Pet harnesses-The 9 Best Dog Harnesses of 2024

Last Updated on February 6, 2024 by Aftab Tariq

Pet harnesses are an essential accessory for every dog owner. These adjustable body harnesses come in various colors to suit different preferences and weather conditions. They provide control and comfort for your dog during walks, ensuring you and your four-legged friend enjoy the experience.

The right dog harness can be a favorite for your pet, as it ensures a snug fit without causing any unnecessary pressure. With various harness shapes and sizes available, training your dog becomes a breeze, promoting visibility during excursions.

Most harnesses feature leash attachment points made from durable materials, ensuring that your dog stays secure and well-supported during every walk. Whether you have one dog or multiple dogs, a high-quality pet harness can be a game-changer, making your outings more enjoyable for you and your furry companion. Mahatma Gandhi says:

“The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated.” 

List of Pet Harnesses

Here is the list of pet dog harness for small dogs.

1. Blue-9 Buckle Balance Harness

The Blue-9 Balance Harness is a unique and innovative dog harness with nine adjustment points, ensuring a perfect fit for dogs of all shapes and sizes. With a clever Y-neck design, this harness helps distribute pressure and control without restricting your dog’s movement.

The front and back attachment points provide flexibility during training and walks, making teaching your dog proper leash etiquette easy. The durable and comfortable harness is constructed with a chew warranty in mind, so even the most enthusiastic chewers won’t damage it.

The Balance Harness is available in a wide range of sizes and hues, giving you the freedom to choose the model that best complements the color webbing of your dog’s collar or the aesthetic preferences you have for your design.

It is a dependable option that you may use to ensure that your dog is comfortable and visible on any excursion. The Blue-9 Balance Harness is more than just a harness; it’s a solution that makes life easier for you and your furry friend, whether you have nine, five, or two legs.

2. Ruff Wear, Front-Range Dog Harness

The Ruff wear Front Range Dog Harness is a fantastic choice for your dog. It offers 360-degree adjustment points, five sizes, and four colors. Whether you have a Siberian husky or a smaller pup, this harness will fit them comfortably.

It includes a convenient ID pocket for contact information and tags, as well as two leash connection points for walking or training with your pet harness and leash.

The harness is well-made, durable, and comfy for your dog, and it’s a safer option than a traditional collar. This harness is perfect for all your walks and outdoor adventures, making life easier for you and your furry friend.

3. Coastal Pet K9 Explorer Reflective Dog Harness

 

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The Coastal Pet K9 Explorer Reflective Dog Harness caught our attention with its simple and user-friendly design, a refreshing change from the complexity of other options. Easy to put on with a quick clasp at the back, it performed admirably in our tests as a lightweight and comfortable step-in harness.

The Coastal Pet K9 Explorer is a lightweight hybrid thanks to its robust yet comfortable padded chest plate, making it ideal for warm climates. Its padded chest plate offers both support and breathability, becoming our go-to choice during daily walks, much like the trusted Ruffwear Front Range. This beginner-friendly harness easily snaps into place, featuring a helpful tag and diagram for straightforward use.

Despite having only two adjustment points, it provides a secure fit for various dog shapes. The inclusion of metal D rings adds an extra layer of safety, ensuring sturdiness even if the plastic buckle is lost. Tested on different dogs, it proves to be tough and dependable. The strong metal hardware and reflective stripes for visibility make it a practical choice for dog owners.

4. Puppia Soft Dog Harness Small

 

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Keep your toy or miniature dog secure and comfy with the Puppia Soft Harness—a snug, adjustable vest. Ideal for little dogs like Chihuahuas, its stretchy fabric and simple design make it easy to fit.

With three sizes, even a 3.5-pound Chihuahua can find a perfect match. The Puppia stands out for its user-friendly features, ensuring a secure fit and easy handling on walks. Say goodbye to discomfort and hassle with this small-dog-friendly harness!

The recent reviewer loved how comfy and easy to use the Puppia vest is. The soft inside, which prevents any discomfort, pairs well with the smooth and slightly bouncy polyester mesh that makes up the vest. Suzi, a small terrier mix, and her owner Shelley Friedman found the Puppia super easy to use, and Suzi was totally relaxed during walks.

Unlike nylon straps or a universal head-in design, a flexible fabric structure can provide a snugger fit for little dogs, such as the one from the Ruffwear harness Front Range.

