Pressure from collars could also cause musculoskeletal problems, said Dr. Michael Lund of the ASPCA. The head harness manufacturers will tell you that head halters are a good training tool, but the fact is that the vast majority of people use them to manage their dogs’ pulling. Also, the materials may be intended to be lightweight, but this one seemed more flimsy. And though the Tru-Fit’s front attachment point helps keep dogs from pulling, it’s not quite as good for rambunctious pets as our runner-up, the 2 Hounds Design Freedom No Pull Dog Harness, whose front attachment point is even lower on the chest, for more control. In 2017, we tested 14 harnesses for fit, comfort, movability, and controllability when used with a 55-pound boxer mix named Baxter and an 11-pound Maltese mix named Lei Lei. 4 - 6 foot leash). discourage pulling. Does not choke when properly fitted. The vest also latches closed with Velcro, which isn’t very secure. “You get control over the whole strength of the dog by pulling on the chest,” said trainer Kate Perry. The closures—which aren’t quite buckles but rather two layers of metal that you have to slide inside each other—are difficult to fasten, especially if your impatient dog is wiggling. Don’t Let Pets Destroy Your Bedding. No Pull Mesh Harness has an interesting design, with soft padding that scoops under both armpits, mesh on the chest, and a drawstring to close in the back. The Blue-9 Balance Harness has too many buckles, and it is confusing and difficult to put on. Her work has appeared in Audubon Magazine, Popular Science, and Scientific American, among other places. Click for our article on Both the Freedom Harness and the Halti Harness have padding to prevent that. *Rating System: The PetSafe 3 in 1 Harness is well made, and we like that the webbing is lined in jersey knit, which is softer on a delicate pup’s skin. And this harness is made of tough, durable materials that won’t easily pill or tear against sharp dog nails or fray from normal pulling and play. Both can help train against unwanted … But we don’t recommend this one for bigger breeds, because the stretchy material is thin enough that it could wear out quickly if your large dog is a puller. When the dog pulls it activates a whistle which discourages the dog from pulling. With Velcro, you’d think you could easily tighten the harness to a snug fit, but in this case, the placement of the buckle blocks you from doing so. Bringing home a new cat or dog is challenging for you and them. © 2021 Wirecutter, Inc., A New York Times Company, 2 Hounds Design Freedom No Pull Dog Harness, Our pick: Kurgo Tru-Fit Smart Dog Walking Harness, For really big or rambunctious dogs: 2 Hounds Design Freedom No Pull Dog Harness, L.L.Bean Personalized Reflective Pet Harness, Pawtitas Pet Reflective Step in Dog Harness, Best Pet Supplies Voyager All Season Harness, Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, Harnessing the Walk: Choosing the Right Harness for Your Dog. In our testing, we loosened the stitching where the webbing meets the vest seam by simulating a dog’s lunge when we tugged hard on it by hand. But most dog trainers note that any collar or harness should be a tool for dog owners, not a magic solution. Important to choose a leash with the right amount of tension. The Freedom harness also offers lifetime replacements—including for chewing damage—for a fee that averages a third of the purchase cost. Its dual attachment points on the back and lower chest allow owners greater control over their dogs while on walks. After testing eight more harnesses in 2020, we still think the Kurgo Tru-Fit is the best and safest harness for most dogs—but we also have picks for bigger and smaller pets. We revisited the PetSafe Easy Walk for this update, but we still can’t recommend it. We loved it because it is highly reflective, can be personalized with your contact information, and was backed by L.L.Bean’s legendary warranty. No device is a substitute for training your dog! It’s very similar to our main pick, but its materials aren’t as tough. Gentle Leader & Easy Walk Harness Features. This dog harness comes in a variety of colors and is available in sizes for dogs with chests measuring from 14 to 44 inches, or weighing 14 to 250 pounds. This harness is sold in sizes for dogs with chest measurements from 12 to 44 inches, or weighing from 5 to 110 pounds. We preferred harnesses that were durable yet light enough that they wouldn’t weigh our dogs down. As Wirecutter’s pets writer, I’ve covered everything from pet cameras to dog DNA kits. (In extreme cases, a dog pulling against a collar can cause tracheal collapse.) This guide also builds on reporting by Meaghan Lee Callaghan, who’s a dog owner