The Very Best Dog Harnesses
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Experienced dog owners know that sometimes the typicalleash-and-collarcombo isn’t enough when you’re walking with a zigzagging Chihuahua or a Great Dane that doesn’t want to wait for the streetlight to change. That’s where a harness can come in handy and give you more confidence and control — but there’s plenty to consider before buying one. “Think about why you are buying a harness for your dog. Is it to control pulling? Is it to take pressure off their neck? Or is it just because you prefer the look?” explains Dr. Zay Satchu, chief veterinary officer and co-founder ofBond Vet. “All of these are valid reasons to use a harness, but knowing why will help you narrow down which ones to choose from.”
As several experts I spoke to emphasized, every dog is different in terms of personality, body type, and specific walking routines, so each will need something different in a harness as well. What’s right for a basset hound may not be right for a bloodhound — and that doesn’t factor in owner preferences. “When choosing a dog harness, the main thing to look for is a balance between safety, comfort, control, and freedom of movement. A harness should help keep a dog safe without restricting the way their body naturally moves,” says Leah Callaghan, a vet nurse atButternut Box.
To find the best harnesses for every type of dog and dog owner, we talked to professional dog walkers, trainers, and more than one Labradoodle-owning veterinarian. (And if you already know more or less what you’re looking for, you can use the table of contents to skip ahead.)
Updated on May 20, 2026
We’ve updated this guide with ournew harness pick for puppies, from Rogz. All of our other top harness picks have been updated with the latest availability.
Whatwe’relookingfor
Material
Ideally, you’ll find a harness that your dog is comfortable wearing day in and day out. And if you’re successful in that effort, you will definitely want it to be made of durable and easy-to-clean materials. Thankfully, most brands design their harnesses with these factors in mind. Still, we have noted harnesses that are machine-washable or especially tough.
Fit
A harness that doesn’t fit well can quickly become a hazard to your dog’s safety. “If the harness is too loose, the dog can easily slip out of it and potentially injure themselves,” says Hadley Raysor, founder ofthe Dandy Dogwalker. If the harness is too tight, especially around the neck, it can restrict the dog’s breathing and natural movement. Too-tight harnesses can also cause skin irritation from constant rubbing.
To get the best fit, start by looking for a harness designed for your dog’s size, and in some cases for their specific body type, since even within the categories of small, medium, and large, canine body proportions vary greatly. According to Jason Kraut, owner ofJason the Dog Walker & Co., the best harnesses are adjustable in more than one spot to fit barrel-chested dogs just as well as more svelte ones. Some dogs, like flat-faced Boston terriers who tend to have breathing problems, will need harnesses that cater to their specific needs. For this reason, it’s best to start your search by asking your veterinarian for recommendations. Keep in mind that your dog should also get a say in the kind of harness they wear. Some dogs are very sensitive to bulky material under their arms, and it might take a few trips to the pet store and trying on a couple of different styles before finding something that your pet will actually want to walk in. Lastly, for extra safety while training, Nelli Chowdhury-Rahman, the founder and owner ofBrooklyn Tails & Trails, recommends using alightweight carabinerto connect your dog’s harness to a collar. “With skittish dogs or rescues who are scared of truck noises or things like that, we’ll actually use both a harness and a collar. We clip them both together, so if they come out of the harness, there’s a backup.”
Attachment points
Kraut suggests looking for harnesses with leash-attachment points on both the front (on the underside of the harness, nearer to the dog’s chest) and the back. “For dogs who pull, front-clip harnesses can be helpful because they gently redirect the dog’s body back toward the handler rather than allowing them to throw all their weight forward. This can make walks feel calmer and more manageable without relying on force,” Callaghan told me. Back-clip harnesses often work well for smaller dogs, older dogs, or dogs who already walk nicely, because they keep the lead away from the legs and reduce the chance of tangling. “Some harnesses offer both front and back attachment points, which can be useful while training because they give owners more flexibility depending on the environment and the dog’s arousal level that day,” she adds.
No matter the size of your dog, Kraut would prioritize “a harness that can clip in the front and the back — that way you have options.” Harnesses with multiple spots to attach a leash will also allow you to use adouble-ended leashfor more control. Not all of the harnesses on this list have both front and back leash rings or loops, but we have noted each one’s attachment points below.
Style
How you get your dog into a harness will vary greatly depending on its design.Some are pretty obvious, slipping over the dog’s head and clipping behind their back. Others are more complicated and can feel like solving an elaborate puzzle. However they function, the best harnesses should be easy for you to figure out and pleasant for your dog to get into. “A lot of times, people don’t consider socializing their dogs to a new piece of equipment like a harness,” says Ben Cawley, senior training support manager atGuiding Eyes for the Blind, who has been a trainer for more than 20 years and works with service dogs.“But there’s a lot you can do to make sure it’s a positive experience. I like to usefoodas a distraction for the dog at first, especially if they don’t like things going over their head. For those kinds of dogs, you can use a step-in harness, so they don’t get nervous when you put it on.” You can look for harnesses with clips that open and close around your dog’s neck.
