Ruff Wear Dog Harness For Sale (2024 Update)

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.

So, I had been waiting until our pup was close to full grown to invest in this harness, as it's a bit pricier. I really wanted to love this harness SO much and give it the best review, as the quality is fantastic and it's really just an all around durable and beautiful harness!! BUT…… it did not work well for our English Cocker Spaniel Pup. I bought her an XS at our local pet store and we tried it on there to make sure it seemed to fit right, as she is pretty much full grown now. I don't think the XXS would fit her girth properly, so we got the XS, which fits nicely around the chest, but after grooming her puppy fur around the neck, the harness is too loose at its tightest now, and when I use the front hook (which is ideal for training her on the leash), the harness shifts terribly and has caused really awful matting of her fur under her armpits, to the point where I had to stop using the harness. And now I have to cut off all that matted fur under her armpits. We comb and brush her regularly, but she's also active and we hike and swim and have done lots of activity in this harness. It's such a shame, as the front clip was my favorite way to leash train her and I just love the overall look/style of the harness, but I don't think the XXS is going to fit, as I can barely get the XS over her head at it's tightest and then it's too loose at the neck. All that to say, if you have a floofy spaniel pup who likes to pull, you may want to make sure you can get sizing exact and be sure to check the fur constantly. I'm giving this 3 stars because it is a really well made harness, just did not work out well for our ECS. None of my other harnesses have caused matting like this, even when her puppy floof was at it's longest, so I know it's this harness and using the front loop hook and just the fit not working right for her. Looks great, doesn't fit great. I'm so bummed about it. I really wanted to love this harness. I would recommend it to a pup that does not have long fur.Lindsay

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.

So, I had been waiting until our pup was close to full grown to invest in this harness, as it's a bit pricier. I really wanted to love this harness SO much and give it the best review, as the quality is fantastic and it's really just an all around durable and beautiful harness!! BUT…… it did not work well for our English Cocker Spaniel Pup. I bought her an XS at our local pet store and we tried it on there to make sure it seemed to fit right, as she is pretty much full grown now. I don't think the XXS would fit her girth properly, so we got the XS, which fits nicely around the chest, but after grooming her puppy fur around the neck, the harness is too loose at its tightest now, and when I use the front hook (which is ideal for training her on the leash), the harness shifts terribly and has caused really awful matting of her fur under her armpits, to the point where I had to stop using the harness. And now I have to cut off all that matted fur under her armpits. We comb and brush her regularly, but she's also active and we hike and swim and have done lots of activity in this harness. It's such a shame, as the front clip was my favorite way to leash train her and I just love the overall look/style of the harness, but I don't think the XXS is going to fit, as I can barely get the XS over her head at it's tightest and then it's too loose at the neck. All that to say, if you have a floofy spaniel pup who likes to pull, you may want to make sure you can get sizing exact and be sure to check the fur constantly. I'm giving this 3 stars because it is a really well made harness, just did not work out well for our ECS. None of my other harnesses have caused matting like this, even when her puppy floof was at it's longest, so I know it's this harness and using the front loop hook and just the fit not working right for her. Looks great, doesn't fit great. I'm so bummed about it. I really wanted to love this harness. I would recommend it to a pup that does not have long fur.Lindsay

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 was so excited to receive the harness – it seemed like a huge upgrade from the old one I bought from Tractor Supply that my dog was using. Well. It took twice as long as expected to arrive which is ridiculous when I paid for shipping. The shipping fees were refunded, but I had purchased the item with the intent to use it by a specific date which didn’t happen since it didn’t arrive until MUCH later. When it finally did show up the package was ripped almost completely open and the packaging of the product was all messed up which is also ridiculous. Alright it’s here, looks like **** but it’s here. It’s a much brighter blue than I expected which I like. It took a little while to figure out how to adjust as the ends were so firmly tucked into the harness I thought I was going to break it. Finally got it on and adjusted and “Meh”. It’s not deep enough (front to back) in my opinion, and my dog is not an odd or unusual shape. I do like that it covers less surface area, she appears to stay cooler (but a double coated black dog in the humid Midwest is always hot). It does sag when wet (which is almost always as she swims regularly) BUT it dries and goes back to the original fit which is a pro I guess. I say I guess because I didn’t expect a harness I paid over $80 to sag at all when wet but ‍♀ It doesn’t show any wear yet which it shouldn’t for only having it 2 weeks. It does shift like crazy. Not as bad as the cheap tractor supply one, but again I expected ZERO shifting from the $80+ harness. Honestly I probably won’t buy again. I was super excited to find a harness with everything I wanted: reflectors (which the ones on this harness ****, seriously for $80 y’all couldn’t put reflective piping on all edges?!), a handle on the back, bright blue, goes over the head/ NOT a step through and had a back leash clip. But honestly I’m pretty disappointed. There is a lot of room for improvement in what I consider an expensive harness (more reflective piping, padding under the middle set of buckles, better fit, better choice of shipping carriers). I’m not going to get rid of it and it does fit better than the Tractor Supply but I don’t absolutely love it like I hoped.Seva P.