and science journalist. The buckles remain secure, and the webbing is durable, albeit a little scratchy. Even though the harness fits dogs with chests from 9 to 41 inches—say, a 3½-pound Chihuahua to a 60-pound … The harness rests across your dog's chest instead of his throat, so there's no choking or gagging. Contact us! This is part of the reason that we recommend this harness if you need better control on your walks with large or rambunctious dogs. ), Pinch Collar or The Gentle Leader is a head collar that also redirects … This stretchy harness is great for smaller dogs. For example, even though the Tru-Fit is marketed for dogs with chests up to 44 inches in diameter, or weighing up to 110 pounds, the largest size fit a bit snugly on Watson, our 115-pound Bernese mountain dog, who has a 39-inch chest but a thick double coat. The Frisco Small Breed Soft Vest Dog Harness uses bigger hardware and buckles than the Puppia, so it’s heavier on a small dog’s frame. We also like the Freedom No Pull model for larger dogs, because it’s sold in a wider range of sizes than our other picks. **Note: if you wish to find out more about any of the products which are not available through Pet Expertise, simply Google the product names. The Halti No Pull harness works on the premise of 'squeezing and lifting' according to the team behind the product who say, "the harness tightens on the dog when they pull on the lead. But L.L.Bean reduced its lifetime warranty policy to a one-year warranty policy, putting it on a par with those of many of the harnesses we tested. Cons: Most brands are difficult to take on and off. For the latest version of this guide, we tested 11 dog harnesses, ranging from traditional to step-in styles. Some dogs do better with a leash attachment on the front of the harness, which redirects your dog’s attention, instead of pulling him back. (The Center for Pet Safety independently certifies harnesses that you can review.). Understanding how to use a Halti head collar is essential for a rewarding and stress-free walk for both you and your dog. Learn more or sign up! The Puppia Soft Dog Harness is a soft, adjustable vest made to keep your toy-sized dog safe. The Kurgo Tru-Fit is tough but not indestructible. Easy to put on. The plastic buckles are stiff to use, and while our testers were trying this harness, they worried about pinching their fingers or their dogs’ skin. (Although the chest measurements for this harness are similar to those for our main pick, the Freedom’s open design accommodates dogs who weigh more.) Prevents escape due to backing out of the collar when properly fitted. The webbing on the Pawtitas Pet Reflective Step in Dog Harness is itchy, and it’s also too wide in its smallest sizes, so it isn’t ideal for petite pups. Think of the Kurgo Tru-Fit’s design like a life vest: It fits, but the fit can be bulky or sit too low or high, depending on body shape. It hugs the dog’s body with minimal fabric that’s super-adjustable. Rating depends on the quality of the bungee leash. When your dog pulls, pressure is applied along his chest and shoulders, which turns him back towards you and makes pulling less productive She talked to five dog trainers about using harnesses as behavioral tools and interviewed four veterinarians about the health benefits of choosing the right type of harness. Gear and Tips to Help Your New Pet Feel at Home. Dog trainer, dog walker, veterinarian, breeder or dog groomer? The harness rests higher up on the neck than most styles we found, and it doesn’t have much give. Use These Tips Instead. Most of the times I've seen dogs being fitted them seem to be very uncomfortable just wearing them, pawing at their muzzle/eyes, whining, etc. The Chai’s Choice Front Range Harness is a vest-style model similar to the Kurgo, but it felt less sturdy in our testing. It’s also easy to put on and available in a variety of sizes, and it comes with a great warranty. But because it’s not a perfect world—and many places require dogs to be leashed—you should have the best tools and use them properly. Our picks—for pet beds, bowls, toys, insurance, and more—help ease the transition. Though this can make adjustability a breeze, we found it meant this harness was usually either too loose or too tight. PetSafe Easy Walk Harness for Dogs, Medium/Large, Black/Beige , 1.8 m Lead. Learn more. as preventing escape. Cons: Can cause chaffing if not fitted properly. And the belly strap is lined in velvet, offering extra cushioning under each armpit so dogs won’t chafe while wearing the harness. They could get tangled and stuck, so for the first few months, don the apparel only for walks or car rides. And the chest plate is lined with stiff cardboard, which can be