How To Buy Dog Harness

how to buy dog harness – The Ultimate Buyer’s Guide in 2021

How To Buy Dog Harness

  • Buying Guide

A neck collar is perfect for your dog until he starts to pull. In such cases, a harness is the best type of collar to go with. Dogs who indulge themselves in unnecessary pulling or jumping are hard to train with the collar.

 The constant tugging and pulling can cause an increase in the IOP and serious neck injuries, which in severe cases, can result in death as well.

Harnesses are quite popular among professional dog trainers, but nowadays, even dog owners have started to invest in them to train their dogs successfully at home.

 If you are here, then you are probably planning on getting a harness for your dog.

Don’t know much about it? Not to worry because today, in this buyer’s guide, we are going to be discussing every aspect of a dog harness in detail so that you can easily get the perfect one for your dog. So continue reading to find out more about dog harnesses.

How To Buy Dog Harness

What is a Dog Harness?

A dog harness is much like a vest. It comes with multiple straps or wrapped strings that you can easily tie around your dog’s neck, chest, and even hips in certain cases to keep him under control. The good thing about a dog harness is that it is quite diverse.

You can use a harness for multiple reasons. The main reason why many dog owners tend to invest in harnesses is to train their dogs and avoid tugging and pulling. 

On the other hand, you will notice that not only is a harness perfect for training but also provides support to the troubled and injured dogs.

What are the Different Types of Dog Harnesses?

A harness can be used for multiple purposes. Manufacturers have come up with their own set of harnesses in different designs and styles. There is a wide range of options out there for you to choose from, but it is best to go with the harness that would be best suited for your dog. Here are the different types of dog harnesses categorized on the basis of design, function, and fit that you can find in the market.

Design

There are three different types of harness designs. The design is basically based on the position of the D Ring. This means the position, whether back or front, where you can attach the leash and take control over your dog’s actions.

· Front-Clip

A front clip dog harness is a harness that comes with a D ring on the front of the harness. Mostly it is positioned in the center of the chest so that you can easily clip on the leash and have more control over the dog’s forward motion.

These harnesses are perfect for dogs that like to pull and jump in excitement. You can easily pull the leash, and it would help you redirect your dog’s attention towards you. But in case of aggressive dogs, front clip harnesses aren’t the best option as they don’t provide much control.

· Back-Clip

Back clip dog harnesses come with a single D ring attached in between the shoulder blades. Since there is only one anchor point; thus, it immediately helps you redirect the dog’s attention in the forward direction. They do provide you with more control over your dog’s pulling behavior than a leash but not as much as a front clip harness.

The good thing about these harnesses is that they don’t put pressure on the dog’s neck. Instead, the pressure is applied to the back. Thus these harnesses are best for small dogs or for dogs with neck injuries or breathing problems.

· Dual Clip

A dual clip harness is the one that comes with multiple D rings attached both in the back and in the front. This makes the harness more versatile. Thus, you can use it on all your dogs. They are quite popular among professional trainers due to the mixed advantages that they have to offer.

Although, they seem like the perfect combination, but some dogs often tend to get annoyed or irritated by the additional D rings attached. Plus, owners begin to depend too much on the harness and fail to train the dogs to walk on their own.

Purpose

Although all harnesses are designed to provide control over the dog’s behavior. But there are some that are designed for specific purposes. Here is how they are categorized;   

· Mobility Harness

A mobility harness, as the name suggests, is designed to assist a dog that is undergoing mobility-related issues. It is like a complete lifting kit that provides support to your dog’s hips, back, and chest. This is the dog harness with handle so you can easily help your dog with mobility. It is best for old dogs, dogs with broken or damaged limbs, or dogs that came out of surgery.

· Tightening Harness

If you are looking for a no pull dog harness, then the tightening harness is the best option for you. These are the harnesses that are designed to put pressure on the dogs every time they right to pull away from you. They are designed to create a bit of discomfort to redirect the dog’s attention and to train him to avoid unwanted behaviors. They are best for dogs that get excited too much or are stubborn pullers.

Proper Fit

On the basis of the fitting of the dog harness, they are divided into two main categories.

· Step-in Harness

A step-in harness comes in the shape of figure eight. Simply place the front legs of the dog in between the spaces and clip both the ends at the back of the dog. The good thing is that these harnesses provide the perfect fit for small dogs and give you great control. But at the same time aren’t widely available for large-sized dogs.

· Roman Harness

A roman harness is a harness that comes with two straps crossed on top of one another. One strap goes around the shoulder blades while the second one goes around the chest of the dog. Both the straps are clipped at the back of the dog in between the shoulder blades or under the chest.

They work much like front and back clip collars. But if you are wondering how to put on a dog harness easy walk, then we would say that it might be a bit hard to put on stubborn dogs.

FAQ

  • 1. Why is a Dog Harness Better than a Collar?

A dog harness is better than a dog because it provides you with more control over the dog’s behavior and protects the dog from neck injuries. 

According to a study conducted by the Department of Surgical Sciences at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, “Intraocular pressure increased significantly from baseline when pressure was applied via a collar but not via a harness.” 

This proves that a harness is the best option for stubborn dogs who like to pull. 

  • 2. How to Measure the Strength of the Dog Harness?

Dog harnesses come in two different durability designs. One is single-ply while the other one is two-ply. Single-ply harnesses only come with a single layer of material, whereas two-ply harnesses are made up of double layers of material.

 In both cases, the most common materials used are nylon webbing or leather. It is obvious that the two-ply design is much more durable and offers more strength as compared to a single-ply harness.

  • 3. How to Get the Right Sized Harness For Your Dog?

It is very important that you get the right size when it comes to buying a harness. You would only be able to put the harness on easily and comfortably if you get the right size. Follow the steps below to measure the size that would be best suited for your dog.

  • Tape a small measuring tape and place it above the breastbone of your dog and measure it all the way down to the back of the neck. This will give you the neck size for the harness.
  • Next, take the measuring take and put it around the widest part of your dog’s chest. This varies from dog to dog, so check for the widest part to get the correct measurements. This will give you the measurements for the girth.
  • Now add two fingers of space in each of the measurements to ensure that the size doesn’t become too tight
  • And that is it. You have the perfect harness size for your dog.
  • 4. What features should I look for when buying a dog harness?

Buying a dog harness is much like buying a dog collar. It is almost the same, but if you are not sure, then here are the few important features that you need to consider before buying the dog harness.

  • Type of harness
  • Size of the harness
  • Material and the padding
  • Strength and durability of the harness
  • Additional features

Considering these features will help you choose the best dog harnesses for your dogs. Keep a lookout for all of them before you make the purchase to be sure that you are getting the right harness for your dog, which will meet your requirements.

  • Conclusion

When it comes to buying a dog harness, as an owner, it is very important that you do your research and keep all the aspects in mind before you make the purchase. Dogs, like other animals, are highly sensitive; thus, you need to the best dog harness that is durable, comfortable, and provides you with control over your dog’s behavior. So read the guide carefully to choose the right dog harness vest for your dog.

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