I was looking for a inescapable harness with a nopull front attachment for my dog. Roxy is a 50 lb husky and she does lots of hiking, biking, and skiing, so I needed something that could hold up for heavy use, but that will also allow my mother to walk her around without worrying about getting pulled over or having a loose dog (Roxy tends to be a little less respectful with leash manners with my mother). Pros: Front attachment-it does the job well and is more sturdy than I had anticipated. It's not just a thin fabric loop; it's actually hard and appears to be well attached. It also doesn't pull the chest plate down or over the shoulder when it's engaged, which is nice. Body coverage- I like that there is less bulk and fabric over the back. Roxy overheats easily, so the lighter profile (compared to the Web Master) keeps her cooler. Handle- doesn't seem like it is flimsy and the chest piece provides nice support under the dogs body. Escapability- It doesn't budge. Granted, Roxy is a pretty good girl, but I had her brace and tried to pull it off from the front and it stayed in place well. Caveat, see fit. Overall comfort and look- once she'd adapted to the rear strap around her ribs, she didn't seem to notice it was there. I like the color as well. Cons: Fit- Roxy's girth is 27.8 inches, so I got the medium, which should have given her a lot of wiggle room. The girth straps have to be taken all the way out to fit her. However, the neck straps have to be taken almost all the way in to keep the harness at her chest and prevent a gap up front that she could get her foot through. It does fit if I do this, but I could see this being a real issue for differently shaped dogs or a dog with similar shoulders, but a larger barrel. I'm not sure if it will fit her when she gets her winter coat. Overall, I think it's a good harness if it fits your dogs body. We'll see how it holds up with use!Brianna B.

My girl discovered early on that she can back out of her harness in a heartbeat. She can't back out of the Flagline harness (yay!) and – more importantly – if needed, I can pull on the leash / harness without fear of hurting her. (There have been a couple times when we've encountered dogs who are too friendly — having the Flagline harness on my girl made it much easier to pull her back to a safe distance without fear of hurting her or having the harness pop off at a bad time.) The harness is easy to put on / take off. It's strong. The reflective trim helps make her more visible. The adjustable straps make it easy to size up during the winter time when she's got winter coat(s) to accommodate. Having clips for closure is so much nicer than harnesses with velcro closures. (Velcro closure doesn't last long – and trying to wash anything with velcro – oy veh!) The price was a little more than I thought I'd spend for a harness – but having a harness I can trust and that will last is worth every penny. 100% recommend!Karen G.

These harnesses worked in a pinch for us. We took our dogs camping with us and we wanted to make sure to keep them safe. Pros: It is easy to put the harnesses on and take them off. They are a light weight material which allows for fast drying and minimal weight on the dog. They utlilize the the over the shoulder Y design style which is the least likely to impede a dog's range of motion in the front legs. The color was listed as salmon red but is more of a burnt orange which is actually good because of how close it is to safety hunter orange. Cons: This harness utilizes plastic buckles that are light weight and don't hold up to rigorous use. We don't utilize the leash clip on the rear portion of the harnesses because it is not sturdy if the dog pulls and this harness is not designed to handle load bearing forces. The only measurement used for sizing is measuring around the dog's mid-section or "girth" (not a good representation of many dogs). The harness does not come down the back far enough. Overall: The only reason we bothered getting these is because the other ones we ordered we placed on back order from a company that does custom dog gear and we wanted to keep our dogs safe from hunters or other people. As a professional dog training and care company we would prefer to go with other options because we have a high standard for our personal dogs. If you are on a budget or need something quick to satisfy a safety risk by all means get these or something similar, we certainly did. No one piece of equipment is the best, they all have their pros and cons and each buyer has factors that influence their buying choices. We hope our review can help future customers and the Ruffwear company.Sean G.

I prefer these over other harnesses due to the free moving open shoulder design. Love how lightweight but sturdy they are. Would like to see a small handle added. There is some shifting while walking due to leash angle and the fact that in many small dogs, the neck straps just don't seem to fit perfectly. If it's Tight enough for their neck. you can't slip the harness over the dogs head and loose enough to do so is too loose on their neck and allows more shifting. My dogs aren't heavy pullers so these issues dont detract too much from the value of having a very lightweight but strong harness that is easy on and off.Cynthia R.

