There are many reasons owners to use a dog harnesses, including behavior issues, safety concerns or medical conditions.

The harness is recommended by many dog trainers and animal behaviorists as a harness has many advantages over a collar in some very basic and humane ways: A dog harness distributes force evenly throughout the dog. Instead of yanking the dog’s head, you can pull on a harness and the dog feels his entire center of gravity being moved. This is a much more humane way of applying force to a dog, when force is needed.

For some small dog owners harnesses become a medical necessity due to a condition called collapsing trachea. The trachea (the airway to the lungs) of these animals can become flattened or completely collapse as a result of pressure on the throat, such as when pulling on the collar during walks.

Harnesses are also more difficult for a dog to slip out of than a flat buckle collar, so for dogs that have a relatively large neck when compared to their head (e.g. greyhounds, pugs, etc.) a harness can be essential as they can easily pull out of many collars. These dogs may slip their head through collar.

No matter what your motivation for using a harness, finding the right style should be easy when you stop to consider a few factors before you shop.

Features to Consider in a Dog Harness

• Type (Car seatbelt, step-in harness, coat harness)
• Material: Strength of material, type of buckles, width of straps
• Design: Adjustablility, comfort, convenient and easy to use
• Safety: Strength, secure buckles
• Size
• Machine washable

An ideal choice for a harness for your dog is an adjustable, easy to fit harness with secure buckles, that is comfortable, durable and machine washable. Choose based on your dog’s size, temperament, body type or for primary function and ease of use.

On of our favorite types for smaller dogs are the soft canvas harnesses.

Size

The harness should be snug, but still allow two fingers to slip easily beneath it.

Harness size is determined by the size of the dog’s chest. To find your dog’s harness size, simply measure the widest part of the ribcage just behind the elbows nd add about 5 cms.Keep in mind that each harness type may have different or additional measurement points to assure proper sizing.Harnesses usually fasten with a buckle, so the size is adjustable.

A harness should be tight enough to prevent slipping, note that some dogs have the capability to slip out of harness that is too loose. Note that the harness material may stretch or loosen with use so be sure to check the fit regularly. So whatever type of harness you select, find one that is adjustable so it fits your dog properly can expand.

Material

Leads come in many different materials, the most common are nylon, leather and cotton. When choosing a material consider the flexibility of the lead. If the lead is too hard or too stiff it will be uncomfortable for the dog and impractical for you.

Nylon Lead

The most popular lead is the nylon lead. Its low price tag, along with the variety of colors and designs makes it a popular item. They are used in every day situations as well as dog training. the drawback is that nylon can be rough on hands with extended use.

Leather Lead

Leather leads are attractive, strong and generally get softer and better with use. But if your dog will be around water often, a leather dog leash won’t hold up as well as a nylon one.

Cotton Lead

There are also leads made out of cotton, which are easier on the hands than nylon. Cotton training leads can be bought in very long lengths, making them ideal for training outside.

Another variety of cotton leads are the cotton canvas leads. They come in a variety of colors and styles.

Size

Width

The size of the lead depends on the size of your dog and personal preference. The bigger your dog, the wider his leash should be. If you’re choosing a leash for a puppy, buy with his adult size in mind whenever possible.

Length

One good factor to consider is the length of the lead. It is of course important to know how long the dog lead will be so that it won’t throttle your dog, and of course you don’t have to stop to much with a longer lead.