Best Dog Leashes and Harnesses for Every Dog Size + Pulling
Harnesses are a great way to help keep your dog safe and comfortable while you’re out and about in the world; they are usually made of a soft and comfortable fabric designed to give your dog free movement without the restriction of a collar.
Do you walk your dog, or does your dog walk you? Harnesses can be especially beneficial for dogs who tend to pull on the leash. While the harness is unlikely to completely stop the pulling behaviour, even those specifically designed to discourage pulling, it can cause less damage to your dog’s body (and yours) than pulling on a collar will. Pulling on the leash with just a collar can cause neck, throat, trachea, and even back damage. There’s a lot of pressure being forced into that narrow band of material around their neck. Harnesses distribute the pressure more evenly over their shoulders and back, the muscles made for pulling, so they cause fewer injuries and help your dog stay healthy.
If you have a dog who pulls a lot, it’s best to work with a reputable trainer who can help your dog learn to walk on a looser leash. Switching to a harness won’t necessarily end the problem, but it’s a step in the right direction!
General Harnesses
Harnesses designed just for general walking are made of soft material that won’t irritate your dog’s skin or hair and won’t put pressure on their neck. Many of them have multiple attachment points for the leash, so you can choose where to clip on depending on activities. These days, many options can also be used as a car restraint to keep your dog safer in the vehicle.
There are two main styles of harness, step-in or over-the-head types. Step-in harnesses are generally the simplest to put on.
Buddy Belts
Buddy Belts are Canadian-made harnesses. Because they’re made with high-quality leather, they last a long time and look beautiful. They’re a step-in-style with a single buckle on the back and multiple holes for adjustment, like a belt designed to protect the trachea. They come in a beautiful array of colours, including metallics! Make your dog a fashionista with a whole wardrobe of stylish Buddy Belts! (Fido down the street will be jealous.)
RC Pets Step-in Cirque
The RC Pets Cirque harness is another step-in style. It is made of strong, soft, and breathable fabric to prevent overheating. The fabric part of the harness does up on the back with two strong hook-and-lock closures, which makes it very customizable to your dog’s size and shape. The leash then attaches to two metal loops on the back.
Ezy Dog Chest Plate
The Ezy Dog chest plate harness has an ergonomically designed chest piece that helps to distribute pressure evenly to prevent injuries. The chest piece is breathable and fast-drying and has foam that forms to your dog’s shape. The straps are smooth webbing, and there are two clips near the top of the harness. This harness features reflective stitching and comes with a seatbelt attachment—perfect for all your adventures together!
No-Pull Harnesses
There are several different types of harnesses that are designed to discourage pulling. You may need to try more than one to find out what is best for your dog. If your dog is a relentless puller, it’s best to get in touch with a reputable trainer, as just switching to a no-pull harness may not solve the problem.
Most no-pull harnesses have a front clip attachment style, which is supposed to reduce pulling since it turns the dog back towards you when it pulls too hard. Some no-pulling styles have multiple leash attachment options, and some can be used as car restraints as well.
Silverfoot Front Lead Harness
The Silverfoot Front Lead harness is a classic front clip harness. It has a strap around the rib cage and then a strap across the front of the chest. It has multiple adjustment points to customize the fit to your dog. They’re super easy to put on and come in a wide range of colours and patterns. Silverfoot harnesses aren’t just Canadian; they’re made just down the coast in Squamish!
RC Pets Momentum Control
The RC Pets Momentum Control harness is made of sturdy, breathable fabric that evenly distributes pressure and prevents overheating. It has 5 points of adjustment for a custom fit and reflective piping. There are three leash attachment points and a handle to help your dog when scrambling over rough terrain.
RC Pets Tempo No Pull
The RC Pets Tempo no-pull harness has adjustable smooth webbing straps and a chest piece to distribute pressure. It does up on the sides with clips and has a front and back leash attachment point. The back attachment is a martingale style that tightens up to discourage pulling. It also has reflective piping.
Leashes
There are many different styles and lengths of leashes available. If you’ve got a dog that loves water, check out the RC Pets nylon leashes, they dry quickly and are easy to wash the mud off of. If you want something that’s beautiful and comfortable in your hand, try a leather leash. They’ll feel a little stiff at first, but before too long, they’ll soften to the perfect shape for your hand and last for a long time. If you have a dog that pulls or if you get out into difficult terrain a lot, try out the Rok Strap bungee leash, which absorbs shock from sudden movements and will put less strain on you and your dog. The Rok Strap leashes are also reflective.
If you’d like to try out a harness for your dog, visit Mother Nature. We’ve got many different styles of harnesses in stock and can help you find the right fit for your dog!