My 68 lb. golden/standard poodle mix Gibson and I are longtime Ruffwear fans and have had several of their products over the years. He measures 32" around the widest part of his chest, so he's right on the cusp of the M or L sizing. He has always been a Large in Ruffwear harnesses (the Front Range specifically), but I had to return the Large Hi & Light for a Medium as the straps around the neck were way too big, even tightened all the way! The Large harness gaped at the neck. I was super bummed! Thankfully Ruffwear returns are super quick and easy, so I received the Medium replacement quickly, and it fits well, although maybe a little short on his torso. It seems fine, and he seems comfortable, so I don't think it's a problem, but my mom said it looks silly on him (rude!), which made me question whether that's how it's supposed to fit. It does seem to fit a little shorter on his torso than the Front Range, which, again, he wears a size larger. I did also want to mention the larger sizing because the sizing tool states to take the larger size if between sizes, which Gibson is, and I found that due to the length of the neck straps, we actually needed to size down! Hope that's helpful. Gibson is kind of deep-chested and leggy but generally seems pretty well-proportioned. He's built more like a poodle than a golden, for reference. Overall, though, I adore the color, and I absolutely love how lightweight the material is! Gibson gets hot easily and living in the South, I want to keep him as comfortable as possible, so this is an excellent summer alternative to the Front Range. I love the option to clip the leash to the front of the harness, although I do wish the front clip wasn't made of fabric (metal would feel more secure). The only problem I have is that the harness twists on him when he pulls even the slightest bit, and I find myself adjusting it on him frequently. This might be user error, though, and I'll keep working on figuring out the best fit for him. With a few tweaks, it would be perfect!Chelsea M.

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.

So, I had been waiting until our pup was close to full grown to invest in this harness, as it's a bit pricier. I really wanted to love this harness SO much and give it the best review, as the quality is fantastic and it's really just an all around durable and beautiful harness!! BUT…… it did not work well for our English Cocker Spaniel Pup. I bought her an XS at our local pet store and we tried it on there to make sure it seemed to fit right, as she is pretty much full grown now. I don't think the XXS would fit her girth properly, so we got the XS, which fits nicely around the chest, but after grooming her puppy fur around the neck, the harness is too loose at its tightest now, and when I use the front hook (which is ideal for training her on the leash), the harness shifts terribly and has caused really awful matting of her fur under her armpits, to the point where I had to stop using the harness. And now I have to cut off all that matted fur under her armpits. We comb and brush her regularly, but she's also active and we hike and swim and have done lots of activity in this harness. It's such a shame, as the front clip was my favorite way to leash train her and I just love the overall look/style of the harness, but I don't think the XXS is going to fit, as I can barely get the XS over her head at it's tightest and then it's too loose at the neck. All that to say, if you have a floofy spaniel pup who likes to pull, you may want to make sure you can get sizing exact and be sure to check the fur constantly. I'm giving this 3 stars because it is a really well made harness, just did not work out well for our ECS. None of my other harnesses have caused matting like this, even when her puppy floof was at it's longest, so I know it's this harness and using the front loop hook and just the fit not working right for her. Looks great, doesn't fit great. I'm so bummed about it. I really wanted to love this harness. I would recommend it to a pup that does not have long fur.Lindsay

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.

So, I had been waiting until our pup was close to full grown to invest in this harness, as it's a bit pricier. I really wanted to love this harness SO much and give it the best review, as the quality is fantastic and it's really just an all around durable and beautiful harness!! BUT…… it did not work well for our English Cocker Spaniel Pup. I bought her an XS at our local pet store and we tried it on there to make sure it seemed to fit right, as she is pretty much full grown now. I don't think the XXS would fit her girth properly, so we got the XS, which fits nicely around the chest, but after grooming her puppy fur around the neck, the harness is too loose at its tightest now, and when I use the front hook (which is ideal for training her on the leash), the harness shifts terribly and has caused really awful matting of her fur under her armpits, to the point where I had to stop using the harness. And now I have to cut off all that matted fur under her armpits. We comb and brush her regularly, but she's also active and we hike and swim and have done lots of activity in this harness. It's such a shame, as the front clip was my favorite way to leash train her and I just love the overall look/style of the harness, but I don't think the XXS is going to fit, as I can barely get the XS over her head at it's tightest and then it's too loose at the neck. All that to say, if you have a floofy spaniel pup who likes to pull, you may want to make sure you can get sizing exact and be sure to check the fur constantly. I'm giving this 3 stars because it is a really well made harness, just did not work out well for our ECS. None of my other harnesses have caused matting like this, even when her puppy floof was at it's longest, so I know it's this harness and using the front loop hook and just the fit not working right for her. Looks great, doesn't fit great. I'm so bummed about it. I really wanted to love this harness. I would recommend it to a pup that does not have long fur.Lindsay

I have a new rescue dog, Ako, I should re-name him Houdini. He has gotten out of every harness/collarI have put him in. I have used a total of eight different harnesses and collars, and he’s gotten out of every last one of them. He’s also a runner, so when he gets loose, he takes off running, and I have to go and try and catch him. I’ve been terrified he’ll be hit by a car or I’ll lose him. Then we got the Webmaster. it works like a charm, and he has never gotten out of it. Once you get it adjusted to your dog’s size, you don’t have to adjust it again. it’s easy to put on and it’s impossible for them to get it off, but at the same time, It’s also super comfortable and Ako doesn’t seem to mind wearing it. I’m thrilled with my purchase.DEbra P.

