Ten Reasons to Use a Harness

The most basic method of attaching a leash to a dog is via a regular buckle collar, so why use a more complicated body harness instead? Most of the time, the answer is that a harness protects the dog's neck and back. There are a wide variety of harnesses that serve many different purposes, but they all perform this essential function. Here are some of the reasons I use a harness:

Ru models his custom Fraggle Rock biothane harness.
Photo by Erin Koski

1. My dog is very small.

Josie in the Kurgo Go-Tech Adventure Harness
Photo by Erin Koski

 Small-breed dogs have very sensitive throats, and the pressure from a collar can collapse the cartilage of their trachea. A collapsed trachea doesn't happen all at once, it's a degenerative condition that develops over time. Many tiny dogs can walk on a regular collar for years without a problem, but it's difficult to assess how well their cartilage is holding up. Early symptoms include coughing and gagging as their throats literally close up. I have never walked Ru on a collar because I just don't feel the need to risk it.




2. My dog is very old.

A harness can give a senior dog a helping hand. Whether they need a little help getting down the stairs or a lot of help just standing up, the right kind of body harness can provide the needed support.


3. My dog is disabled.

Harnesses are also awesome for differently able pups of all sorts, from tripods to blind dogs. Many manage to compensate in amazing ways, but a harness can allow them to do it all, keep them safe, and provide support to give their working parts a rest.

Brisbane rocks the Help 'Em Up Harness
Photo by Erin Koski

3. My dog is injured.

Years ago, when we first x-rayed Brisbane's sore back, a veterinarian recommended I use a harness for him on a regular basis. Whether the problem is in the tails, the middle of the back, or the neck, he told me that it was best to distribute pressure and not pull Brisbane around by one end of his spine. Some harnesses also help provide support for dogs with reduced mobility.

Ru in the Midnight Pet paracord harness attached to the
Flexi Mini.
Photo by Erin Koski

4. I want to give my dog more freedom.

Though I'm not a fan of retractable leashes in most situations, I do use Flexis for certain outdoor adventures with my crew. When I use any kind of extra-long leash, I always attach it to a harness. This protects my dog's neck in the unlikely event that something causes them to bolt to the end of their leash. I can't predict earthquakes, poorly-timed fireworks, or stealthy joggers with no personal space, but I can make sure that the pressure is distributed across my dog's chest when they suddenly stop after accelerating for 15'.

Hellin wears the Mhu Ghu LED mesh harness
Photo by Erin Koski

5. My dog doesn't know how to walk on a leash yet.

While I've found collars to be more useful for communicating with a dog via a leash, harnesses are preferable for casual outings with dogs who are still figuring out this whole "leash" thing. Whether I'm working with a new puppy or a rescue fresh from the shelter, I want to protect their neck while they learn to move with me.

I like the SENSE-ation harness a lot better than the Easy Walk.
Photo by Erin Koski

6. I don't want my dog to pull me. 

Loose leash walking is a skill that must be learned, and many dogs need a lot of exercise while they are mastering the concept. There are a wide variety of harnesses that can help discourage pulling while preventing a strong dog from overpowering a smaller handler. Some regular Roman harnesses can be used as a front-clip no-pull harness.

The Urban Trails mushing harness by Alpine Outfitters.
Photo by Erin Koski

7. I do want my dog to pull me.

Mushing isn't just for winter anymore! There are a wide variety of dog-powered sports and activities out there. If I'm asking my dog to pull me on a skateboard, scooter, bicycle, or skis, I need to make sure he is comfortable. Harnesses designed for pulling tend to be thickly padded around the chest to help distribute pressure. Some dogs will cheerfully pull on a collar, but this can cause damage over time.

The Ruffwear Webmaster harness allows me to carry
Brisbane like a suitcase.
Photo by Erin Koski

8. I need to pick my dog up. 

Whether I am helicoptering my chihuahua out of harm's way or helping Brisbane up a particularly steep section of trail, a harness is essential for comfortable lifting. Not every harness is designed for this, though many can be used for emergency lifts. Those used for rappelling and parachuting have straps that go around the rear legs for extra security.