Best dog harness overall
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Material:Nylon with neoprene padding |Fit:Five adjustment points |Attachment points:Front and back leash attachments |Style: Around the neck with side closures
Kraut says the right harness makes hisjobas adogwalker a lot easier. “It’s a big deal for us. We’re hustling around picking up dogs all day, so if you make a mistake and get your dog the wrong one, we suffer.” If you can’t take your pet to try one on or if you’re buying it online, your best bet is to go for one that’s fully adjustable like this one he recommends from Pet Safe. It comes in four sizes and has five adjustable buckles to tighten or loosen it at different points. It has a top-mounted handle for extra control, front and back metal rings forleashhookup, and reflective stitching for safety, and it comes with an adjustablecar-controlstrap to keep your pup seated when you’re driving.
Best dog harness for training
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Material:Velvet-lined chest strap |Fit:Three adjustment points |Attachment points:Front and back leash attachment |Style: Step-in with side closure
If it’s your first time using adogharness, Royah Nuñez, a dog trainer and the founder ofQuing Canine, prefers the double-attachment design of this harness, because it works like a “steering wheel” for yourdog. “The topleashattachment is more for brake control, like, ‘Easy, slow down.’ And the front is more for guiding the dog,” Nuñez says. It comes with a double-ended leash, which is how you can simultaneously clip on to both attachment points. Once anownerand their dog are more experienced with the harness, it can be used traditionally with just the back attachment. Nuñez likes the size range and has used this harness to train dogs of every size — from tiny breeds like Maltipoos to much wider-chested dogs like American bulldogs and Tibetan Mastiffs. As a bonus, 2 Hounds offers achewing warranty, so customers can ship their used harnesses back to the brand in exchange for replacements.
Best harness for puppies
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Material:Woven nylon and polyester, padded neoprene |Fit:Four adjustment points |Attachment points:Front and back leash attachment |Style: Over-the-head with side closures
When my basset hound Ringo was a puppy, we used this outdoor-ready harness from South African–based pet brand Rogz. It has an over-the-head design, and it features a comfortable padded front chest plate. It has a handy built-in handle on the back for extra control, which we used if we needed to quickly get ahold of Ringo and keep him from running away at his puppy obedience classes. The harness also has reflective stitching for extra visibility; it was a necessary feature when we lived in busy downtown Toronto and would walk him after dark. There’s also an ID tag loop if you want to keep a dog ID tag with your pet’s name and contact information on the harness rather than a collar.
Best harness for small dogs
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Material:Polyester mesh |Fit:Not adjustable |Attachment points:Back leash attachment |Style: Step-in with back closure
Two experts — Stephanie Liff, a co-owner of Pure Paws Veterinary Care, and Nelli Chowdhury-Rahman — recommend this Puppia harness for little dogs. “We love the Puppia brand. It’s soft, mesh, lightweight, and very comfortable for small dogs,” says Chowdhury-Rahman. “They’re easy to clean for dogs who are very low to the ground and get dirty easily. If you’re having a muddy winter or whatever it is, you can just pop it in the laundry.” The Puppia’s polyester mesh is breathable and padded, and it’s a step-in design that closes with Velcro and a heavy-duty clip around the dog’s back. It’s also available in 13 solid colors, plus multiple patterns.
Best harness for big dogs
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Material:Nylon with neoprene chest pad |Fit:Three adjustment points |Attachment points:Back leash attachment |Style: Step-in with back closure
“For big dogs in particular, we like to use something that has a little bit of reflective detailing,” says Chowdhury-Rahman, who recommends the K9 Explorer dog harness with reflective stitching on the straps. “They’re good for German shepherds or boxers, that type of dog. It’s padded and reflective just in case you’re in low light or walking your dog at night. It has really thick straps because these dogs have lots of muscle and are pretty big.” The cushioned chest pad is particularly handy for preventing sore spots or harness burn on strong dogs that tend to pull really hard.
Best harness for flat-faced dogs
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Material:Polyester mesh |Fit:Four adjustment points |Attachment points:Back leash attachment |Style: Step-in with back closure
Kraut, Chowdhury-Rahman, and Liff stressed the importance of a harness that doesn’t restrict the neck and chest in flat-faced dogs, whose uniquely shaped faces often make it difficult to breathe. For example, pugs and Boston terriers have flat faces, so they need a harness that will protect their necks from pressure. This one, with its X-shaped front, is made specifically for that purpose, and its breathable and padded mesh material is both comfortable and machine washable. It’s another step-in design, and it closes with a heavy-duty clip around the dog’s back. It’s also available in four sizes and eight color combinations.