Fantastic harness for our elderly Labrador. Sadly our 13 year old Lab has arthritis and weak hind legs which cause her to struggle up steps and over rough terrain. This harness has been a life saver whilst recently on holiday in Cornwall. We have been able to take the weight off her hind end going up steps and steep paths and climbing up from the beach and she has been able to have a fabulous holiday and enjoy swimming in the sea. Fits really well and comes far enough along the length of her tummy to be supportive when lifting her. My only criticism would be that it does slip round a little but not a major problem. Would not be without it now!Annabel W

This is our second time buying the Webmaster for our 2 dogs. The first set that we purchased for our dogs lasted about eight years and are actually still usable, but are just beginning to look shabby now, and that is with daily use, and washing with the washing machine and hang drying probably once a month. Our dogs were in between sizes so based on the comments we elected for the smaller of the two sizes and it worked out perfectly. Previously, we had the gray (which we really liked), but we elected for the orange this time, as we hike year round through hunting season. The orange stands out and looks great and the new harnesses looks super durable. Once again we are very satisfied customers. My only suggestion would be to maybe add a little bit more reflective material to the harness so that it stands out a bit more when we walk them at night.Heather F.

My dog has somewhat unusual measurements (9.5" neck, 17" chest), so fitting her for a harness is difficult. I was optimistic when I saw that the neck was adjustable. With the XS, I found that I wasn't able to tighten the neck enough, and she wiggled her front legs through the neck. I chatted with customer service, and I exchanged for the XXS. With this size, I couldn't get the second set of buckles to close around her chest, so I will have to return it. I also found that the V-ring placement didn't allow me to put a leash through the designated opening in coats for her. Overall, I really wanted to like this harness (I liked the materials and style), but it just isn't going to work. Moving forward, size guides that feature both neck AND chest measurements would likely help folks to realize that it won't work out without the extra trips to the post office. Back to the drawing board!Leann

These harnesses worked in a pinch for us. We took our dogs camping with us and we wanted to make sure to keep them safe. Pros: It is easy to put the harnesses on and take them off. They are a light weight material which allows for fast drying and minimal weight on the dog. They utlilize the the over the shoulder Y design style which is the least likely to impede a dog's range of motion in the front legs. The color was listed as salmon red but is more of a burnt orange which is actually good because of how close it is to safety hunter orange. Cons: This harness utilizes plastic buckles that are light weight and don't hold up to rigorous use. We don't utilize the leash clip on the rear portion of the harnesses because it is not sturdy if the dog pulls and this harness is not designed to handle load bearing forces. The only measurement used for sizing is measuring around the dog's mid-section or "girth" (not a good representation of many dogs). The harness does not come down the back far enough. Overall: The only reason we bothered getting these is because the other ones we ordered we placed on back order from a company that does custom dog gear and we wanted to keep our dogs safe from hunters or other people. As a professional dog training and care company we would prefer to go with other options because we have a high standard for our personal dogs. If you are on a budget or need something quick to satisfy a safety risk by all means get these or something similar, we certainly did. No one piece of equipment is the best, they all have their pros and cons and each buyer has factors that influence their buying choices. We hope our review can help future customers and the Ruffwear company.Sean G.

I prefer these over other harnesses due to the free moving open shoulder design. Love how lightweight but sturdy they are. Would like to see a small handle added. There is some shifting while walking due to leash angle and the fact that in many small dogs, the neck straps just don't seem to fit perfectly. If it's Tight enough for their neck. you can't slip the harness over the dogs head and loose enough to do so is too loose on their neck and allows more shifting. My dogs aren't heavy pullers so these issues dont detract too much from the value of having a very lightweight but strong harness that is easy on and off.Cynthia R.

These harnesses worked in a pinch for us. We took our dogs camping with us and we wanted to make sure to keep them safe. Pros: It is easy to put the harnesses on and take them off. They are a light weight material which allows for fast drying and minimal weight on the dog. They utlilize the the over the shoulder Y design style which is the least likely to impede a dog's range of motion in the front legs. The color was listed as salmon red but is more of a burnt orange which is actually good because of how close it is to safety hunter orange. Cons: This harness utilizes plastic buckles that are light weight and don't hold up to rigorous use. We don't utilize the leash clip on the rear portion of the harnesses because it is not sturdy if the dog pulls and this harness is not designed to handle load bearing forces. The only measurement used for sizing is measuring around the dog's mid-section or "girth" (not a good representation of many dogs). The harness does not come down the back far enough. Overall: The only reason we bothered getting these is because the other ones we ordered we placed on back order from a company that does custom dog gear and we wanted to keep our dogs safe from hunters or other people. As a professional dog training and care company we would prefer to go with other options because we have a high standard for our personal dogs. If you are on a budget or need something quick to satisfy a safety risk by all means get these or something similar, we certainly did. No one piece of equipment is the best, they all have their pros and cons and each buyer has factors that influence their buying choices. We hope our review can help future customers and the Ruffwear company.Sean G.