Brisbane holds a perfect stay while I take off the
SENSE-ation harness and put on the
DT Works harness.
Photo by Erin Koski

9. I need my dog to pick me up.

The job description of a service dog can include guiding and steadying their handler as they navigate obstacles that most of us barely notice. A vest may be enough to identify a hearing assistance or seizure alert dog, but a harness is necessary for those that provide mobility support. Some service dogs are even taught to brace their bodies to allow their handler to pull themselves up if they fall. Mobility assistance dogs need handles.

Annie, on the right, is the most talented escape artist I know.

10. My dog can escape from any collar.

I know a dog that can escape from martingale, slip lead, any type of head halter, and most harnesses. So far the only thing that can securely contain her is the Ruffwear Webmaster harness, and a prong collar. The Freedom No-Pull harness is also more difficult to escape than the average harness, though foster puppy Hellin managed it a couple of times.


Do you use a harness for your dog? Why?

Product Review: Dogo EasyGo Camo Harness

The Dogo EasyGo Camo Harness is a mesh step-in harness with a matching leash. It features a back design that uses a cinch instead of buckles. The mesh portion is breathable and the hardware is very light. This harness is available in two colors and five sizes to fit dogs with chests 9-27" around.

Photo by Erin Koski

This little harness was donated to a friend's rescue program, but it's much to small for any of the dogs she works with. I will be passing it along to one of my local small dog rescues, but thought we would review it first. I believe it is a size small, which would put it in the middle of the five sizes available.

This harness and leash set is clearly designed for itty bitty dogs. All of the metal parts are very light and don't flop around or bonk Ru in the head. We didn't include the matching leash in the photos, but it has a little swivel right below the handle. The design is similar to our Aibao harness, but the Dogo harness is larger and fits Ru better. I like the way the mesh contours to his chest and doesn't rub on his armpits.

It doesn't look quite as good from the side, though. Ru is just very long, so most vest-style harnesses end up looking like little belly shirts on him. He couldn't wear the Dogo harness over clothes easily, either.

Photo by Erin Koski

Pros: Light and comfortable for tiny dogs. Cool and breathable. Wide chest absorbs force and protects sensitive throat area. Machine washable.

Cons: Step-in design positions the leash attachment over the dog's shoulders rather than behind them. May run across upper arm area and possibly restrict movement.

Bottom Line: This is a very nice little harness. It seems to have been well-used, and is still very functional.

Product Review: Boots and Barkley Adjustable Mesh Harness

The Boots & Barkley Adjustable Mesh Harness is available exclusively at Target stores. It has quick-release buckles at both the neck and chest. Various iterations of this harness have been available in at least three colors, and it tends to come in four sizes to fit dogs with chests 13.5-36" around.

Photo by Erin Koski

This harness is yet another thrift store find. It fits Xena perfectly, and I'm willing to part with it, so it's hers now. It fits her pretty well, and it's bright and eye-catching. Dark-colored dogs tend to be adopted less often, and flashy gear can help make them more visible to the public.

This is an interesting harness because it does not require me to slip it over her head, but I do have to lift her foot over a strap to put it on. This makes it excellent for head-shy dogs, Brisbane hates having harnesses slid over his head and vastly prefers the ones that have a buckle there. The Boots and Barkley mesh harness isn't quite as good for foot-shy dogs though. It has the mesh chest panel, and then a back strap. It buckles around one leg, but I have to lift the other over the mesh panel and into the space between it and the back strap. A second buckle on this strap would fix this issue, but would also add bulk and make that strap less adjustable, That's a non-issue for most dogs, though.

Photo by Erin Koski

Pros: Bright and flashy. Comfortable and breathable. Easy to put on. Non-threatening for headshy dogs.

Cons: Very active dogs may have issue with the mesh panel rubbing their armpits. The leash ring is not as sturdy as the ones I'm used to seeing on gear for dogs this side.

Bottom Line: Actually that light hardware thing could be a plus for some people.

Product Review: AibaoPet Harness and Leash

This Aibao Pet harness and leash set is definitely from China. It is a step-in style harness with a sliding adjustment and a matching leash. This is sized for a very small dog.

Photo by Erin Koski

This little set is yet another thrift store find. It's well-made, a good design, and is actually a little small on Ru. I feel like I could stick it on a ferret or a guinea pig or something.

The adjustemnt slider on the back strap isn't really visible in the picture, it is decorated with six little crystals. The fabric part of the vest is made from breathable mesh. This is not a harness that unbuckles, it is similar to the Little Pals set where it goes on over the head and then the dog's feet are stepped through it.

