How do I choose the best harness for my dog?

H-Harnesses

H-Harnesses, commonly referred to as Y-Harnesses, are a great everyday walking harness. The name comes from the shape of the harness created by the webbing, creating an ‘H’ shape when viewed from the top. H-Harnesses offer a great range of adjustability and are perfect for dogs that don’t excessively pull and well-behaved when walking on a leash.

Size adjustability on H-Harnesses typically include chest length, adjustable neck and adjustable chest circumferences and can be put on either over-the-head or as a step-in. 

Ideal for: Everyday walking for dogs that don’t excessively pull when walking on a leash.

Padded Harnesses

Padded Harnesses provide the ultimate walking comfort without compromising control, safety or style. They can be used as an everyday walking harness and the additional padding caters to pet owners looking for all-day comfort for their dog. 

Although not designed to restrict pulling, a padded harness provides more comfort for dogs that moderately pull on a leash when compared to a regular H-Harness. 

Ideal for: A premium all-day harness for owners wanting maximum comfort for their dogs.

No-Pull Harnesses

A No-Pull Harness is designed to reduce a dog pulling when walking on a leash. No-pull harnesses work due to an attachment D-ring located on the front of the harness. When the dog pulls on the leash, the location of the leash attachment on the front causes the dog to be redirected off-center, back towards the handler. 

Used properly, no-Pull harnesses are a fantastic training aid and are suitable for dogs of all sizes and life stages.

Ideal for: Dogs that constantly pull on the leash.

Other types of harnesses

• Three-loop harnesses can be either non-padded or padded and feature one neck loop and two body loops. The additional body loop is adjusted to sit around the bottom of the ribcage and ensures a snug fit. Ideal for slender-body breeds or dogs that partake in adventure sports or rigorous hiking.
• Step-in harnesses are harnesses that are put on a dog by 'stepping in' to the harness, instead of being put on over-the-head. Functionality of these harnesses is similar to over-the-head harnesses with the difference only being how the are put on a dog.
• Mesh harnesses, commonly used on smaller dogs, are harnesses made from a mesh material. The downside of these harnesses is that they are commonly fixed in size with minimal adjustability.
• Car harnesses provide in-car safety for pets on the road. Choose between crash-tested harnesses or a regular harness to restrict movement and driver distractions while driving. 

1. Adjustability
A harness with good adjustability and easy-to-use adjusters will give you the ability to tighten and loosen your dog’s harness as required. This is especially important if your dog is still growing or has variances in seasonal coat length or thickness.

2. Quality Buckles
Generally, most side-release buckles will be fine for use on dog harnesses. We recommend looking for custom buckles that have been specifically designed for pet accessories. For example, our Bucklebone clip is made from an engineering-grade plastic designed to withstand the stresses of everyday use pet products. Specifically designed buckles will provide you with the reassurance of safety when out and about.

3. D-Ring Quality
Many harnesses (and collars!) use lower quality D-rings made from nickel-plated zinc which will corrode over time, especially when exposed to saltwater. High-quality D-rings made from stainless steel will last the lifetime of your harness, will never corrode or rust and you can be sure they will remain safe even when used in saltwater.

4. Lead Attachment Points
Most harnesses come with either a D-ring on front, a D-ring on the back or possibly both. These each serve different purposes:

• Front D-ring
  A front D-ring is commonly seen on no-pull harnesses as the only leash attachment point. It is designed to reduce pulling and the location on the front of the harness is critical to its function. Non no-pull harnesses can feature a front D-ring to accommodate walking style. For example, older, slower or exceptionally-well trained dogs will walk either directly beside or behind the handler. A front D-ring enables the leash to fall loosely between the handler and the dog.


• Back D-ring
  A back D-ring is the most common location for a D-ring on a harness. Located on the back of the dog this D-ring a versatile leash control point, great for hounds that love to wander and sniff, dogs who lead the handler, puppies learning to walk on a leash, or as a comfortable location to attach a car leash to restrict in car movement.


• Back and Front D-rings
  Some harnesses, like our Padded Harness, feature both a front and back D-ring. This provides the handler with the flexibility of using one or both D-rings depending on their dog’s temperament, training level and walking style. Both D-rings can be used with a leash with two attachment clips, like our Multipurpose Lead, and can offer improved control for experienced handlers. If only the back D-ring is used for walking, the front D-ring provides a convenient ID tag attachment point.