I prefer these over other harnesses due to the free moving open shoulder design. Love how lightweight but sturdy they are. Would like to see a small handle added. There is some shifting while walking due to leash angle and the fact that in many small dogs, the neck straps just don't seem to fit perfectly. If it's Tight enough for their neck. you can't slip the harness over the dogs head and loose enough to do so is too loose on their neck and allows more shifting. My dogs aren't heavy pullers so these issues dont detract too much from the value of having a very lightweight but strong harness that is easy on and off.Cynthia R.

My 68 lb. golden/standard poodle mix Gibson and I are longtime Ruffwear fans and have had several of their products over the years. He measures 32" around the widest part of his chest, so he's right on the cusp of the M or L sizing. He has always been a Large in Ruffwear harnesses (the Front Range specifically), but I had to return the Large Hi & Light for a Medium as the straps around the neck were way too big, even tightened all the way! The Large harness gaped at the neck. I was super bummed! Thankfully Ruffwear returns are super quick and easy, so I received the Medium replacement quickly, and it fits well, although maybe a little short on his torso. It seems fine, and he seems comfortable, so I don't think it's a problem, but my mom said it looks silly on him (rude!), which made me question whether that's how it's supposed to fit. It does seem to fit a little shorter on his torso than the Front Range, which, again, he wears a size larger. I did also want to mention the larger sizing because the sizing tool states to take the larger size if between sizes, which Gibson is, and I found that due to the length of the neck straps, we actually needed to size down! Hope that's helpful. Gibson is kind of deep-chested and leggy but generally seems pretty well-proportioned. He's built more like a poodle than a golden, for reference. Overall, though, I adore the color, and I absolutely love how lightweight the material is! Gibson gets hot easily and living in the South, I want to keep him as comfortable as possible, so this is an excellent summer alternative to the Front Range. I love the option to clip the leash to the front of the harness, although I do wish the front clip wasn't made of fabric (metal would feel more secure). The only problem I have is that the harness twists on him when he pulls even the slightest bit, and I find myself adjusting it on him frequently. This might be user error, though, and I'll keep working on figuring out the best fit for him. With a few tweaks, it would be perfect!Chelsea M.

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

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.

So, I had been waiting until our pup was close to full grown to invest in this harness, as it's a bit pricier. I really wanted to love this harness SO much and give it the best review, as the quality is fantastic and it's really just an all around durable and beautiful harness!! BUT…… it did not work well for our English Cocker Spaniel Pup. I bought her an XS at our local pet store and we tried it on there to make sure it seemed to fit right, as she is pretty much full grown now. I don't think the XXS would fit her girth properly, so we got the XS, which fits nicely around the chest, but after grooming her puppy fur around the neck, the harness is too loose at its tightest now, and when I use the front hook (which is ideal for training her on the leash), the harness shifts terribly and has caused really awful matting of her fur under her armpits, to the point where I had to stop using the harness. And now I have to cut off all that matted fur under her armpits. We comb and brush her regularly, but she's also active and we hike and swim and have done lots of activity in this harness. It's such a shame, as the front clip was my favorite way to leash train her and I just love the overall look/style of the harness, but I don't think the XXS is going to fit, as I can barely get the XS over her head at it's tightest and then it's too loose at the neck. All that to say, if you have a floofy spaniel pup who likes to pull, you may want to make sure you can get sizing exact and be sure to check the fur constantly. I'm giving this 3 stars because it is a really well made harness, just did not work out well for our ECS. None of my other harnesses have caused matting like this, even when her puppy floof was at it's longest, so I know it's this harness and using the front loop hook and just the fit not working right for her. Looks great, doesn't fit great. I'm so bummed about it. I really wanted to love this harness. I would recommend it to a pup that does not have long fur.Lindsay

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 love this harness. I haven't used it for the reason I bought it yet, (to be used on my dog while paddle boarding), but I have discovered it's amazing ability to thwart my dog's whale like antics to throw herself backward, going limp, and melt right out of the harness like a cooked noodle when she doesn't want to go or leave somewhere. My dog is a 55lb Golden Retriever / Border Collie, she's a big heavy noodle. I used to own the Rabitgo dog harness which was nice for her to wear while we biked, however within 3mo she learned how to pinch her shoulders together and melt out of the harness. She would also (mostly at the dog park) go stiff leg when we would leave and then rear up and throw herself backward ( like a whale jumping out of the ocean )so she was sprawled on the ground. Your only option was to literally drag her from the park. She is 4yrs old now and is an amazing whale flopper.. she can slip out of anything… until now. I can literally just hold her in the air by my side while she tries to wiggle and squirm out of the harness to no avail with this RuffWear harness. For that reason alone this harness is worth every penny to me, whether or not it works in the water. As far as fitting goes, I bought the large. Her neck is 19inches. Behind the front legs 31inches. In front of the back legs 25 inches. From base of neck to the start of the tail is 27 inches in length. It seems to fit her well. The components are well built the D ring is sturdy the buckles are heavy duty and it's well stitched. I think the only thing that could make this harness better would be having another D ring in the front. I know they have other harnesses with this feature, but multiple attachments is just handy when it comes to dogs. Overall, I would recommend this harness and I won't be going back to my previous harness.McKenna B.

