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.

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.

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.

Product Review: Alpine Outfitters Adjustable Urban Trails Harness

Alpine Outfitters can barely keep up with the demand for their original custom Urban Trails Harness, so they've introduced a ready-to-go adjustable harness in standard sizes. Don't want to wait for a custom-sized mushing harness? Need something that buckles at the neck for your head-shy dog? Want one harness that can be adjusted to fit multiple dogs? The Urban Trails Ready-to-Go Adjustable Harness comes in four sizes and five colors to fit dogs 25-95 lbs.

Photo by Erin Koski

Once upon a time, back in 2005, I ordered an Urban Trails custom mushing harness for Brisbane. He was only eight months old, and I had grand plans involving scooters and trails and sled dog commands. Unfortunately, Brisbane was not a fan of pulling. In retrospect, I could probably have done more training to teach him that it was cool, but I did put quite a lot of work into it. 

Several years later, I realized Brisbane had outgrown his custom harness. I contacted Alpine Outfitters about possibly having his original harness altered, and they sent me a brand new custom harness in exchange for the old one back! That happened several years ago, so I was stunned when I met the people behind the company at SuperZoo, and they actually remembered me. They asked if I had another dog and then gave me a brand new ready-to-go Urban Trails harness for Sisci! I had been seriously considering ordering one to see how it compares to the custom Urban Trails, but I got this one free in exchange for my review.

Photo by Erin Koski

I was sure that the addition of adjustment sliders would detract from this harness, so I was very surprised when I got to play with it and see how well it was put together. The extra straps tuck in nicely, and don't leave too much unpadded length. 

I think my favorite feature of this harness is the buckles themselves. Not only are they curved to fit the shape of the dog, they are also wrapped in little elastic sleeves that help keep crud out of the buckle! Have you ever had a quick-release side-squeeze buckle get gunked up with sand or mud? Obviously someone at Alpine Outfitters did too. 

This is truly an all-purpose harness. It's awesome for regular walking, stays well clear of the dog's throat, and is padded to prevent chafing. The buckle at the neck means I don't have to pull it over anyone's head. It's comfortable to pull in, I've had Sis Godzilla help pull my wagon full of agility stuff from the car to the field. Basically the Urban Trails harness works for any activity where the line attaches to something higher than the dog's back. So, not sledding or weight pull or carting with shafts, but anything else.

Photo by Erin Koski

In a stroke of pure genius, the folks at Alpine Outfitters have added a ring at the front of the harness. When the leash is attached to this ring, it can be used as a no-pull harness. That's right, the best pulling harness can also be used the most comfortable no-pull harness. 

Alpine Outfitters now makes a backpack accessory for the Urban Trails Harness. It's designed to fit over the shoulders, keeping the weight off the dog's back. The pack also allows free movement of the shoulders, and sits nicely against their body so it's comfortable to wear on adventures.

Pros: Adjustable to fit different dogs. Reflective. Padded with non-absorbent polar fleece made mostly from recycled materials. Made in the USA. Front leash ring also allows harness to be used to discourage pulling. Really spectacular and personal customer service.

Cons: I'm a bit worried that the light pink color is going to get really dirty really fast. That's what I'm testing now.

Bottom Line: Whether you're using a bike, scooter, skis, skateboard, or baby stroller, this is definitely the harness you want. Dog with super sensitive skin? Right here. Got a hard to fit dog? Drop them a line and they'll happily help you figure out the right size.