Best Dog Harness Wirecutter (Jan 2023 Update)

I have a Mini Australian Shepherd puppy, and this harness is so good!! The way the leash attachment “floats” along the dorsal strap makes it work really well no matter where he is in relation to me (front/back/side), and it had really helped him learn not to pull, because unlike a collar it’s not actually unsafe for him to test his limits (so I dont have to try and keep him from doing it, just address when it happens). I wish the metal buckle version came in blue!!clausti

Purchased and selected size last year based on Kurgo size chart recommendation. Harness was way to large, at the smallest setting on our 56# Aussie. Also hooks/ slides on back of harness twist and turn, don't stay in place.. The adjustment slides don't stay in place in the front and the harness , after one pull is huge again. Quality materials but poor execution of design. Very expensive for what you get. And CS rep hanging up when I called spoke volumes. mes.Janesdog

This harnass lasted exactly three minutes. I put it on my dog, adjusted it, and she chewed it for a second and it completely tore. The company acknowledges that it can not withstand even a quick nip from your dog. Ridiculously poor quality. Their answer is for you to spend another 12.99 for a warranty to get another harnass which will do the same thing. Awful product that is expensive. Dismissive and unethical customer service. There are many other good options for harnesses out there. Save your money and aggravation .Kerri R

I really like the product. The two connection points give me more control over my reactive dog. A few months after purchase I noticed some of the nylon was unraveling near one of the box stitches. I contacted the company and provided pictures and they replaced it right away. Great product and great service.

Just know that this isn’t a miracle product that will completely stop your dog from pulling. It’s not a replacement for training. YOU as the owner have to teach your dog proper leash manners. But if you want more control, or you have a reactive dog, I definitely recommend this.Rachel Cormier

This has been a major breakthrough with my crazy pulling dog! We have tried several other collars as well as a harness that had more of a collar and only attached to the leash on the back. We tried this harness and leash and he instantly behaved differently! We are still working on training but so far I’m seeing really good progress! I honestly thought it was hopeless!Jennifer W.

The medium Kurgo harness fits my 23 pound dog well. The harness itself is incredibly sturdy – I was actually surprised by how “heavy” it is. The blue color is nice and the reflective material is an added bonus. The harness slips on over the dog’s head then buckles closed on each side. So far, it has been very easy and fast to put it on and take it off my dog. The leash clips are positioned in such a way (middle of back) that makes it easy to walk the dog without her choking herself (a problem we have with our old harness) from pulling. The harness is a bit stiff, however, so it’s not good for car rides where dog needs to lie down for long periods. The only concern we have is the loops to clip the leash to don’t seem as sturdy as the rest of the harness. The are a thinner aluminum that bends easily. Overall, I am impressed with this harness and recommend it.Ndanip

I love Kurgo products and think they are great quality, but was disappointed in this harness. If you have a barrel chested dog and want to attach a leash to the front D ring (my pup is a puller, so that was the whole reason we bought this), I wouldn't recommend this harness. I have a 14 month old standard poodle (45 lbs) and we bought a medium as she fit smack dab in the middle of those measurements. Unfortunately, the harness just doesn't fit deep-chested dogs. The neck opening is weirdly large and can't be tightened very much so after adjusting the harness to fit her, the front D ring ended up right between her front legs. We couldn't attach a leash to the front ring because she would stumble over it while we walked. Seems like Kurgo could fix this pretty easily by just moving the front D ring higher to be closer to the neck opening, but unfortunately not easy to fix/solve the issue at home. We'll be donating this as it unfortunately doesn't work for us.torvinn

