What is the Best Dog Harness?

Your dog is an important and much-loved part of your family. As such, it only makes sense you want the best of everything for them as far as their accessories. This includes their harness. Having the right dog harness can make your walks enjoyable and comfortable for both of you and keep him safe and happy.
The following provides you with everything you need to know to choose the best harness for your dog’s unique needs.

Types of Harnesses for Dogs

There are a few different primary types of dog harnesses. We’ll go over each and a few of its benefits.

Back-Clip Dog Harness

A back-clip harness is one that only has the D-ring clip located at the top or back of your dog. You can easily clip a leash in before you go for a walk or run. However, if you choose a harness with only a back clip, be aware that this is best-suited to a dog who is already well-trained and behaves well on walks.
If your dog pulls or isn’t trained yet on walking technique, you may need a front-clip leash or a dual-clip leash.

Front-Clip Dog Harness

A front-clip dog harness means that you attach your dog’s leash to a D-ring located at the front of the harness, at their chest. This is the best option if your dog pulls or is still training. When a leash is attached to the front of the harness, it gives some uncomfortable tension if he does pull. This teaches him not to do it and in a much less risky way than using a choke collar or a similar tool.
Front-clip dog harnesses are safe and also give you a high level of control when you’re walking.

Step-In Dog Harness

There’s another type of harness, in which your dog steps into it. It has a different shape around your dog’s legs. At the legs, the shape of a step-in harness is a triangle, as opposed to a rectangle with a standard harness. This can be easier for some people to put on. The leash clip on a step-in harness is at your dog’s back.

Dual-Clip Dog Harness

A dual-clip harness offers the most flexibility and versatility because it has a front and top clip. That way, when your dog is training, or if he’s pulling, you can use the front clip. You can also move to the back clip when he’s ready.
You can change which option based on the specific setting as well. For example, if you’re walking your dog in a congested or crowded area, you might want the control of the front clip. If you’re in a more open area, you might want to give your dog more freedom with a back clip.

Benefits of Using a Dog Harness

1. A harness offers comfort, safety, and control that makes each walk you take as well as other activities you do easier. Specific benefits compared to a collar include:
2. A harness is almost always going to be safer than a collar. Collars put all the pressure and tension on your dog’s neck and throat, meaning a greater risk of injury. On the other hand, a dog harness evenly distributes it, reducing the risk of injury.
3. When you’re walking, you’ll enjoy more control compared to a collar. This can be especially important if your dog pulls frequently.
4. It’s more comfortable for your dog since there’s not something wrapped around their neck.

How to Choose the Right Size of a Dog Harness?

If you choose a dog harness that’s not the right size, it’s going to be neither safe nor comfortable, so this is a big factor.

• Step One: You need to measure your dog to know exactly what size is right. Start with girth by measuring at the base of his neck. Then, beginning an inch in front of the rear legs, measure belly girth. Finally, go behind the front leg and measure to directly behind the back leg for your dog’s body length.
• Step Two: When you’re shopping Pet&Cuddle’s harnesses, we offer a convenient size chart, so you know you’re going to get the perfect fit. If your dog is close to a cut-off in size, go up. Then, you can adjust it as needed.
• Step Three: Once you get your new harness and put it on your dog, make sure you can slide two fingers easily under any of the straps. If not, re-adjust it so that you can.
• Step Four: To make sure the harness isn’t too loose, try to slip it over your dog’s head. You shouldn’t be able to when it’s fastened.

Choosing a Harness By Breed

When you’re choosing a harness, you want to go by size, but since size often correlates with the breed, we put together a quick guide based on what type of dog you have. Regardless, this is a general guide and you should always focus primarily on your dog’s measurements when you’re choosing a size.

Breeds That Fit a Small Harness

If you have a dog with a chest girth of anywhere from 17 to 22 inches and a weight range of 18 to 35 pounds, you might need a small dog harness. Some breeds that frequently wear small harnesses are:

• Pekingese
• Cavalier King Charles
• Miniature Schnauzer
• Pug
• Scottish Terrier

Breeds That Fit a Medium Harness

A medium-sized dog is usually one with a weight ranging from 30 to 50 pounds and a chest girth of 22 to 27 inches. Dog breeds that might wear a medium harness, depending on their size, include:

• Border collie
• Boston terrier
• French bulldog
• English bulldog
• Beagle

Breeds That Fit a Large Harness

If your dog has a chest girth of 27 to 32 inches and weighs more than 45 pounds, you probably need a large harness. Breeds that typically wear a large harness are:

• Weimaraner
• Labrador retriever
• Golden retriever
• Dalmatian
• Boxer

What Features Should You Look for in a Dog Harness?

