’s edge pit bulls, have wider, deeper chests than average. This may cause them to need a larger harness than is indicated by their height. So, it’s essential to make sure that you measure the circumference of your dog’s chest before buying a harness for them.
If the minimum circumference of the harness does not snugly fit around your dog’s chest, your dog will be able to slip out of the harness easily. Ensure that your dog’s harness fits properly before taking them on any walk.
By looking at both the minimum and maximum girth of the harness, you’ll also be able to see if this harness can grow with your dog. This is especially important if your dog is still a puppy. Having a hard as I can grow with your dog is essential for young dogs’ pet parents. As it prevents you from having to buy a new harness every time your dog outgrows their old one.
Another thing to think about when purchasing a harness is the placement of the clip. The harness clip can be placed on the back or the front of the harness. A back clip will be just behind the dog’s head. A front flip will be underneath the dog’s chin on the chest.
The placement of the clip determines where the pressure of the restraint is placed. Like collars, back clip harnesses put pressure on the throat and neck. Front clip harnesses place pressure on the chest and legs. Front clip harnesses are often used as training tools because pulling against the harness can make the dog feel like it will trip and fall.
There are several types of harnesses. The different harnesses are classified by how they are put on the dog. There are five main types of dog harnesses: adjustable strap, step-in strap, step-in vest, over-the-head strap, and over-the-head vest. What kind of harness you get is determined by what type of dog you have. Some harnesses are easier to get on than others, and if your dog is a link to where the harness is, it may be easier to choose one that is easy to get on.
Sometimes referred to as figure 8 harnesses, adjustable stop harnesses offer the broadest range of size adjustments. They’re very minimalist, made up of only the straps. This means that adjusting the circumference of the harness is very easy, and these are great for dogs who are still growing.
However, these dog harnesses are not as effective if your dog pulls often. A dog who is a strong polar may break the harness. However, if your dog is easy to walk or harness-trained, these are excellent options for dogs of all sizes.
Step-in strap harnesses are easier to get on an adjustable strap harness. They are very similar to adjustable strap harnesses but are more secure and bulkier on the chest. However, adding more straps means that there will be less room for adjustability. Still, most step-in strap harnesses are adjustable on the chest and the neck circumference.
Like adjustable strap harnesses, step-in strap harnesses are not particularly good for dogs who are strong pullers, as the straps may break when too much pressure is placed upon them.
Step-in vest harnesses are bulky on the chest and feature a mesh or padded vest covering the chest and connecting to a back strap. The strap is adjustable, but the neck circumference cannot be adjusted since the vest is not adjustable. The length of the vest can also not be changed.
Step-in vest harnesses are a little more secure for dogs to pull because they are bulkier and can tolerate more pressure on the harness.
Over-the-head strap harnesses are a type of figure 8 harness. Unlike the standard figure 8 harness, which goes over the legs, and over-the-head strap harness goes over the head and around the body.
Over-the-head strap harnesses are better for long-haired dogs because fewer clips get caught in the dog’s fur. They’re adjustable at the neck and the chest. However, like other strap harnesses, they are not as good for dogs prone to strong pulling.
Over-the-head vest harnesses are the best option for dogs who pull. They feature a bulky vest over the chest that allows repeated pressure distribution when the dog pulls and prevents the parties from breaking under pressure.
Over-the-head vest harnesses can be difficult to get on. A dog who fights may be better trained on a different saddle. However, they are the most secure harnesses you can purchase.
Whether you’re looking to get your dog a new harness or you’re looking to get your first dog harness, there’s no end to the variety you can choose from! Our choice for the best overall dog harness was PetSafe’s Easy Walk harness for its versatility and ability to grow with your dog. The best dog harness for the money is Best Pet Supplies’ Voyager harness. Last but certainly not least, Kurgo’s Tru Fit harness is perfect for pet parents who want to spend a little more for the best of the best!
Featured Image Credit: evrymmnt, Shutterstock
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I’m a freelance writer with a passion for animal science and technology. I love to share the world of animal science with people to help them make informed decisions for themselves and their pets. I’ve worked in professional pet care for over six years and realised I could help change the world of pet care by bringing the information people needed to them in terms they could understand. Knowledge is power and I love to help everyone become the most informed they can be.
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