confining for a dog to wear on a long walk. We favored models that have these features, as well as those that are sold at a variety of retailers, that have solid third-party reviews and strong warranties, and that are available in several sizes to accommodate various dog breeds. Cons: Some dogs can get acclimated to the pressure similar to the way they ignore collar pressure. Check Collar / We compiled potential models by browsing major retailers, pet stores, online forums, and dog blogs. Choke Collar / 8 out of 10 for the Gentle Leader, Halti Optifit and Comfort Cons: Can cause chaffing if not fitted properly. The Kurgo Tru-Fit Smart Dog Walking Harness is a great option for most dogs and their owners because it’s well made and has dual attachment points. It is an affordable, strong choice that’s styled after horse harnesses, but because it lacks a vertical chest strap between the front legs, the harness tends to wander around a dog’s frame. The trainers we spoke with said the Freedom’s front attachment on the horizontal strap, which is positioned low on the chest, is key to preventing pups from pulling. Or, if you prefer, you can use the back attachment ring for a traditional walking experience. The thing you … Training Collar. Finally, the Freedom No Pull harness is backed by a lifetime replacement warranty for chewing damage—for a fee. how to teach your dog to walk nicely on the leash. Though they may be common, back attachments can signal a dog to pull harder, because that’s what harnesses were first designed for, said trainer and author Kate Perry; she explained that they were put on sled dogs and working dogs to pull carts in tow. Both the Freedom Harness and the Halti Harness have padding to prevent that. Cons: May not teach your dog to stop pulling. We prefer harnesses that have a limit to how much they can tighten. Some testers also couldn’t get it to fit properly on their dogs, so we opted for harnesses that were easier to use and stayed secure, to ensure the safety of everyone involved. you control of the head. This can be worse in dog breeds with short snouts, such as pugs, which are known for having respiratory issues, and even more so for small dogs who have tinier windpipes. After three years of testing, we still believe the Kurgo Tru-Fit Smart Dog Walking Harness is the best harness for most dogs (and their owners). The Easy Walk Harness … This told us how likely a harness would be to trap odors after a dog spent an afternoon rolling around in unpleasant smells at the park. The Easy Walk is also the preferred choice to use on brachycephalic breeds or short-nosed dogs. On the Easy Walk, the leash attaches to the front so when the dog “pushes forward,” the harness causes a spinning movement — back to the human. Harnesses with two attachment points can also be used with two leashes, one at each point, to give you what trainer Shelby Semel calls “steering control,” which can be great for people who often feel like their dog is overpowering the walk. Pick the harness/tool you need to train with based on your training goals; Size and fit the harness properly - measure the girth for the Easy Walk; Use the harness consistently and reward the behaviors you like; For extra help in deciding between the Easy Walk … The vest is also a no-brainer to put on: Unlike with the Blue-9 Balance and PetSafe 3 in 1 Harness, there are no confusing straps on the Kurgo Tru-Fit, and it’s clear which is the front and which is the back. And the Kurgo has a lifetime warranty, but it’s against material defects only, and there’s a small fee to replace it if your dog chews through a strap. The Halti head colla r is a relative newcomer to the world of dog training accessories and is a little more complex than the Gentle Leader.. Haltis often have two straps- one wraps around the base of your dog's skull and then circles around their nose. By switching to the front attachment, you can overcome this urge in most dogs to pull, and you get greater control. Our dogs looked uncomfortable wearing this harness on walks. The 2 Hounds Design Freedom No Pull Dog Harness is the one we recommend for dog owners who want greater control over their rambunctious or large dogs. 3 out of 10 Halti's are fitted tightly across the muzzle near the eyes where a huge amount of nerve endings are located. these to be less effective, but some people like that they do not cause the dog's spine to curve at all. The Ruffwear Webmaster Dog Harness has no front attachment and too much extra material—the vest comes almost fully down the dog’s back. It can feel difficult to control your dog if you get a bungee with unlimited stretch or until you get used to The Rabbitgoo Dog Harness has thinner webbing than that used in