This harness is perfect for our furry escape artist! We've been using this harness for years (this is our third one) and she has never gotten out of it. It is adjustable to get a comfortable fit. The handle is wonderful when you need to make sure you have solid control, such as when small children want to greet the doggo nose to nose. Even though this is our third harness purchase, I want to clarify that the previous harnesses did not wear out and they are still structurally sound. We walk a lot and they faded due to sun and water exposure after a few years. And one of them took a beating from my cleaning attempts after an unfortunate encounter with a skunk. We are so thankful for this harness — it is perfect for us!Sandra S.

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 love this harness. I haven't used it for the reason I bought it yet, (to be used on my dog while paddle boarding), but I have discovered it's amazing ability to thwart my dog's whale like antics to throw herself backward, going limp, and melt right out of the harness like a cooked noodle when she doesn't want to go or leave somewhere. My dog is a 55lb Golden Retriever / Border Collie, she's a big heavy noodle. I used to own the Rabitgo dog harness which was nice for her to wear while we biked, however within 3mo she learned how to pinch her shoulders together and melt out of the harness. She would also (mostly at the dog park) go stiff leg when we would leave and then rear up and throw herself backward ( like a whale jumping out of the ocean )so she was sprawled on the ground. Your only option was to literally drag her from the park. She is 4yrs old now and is an amazing whale flopper.. she can slip out of anything… until now. I can literally just hold her in the air by my side while she tries to wiggle and squirm out of the harness to no avail with this RuffWear harness. For that reason alone this harness is worth every penny to me, whether or not it works in the water. As far as fitting goes, I bought the large. Her neck is 19inches. Behind the front legs 31inches. In front of the back legs 25 inches. From base of neck to the start of the tail is 27 inches in length. It seems to fit her well. The components are well built the D ring is sturdy the buckles are heavy duty and it's well stitched. I think the only thing that could make this harness better would be having another D ring in the front. I know they have other harnesses with this feature, but multiple attachments is just handy when it comes to dogs. Overall, I would recommend this harness and I won't be going back to my previous harness.McKenna B.

This harness is perfect for our furry escape artist! We've been using this harness for years (this is our third one) and she has never gotten out of it. It is adjustable to get a comfortable fit. The handle is wonderful when you need to make sure you have solid control, such as when small children want to greet the doggo nose to nose. Even though this is our third harness purchase, I want to clarify that the previous harnesses did not wear out and they are still structurally sound. We walk a lot and they faded due to sun and water exposure after a few years. And one of them took a beating from my cleaning attempts after an unfortunate encounter with a skunk. We are so thankful for this harness — it is perfect for us!Sandra S.

I was so excited to receive the harness – it seemed like a huge upgrade from the old one I bought from Tractor Supply that my dog was using. Well. It took twice as long as expected to arrive which is ridiculous when I paid for shipping. The shipping fees were refunded, but I had purchased the item with the intent to use it by a specific date which didn’t happen since it didn’t arrive until MUCH later. When it finally did show up the package was ripped almost completely open and the packaging of the product was all messed up which is also ridiculous. Alright it’s here, looks like **** but it’s here. It’s a much brighter blue than I expected which I like. It took a little while to figure out how to adjust as the ends were so firmly tucked into the harness I thought I was going to break it. Finally got it on and adjusted and “Meh”. It’s not deep enough (front to back) in my opinion, and my dog is not an odd or unusual shape. I do like that it covers less surface area, she appears to stay cooler (but a double coated black dog in the humid Midwest is always hot). It does sag when wet (which is almost always as she swims regularly) BUT it dries and goes back to the original fit which is a pro I guess. I say I guess because I didn’t expect a harness I paid over $80 to sag at all when wet but ‍♀ It doesn’t show any wear yet which it shouldn’t for only having it 2 weeks. It does shift like crazy. Not as bad as the cheap tractor supply one, but again I expected ZERO shifting from the $80+ harness. Honestly I probably won’t buy again. I was super excited to find a harness with everything I wanted: reflectors (which the ones on this harness ****, seriously for $80 y’all couldn’t put reflective piping on all edges?!), a handle on the back, bright blue, goes over the head/ NOT a step through and had a back leash clip. But honestly I’m pretty disappointed. There is a lot of room for improvement in what I consider an expensive harness (more reflective piping, padding under the middle set of buckles, better fit, better choice of shipping carriers). I’m not going to get rid of it and it does fit better than the Tractor Supply but I don’t absolutely love it like I hoped.Seva P.

