Deciding On The Right Harness For Your Dog

Deciding On The Right Harness For Your Dog

Choosing a harness for your dog

Deciding which harness to get your dog can be a tough task. There are so many different options and styles out there that it can quickly become overwhelming. This is why we have done the hard work for you and carry a selection of our favorite harnesses that have been tested on our own dogs Parker and Brinkley. We make sure to carry options that are both comfortable and functional for your pup. In our search we found that many harnesses available at chain stores and local shops just weren't cutting it. You may have come across similar problems in your search for a quality dog harness.

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Typical Chain Store Harness Problems


  • Most harnesses are un-padded and made of cheap nylon with no consideration of comfort
  • Many harnesses cause rubbing, chafing and irritation problems for dogs - especially behind the front legs in and around the armpit area
  • Many are not cut out or durable enough for activities like biking, joring, or lifting your pup over obstacles
  • "Houdini" escape artist dogs can back out of the harnesses

When choosing harnesses to carry, we considered all of these typical problems and tried to find harnesses that were a step above the rest. We are confident you will find all harnesses we carry to be great, but there are differences. Continue reading below as we outline what makes each harness unique and what its best uses are. Hopefully this will make your decision a little easier. When reviewing this harness comparison page, it is important to keep in mind the primary use for the harness, your dog's size and current behavior, and what leash accessories might be complimentary. Remember, if you have further questions, please contact us.

Most Comfortable Dog Harnesses


ComfortFlex Sport Harness

For active dogs, it is important that a harness be light-weight, yet durable and have padding in the appropriate areas. You want your dog to still have complete freedom of motion. Standard nylon harness tend to rub in the dog's armpit area behind the front legs and can cause chaffing and sores. That's why we like dog harnesses with comfortable foam or fleece padding. Some of the most comfortable harnesses we have come across can be found in our dog padded harnesses section of the website. Some personal favorites of mine for everyday use are the ComfortFlex Sport Harness, and the Ruffwear Front Range.
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Dog Harnesses For Pullers


Urban Trail Harness

For dogs that are involved in pulling activities or just pullers in general, a good harness can distribute the pulling force away from the neck and throat to across the chest area. We like harnesses that have padding in the chest area and are highly adjustable to get just the right fit. The harnesses we carry are not specifically designed to eliminate pulling, but instead offer a safer alternative to a collar for your dog. With that said, you will likely still notice increased control with a proper dog harness and this can be enhanced further by combining with a dog stretch control leash. Some of our favorite harnesses for pulling can be found in our dog padded harnesses section of the website. Some personal favorites of mine are the Urban Trail harness and the Front Range Harness.
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Best Escape-Proof Dog Harnesses


Ruffwear Web Master Harness

Let's face it, some dogs are just 'Houdini' dogs and can escape or back-out of just about any dog harness. For these escape artist dogs, we recommend a secure harness that has an additional belly strap for preventing backouts. Most dog harnesses on the market only have one strap behind the front legs, but harness like the Ruffwear Web Master harness have 2 padded straps on the underside of the dog, making it an excellent escape-proof dog harness. It is highly adjustable and allows you to get a secure snug fit. In our experience, the Web Master harness is the best dog harness to prevent escape.
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Best Dog Harnesses For Joring & Biking


Dog Biking Harnesses

When biking or joring with your dog, it is crucial to use a padded dog harness to take the tension away from the dog's neck. We like using harnesses with secure stitching and a strong d-ring positioned on the back near your dog's shoulders or just behind. Padding is especially important on the strap that goes behind your dog's front legs because this is an area that tends to rub when biking. Some of our favorite harnesses for biking and joring can be found in our dog padded harnesses section of the website. Some personal favorites of mine are the Urban Trail harness and the Front Range Harness.

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Most Durable Dog Harnesses


Durable Dog Harnesses

All of the harnesses we carry at The Dog Outdoors have strong, reinforced stitching and strength rated metal d-ring attachments. We carry trusted brands such as EzyDog, Alpine Outfitters, Ruffwear, and Pet PDC. All harnesses are guaranteed against manufacturer defects under appropriate use conditions. Please do not use a dog harness on a tie-out. They are not intended for this purpose.

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Best Harnesses For Running With Your Dog


Ruffwear Front Range Harness

When jogging/running with your dog, we like to recommend a lightweight harness with minimal contact points and padding. It's also nice to combine a harness with a hands-free running leash such as the Road Runner for pull absorption. Many of our customers find that the ComfortFlex Sport Harness, and the Ruffwear Front Range work really well for running with your dog.

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