the Kurgo and Freedom brands we recommend, and the metal hardware is larger and heavier, too. The Easy Walk is a harness that will discourage your dog from pulling by turning them to the side and redirecting their attention to you. (We recommend using a The Puppia harness is easy to wash and comes in a wide variety of colors. There are five easily changeable adjustment points for a snug fit—a snug harness gives you more control over your dog than a loose one, and it prevents the shifting we experienced with some other harnesses we tested, like the PetSafe Easy Walk. Prong Collar Dogs generally don't mind them. The Freedom harness stays put on the dog’s body with simple, strong straps that don’t constrict. Best harnesses for dogs include no-pull dog harness and easy walker dog harness. If the Velcro isn’t secure or wears down, it would be easy for a bony, contortionist canine to make their escape. No small-dog harnesses we found used front attachment points, but dogs this tiny are light enough to reposition using the rear point, if you need to correct bad behavior. The best dog harness from Chewy, Walmart, Amazon, REI and more. A harness gives you better control on walks and takes pressure off the neck if, say, your dog lunges after a squirrel. This … We preferred webbing that was thicker (because it’s unlikely to fray after long-term use) and softer, with burnished edges, so it’s more comfortable against a dog’s skin. For small dogs, the Puppia Soft Dog Harness is a better bet. Can make sensitive, fearful or aggressive dogs more fearful or aggressive. For dogs younger than this we recommend the Halti Walking Harness combined with a Halti Training Lead or Halti Walking Double Ended Lead. Comparatively, the Rabbitgoo Dog Harness is half the price of our pick, but the vest isn’t as soft, and its webbing is thinner and frays more easily, too. (For reducing pulling it is not that effective but it is a good collar for other purposes such We like that your Rottweiler will be comfortable and easy to control with this dog harness, plus it’s super easy to put on! You may get used to its design over time, but compared with the Kurgo, it’s overly complicated. The manufacturer advises adding ¼ to ½ inch to the neck measurement, and measuring at the base of the neck for a proper fit. Halti Dog Harness. The Kurgo Tru-Fit harness fits dogs with chests measuring 12 to 44 inches, or weighing from 5 to 110 pounds. 4.1 out of 5 stars 430. Pros: Dog doesn't generally mind having it put on. the way it stretches. I use the easy walk harnes and the sensible harness (have 2 easy walks and 1 sensible) with foster dogs who pull. Pros: Best for very strong pullers and aggressive dogs since it gives Even though the harness fits dogs with chests from 9 to 41 inches—say, a 3½-pound Chihuahua to a 60-pound Lab—we don’t recommend using it for non-toy breeds due to the lack of a front attachment. The Easy Walk Harness protects your dog's neck by preventing pressure over your dog’s throat and neck, which is especially important for toy breeds that can be susceptible to tracheal damage. (Pugs, Boxers, etc) The recommended fit of the nose loop on the Gentle Leader is not always … This dog harness … When the dog pulls, the points on the collar come together to pinch the skin on the neck causing discomfort and discouraging pulling. Harnesses that tighten under the front legs or around the belly. Click for our article on Other gear marketed to help correct a dog’s pulling can cause too much pressure on the neck, such as choke chains. If you share your bed with a pet, some simple strategies and durable gear can help protect against accidents and keep your space clean and comfortable. The construction and straps are durable, and there’s a bit of velvet under each armpit strap, for extra comfort and as a clear identifier as to which strap goes where. We noted which ones have special features, such as multiple attachment points, a control handle, reflective trim, and padding. PetSafe Easy Walk Dog Harness. If you do use a harness, the experts reminded us that puppies younger than a few months shouldn’t wear a collar or harness 24/7. Items with a rating under 5 are not generally recommended by Pet Expertise. Only the 2 Hounds Design Freedom No Pull Dog Harness surpassed it, by accommodating dogs weighing from 14 to 250 pounds (the Freedom’s traditional strap style offers more size flexibility than Kurgo’s vest-style harness). And cleaning required only regular detergent and the delicate cycle on a washing machine; it took two washes to totally get rid of any vinegar smells from our testing—on a par with most of the other harnesses we looked at. Easy to put on. 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