My girl discovered early on that she can back out of her harness in a heartbeat. She can't back out of the Flagline harness (yay!) and – more importantly – if needed, I can pull on the leash / harness without fear of hurting her. (There have been a couple times when we've encountered dogs who are too friendly — having the Flagline harness on my girl made it much easier to pull her back to a safe distance without fear of hurting her or having the harness pop off at a bad time.) The harness is easy to put on / take off. It's strong. The reflective trim helps make her more visible. The adjustable straps make it easy to size up during the winter time when she's got winter coat(s) to accommodate. Having clips for closure is so much nicer than harnesses with velcro closures. (Velcro closure doesn't last long – and trying to wash anything with velcro – oy veh!) The price was a little more than I thought I'd spend for a harness – but having a harness I can trust and that will last is worth every penny. 100% recommend!Karen G.

The harness is super adjustable and fits my pups barrel chest so well! We wanted the waist clip as the single rib clip always slipped off or got loose and it wasn’t enough security for us. We also really love the handles! The front loop works super well to mitigate some pulling (pups only 8 months old) and my favorite feature is the inner material that rests on his body, it’s not mesh or fabric that his short coat sticks into so his hair isn’t being rubbed off or sticking in the harness getting stuck in cracks and making it itchy or difficult to clean. This harness is also super easy to wash and I really love the hardy materials on this harness. Wish it came in orange but the grey works just as well on our pup! This harness just fits Róka so well and I’m so pleased with it!!!! It fits and contours to his whole body and moves with him when he’s moving around! Thanks so much for an awesome product!!!Kassandra H.

I purchased this for my daughters new dog. It is a great item, well made and looks the part…..however…… Please note this particular harness does come up smaller than expected. I ordered Medium, they sent Small! Having seen the size of the Small I decided to order Large. This fitted perfectly with room for adjusting as he is still growing. It is a great harness and fits nicely.Italianoodles69

I purchased a full matching set of Barbour products for my pooch. They are attractive, hard wearing and easy to use. I think they are excellent value for money when compared to other brands that I have purchased in the past. I wish I had found Barbour pet products before.Alison T.

Bought this for an English Springer, after a few days tartan material started coming away from braiding round sides. Would not recommend as the tartan material is very poor quality and stitching is nit secure.Tazibugs

First, like someone else mentioned in the review. The harness attracts heat, it can easily overheat a dog in the warm summer days. I would recommend designing the harness so it has cooling pads. I love the front leash loop, I wish more of the ruffwear harnesses had both back and front loops. This harness is better in the winter months, I would not recommend wearing this harness during hotter days during the summer. My dog is an escape artist, has gotten away from several harnesses and collars, including several ruffwears harnesses until I found this harness. The three straps works wonders, she can't figure out how to get out of this harness and she hasn't yet. Only problem is that this harness can get super hot and the second problem is that the front padding is not really doing it's job. The adjustments are hidden and the front padding covers it up, however it feels like a rock and it puts pressure on the dogs chest if using back loop clip. I only use the front loop clip leash attachment which prevents any damage to the chest. I hope this helps, hopefully you can design a new version of this harness, I think all your customers would appreciate it 🙂 Overall, I would still recommend this product, though it does has it's flaws I purchased this harness from REI, so it may not say that the review is verified. I wanted to leave some feedback on the companies website.Riley

I purchased the Switchbak primarily for hiking but ended up using it for Search & Rescue training. I really wouldn’t recommend it for either for a number of reasons. First off, the top is heavily padded and holds in body heat. The padding is totally unnecessary and an overheated dog in the back country can be pretty serious. Second, the pockets are almost useless unless they have equal amounts of weight on each side. I don’t load my dog with weight but just the weight of a 2’ leash in one pocket is enough to cause the harness to twist. Third, the D-ring placement is totally inadequate for a trailing dog. It’s too far forward and it causes the lead to get caught on the dog’s rear legs when making turns while trailing. In my opinion, the people designing these harnesses either lack experience handling working dogs or simply did not think through the design of the product. Unfortunately, this seems to be an issue across the Ruffwear line.Justin

Let me start out by saying that I love walking…I mean its kinda my stick, and since my dogs love sticks, (numerous can be found while walking), its a win-win; however, what isn’t so fun is carrying all the stuff required on a hot summer day, while walking or riding my bike. Bottled water, poopie bags, used poopie bags…don’t you love that left over poopie bag smell. No matter where I put the bag, there is always a little residual smell, and although the leashes I bought have a place to tie them after use, the feeling of a cold poop filled bag slapping against my waist as I walk….annoying to say the least. So, giving my dog pockets was the best solution…carry your own poop! The bag is not huge at all, so if you are a hiker and want your dog to carry some weight, this is not the tool for you. What it can carry is two water bladders (one on each side) with about 16oz of water each, a poopie bag roll, and one or two full poopie bags (as the water bladders empty). I have even had my girl carry my phone when both water bladders were not necessary. This is the maximum though. The side pockets do not expand, so the more you shove in there, the more the harness will stick out away from the dogs body. I will also add that my dog has issues with a lot of harnesses rubbing away her fur. I first ordered the Front Range harness for my Great Pyrenees and Lab. It worked well for the Pyrenees, but with the lab it rubbed away a huge patch of fur on her chest and even started to get little scabs. I then exchanged it for this harness, and her hair has completely grown back with no additional rubbing anywhere else. I only wish it came in pink, as everyone thinks she is a boy, but I thought the blue was the best looking color. Thank you again Ruffwear!Brittney K.