While I'm really not a fan of products made in China, I think this one is pretty neat. It features a logo by the actual company in China that made it. A lot of products are produced in China for American companies, and that sort of feels like cheating. Aibao Pet is an actual Chinese company. They proudly state that they have been manufacturing pet products since 2002. It looks like their products are mostly exported to European markets. My theory is that this little harness and leash set arrived in my town with someone who was either traveling or moved here for school or business. I found it with another international dog item that is not readily available in the USA.

Pros: Cute, comfortable, and non-restrictive. Easy to put on. No buckles make for minimal rubbing of delicate coats. Very light construction for super-tiny dogs.

Cons: At 33" the leash is really, really short. Like, if I'm holding it and gesture or turn too fast Ru ends up flying.

Bottom Line: I love finding unique little things like this at the thrift store. It helps me keep in mind that there is a lot more dog stuff out there than what I see every day.

Product Review: Gooby New Freedom Harness

The Gooby New Freedom Harness is a mesh vest harness for small dogs. This is an updated version of the original Gooby Freedom Harness, it is not the Freedom Harness II. Does that make sense? No? That's ok. This current iteration comes in nine colors and five sizes to fit dogs with chests 10-24" around. Ours is a small.

Photo by Erin Koski

Gooby made the first mesh harnesses that I saw in stores, way back when Brisbane was a little baby. I have one of their original Freedom harnesses, and it looks like they've made some improvements.

The first thing I noticed about this harness was the buckle. Like Planet Dog, Gooby most likely discovered that metal side-squeeze buckles don't last. The springs inside them degrade too quickly. The updated Freedom Harness has a standard plastic quick-release buckle.

Photo by Erin Koski

The big rubber logo on the original harness is also conspicuous by its absence. Instead there is a much sleeker patch on the back. I'm not positive about it, but I suspect that the area at the front has also been narrowed a bit where it goes between the front legs.

This is a very comfortable harness, I can leave on Ru all day and it doesn't rub marks on his almost-naked skin.

Pros: Soft and light. Does not choke, distributes pressure evenly across tiny chests. Allows great freedom of movement when properly fitted.

Cons: Not adjustable in neck, may not fit some funny-shaped dogs. Lighter colors get dirty quickly. May cause hair to mat when worn for extended periods by dogs with actual hair.

Bottom Line: This is the best-fitting mesh harness I've used, and Ru is exactly the sort of dog the Gooby Freedom Harness is intended for. We'd use it a lot more if it worked better over clothes, the Midnight Pet Pet Lite and E-Z Harness is still the best for my tiny fashionista.

How to Put on a Petco Mesh Harness

I get quite a few page views from people looking for step-by-step instructions for putting on the Petco Mesh Harness. While a have a product review, I didn't include a graphic step-by-step breakdown of how to make sense of this harness on there. Clearly this is an oversight I need to rectify.

Photo by Erin Koski

The Petco Mesh Harness is a Roman-style harness designed to take pressure off the dog's neck and distribute it across the chest. This is a choke-free harness, it is not a no-pull harness and will not discourage a dog from pulling on the leash. In fact, a comfortable harness like this could actually encourage pulling by making leash pressure more comfortable.

This harness is a good choice for people who want to avoid putting pressure on their dog's neck or throat. It is great for dogs who tend to back out of collars, and is also good for visibility because it comes in bright colors and bold patterns. This harness should not rub or chafe, and may be a good choice for dogs with sensitive skin.

One thing that makes the Petco Mesh Harness different from other mesh harnesses  is that the neck can be adjusted. This is accomplished via a pair of plastic ratchet straps that look like they were stolen off a pair of ski boots. The fact that these can be completely unbuckled is why I suspect this harness confuses so many people.

Photo by Erin Koski

Step One: Find the Ratchet Straps
To make sense out of this harness, I first need to find the plastic ratchet straps. These may be buckled or unbuckled. They are made from ridged plastic, and connect to a strap at a right angle. They may be buckled into the ratchet buckles or unbuckled.

If the ratchet straps are buckled into the wrong sides of the harness, the whole thing will be a giant twisted mess. When I can't untangle one of these, I start by unbuckling the ratchet buckles completely. This is accomplished by pushing down on the tab of the buckle and sliding the ratchet strap all the way out of it. Then I can hold the ratchet straps up and let the rest of the harness dangle and untwist. If the side-release buckle is still fastened, I will also unbuckle that one.