My boyfriend has the Nylon Reflective Journey Air Dog harness (M), which looks like this harness mixed with the Tru-fit harness kind of. I have this Journey Air Dog harness (M) for my GSD/husky mix. We have a couple of issues with this specific model of the Journey harness. She has an athletic build with a pretty deep chest that is also narrow as heck, and due to the longer padding on the top of the chest piece, I'm unable to adjust it enough so that it fits her well. It renders the front D-ring useless, as the harness will pull to the side of her body loosely. Unfortunately, sizing down would mean that it would not be able to fit around the deepest part of her ribcage. The other issue I have with this harness is that I'm nervous it chaffs the back of her armpit area. It's pretty snug up against the backs of her legs–maybe even too snug. I would size up, but then that would exacerbate the issue with the front. I'm almost certain it's an unpleasant experience for her as she runs away when I so much as pick up the harness. I brought up the fact that my boyfriend has this type of harness (but a different/earlier model) because I am able to adjust that one well to my dog. None of the issues present in my harness are present in the other one, likely because of the smaller chest padding. I would go to the Tru-Fit harness for my pup, but we go hiking a bunch, and the handle on the back is a must-have. What is probably the most upsetting is that I cannot find this other model of harness in stock and in the size we need anywhere as of today. I simply cannot recommend this harness if your pup has a narrow chest.2dogs1cat

I have a Chocolate Lab that weights in at about 80 pounds. She is really hard to fit for a harness. They are always to big on the top/neck to fit her on the chest. Finally I have one that fits her in both places the she seems very comfortable in. The PetSafe 3 in 1 Harness is adjustable at both the top/neck and the chest. It has a nice padding for comfort. It gives the ability to walk her from the front or back which is great depending on how you want to walk your dog or the situation you are in. Bonus feature for the dog that loves to ride in the car, is the strap on the back that the seat belt can slide through to secure your dog in the car. I can honestly say that the front no pull option didn't stop my girl from pulling if something distracted her enough. But that could just be my dog and the way we have always walked with her.gerberbaby72

Mine ripped in the same place others have complain about. My dog did not chew it. It was so odd as I was taking the dog to class and it just fell apart. Wasn’t even pulling on it. I have two Easy Walk harnesses that are 11 and 12 years old and still going strong. However I bought one for my new puppy and it’s much thinner and flimsy looking. But it didn’t break she just outgrew it. Even though the Petsafe broke it was prettier so I was ready to try one again until I read the reviews and saw others breaking in the same place.MJCB

I love the versatility of this harness. I am able to use this for my car rides or when going out for a walk with my dog. We always have trouble with keeping him still in the car and am afraid he will fall or get hurt when driving. I was able to put this harness and attach to my seat Belt while still giving him wiggle room. It’s great for walking out too the only thing I find uncomfortable is how the front clip is set. It’s supposed to prevent my dog from pulling and it does help with this a lot, however I find it uncomfortable to attach a leash to. Usually I am used to having the leash at the top or dog’s back. This has both so its very versatile like I said. My doggy seems to be comfortable in this harness too so the pull clip I will not use but may work great for other owners. This would not prevent me from purchasing again.Lizzyliz

First the Pros: this harness is durable and I have no doubt it is strong and durable enough to hold my 70lb pittie when needed. It also does a great job of keeping her from pulling when using the chest loop. We love the Ruffwear brand and I (and my dogs) love the sweaters/clothing as they are always cold in temps below 70°. Cons: I watched the video on fitting the harness and every single walk results in raw skin/bleeding/scabs under her armpits (she has very thin fur on her underside) due to the material of the harness rubbing in this area. I also find the buckles a bit difficult to unclip as they are partially hidden inside the attachment area which means you have to squeeze the buckle through the thick harness material to release the clasp. Because of my love of their other products and the front clip feature, I may try to put some padding or softer material in the underarm area to see if that helps.Melissa S.

For the most part I really like this harness. The construction seems sturdy and the color is nice, and it’s very easy to get on and off. That said, I think it could be improved by lengthening the body (the neck to back, if you will). I have two mixed breed dogs who are very similar in shape, size, and weight. I purchased two of these harnesses, one in extra small and one in small. The small is overall a bit too large around, and the small (although ok for girth) is way too short. I am always trying to keep an eye on their underarms and backs of their elbows to make sure they aren’t getting raw spots. I’ve seen the same issue in other reviews, so I don’t think it’s just my dogs. I would also love it if you could purchase extenders in different sizes, because I think often a smaller size is better all around, but doesn’t extend in girth quite enough, while the next size up is too big. The good still outweighs the not perfect though, and I keep coming back to Ruffwear to buy different styles of harnesses!Samantha N.

