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Showing posts with label adjustable dog harness. Show all posts
Showing posts with label adjustable dog harness. Show all posts

Wednesday, January 18, 2017

Product Review: Timberwolf Sequoia Standard Harness

Timberwolf's Sequoia Standard Harness is made from the same soft braided webbing as their Sequoia collars. The straps are soft with rounded edges to prevent chafing. This Roman-style harness is available in nine colors and five sizes to fit dogs with chests 10-40" around.
Soft braided dog harness
Photo by Erin Koski

Timberwolf has been around since 1996, their braided collars and leashes have a reputation for lasting forever. It turns out they make harnesses too! Their Standard Harness is indeed a standard harness, with a buckle on the right side. The dog's left front leg must be lifted over the belly strap when putting the harness on.

This is a classic design, it allows total freedom of movement while staying in place. However, Timberwolf's version is made from soft tubular braid so it's easy on the coat and skin. This is a harness with a ring at the front, so it can be used as a front-attachment no-pull harness as well. This harness wears well, and washes up nicely.

Pros: Soft and comfortable for all-day wear. Light and breathable. Easy on delicate coats and sensitive skin. very adjustable, allows full range of shoulder movement. Comes in lots of colors!

Cons: Sizing runs a little bit small. Ru has a 12" chest, and you can see the 10-14" harness is adjusted out nearly as far as it goes. I'm not sure if this is true for the larger sizes.

Bottom Line: It's not trendy, fancy, or super technical, but this simple harness will last just about forever, and look good the entire time.

Thursday, December 22, 2016

Product Review: The Perfect Fit Harness

The Perfect Fit Harness comes in three separate pieces that are available in different sizes for a truly custom fit. This is easily the most adjustable harness system I have ever seen, and with the right pieces it can be constructed to fit any dog of any shape. It's kind of like Lego dog gear. Perfect Fit harness have black belly and front pieces, and the tops come in various colors. Everything is padded with fleece. The parts come in four different strap widths to properly and ergonomically fit dog with chests 9.5-48" around.
Custom-fitted harness
Photo by Erin Koski

I bought Brisbane a Perfect Fit Harness when he was battling cancer. His buckle neck Balance Harness was beginning to rub his coat, and I wanted to find something padded and comfortable that was easy to put on. It needed to open at the neck so I could keep it away from his face, and it had to allow total freedom of movement in his shoulders.

After asking around the internet dog training community, I found the Dog-Games Shop, home of the Perfect Fit Harness. This was exactly what I needed. Brisbane was a very difficult-to-fit dog. He had a very wide barrel chest, and a skinny neck. I had a lot of trouble finding harnesses that fit around his chest, sat high enough to be clear of his shoulders, and also didn't ride into his armpits. The Balance Harness was the best I had found, until I needed something padded.

Ordering the correct pieces was a bit difficult, as the website largely uses breeds to recommend sizes. I found the best way to get exactly what I needed was to email the company, and tell them Brisbane's measurements and typical fitting difficulties.
Custom fitted padded harness
Photo by Erin Koski

I ended up with exactly what I needed, and I got a harness that Brisbane could comfortably wear all day long. The harness has buckles on both sides of the neck, and both sides of the belly strap. It also has a buckle between the front legs. Everything is very well-padded and nothing rubs or sits in sensitive areas.

Each individual pieces adjusts differently. The colored top pieces does not adjust at all. The girth strap adjusts on either side and has a ring in the middle to attach to the front. The front pieces adjusts on either side of the neck, and also under the belly to allow the girth to sit further back. It also has the option of a front leash ring to make this a no-pull harness. Each of these pieces comes in multiple sizes, so it one sizes doesn't have enough adjustment, a different size can be used.

Pros: Super adjustable and well-padded. Comfortable enough to leave on all day without irritating sensitive skin. Very easy to put on without sliding over the dog's head, or touching their feet. Front leash ring can be used to discourage pulling. Lots of color options. Can fit basically any dog, or cat, or...I dunno, wallaby? Awesome return policy.

Cons: The company is based in the United Kingdom, so shipping take a while. Front and girth pieces only come in black, so no Punky Brewster-inspired color combinations are allowed. I understand why they do this, but it still makes the whole thing slightly plain.

Bottom Line: This company is awesome, staffed by real, genuine, dedicated humans who honestly want to put together a harness that really fits your dog. They helped make Brisbane's last few weeks a lot more comfortable.