The Petco Mesh Harness comes with yellow stickers on the ratchet buckles, making them easier to find on a brand new harness. The buckles on the pink harness in these pictures still have their yellow stickers.

Which Strap Goes Where?

To figure out which ratchet buckle goes to which strap, I can lay the totally unbuckled harness out flat with the rubber Petco label facing up and each strap out straight. When laid out this way, the black ratchet strap on the right goes into the closest ratchet buckle.

Laid out flat like this, we can see the top of the top and the bottom of the bottom of the harness. These are the surfaces that will not be touching the dog when he is wearing the harness.

I pay close attention to this little ring because it's easy for the straps to get confusing. The leash ring is on a little tab, and when the side straps are adjusted like this, the leash ring strap can rotate around the ring and pass through the other strap. It's supposed to be on the opposite side of the ring from the strap with the rubber Petco label.

If the harness looks like this, I need to pull the leash ring strap through the side strap loop so it's opposite the rubber Petco label.

Photo by Erin Koski

Step Two: Buckle the Ratchet Straps
Once I know which ratchet strap goes into which buckle, I can fasten the ratchet buckles to make a loop for Brisbane's head. It's easier to fasten these buckles before putting on the harness, but some dogs really don't like having things pulled over their heads. For these dogs I fasten one ratchet buckle before putting the harness on, and do the second ratchet buckle to buckle the harness around their neck.

Photo by Erin Koski

Photo by Erin Koski

Photo by Erin Koski

Step Three: Put the Dog's Head Through
When the harness goes on the dog, the printed mesh panel should be on the bottom, and the rubber Petco label should be on the top.

Photo by Erin Koski

Photo by Erin Kosk

Step Four: Put the Dog's Leg Through
To put this harness on, I need to lift up Brisbane's right leg and put it through the loop formed by the side strap and mesh panel.

Photo by Erin Koski

Step Five: Buckle the Harness
The large side-release buckle is fastened on Brisbane's left side.

Photo by Erin Koski

Step Six: Strike a Pose!
Look at that fancy harness!

Product Review: Mhu Ghu LED Air Mesh Harness

The Mhu Ghu LED Air Mesh Harness is designed for high visibility. It features a ring of bright colored LED lights around the neck area, and is built with sturdy hardware. The harness is available in three colors and three sizes to fit dogs with chests 11.5-25" around the chest. Ours is a large green harness.

Photo by Erin Koski

This is a neat harness, visibility can be a big issue and collars and leashes sometimes aren't enough lighting. A lot of lighted safety products feel flimsy to me, but this one is nice and sturdy. It fits high on the neck and leaves the shoulders free to move. The battery sits in a little pack on the back that is screwed in place. The battery in our harness is currently dead, but can be replaced as long as I have a tiny screwdriver on hand.

Photo by Erin Koski

Pros: Comfortable and nonrestrictive. Bright LED lights are easy to see.

Cons: The neck is not adjustable, and may be small for some dogs. It fit Hellin just fine, but might be a bit tight on a larger dog with a 25" chest. Brisbane is 26" around and there's no way in hell this harness would ever fit him.

Bottom Line: I think there was a groupon for these a while back. I could see actually using this for nightime visibility if I ever end up with a bigger yard, or go somewhere I feel comfortable walking my dogs off-leash at night.

Product Review: Gooby Freedom Harness

The Gooby Freedom Harness is a Roman-style mesh harness with synthetic lambskin straps. It comes in nine colors and five sizes to fit dogs with chests 10" to 24" around.

Photo by Erin Koski

I believe Gooby was the first company to make mesh dog harnesses, I started seeing ones by Puppia and other companies in the big box stores years after the first Gooby harnesses hit the market. This isn't the most adjustable harness in the world, the neck doesn't change size and the belly straps can get an inch or two bigger.

Most harnesses of this type don't fit Ru, normally the head hole is a tight squeeze while the belly strap is too loose. This is a size Medium Freedom harness, the Small barely fit over his head and seemed to be strangling him. The straps on the Medium are too big.

I don't like the way the synthetic lambskin on this harness ages, either. The straps are nice and soft, but they start looking dirty really quickly. Ru's harness has spent the last four years in a dark cupboard and the suede has somehow faded to a completely different color than the mesh portion of the harness.