If this happens to you, you can hand-wash it or use a lint roller or dedicated pet hair removal tool like the Chom Chom Pet Hair Remover or Black+Decker Pet Hair Remover.

Extensive testing has shown the brand’s reliability over the long term. Wirecutter has endorsed Puppia since 2017, and an employee has been using the Ritefit variant on their 30-pound puppy since 2019, reporting that it remains durable with an additional adjustment point at the neck.

5. Kurgo Tru-Fit Smart Dog Walking Harness

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The Kurgo Tru-Fit Smart Dog Walking Harness, favored by Wire cutter, stands out for its sturdy build, lightweight design, and easy application. It boasts a lifetime warranty, is quick to put on, and features clear front and back markings. With durable straps and adjustable lengths, it ensures a comfortable and secure fit for dogs during walks.

The Tru-Fit comes equipped with a seatbelt attachment, although its safety during vehicle motion hasn’t been personally tested. Nevertheless, the included 10-inch travel strap proves useful in securing your dog and preventing them from leaping into your lap. Kurgo Tru-Fit stands out from the other harnesses we evaluated, such as the Blue-9 Balance Harness, thanks to its clearly marked front and back sides.

Kurgo offers a range of crash-tested automobile safety harnesses, ideal for extended car journeys with your dog. If a seatbelt strap, pet harness for car, or automobile harness isn’t available, Trout recommends crating your dog in the car as the safest alternative. For further details on crash-tested harnesses, you can refer to the Center for Pet Safety.

6. Kong Durable Neoprene Max

 

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We tested Kong Max, the latest dog toy, with our energetic 10-month-old chocolate Lab, Jolene. Highly recommended for large breeds like Labrador Retrievers, it’s durable and perfect for tough play. Kong Max stands out with robust hardware, including thick metal D rings and buckles.

While excellent for water-loving dogs, pullers, and heavy chewers, be cautious in colder climates as the metal can get chilly. The strong nylon straps and neoprene-lined chest plate make it resilient, akin to wetsuit material. Navigating the Kong Max harness is a breeze with its four easy adjustment points.

The only other harness we tested with a handle was the Copatchy, and we didn’t see handles often in our product research. The front clip helps redirect your dog’s pulling, similar to Jolene’s successful training. Featuring metal D rings for security, the harness maintains its form during strong pulls. A rare find, the Kong Max also includes a handle, praised by customers for its practicality.

The neoprene-lined top handle on this ‘dog harness with handle’ provides additional protection, which is especially beneficial for small dogs. According to Corinne Buchanan of Woofsmeow, it’s a safe and quick way to handle your dog in unexpected situations, like encountering a coyote on a trail.

7. 2 Hounds Design Freedom Dog Harness No Pull

The 2 Hounds Design Freedom No-Pull Dog Harness is great for dog owners who want good control during walks. It has two attachment points on the back and two on the front, giving you options for a leash connection.

The nylon straps are durable, even with a leash holder on the back to help you stay in control. So, whether you’re dealing with a dog with a lot of energy or want more enjoyable walks, this harness can make it easier. Additionally, please note that you pay $13 to ship the harness back to the manufacturer for a replacement.

8. Gooby Comfort X Step-In Harness- Medium

 

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The Gooby Comfort X Step-In Harness is an excellent choice for small dogs, especially those with flat faces like pugs and Bulldogs. Crafted from soft mesh, this harness is designed to be gentle on their necks and chests, promoting better breathing for breeds with short snouts.

Our experience with the harness, particularly with our English Bulldog, Peaches, has been positive. The broad, light, and flexible straps distribute weight without causing discomfort, eliminating issues such as digging, chafing, or pinching. Unlike some step-in harnesses with tight nylon straps, the Gooby is particularly suitable for delicate dogs. Its minimalistic design ensures that dogs prone to overheating, like Peaches, stay cool and content.

Putting on the Gooby Comfort X step in dog harness is a breeze – just have your dog step in, fasten it, and adjust for a perfect fit. The lightweight, unique X-shaped design features a mesh that retains hair but is easy to wash.

Two metal D-rings for leash attachment and a quick-release clasp add to the convenience. Available in various colors, this machine-washable harness stands out, thanks to Lindsay Hunter Lopez’s creative touch.

