This month, Kiki Yablon, KPA CTP, CPDT-KA, shares tips on making sure your dog’s harness is both comfortable and effective.
There is no perfect dog-walking equipment—especially from the dog’s perspective. Who among us wouldn’t prefer to be able to go where we want, when we want, at the speed we want?
Unfortunately, in the city, some kind of equipment is necessary. First, that’s the law. But also, because behavior is always a response to environmental conditions, it’s never 100 percent reliable. Your dog may have proven his ability to attend to you around squirrels, bikes, and funny hats—but along comes a squirrel wearing a funny hat, while riding a bike, and all is lost.
My goal is that whatever we’re using for restraint is a backup, and my job as the dog’s walking companion is to make it as unobtrusive as possible.
For most dogs, harnesses are my first choice, even if the dog can walk nicely on a flat collar. In particular, of those I’ve had experience with, I like Balance Harness by Lori Stevens (which is what I’m currently using with my own dog) and for management of pulling, the Freedom Harness by 2 Hounds Design. The modular Perfect Fit gets stellar reviews from colleagues, but I haven’t tried it. For very small dogs, I lean toward soft, vest-style harnesses.
Many others have written about why harnesses are a good choice, and I won’t spend time on that here. Instead, I’d like to talk about how to fit a harness, specifically some of the popular brands used to deter pulling in dogs who haven’t yet learned to walk on a loose leash.
Most of these harnesses have a front clip on the strap that goes across the dog’s chest. When the leash is attached to this clip, when the dog pulls, the pressure he feels encourages a turn to his side. But these harnesses are frequently fitted too loosely and/or with the chest strap too low. When the latter happens, the dogs look (and walk) a bit like they’re wearing their pants around their ankles.
WHY SHOULD MY DOG WEAR A HARNESS OVER A COLLAR?
If your dog is a puller or an escape artist, or if you’re training or lifting your dog, your dog should probably wear a harness. When a dog pulls on a normal collar, they tend to choke themselves. All that pressure on their trachea (throat) can actually damage it and cause breathing problems. Harnesses are much safer and more comfortable for dogs that pull, as they distribute pressure across a larger, less sensitive area (the chest). Still not sure if you should ditch the dog collar? Check out our guide on when dogs need to wear a harness.
HOW SHOULD A DOG HARNESS SHOULD FIT
There are many different kinds of dog harnesses, and each type of harness will have a slightly different style and fit. In general, a dog harness should fit snug, but not too tight. It should be tight enough that your dog can’t back out of it, and the ring (that you clip the leash to) should sit higher on their chest. Just like with a collar, you should be able to fit two fingers (but only two!) between the harness and your dog.
Halti No Pull Harness – How to fit and use
“A dog that’s constantly pulling is frustrating for owners who just want to go on a nice, leisurely walk,” says Mary Huntsberry, a certified animal behaviorist and owner of Helping Pets Behave in Gaithersburg, Maryland.
If you find yourself being dragged on your daily walks, it might be time to consider your options when it comes to dog walking supplies. A dog harness made specifically to discourage pulling, for example, can help you gain more control on your walk and improve your pup’s dog leash skills. By using a no-pull dog harness, you can help make walks more enjoyable and prevent your dog from hurting herself.