I saw this harness at my local REI and without knowing anything about the brand or how it would impact my life, I knew it was “cute”. I bought it for my mischievous lab puppy who weighed around 50 lbs at the time, solely for that reason. The cute factor. I then came here and ordered the Ruffwear Knot-a-leash rope dog leash to match. We used the harness and leash combo for about a week, when my fearless puppy decided to show me how well it works. I was driving on the freeway, and while waiting in traffic to exit on the off ramp, I opened my back windows for her to get some fresh air. She was clipped to a cheap “doggie seatbelt clip” so she was secure, or so I thought. I hadn’t noticed that she had un-clipped herself from the seatbelt until the moment I saw her jump right out the car window, and disappear from my view. She wasn’t trained at the time and would make a run for it anytime possible. I panicked picturing my dog running into freeway traffic and being hit, but to my disbelief I found her hanging off the car window, being securely help in place by this harness and the rope leash that was still inside the car. The impact of her weight combined with the momentum of the jump, did nothing but dent the locking system of the carabiner shut, and held her weight without letting her escape or even touch the ground for that matter, and not a single rip happened to either the harness or the leash otherwise. This “expensive, but cute” dog accessory prevented my dog from a terrifying death that would have surely happened had she not been wearing both of these incredible, life-saving items. Thank you, Ruffwear, for making such amazing products that are truly life saving. I owe my dog’s life to you guys and I am forever grateful for that.Sabrina

I've had this harness for about a year and it doesn't matter what dog I use it on it never seems to fit properly or work the way it's supposed to definitely would not recommend this product definitely needs more things worked out with it before it will properly fit dogsservice.d

The harness is great. She stop pulling as soon as I put it on her. She loves the harness. She puts her head right in and stands still while I finish secure harness on the sidessusan a

The harness helps with the pulling problem, but doesn't work to correct the problem. The ones that go across the snout of the dog and pull his/her nose down are much more effective, but this is for a French bulldog with no nose! In addition, the harness is difficult to get on and off his head. I don't believe it is worth the cost.Becky A

Bought this harness when I (and family) adopted our new retriever mix and were required to get a martingale harness as part of the adoption agreement. We've had him for just over two weeks now and I’m disappointed to discover that the straps of the harness we bought then have frayed dramatically at several points in such a short time; including one point at which a key strap is holding on by just a few threads! It seemed to fit relatively well during the time we have been using it. I’ve seen discussion that this kind of thing starts with a nick in the side of the strap, that must somehow have been caused by the dog chewing and/or scratching. As part of our work to train our dog, we’ve been very aware of his overall behavior, especially when going for walks. He’s not a puppy and never actively scratched or bit at the harness to our knowledge but, of course, it’s not impossible that this might have happened once or twice. I do question, however, the value of a dog harness that is unable to stand up to that kind of treatment.RalphtheDog

My Luna is a 2yr old black lab-pitbull mix. She's husky, friendly, and a puller when she's on a lead. Having a harness that helps with the pulling is a blessing. She loves going on walks but will drag you down the sidewalk. Since using the easy walk harness regularly, she has much better behaved. The easy walk harness goes around her chest and back and has a leash attachment on the front. This design takes the pressure off of her neck and shoulders, making it more comfortable for her to walk without pulling. As a result, she's been able to enjoy her walks more and I haven't been left dragging behind her like a limp rag doll.LifeWithAnnaC

This no pull harness is great for any dog that you have pulling problems with. It allows you to walk your dog without worrying about pulling on a collar or harness with a top buckle. The harness is very easy to adjust and put on your dog. It has two snap buckles for easy release. The leash attachment is on the chest area where you walk your dog from. My dog is 65 pounds and sometimes will pull when she sees other animals or people. This really does control the pulling and makes it easy for me to lead her. This is a great harness if you are looking for a solution for your dog that pulls. It is also great for those dogs that don't. It is good for both you and your pet.peewee09

