How Do I Choose the Right Harness for My Dog?
It’s a difficult job when it comes to choosing the right harness for your dog. You need to have complete control to ensure safety for your dog and others around you. Finding the best, most appropriate equipment for your four legged friend can be a mind blowing experience.
Deciding whether you are going to use just a collar and lead or whether you want to use or even need a harness will be your starting point. There is a large amount of evidence based information from vets and other canine musculoskeletal specialists leaning towards the use of harnesses now.
My personal opinion is that a harness is better for the dog. It is of course a legal requirement for your dog to wear a collar and ID tag with your name, address and telephone number and you would also note if the dog is microchipped. So a collar will always be required even if you choose to go the harness route.
You can check out are quick summary of Our 5 Favourite Dog Harnesses for 2021 here.
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Why Should I Use a Harness?
A harness has multiple benefits. Firstly, providing they are sized and fitted correctly they are a secure way of walking and handling. Collars can be easily slipped if a dog is really determined to escape and would need to be fitted quite tightly to avoid this happening. I have an escapologist and as a very young pup she worked out how to get out of her collar. It wasn’t an accident, it was a determined move to rid herself of the thing that caused her to be “controlled”. Of course I was trying to teach her to walk nicely on a collar and lead, but safety and security was more important and I swapped her to a harness post haste.
My go to harness that I have used with total success with my other dogs was not going to be suitable on this occasion, the pup had different ideas. It was at this point I realised that one size does not fit all and I had to go about finding a harness that was more secure and escape proof. Honestly, I don’t think there is one, but the harness I settled on comes pretty close.
Using a harness puts less strain on the dog's neck and spine. If your dog pulls all the time there is constant pressure here. Very often owners will jerk the lead to remind the dog of its training, but again, this force on the neck can cause issues later in life and very often, the jerking action actually does nothing towards teaching the dog not to pull anyway.
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What Are Harness Priorities?
So how do you choose the right harness for your dog? Well first of all you need to establish your own and your dog's needs so ask yourself these questions:
- It is for your new puppy or for an adult dog?
- Do you need it to aid training?
- Is your dog a puller or does he walk perfectly happily with a loose lead?
- Are you buying a harness for an older dog that may need your support over objects or up steps on occasions?
In my case, my Houdini needed a harness that would fit securely and stay in place during her Zebedee moments and would also be strong enough to cope with some pulling whilst we taught her lead manners.
Each brand of harness will offer different benefits and you will need to assess these in line with your own requirements, but your top priorities should be secure handling and comfort.
Hints and Tips
- Choose a harness that will not restrict shoulder movement. A harness that does not have a strap across the front of the chest will allow free reach of the fore limbs even when being held back by a lead. V shaped fronts with a strap/straps that pass through the front legs do not restrict front movement. When attached to a lead and a dog is pulling then a front strap is likely to prevent the dog’s shoulder from using its full range of motion.
- Make sure the harness is a good fit. Use any measuring instructions provided by the manufacturers to ensure you have the right size and contact them if there are any queries on the fit before you buy. An ill fitting harness will not have the effect it has been designed for and could rub and cause soreness or even alter your dogs natural movement if fitted incorrectly.
- An older dog may need assistance at times, negotiating steps, over footpath gates etc. Harnesses made from a more robust material and clips are an advantage and often include a handle on the top piece to help when lifting/helping the dog over objects.
- Always choose a harness that allows your dog to walk in a balanced manner. A harness that might have an attachment for a lead on the side will mean that he is likely to lean away if pulling when being walked. Look for harnesses with lead attachments on the top of the harness.
Conclusion
Be thorough when choosing your harness. Check for fit, comfort and that it will do what you need it to do.
To help you with your choice we have recommended Our 5 Favourite Dog Harnesses for 2021, why we like them and what benefits they have. Compare them to your list of what you need from your harness.
