How to Put on a Dog Harness

Different harness styles will need different measurements, but the most common two are the girth of the ribs where the harness will usually sit and the girth around the neck where you often slip the harness over the head. Most harnesses will sit around their chest which is the most common measurement needed by any brand of harness. Weight is also a good measurement to know to be able to pick out the right harness.

If you’re having trouble then many harnesses offer a guide based on the breed of dog you have so if you have a purebred dog, it can be helpful when having to do some guesswork.

A well fitted harness should be both not too loose and not too tight. If the harness is too big for your pup, then it might just not do its job in keeping them secure. Legs can slip through to be in the wrong place and if they do decide to pull after seeing something exciting like a potential doggy friend, they can either injure themselves or wriggle out of the harness. Leaving you to play a game of chase to recapture your pup.

A harness shouldn’t be too tight either, if it’s fitted too tight then your pup might be secure, but you can find that the material might rub against their chest or under their legs where skin can be thin and quite sensitive.

If you notice any loss of fur or see their skin looking sore, it’s a clear sign that the harness is too tight for your pooch. You should be able to slide your fingers fairly easily between the harness and your pup when it’s fitted. If it’s too tight it can restrict movement and make your canine companion uncomfortable while out on walks.

A vest style harness is super supportive and a great choice for puppies. Distributing their weight evenly means it’s one of the best choices for growing joints and bones to avoid stressing any particular joints.

There are a few styles of vest harnesses, the most common being a style that you pop over their head. The Doodlebone Airmesh Dog Harness is a very typical style of vest harness. They can be a bit fiddly, especially if you have a wriggly puppy, but with patience and few toy distractions, once it on, it’s the perfect balance of secure and supportive.

This style goes over the head, once over the head you will have to lift a leg to insert through a strap and then draw the clip behind the other leg to fasten at the back.

A different style of vest harness is the Doodlebone Originals Aqua 5-8 Dog Harness. It gives similar support and is nice and padded but offers its own challenges. This harness needs to be stepped into so both legs need to be inserted into the leg holes before it can be pulled around their body and fastened against their back. It’s great for dogs who are a little shy about putting their heads through a harness.

Harnesses that are designed to stop pulling can have some moving parts like the Company of Animals Non-Pull Dog Harness. This harness is designed to be fitted over the head with legs lifted through the leg holes. It’s easy to put on considering how wide the leg holes are.

This non-pull harness works by shortening the length of the leg holes as your pup pulls, so restricts in order to slow them down. They’re great for dogs that are more likely to change direction quickly rather than pull the whole walk as excess pulling can cause the skin to start to rub.

If you have a pooch that pulls like a train the whole walk, while you work on training them to walk nicely, a harness can help reduce their pulling. A harness with two points of contact, one at the back and one at the chest, is great because you can attach a training lead to both. Having a lead that attaches to two points of a harness allows for greater control for prolific pullers.

Dogs aren’t born knowing how to wear a harness. It’s a new and strange concept to them, which some pups don’t naturally take to. It’s important to allow your dog time to get used to wearing a harness and letting them gain their confidence with it.

Whether you have a puppy or an adult dog, letting them explore and sniff the harness first will encourage them to explore it at their own speed. Instead of just putting it on them, let them get used to every step gradually and be sure to reward them for any progress. They should get a treat for first sniffing it, then putting their head through it or legs into it and then doing it up. Every step of the way should come with lots of encouragement.

Wearing a harness should be a positive interaction, some pups may not even be ready to go out walking with the lead attached to their harness right off the bat. You can walk them on the collar while wearing the harness just to get them used to wearing it before you add any pressure with the lead.

Harnesses are good for most dogs as they keep pressure from applying around the neck. Collars can damage the throat if you have a pup that’s likely to ping around and pull against it, so harnesses are great for changing where the pressure is applied to avoid hurting your pup.

A harness rarely causes issues as long as it is fitted properly and isn’t hanging off your pup or too tight and restricting their movements. For all of your doggy essentials including harnesses for force free walkies, take a look in store and online!