When you walk, you may notice many dogs wearing harnesses instead of simple collars. Not just little dogs, but big ones, too; in fact, all shapes and sizes of harnesses on all shapes and sizes of dogs. You’ve read that harnesses can be much more comfortable than collars for dogs who haven’t learned to walk without pulling. Your veterinarian may have told you that some collars can cause real physical damage to dogs in many different ways.
A harness, chosen and fitted properly, can be safer than a collar for your dog to wear when being walked.
You’d like to try a harness for your dog but, frankly, you don’t know where to start. I asked some dog professionals what harnesses they use . . . and why!
| Cindy: “I prefer the traditional H-harness, but I know I’m in the minority. I hate the ones that are hard to put on, where you have to put the feet in first. I’m no longer a fan of front clips either. A regular, old-fashioned, easy-to-put-on harness coupled with actual loose-leash walking training. That’s my deal.” Val: “Have you seen problems with front clips?” Cindy: “Often hard to fit, awkward for the dog and handler, don’t like the leash in front because it gets under paws and tangled. I also suspect that it decreases the likelihood of actual training since it manages the issue sufficiently for a lot of people. Which, of course, is fine if that’s what the client wants. I just don’t know if they understand that they are committing to that particular style of harness forever if they just manage the behavior (pulling on leash). I like where a back clip H-harness sits. It just seems right to me. It seems easier to handle the dog and I find dogs to be more responsive.” | ||
| Amy: “I like the EZ Walk harness. It is easy to put on the dog and it actually works! I own various sizes of the EZ Walk harness so I can use one on any dog when I need to. Even a Chihuahua can pull on the leash! “I like to use one when teaching owners how to train their dogs to walk on a loose lead. Because the EZ Walk harness keeps the dog from pulling, the owner is able to focus on rewarding the dog correctly when he is walking nicely. As a professional dog walker, I like it because it doesn’t require me to put something over the muzzle (as a head collar does), which some dogs find objectionable. “The only downside I see to the EZ Walk is that people don’t know how to fit them correctly on the dog. I once stopped a stranger on the street because he had the belly strap going across the dog’s chest! After we fitted the harness properly, the person was amazed at how well it worked!” | ||
| Jody: “My 35-lb. dog uses a Freedom harness, while my 11-lb. pup uses Perfect Fit. I like the Freedom harness for my dog (and most clients’) because it has a sternum strap, making it harder to escape from than the Easy Walk. The chest girth strap is velvet, which helps reduce rubbing/irritation, and it has both chest and back leash attachments that can be used separately or in combination for heavy pullers. “The Perfect Fit is three separate pieces that you request in specific sizes for your dog. If the harness arrives and one part is too big or small, you can replace just that one piece for a better fit. I like that it’s a wide, flat contact, rather than thinner strips of fabric. And all of the clasps have fabric behind them so you will not accidentally catch fur. The one I have is only a back attachment, though they have a front-attach option as well. I got this for my little guy because he hates wearing anything and when the Easy Walk was fitted correctly, he would cough like his throat was being irritated (even though there was no throat contact). When it was flipped so the leash attached to the back, he still hated having the Easy Walk put on. “He doesn’t love the Perfect Fit either because he just hates wearing anything beyond his collar. But he is far more comfortable in that than any other harness I’ve used on him. I also often recommend the Easy Walk, though for some dogs it just doesn’t fit as well and can rub, or the dog can slip out of it by pulling their shoulders together a little and backing right out.” | ||
| Bonnie: “Depends on the dog. For very strong, hard pullers, I prefer the Freedom harness with a leash that has two points of contact—steering at chest, helping to stop the dog at back. It must never take the place of training, but with this harness, the leash position can be changed to just chest or just back as the dog improves his walking. “I love the Perfect Fit harness for dogs that are not such hard pullers—they are very comfortable. Because they come in three parts, they fit well with no shoulder or leg restrictions. I like the Balance harness a lot as well.” | ||
| Jodi: “I used to recommend the Freedom no-pull harness, but my current new favorite is the Balance harness. It’s incredibly easy to adjust (they have about six adjustment points with plastic clips—easier than the metal hardware of the Freedom harness to adjust), it has front and top rings (front to prevent pulling), and its great geometry reduces any physical impacts of the harness (it’s not across shoulders like EZ Walk, etc.). “Personally, I don’t think the average person is going to commit to loose-leash walking training and this equipment is a great substitute for prong collars, which, unfortunately, many people rely on. I’m so happy these days every time I see a harness on a dog. The front clip is a newer style which is a direct substitute for things like prong collars and I love them.” | ||
Now that you’ve read more about various harnesses, do some research online. You can look at costs and availability to get some general ideas of what’s out there and what you can afford. Next, take your dog with you to visit a retailer of pet supplies with a knowledgeable staff—and that may not be your local big-box store. Most pet professionals can recommend a good independent, locally owned pet supply store where you will be able to get the customized care and fitting that your dog deserves.
Dogs should be acclimated in a positive manner to wearing whatever harness you choose. Do not expect your dog to welcome the new addition! Take the time before you use the harness to teach your dog that, first and foremost, the harness predicts good things: praise, treats, a walk!
Many dogs learn to love their harnesses so much that they stand still when the harness is put on them or taken off. Some dogs even learn to cooperate by lifting a paw at the right moment. What will your dog do?