Specifically, when you’re choosing a dog harness, there are a few key features that should be a priority. These features focus on comfort and safety, as well as convenience.

1. Look for an option that specifically says it’s designed for safety, like the options available from Pet&Cuddle. You never want a harness that’s going to choke your dog or cause health issues or injuries.
2. A simple, well-made harness is often the best option because it’ll be easy for you to put it on and take it off.
3. Adjustable belts can help you get an even more perfect and customized fit on your harness, so your dog will be completely comfortable and happy.
4. Choose a lightweight, ergonomic design so you can pack it up and take it anywhere with ease.
5. Think about where the clips are located. The optimal choice for most dog owners is to get a harness with dual clips, meaning there is a clip at the front and top, so you have both options when you’re walking.
6. If you often walk when it’s dark, such as during the early morning or evening, choose a harness with reflective elements.
7. Choose a nice soft but durable material that will feel good on your dog’s skin and prevent discomfort and injuries. You want your dog to enjoy wearing their harness, and the more comfortably it’s made, the better. The clip should be made of metal for longevity.

Can You Use an Extendable Leash with a Harness?

An extendable leash has many advantages over a fixed-length leash. It gives you the option to let your dog explore when the situation allows for it, and when needed, you can also have more control. When you’re mindful and alert, extendable leashes are also very safe.
People wonder if they can use an extendable leash with a harness, and the answer is yes when done properly.
If your dog is still training, you might be using the front clip of their harness to teach them not to pull. You can still do that with an extendable leash, but make sure you give the leash some slack if so. If not, your dog can get confused and think they’re pulling even if they’re not.
Otherwise, you can attach a retractable leash easily to the top loop of a harness, and it’s a safe, effective option.

Where to Buy the Right Dog Harness

You should only buy a dog harness from a reputable company with products you can trust. Pet&Cuddle creates the best, safest, and most comfortable harnesses, leashes, and dog equipment. We also have a team of experts who can help you choose the perfect ones for your dog.
We, the Pet&Cuddle dog lovers, are constantly creating new dog harness collections, which are safe, multifunctional, and effective for training, leading, or adapting purposes.
Discover the latest dog harness collection we created exactly for your dog here.

Questions About Dog Harnesses

As leaders in the creation of the best dog harnesses and leashes, we often get questions from customers. We wanted to put together a list of some of the most frequently asked questions to help you as you’re shopping for a harness.

1. Is It Okay to Use a Harness For Puppies?

You can absolutely use a harness for puppies, and it’s often the best option. Most vets recommend that you wait until your puppy is at least eight months old before you use a harness. Once your puppy is ready, a harness is a good way to train them on proper walking techniques and to help reduce their risk of getting injured or tangled.
Again, we emphasize the importance of choosing the right size and fit of harness, whether for a puppy or an older dog.

2. Are Harnesses Bad for Dogs?

Harnesses are not bad for dogs. In fact, it’s quite the opposite. Compared to traditional collars, harnesses are more comfortable because they’re not putting so much pressure and tension on one area of your dog — their neck. A harness is dispersing it all over for a more comfortable experience that reduces the risk of injury. There’s also less of a risk that your dog will escape when wearing a harness compared to a collar. Discover the main information about the benefits of a dog harness here.

3. Can a Dog Wear a Harness All Day?

A dog shouldn’t wear a harness all day, even though when they fit properly, they are very comfortable. It’s best for your dog to wear it for his outdoor activities, and then you should take it off when you come home. Otherwise, it can cause irritation and discomfort.

4. Do Harnesses Encourage Pulling?

Not only do harnesses not encourage pulling, but they’re one of the best ways to train your dog not to pull. When you hook your leash to the front clip if it has one, if your dog pulls it puts some tension between their shoulder blades. That teaches them that pulling is ineffective and they learn not to do it on walks.
A harness is a much better tool to train a dog not to pull than something like a choke collar.

Get Your Best Dog Harness From Pet&Cuddle

If you’re ready to choose a safe and comfortable dog harness, we encourage you to browse the Pet&Cuddle selection. Our priorities are always on the best equipment to improve the quality of life for both you and your dog.
We, at Pet&Cuddle, have processed all the knowledge and practical experiences to create the perfect harness with a unique design. Comfortable and safe, it now can be easily used for many purposes like training, walking, or adapting to a leash.
Discover the latest dog harness collection available on our website!