9. Voyager Step-In Air Dog Harness

 

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The Voyager Step-In Air Dog Harness is our second choice for small dog harnesses, standing out among the options available. Crafted from the same gentle material as the Puppia, it features a soft polyester mesh with lightly cushioned fleece edges. Notably, the two harnesses vary in their attachment methods.

For fidgety dogs, choose the Voyager Step-In over the Puppia. It’s easy to use with a secure buckle and Velcro strap for a snug fit around the neck. Unlike the Puppia, it has a back leash attachment for added control.

The Voyager Step-In offers triple security with a buckle, D rings, and reflective strips. It’s recommended for small, lively dogs like Suzi. The Air’s back leash connection is also great for little ones who don’t pull too hard.

Buying Guides for a Dog Harness

·  Types of harnesses

Many different kinds of tackles are necessary for dogs:

Back Clip Harness: This is the most common harness type, suitable for dogs with basic walking or jogging needs. On the rear of the harness is where you’ll find the metal D-ring that comes standard.

Antenna Clip in the Front: These are often referred to as “no-pull harnesses,” their primary purpose is to teach dogs to walk without pulling on their owner’s leash. The D-ring is attached to the top of the harness, directly in the middle of the dog’s chest.

Harness with Two Clips: These adaptable harnesses come with a clip option for both the front and the rear. A good number of our top options include designs that use two clips.

Step-In Harness: A great alternative for dogs that resist collars and leashes that go over their heads, the step-in design involves the dog stepping into two large loops that form the harness, which is pulled up and buckled behind them.

Safety Harness: Primarily used in vehicles, these harnesses attach to the seatbelt to keep dogs safe and secure during car rides.

Day-Pack Harness: For dogs that need to carry provisions or accessories, a day-pack harness allows them to wear everything they need on their back.

·  Dog Harness vs. Dog Collar

Your dog’s size, attitude, and training goals should be considered when deciding between a harness and a collar. The Freedom No-Pull Harness, available from 2 Hounds Design, is a great option for controlling your dog on walks, especially if your dog is very large or has a propensity to pull.

Harnesses distribute the force across the chest and back, reducing the risk of trachea damage in small breeds. On the other hand, collars are often preferred for identification and quick leash attachment with a leash clip.

Most dogs do well with collars, and it’s the preferred pick for many. Choosing between a harness and a collar depends on your dog’s unique needs and your preferences for comfortable and controlled walking.

·  Material

Choosing Materials for dog harnesses is essential to maintain comfort and control during your dog’s walks. Saddles are designed with different materials, each serving a specific purpose.

Nylon is popular for its durability, while polyester offers a lightweight and easy-to-clean option. Many harnesses incorporate metal components to enhance their strength and resistance to damage and breakage, ensuring they withstand the strain of active dogs during walks and training.

To provide additional comfort and prevent chafing, harnesses are equipped with padding in key areas, distributing the weight evenly for your dog’s well-being. The type of material used significantly impacts the overall comfort and safety of the harness, making it crucial to select the right option for your pup.

·  Sizing and Fit

When it comes to Sizing and Fit for harnesses, paying close attention to the details is crucial. Proper sizing considers your dog’s weight, chest diameter, and circumference to ensure a comfortable fit. Avoid the discomfort that can result from chafing or rubbing.

To find the right size, measure your dog’s chest and girth and follow the manufacturer’s recommendations. Remember to leave some room for comfort and movement. When trying on the harness, you are supposed to be able to put two fingers in the spaces between the collar and your dog’s skin to guarantee a comfortable fit.

It is the litmus test for a proper fit. Avoid common sizing errors, as an ill-fitting harness can lead to problems during walks or other activities. With careful sizing and a trial process, you can find the perfect saddle for your pup, ensuring their comfort and safety.

· Training

How the harness is constructed is an extremely important consideration when it comes to the process of teaching your dog how to walk while wearing one. Training harnesses are specifically crafted to make corralling your pup more manageable.

The right harness design provides better control during your walks and jogs. It ensures your dog’s safety and your ability to guide them effectively. These training harnesses are engineered to meet the unique needs of both new and experienced dog owners, making training a smoother and more enjoyable experience.

Sources 

Zach Neumann, Chewy product expert

Dr. Hao-Yu Shih, PhD, animal behaviorist, Zoom

Epi Gumatay, Glendale Pet Resort owner, trainer

Kim Erickson, Canine Republic owner, trainer

Woofsmeow