Best harness for long-backed dogs
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Material:Nylon |Fit:Five adjustment points |Attachment points:Back leash attachment |Style: Over-the-head with side closures
Elisabeth Weiss, a dog trainer and the owner ofDog Relations NYC, prefers the Y-shaped harnesses from Italian brandHaqihanafor long-backed dogs like whippets, dachshunds, and German shepherds, noting that it’s also ideal for breeds that are long-backed as well as deep-chested, like Great Danes. “This harness works really well because the back strap and the belly strap are adjustable and longer for those types of dogs,” says Weiss. Available in 11 sizes including four long-specific models, extended straps ensure the leash-attachment point is positioned more naturally on your pet’s spine to avoid putting harmful pressure on the sternum. “Because the leash is not in play, it actually reduces leash aggression in my experience,” adds Weiss. With five adjustment points, the over-the-head harness style also promotes freer movement and is less constricting than a step-in harness, which Weiss says “cuts across the forearm and the shoulders to prevent them from actually striving out completely.” The harness comes in 14 colors, including one with reflective stitching.
[Editors’ note: Haqihana lists its prices in euros, so we’ve listed an approximation in U.S. dollars.]
Best harness for toy- and teacup-breed dogs
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Material:Nylon |Fit:Four adjustment points |Attachment points:Back leash attachment |Style: Over the head with side closures
If your dog is in the toy or teacup category, thisharness, which is actually designed for cats, is a good option. The straps are soft and thin so they don’t feel bulky or pinch tender armpits. There are three sizes with multiple points of adjustment on each side for torso girth as well as sliding adjustments around the neck and chest, which makes for a more customized fit. The harness tightens slightly if thedog(orcat) pulls, which adds a layer of security and helps with training. Plus it comes with a bungee-styleleashthat absorbs any shock caused when your pup suddenly decides to bark at other dogs in the park.
Best harness for hiking and off-leash training
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Material:Nylon with foam padding |Fit:Four adjustment points |Attachment points:Front and back leash attachments |Style: Over-the-head with side closures
“I really like the Ruffwear Front Range harness forhiking-typeactivities,” says Cawley, noting that it’s what trainers use “to teach dogs aboutoff-leashmanners.” The different connection points on the front and the back of the harness let you choose whether to have your dog drag theirleashas an extra precaution while training or to clip it to the front to discourage pulling on walks. The harness is designed for extra comfort — wide straps with soft foam padding mean it won’t irritate a dog’s skin no matter how hard it pulls. Available in five sizes and ten colors, it has reflective trim and a pocket to store tags that would normally be worn on a collar.
Best harness for dogs who pull
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Material:Nylon |Fit:Four adjustment points |Attachment points:Front leash attachment |Style: Around-the-neck with side closures
PetSafe’s Easy Walk harness is popular among our experts — it was name-checked by several, including Satchu, Raysor, and Bowers. Chowdhury-Rahman is a fan and uses it on all four of her dogs. “It’s pretty affordable, it’s on Amazon Prime, and it’s good because my dogs pull a lot. They’re very curious, and they want to eat and smell a lot of things,” says Chowdhury-Rahman. But it’s a favorite among dog walkers because “it’s super-easy to put on, and no matter which way you attach it, it works,” says Kraut. The different-colored straps help distinguish the top from the bottom, and multiple clips let you put it on over your dog’s head or clip it around their neck depending on their preference. Available in eight sizes and colors,this harness was recommended by Mika Ito, the director of animal care at New York–based shelterAnimal Havenin our article aboutadopting a rescue dog.
Best head collar
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Material:Nylon |Fit:Adjustable nose loop |Attachment points:Under-the-muzzle leash attachment |Style: Over the nose with behind the neck closure
Kraut, Cawley, and veterinarianJeff Webersuggest considering a head collar, often called a gentle leader. “We get a lot of dogs who need a gentle leader,” says Kraut. “I mean, it kind of looks like you’rewalkinga horse, but some of the dogs we walk will straight-up lunge at kids or a skateboarder coming by or a bicycle or a runner. You really need to have control of that dog at a moment’s notice, and if you have control of their head, then you pretty much have control of everything. It’s really good for dogs who eat everything off the street, which is a problem in Brooklyn.” My family uses a head collar for our Great Dane, Benny, which was recommended by a dog trainer during a puppy obedience class. The dog’s long snout is ideal for this type of harness, and it reduces pressure on his throat and neck. At around 150 pounds, Benny can be incredibly difficult to restrain, but the head collar (which reminds me of a horse’s halter) helps guide his head (and thereby body), providing more control on walks.
Some more dog harnesses we’ve written about
Ourexperts
• Rachel Bowers, owner ofBrooklyn Bark Dog Walking and Pet Sitting
• Ben Cawley, senior training support manager atGuiding Eyes for the Blind
• Nelli Chowdhury-Rahman, founder and owner ofBrooklyn Tails & Trails
• Mika Ito, the director of animal care at New York–based shelterAnimal Haven
• Jason Kraut, owner ofJason the Dog Walker & Co
• Stephanie Liff, co-owner of Pure Paws Veterinary Care
• Royah Nuñez, dog trainer and founder ofQuing Canine
• Hadley Raysor ofthe Dandy Dogwalker
• Dr. Zay Satchu, chief veterinary officer and co-founder ofBond Vet
•Dr. Jeff Weber, veterinarian
•Elisabeth Weiss, dog trainer and owner ofDog Relations NYC
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