How to Choose a Harness for your dog

Modern day dog harnesses are pretty cool - and there's an enormous range out there to choose from. But it's a bit deeper than just choosing a pattern or colour you like the look of! Choosing a harness for your dog should be like choosing a pair of shoes for yourself, and here's why.

One style of harness will not fit every single dog! 

There are some that come pretty close but there will always be an exception to the rule. The fit is so important. If we carry on with the shoe analogy - it's pretty much the same thing. Your mate might swear by Nike but you get on better with a Hoka.

Key things to look out for in dog harness fitting:

• Non-restrictive - the harness shouldn't cover or obstruct the natural movement of your dog's shoulders. Restrictive harnesses can lead to health and physical problems later in life. They can cause discomfort or pain and contribute to behavioural problems with your dog.
• Front Leg Clearance - Your harness should sit at least 1 inch behind the dog's front legs and be well clear of their armpits. This is one of the top causes of rubbing, sores and hotspots caused by harnesses and, again, can lead to behavioural problems.
• Adjustability - Does the harness allow your dog rom to grow or shrink a little bit? Especially important in puppies and growing dogs but also for adults whose weight can fluctuate over the years.

Quality over Quantity

Buying the cheap harness is tempting - I get it. Times are tight for a lot of people right now and we need to make savings where we can. But if we look at this from another perspective - would we be prepared to make the same cuts when it comes to our personal safety equipment - like a climbing harness or a parachute - or even for things we buy to keep ur kids safe - like car seats.

Is the cheap option really a responsible choice? Because ultimately, your dog's harness is a piece of safety equipment. It's what connects your dog to you, to their car restraint, to a tether.  What are the consequences if it fails or breaks?

This is especially important for big, strong, nervous or reactive dogs, recent rescues and dogs who rely on their harness for safety and support. 

So what should you be looking for? Hw do you know if a harness is strong and safe?

Independent Strength Testing

This is something I feel very strongly about - having had a few bad experiences and near misses with my own dogs and witnessing other people's gear fail in front of my eyes. This is why I ONLY stock harnesses, leads and collars which have been independently strength tested - so that I can be as confident as possible that these products are fit for the dogs they are designed for. It's a non-negotiable for me. I wanted a place where people could shop with confidence and not have to worry about which was going to be strong enough! They all are.

Independent strength testing is something the brands have carried out before they bring a product to market. They will also do in-house testing but the serious bit is done by an independent laboratory. It's a big investment for the brands, it's not a cheap process - but it shows real dedication to your dog's safety and is worth paying the extra for.

Product Testing is usually a 3 stage process:

• Testing each material and component individually - like webbing, fabrics and hardware. Testing for strength, durability and any other purpose it's designed to serve.
• Testing the product as a whole - they make up a sample and then test it under load for the intended purpose. There are two types of test for this stage
  • Tensile Strength - a continued, weighted pull is applied (to mimic a strong puller)
  • Sudden Impact - a sharp weighted force (to mimic a lunge or drop)
• Field Testing - Get it out there in the real world on all kinds of dogs. This can be anything from pet dogs to mountain rescue teams. Let them put the product to the test and take on board any feedback.

Features and Function

Think about what you need the harness to DO for you and your dog. How will it be used? Are there any specific features you'd like it to have? Things you might want to consider:

• Lightweight
• Fast Drying
• Grab Handle
• Lift/assist handle
• Attachment points
• Activities - for running/hiking etc
• Sport specific - mantrailing/canicross/swimming
• Escape Proof! Do you have a Houdini dog?
• Narrow chest or deep ribcage
• Extra support
• Reflective trim
• Loop to attach a safety light

Size and Shape

I'm not just being awkward when I tell you there is no one best harness or one best harness for a particular breed - even with established, well bred pedigree dogs with a breed standard. It becomes even more difficult with cross-breed dogs or mixed breeds like poodle mixes. There is no breed standard here and sizes and shapes are a genetic lottery! 

That's why we look at each dog as an individual and look to find the best harness for YOUR dog. Not your dog's genetics.

We always ask for breed or breed mix because it will give us a rough idea but we always rely on accurate measurements combined with desired features to find the best harness for both fit and purpose.

Cocker Spaniels are a great example - with anything ranging from small, fine working types to big, chunky show types and all kinds of combinations in between, we can find that even in the Ruffwear range we can go anything from an XS to a M.

Take Measurements

I cannot stress how important this is. Measure your dog carefully and always check the size charts for each individual harness. Your dog might be a Small in one brand and a Large in another - there's no standard sizing in this industry. 

There is even variation within brands - Non-stop Dogwear is a great example. Your dog might be a size 5 in a Rush or Line but a size 4 in Freemotion! In Ruffwear they could be a L/XL in a Front Range but a M in the Palisades. In Twiggy Tags you might be a 3 in Adventure but a M in Apex or a C in Horizon! 

Check the size charts and always ask for help if you're not too sure! We'd rather help you out than have you go through returns and exchanges any day of the week!

Get Help Finding a Harness

If you'd like us to do the research for you then we'd love to help! We know each and every product here inside out and we have a whole system set up and ready to go if you can't make it into the shop for a fitting! 

You can use our Harness Help Remote Fitting Service 

Alternatively - you can come into the shop for a one to one fitting with our fully trained staff. No pushy sales - just help.