I purchased this for my 6 month old, 26lb rescue pup a few weeks ago to replace a different brand she outgrew. She loved her new harness and I admit that it appeared to be very comfortable. However, she pulled while we were walking yesterday and the straps snapped. She ran into the street, but thankfully no vehicles were nearby. The straps are flimsy and will not stand up to a quick pull. My pup is very petite, and I still can't believe how easily the straps ripped. I can't recommend this at all. I've just purchased a new secure, double stitched reinforced harness that also has metal rings instead of the plastic on the Gooby.Katie Ge

We originally had a size small when Missie was heavier. Now that she’s a proper weight we needed the XS because she could slip out of the small. We wanted to stay with this one and couldn’t find anything we liked better, we didn’t want any straps rubbing on her skin. The XS is perfect! It’s soft and doesn’t rub on the skin creating raw spots as other strap-type harnesses have done.Lori1897

I've had this harness for maybe 4 months now and at first I loved it, besides the plastic loops…they make me nervous that they're going to snap because my dog is a puller. On our normal walks this harness has been fine because my dog does pull so she is almost always in front of me. Today we went to the park and she wrapped the leash around a pole and was able to very easily pull her way out of it. Thankfully there were no other dogs around and I was able to catch her within a few minutes but my dog is dog reactive so this would have been an absolute disaster if there were other dogs around. Very disappointed because now I have to buy another harness to prevent this for the future.Samg1015

Purchased Halti harness as last resort to control large pup. Due to urgent surgery at 12 weeks of age and essential crating post-operative 24/7 (except for toilet breaks) for 5 weeks following her procedure, the critical period of training unfortunately couldn't be completed during this time frame. Once able to commence training, she had grown significantly, was very strong and strong willed … finding a harness / lead to assist with her training was difficult until stumbling across the Halti harness. For her, this has proven to be the most successful in controlling and assisting with her training … certainly working for my husband and I, and our dog.Sue

Bought this product for a 7 month old puppy that is still learning to walk on lead and pulls so badly on a flat collar that she starts to choke herself. Fitting of the harness was very easy and adjusting the straps very simple. The inclusion of the clasp that attaches to the collar is a very good idea as it helps center the front of the harness as well as a safety precaution if the harness comes loose. I was suprised by how well the harness worked, there was no pulling right from the start. When my puppy gets over-excited (e.g. sees another dog) she attempts to pull but is easily controlled compared to the flat collar. I find the straps need readjusting fairly regularly and as they get loose the harness becomes less effective. This could be overcome by stitching in place at correct adjustment but as my dog is still growing I don't want to do that just yet. Overall I am very happy with the harness and it suits my purpose of continuing to train my dog to walk calmly on lead without her pulling so hard that she is choking herself and possible causing damage.08cactus

Purchased this for our rescue red heeler who had never been walked on a lead at 16 months old. He pulled constantly and walks were unbearable. The first few walks seemed to be improving and now (even with all straps tightened and adjusted to fit) the front point connection slips around to the side of his neck so it loses all benefits of being a front pull harness and he's pulling as bad as ever! Will be looking elsewhere for a harness that doesn't move around as much. Waste of money.Tarsh

Seems like good construction. I liked the pads on top to prevent pinching, but overall, it is still the same standard harness you can get everywhere. Unfortunately, I am still on the hunt for a good harness to use for running with my dog. The harness rubbed under his armpits and rubbed them raw. To be fair, though, my dog pulls during a lot of the run.SandyB

The look of the harness is great however the material cannot stand up to chewing which is not covered under warranty. I bought one yesterday and this morning I left to get breakfast and when I got back 20 minutes later he had chewed through one of the straps and had taken a chuck out of the nylon canvas chest piece. Very disappointed in the product and was hoping it was made better and would hold up for years like their jackets have.Brady

Rugged ,tough , durable harness . Works like it should . It takes a little time to get a proper adjustment , unless your dog is growing it's a one time thing . We like it better than other harnesses we have . I find it laughable that people would give a poor review because their dog chewed on it . That's on the owner and their poor dog . It's not the harness' fault .steve

Love love love my babies new harnesses. The babies don't fuss with me when putting them on. Great price and very well made. Thank you PoyPet.Jill Ahern