This is a fantastic product! My little Patterdale, Fionn, always joins me on the trails and this pack has allowed him to carry his own water, food, and kit. The bright orange colour is great for visibility and I can see him very well when he is darting across the moors or up the mountain paths. The handle is arguably the best feature as is very useful for stiles and deep river crossings or sections of scrambling on the route. The pack is very easy to fit and adjust using the girth strap. The pack dries quickly and is easy to clean with warm water and some mild detergent. Fionn's pack has survived many overnight, weekend, and thru-hikes since purchase and has plenty of life left in it, considering it is worn by a Patterdale! Highly recommend the pack, the best bit of equipment I have bought in a long time!Sián H

Our dog wasn’t sure about it at first. We tried to get him used to it gently by putting it on in the house for a couple of minutes but this backfired as it brushed against the walls and made a rustling noise which he didn’t like. As soon as he was outside for a walk with it on he was fine so I’d recommend putting it on outside just before a walk so your dog associates it with fun. A few days later he did an overnight backpacking trip with it on, carried his own food/bowl and seemed totally relaxed. We did find a small rubbed patch on his chest the next day so ordered the brush guard and this seems to keep him protected. The orange is great for visibility and the quality of the pack seems very good.Katie P

I had an older Ruffwear dog pack (not sure which model) that fit my previous lab perfectly and we covered hundreds of miles with it. My new lab is a different build and the old pack just didn't fit him right. After trying different sizes and packs (medium and large versions of the newer Approach and Palisades packs) – I'm so glad to have found this one! This older version of the Approach has a bit more capacity (size medium) than the new version and less extra straps/separated pockets/etc… My dog does not wear a harness so although it may be a good feature for those that do, the removable bags on the Palisade pack were just unnecessary and added extra material/bulk/weight. This is a simple, few frills pack that fits my dog great but still has everything that we need! The bags ride higher and more compressed to his body so it does not swing around like the much older pack did. Great improvements and I'm stoked to have finally found a new pack for the many miles ahead!Jodi 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 love this harness. I haven't used it for the reason I bought it yet, (to be used on my dog while paddle boarding), but I have discovered it's amazing ability to thwart my dog's whale like antics to throw herself backward, going limp, and melt right out of the harness like a cooked noodle when she doesn't want to go or leave somewhere. My dog is a 55lb Golden Retriever / Border Collie, she's a big heavy noodle. I used to own the Rabitgo dog harness which was nice for her to wear while we biked, however within 3mo she learned how to pinch her shoulders together and melt out of the harness. She would also (mostly at the dog park) go stiff leg when we would leave and then rear up and throw herself backward ( like a whale jumping out of the ocean )so she was sprawled on the ground. Your only option was to literally drag her from the park. She is 4yrs old now and is an amazing whale flopper.. she can slip out of anything… until now. I can literally just hold her in the air by my side while she tries to wiggle and squirm out of the harness to no avail with this RuffWear harness. For that reason alone this harness is worth every penny to me, whether or not it works in the water. As far as fitting goes, I bought the large. Her neck is 19inches. Behind the front legs 31inches. In front of the back legs 25 inches. From base of neck to the start of the tail is 27 inches in length. It seems to fit her well. The components are well built the D ring is sturdy the buckles are heavy duty and it's well stitched. I think the only thing that could make this harness better would be having another D ring in the front. I know they have other harnesses with this feature, but multiple attachments is just handy when it comes to dogs. Overall, I would recommend this harness and I won't be going back to my previous harness.McKenna B.

This harness is perfect for our furry escape artist! We've been using this harness for years (this is our third one) and she has never gotten out of it. It is adjustable to get a comfortable fit. The handle is wonderful when you need to make sure you have solid control, such as when small children want to greet the doggo nose to nose. Even though this is our third harness purchase, I want to clarify that the previous harnesses did not wear out and they are still structurally sound. We walk a lot and they faded due to sun and water exposure after a few years. And one of them took a beating from my cleaning attempts after an unfortunate encounter with a skunk. We are so thankful for this harness — it is perfect for us!Sandra S.

Harness fits our Siberian Husky pup well and has enough length to adjust for when she is full grown. Comfortable on her.Graeme