Pros: The first mesh harness on the market, distributes force evenly, provides shock absorption. Breathable fabric.

Cons: Minimal size adjustment, it either fits or a it doesn't. The suede straps are difficult to clean and the color fades over time.

Bottom Line: If it fit Ru, he would probably wear it in the summer. Gooby has made some minor improvements to the Freedom harness over the last few years, and also have the Freedom II harness now. The new ones all have plastic buckles instead of metal, and the straps on the Freedom II are microseude. No idea if they clean up any better though.

Product Review: WaLk-e-Woo Mesh Harness

The WaLk-e-Woo Mesh Harness is a Roman-style harness with two adjustment points. It is available in five patterns and five sizes to fit dogs weighing 3-40 pounds.

Photo by Erin Koski

Brisbane's WaLk-e-Woo harness is a slightly older style than the current model, his is adjustable in the neck/shoulder area as well as around the middle. These adjustment points are fastened with velcro, making them easy to adjust for a custom fit, but also prone to clogging up with hair and becoming a potential security risk. It appears that the company has since sacrificed this sizing feature in favor of a more reliable product.

I love WaLk-e-Woo's collars because they are recognizable. Along with being long-wearing and oh-so-stylish, their signature dots pattern is easy to spot in any color combination. I see WaLk-e-Woo collars on dogs at work all the time, and they seem to survive endless pool visits and beach trips without looking any worse for the wear. The ones that look dirty and faded are inevitably on dogs that rarely get a bath and have clearly been wearing their collar for years.

Photo by Erin Koski

Pros: Machine washable and made in the USA. Gorgeous ribbon overlay is durable enough to handle itchy dogs with long toenails. Many different colors and patterns to choose from, along with matching leashes and harnesses. Narrow between the front legs to avoid chafing.

Cons: Currently model WaLk-e-Woo harnesses are only adjustable around the middle of the dog, the neck loop is a fixed size. Harnesses are only available in five patterns, unlike the limitless choices for collars and leashes. Collars are available for bitty through gigantic dogs, but harnesses only fit Brisbane-sized and smaller dogs.

Bottom Line: A great product from a fun company. I bought Brisbane's WaLk-e-Woo harness at a thrift store and it has clearly been used quite a bit, but it remains strong and reliable even when he spots the mailman.

Product Review: Petco Adjustable Mesh Harness

The Petco Adjustable Mesh Harness is a Roman-style harness that uses a wide mesh panel in the front, instead of the typical single strap. It comes in a huge variety of colors and patterns that change every season, and is available in four sizes to fit dogs with chests as small as 15.5" and as large as 30".

Photo by Erin Koski

Not gonna lie, I found this harness in the clearance bin. Somebody, somewhere, thought this color/pattern combination was a good idea. They had every size in the bin, marked down to $4. If they came small enough to fit Ru I would have a matching set.

Mesh harnesses like this have been around for a long time. The first ones I remember seeing were by Gooby, with synthetic lambskin straps and ridiculously high prices. (Gooby harness review coming soon.) However, the largest of those are for dogs with 24" chests, and Brisbane is a couple of inches bigger. I tried the Gooby harnesses on him a few times in stores, but it was never meant to be.

Several years later, mesh harnesses became more popular and began appearing in major chains. I think the first one I ever tried on Briz was a purple sparkly one in PetSmart. However, neither the original Gooby harness, nor the newer varieties had an adjustable neck hole. This was an issue, nothing seemed to be a good fit.

Enter the Petco Adjustable Mesh Harness. You can't see it in my picture, but the neck of this harness is adjustable. The straps are hard plastic, and ratchet in and out like the straps on rollerblades in the 90's. The harness is supposed to fit a dog several inches larger than Brisbane, but I have it adjusted about as big as it can go.

Pros: Comfortable for extended wear, distributes force very well. Lots of options for doggy fashionistas. Fits considerably larger dogs than most harnesses of this style holds up even when Brisbane is determined to destroy the mail carrier.

Cons: The wide force-distributing center could potentially irritate the armpits of some dogs. Only one clip around the middle so I have to put one of Brisbane's legs through it. Some color combinations are doomed to fail.

Bottom Line: There are styles of harness that I like better so this one doesn't get a whole lot of use. I mostly only put this one on Brisbane when I'm feeling silly. It seems to be a solid design though, and I'm pretty sure I trust those plastic neck adjusters now.