I have been living with, training and competing with my dogs in dog sports for over 20 years. I have had bigger dogs and small/toy dogs. I have tried MANY types of harnesses and in the end I always return to this one. I was truly sad that they have stopped making this in many colors and only make it in black and red. If some other company makes it in other colors the next time I need one I may have to go somewhere else for color. What I love about this harness is (1) none of my dogs has ever escaped it, (2) it does not limit movement or cause any of the physical issues that can occur over time by restricted movement, (3) once adjusted it stays exactly as I have set it, (4) machine washable, (5) does not stretch out. If you are considering the Pet Safe sport harness, skip it. Both I and a friend purchased it… she got one for a large dog and mine was for a small dog. In both cases that harness did not retain its shape very long and the dogs could slip out of them. Waste of money.Versadogs

I cannot get this adjusted for my dog. I may have to return it if I cannot get the adjustments made.One reason I selected this brand was the reviews that said it is easy to adjust. It is NOT easy to adjust . My hands have had a number of injuries which may contribute to the difficulty.DocAK

My dog will pull and I don't really believe that will be a no-pull device that will keep her from it 100%. This harness does seem somehow calming and is extremely easy to put on her.usacsw

fits great, keeps my dog from hurting when she pulls. has a reflective strip for safety after dark. easy to put on easy to take off. they last a long time. very durable.mrfixemup

I have a american bull dog and he slips out of every harness weve tried, but not This harness. Its well worth the money. I actually have no worries about Nikolai slipping his harness on walks! A++++++++whitney_nashae

It is also possible to clip the leash to the front of the harness. A second lead can be connected to the hook on the back for a really strong puller. I like this harness better than the "Easy Walk" because it can be fitted better and quicker. Unlike the "Easy Walk" a dog can not slip out of it if they pull away from you. You also don't have to attach it to the regular collar as a back up if your dog slips out of it. I think it also fits better behind the front legs.Betty

Because these aren't manufactured anymore, the Sure-Fit harness is a rare find. As one of the most adjustable and comfortable tracking harnesses made for dogs, I've had taken one in any color I could find.bsdall41

Doesn’t hold up well to daily use; the metal strap adjusters cut into the straps with daily wear and I’ve already noticed tears in the straps where the adjusters are. This harness has been the first I’ve found that enables me to adjust it to fit my dog’s narrow front chest however it does not appear to hold up well to daily use. I would not purchase again since it appears the straps will tear and fall apart in a couple months.ShannonC

I really like that this has a front and back clip so we don't have to change out harnesses for walking and car rides. And there's a lot of room for adjusting the size, including the chest. Our golden has a narrow chest/shoulders and other no-pull harnesses would have a pretty big gap that would hang down. The only thing I'd say to watch out for is make sure the adjustable hooks on the chest piece are locked in place after sizing. One did slip out of place (while my dog was rolling around) but, the harness didn't like fall off or anything. And it hasn't happened since, so I think it was more owner error than anything else. Our golden seems to like it! It's quick to put on so she can get outside fast and seems to be comfortable for her.Bekah

I previously bought, The Everything Harness Water-Resistant, Splatter Design, Which I love! I also have the matching Fanny Pack! I was searching a ton of sites looking for an Orange Hunting Harness, not realizing that Canada Pooch had the harness in the Mesh Series! It is perfect for my 11 month Boston Terrier Mix. I especially love the fact that you don’t have to put these harnesses over their heads. Neck clips and side belly clips make it so easy to get on and adjust. Plus the No Pull D Ring is a game changer. I will always buy harnesses from Canada Pooch!! I also Love that I am supporting a Canadian Company!Maria B.

