The Best Dog Harnesses (2024) for every activity

Opting for the best dog harnesses is a wise choice, as they are designed to ensure your canine companion experiences utmost comfort during walks. These harnesses are expertly engineered to evenly distribute the pressure applied by the leash across your dog’s body. Not only do they enhance your control over your pet, but they also effectively discourage pulling during strolls. Our rigorous testing, conducted with dogs of various sizes in real-world scenarios, reaffirms the superior performance of these best dog harnesses.

Hence, they prove to be an excellent choice for most outings with your furry friend. We looked for things like materials that don’t get damaged by the weather, bright colors for better visibility, great adjustability, and leash attachment places that help with training and control. But it’s important to find the right size for your dog because that will decide which harness is best for them. To make sure the collar fits right, it’s best to measure your dog ahead of time.

Alison Buehler, a certified professional dog trainer (CPDT-KA) and certified separation anxiety trainer (CSAT) from Dharma Dog NYC, suggests measuring your dog to narrow down your choices and make sure they are comfortable. After a lot of testing, the Ruffwear Front Range is our top pick for a dog collar. It can be adjusted in many places, comes in a variety of attractive colors, and won’t rub or get in the way of your dog’s moves. But there are other great leashes we also love that may be a better fit for you and your dog.

Best Dog Harnesses Comparison Table

Ruffwear Front Range Dog Harness

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A well-fitting harness is important for your dog’s comfort and to keep him from getting out while you walk. The Ruffwear Front Range Dog Harness comes in five sizes, from xx-small to large/x-large. Each size has four adjustment places, so it can fit a wide range of dogs.

The foam-padded, over-the-shoulder harness is made to be soft and comfy, so it won’t rub or bother your dog. Even though our tester was a young, active Siberian Husky, it only took a few minutes to put on and fix the Ruffwear Front Range harness. This was true even though the dog was excited to go for a walk.

Blue-9 Balance Harness

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The Blue-9 Balance Harness has a simple design that works really well to fit a dog’s body without getting in the way. It comes in five sizes and has six places of adjustment, so you can find a way to put it on your dog that won’t rub or get in the way of his movement.

The strap that needs to be facing up on your dog’s back is always a different color fabric than the rest of the harness. This helps you make sure you’re putting the harness on right. It has a Y-neck design in front that fits higher on your dog’s neck, but still below where a collar would sit, so it doesn’t get in the way of their front legs.

Kurgo Tru-Fit Smart Dog Walking Harness

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The Kurgo Tru-Fit Smart Dog Walking Harness stands out because it has a vest shape that doesn’t squeeze a dog’s neck like a standard harness does when someone pulls on the leash to get the dog’s attention away from, say, a running rabbit or an enticing smell. This harness is made of strong, long-lasting materials that won’t easily pill, tear when hit by sharp dog nails, or break when pulled and played with normally. Its two attachment places on the back and lower chest make it easier for owners to walk their dogs.

The Kurgo Tru-Fit leash is made for dogs that weigh between 5 and 110 pounds or have chests that measure between 12 and 44 inches. That’s a big range of sizes, but it doesn’t cover all pets. Both our smallest and biggest testers couldn’t wear this harness easily, so if your dog is on the larger or smaller end of the spectrum, check out our other picks. Kurgo offers a lifetime guarantee, but it only covers problems with the way it was made. If your dog chews through a strap, you’ll have to pay a small fee to get a new harness.

2 Hounds Design Freedom No Pull Dog Harness

Even if you think you have a good hold on your 100-pound monster’s leash, you can’t predict when they’ll suddenly lunge at a cat running across the street. The 2 Hounds Design Freedom No Pull Dog Harness is the one we suggest for owners of big or active dogs who want more control over them. It has a horizontal connection point along the lower chest, not at the neck like our top pick, and a belly strap that goes behind the armpits.

This lower attachment point makes it easier for dog owners to control their pets because it spreads the force of a dog’s movement more widely. Or, if you’d rather, you can use the back connection ring to walk like you normally would. We also like the Freedom No Pull model for bigger dogs because it comes in a wider range of sizes than our other picks. It can fit dogs weighing 14 to 250 pounds or with chests measuring 14 to 44 inches.

Rabbitgoo No-Pull Pet Harness

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Dog owners can customize the Rabbitgoo No-Pull Harness with a range of colors and sizes. “This harness definitely prevented any extra pulling and enabled better control during our walks,” remarked one tester. With four adjustable straps to restrain your dog, the Good Housekeeping Institute rated this harness top ratings for fit. It has two leash-connection points and a front clip to prevent pulling.

Early morning and late night walks benefit from the easy-release side buckles and reflective stripes. This harness’s padded panels and durability impressed our testers. One even said the harness seemed heavy-duty and would survive many long treks. The back handle lets you grab your dog quickly if they lunge toward other dogs or distractions. We found it hard to adjust the straps and the directions were limited, but normal dog owners and walkers shouldn’t have a problem.

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