Over-Head or Step-Into: How To Put On A Dog Harness

No two dog harnesses are exactly alike. There are three main categories of harnesses; no-pull, sports and comfort. Each of these harness categories has various styles.

Before purchasing a harness ensure you are choosing the correct type of harness for the desired activity. For example, if you are looking for a harness to wear on walks and help curb pulling behaviours, a comfort harness will be a bad choice. A comfort harness typically clips on the back and makes pulling very comfortable for your dog and gives them even more strength to pull with. Once you know what type of harness you need, you can choose a suitable style. Some styles are easier to put on than others. I’ve listed them below in order of ease of fitting.

Simple

Over-head harness. These harnesses go over your dog’s head first. This is easy to do by holding a treat and having the dog put his head through.

• Side clip. A unique option that provides directional training for your dog.
• Back clip. Not a good choice for curbing pullers. Typically used for increased strength or comfort.
• Front clip. Designed to control but can easily shift on the body.

Moderate

Step-in harness. These harnesses require your dog’s legs to go in first. Depending on the dog this can be a difficult or simple task.

• Back clip. Various styles in this category; h-harness, figure 8 harness, apron harness.
• Front clip. These are commonly tightening harnesses that pull the front legs together when the dog pulls to make it difficult for them to run.

Difficult

Duel Over-head & step-in. These harnesses go over your dog’s head first, then require your dog’s legs to go in second. This can be difficult unless the dog is calm and comfortable being handled. Can be complicated for users to understand.

• Back clip. Not a good choice for curbing pullers. A common design for fashion harness and small dogs.
• Front clip. These are commonly tightening harnesses that pull the front legs together when the dog pulls to make it difficult for them to run.

Any harness with multiple attachments will require some practice to get on and off your dog. Try seeking a product that has only one connection point. Also, to ensure your harness is fitting and sized properly you should always look to the vendor’s website for diagrams and video tutorials.