I had been looking for a soft harness for our adopted senior English Cocker Spaniel, something that would give her totally freedom in her shoulders and not mat her lovely fur. Favorite things its super soft, flexible, washable, fits comfortably, stylish, does not mat her fur, not a step in harness, and allows her totally room to zoom with her shoulders. Cons it runs a tad bit small my lass is on the more petite side of English Cocker spaniels, at about 27 pounds I got her a medium and when adjusted it fits her quiet comfortably but if you Cocker was any larger say 30-35 lbs I would definitely get a large harness. I love the back leash clip haven't used the front clip as she is a lady on walks. That being said this is not super heavy duty so if you have a really strong puller I don't know if would hold up for a long time but my lass is gentle so I expect it to hold up very well. Also bonus its a nice car harness. Super happy with it and would buy another when we adopt a friend for Isabelle.Caroline

I am very dissatisfied with this harness. There are clips to get the girth section on and off however the part that goes over the head has no clips and therefore has to be adjusted looser to get it on and then adjusted tighter when it is on so it will stay on. The adjustments are not easy to make. I would not recommend this product.Sarah

This stops our German Shepherd puppy from pulling and makes walks EASY! I read lots of negative reviews but to note the loop clip on the chest is for 'steering' your dog back on course to stop them from zig-zagging when walking. The loop on the back of the harness (which runs down their back) is to stop them from pulling. You can attach TWO leads to help stop pulling and help guide direction. If you only want to attach one lead you attach at the back, not the front 🙂 I hope this helps anyone who is unsure on how to use! 🙂Kim B

I bought this in a medium for my 4 month old golden retriever puppy. He is 12.9kg. The medium size wont even get over his head despite being for dogs between 12 and 22kg and 32-52cm. The M is for a very small dog. I am very unhappy with this product and will be asking for a full refund.Kathinka

I ordered the Small size based on the size chart online, but when I received the harness I was a little concerned when I saw the hanger for the harness suggesting pet weight of 5-10lbs. Stu is about 16 lbs. The harness itself fitted well after making adjustments at the shoulder and chest. It looks and feel strong and durable ….. did not have a chance to really test it out yet (i.e. squirrels not out, snow on ground, etc😄)Shirley W.

My dog was pulling sooo much and she is strong…to a point that I hurt my shoulder. Got the harness and our walks are now sooo much easier. Not crazy pulling anymore and it is really easy to put on. Great design that can be adjusted at 3 places to make it comfortable.Sylvie J.

It fits really well!! I love the colour and material! Great quality overall. It helps a lot when I’m walking my Husky! It’s making a huge difference since she’s still young and wants to run for everything little things that she seesClaudie P.

I got one of these for each of my dogs, along with matching leashes. I was really excited for them but not in love once they finally arrived. Partially my fault – when I saw reviews mentioning the new neck clip, I thought that meant they had added it to every color, not just the new bright yellow. Unfortunately I don't like that color, and the lack of a neck clip on the ones I got is REALLY annoying. It's just too much effort to loosen and tighten the neck multiple times a day when I want to walk my dogs. For now I'm only using it on the dog that pulls more on walks, or when they both need to ride in the car, and I'm looking for a replacement for the meantime. If they add neck clips to the other colors I'd definitely repurchase though. The other small but annoying issue is that the fabric "wings" of the harness aren't attached to the straps if that makes sense – it's only sewn together in the center. That means that despite how soft and comfy the material it is, it tends to slip out from underneath the straps while my dog walks. I can easily fix this with a few stitches but I feel like it shouldn't be necessary. The good parts: the fabric is really soft and smooth and lightly padded so it seems very comfy, and the colors are great.Molly C.

I realllllly wanted to love the Wild Ones walk kit I got. I like my leash, albeit a little heavy and I love the poop bags – they're luxurious to the touch but feel substantial when picking up messes. also the bag holder is luxe too and very sturdy. The harness is so cute on my little 10 lb maltese mutt puppy but unfortunately, he absolutely hates the neck part sliding over his face. he has a meltdown and is aggravated every time. some of the newer Wild One colors have the feature where the neck buckles similarly to the chest part (this came out after I ordered mine) but honestly, it should just be standard across all the colors. Maybe that's the plan after they sell out of inventory, but until that is the case, I won't be replacing the harness when my pup grows out of the XS. I bought a step-in harness of Amazon that has done the trick and both me and my pup have much chiller walk times because of it. Still love the leash and poo bags/holder!Clareen