Fitting a Harness For Your Dog

Fitting a Harness For Your Dog

Finding the right harness for your dog is important so he can stay comfortable when out on his walks. If it’s too small, it can cause pain and discomfort; if too big, he can break loose, which can cause all sorts of mayhem!

In this blog post, we’ll show you how to correctly fit your dog’s harness, how to measure, and the best types of harnesses for your breed of dog.

Measuring Your Dog

The first step to finding the right harness is to measure your dog. This is to help you find the right sized harness he will need. In order to measure your doggie accurately, it is recommended that you use some form of measuring tape or a ribbon.

Wrap the tape around the circumference of their chest and check their size; the same can be done if you are using a piece of string or ribbon by checking it against a ruler.

Like the harness, the tape should be snug, not too tight and not too loose. You should be able to ­fit 1-2 ­fingers between the tape and the surface of your dog’s coat.

Once you have these measurements, write them down somewhere convenient like your phone and convert them to centimetres/inches, just so you have them if looking at  harnesses with alternative measurements.

Once you have that all done, the fun part starts—shopping for a new harness!

Choosing a Harness

When choosing what type of harness best suits your dog, you should ask the following questions;

  1. Are they a puller?

If your dog likes to pull and is a little too eager when out on his walks, a non-pull , front control or padded harness may be the best option, like the HALTI Non-Pull Harness.

  1. Are they strong?

If they are strong, they will need a harness that is made of stronger materials.

  1. Do they excited when it is time to go for a walk?

If they get overly excited and energetic when going for a walk, an easy to put on harness may be the best option, like COASTAL Padded Harness.

small dog in a park with a young child on a harness

How Often Should a Harness Be Changed?

There is no set period for how often you need to change your dog’s harness, unless you notice it is too tight on your dog. If you own a puppy, they will need upgrades to their harness as they grow bigger. Once they have reached maximum size, their harness should do them for the rest of their lives, unless it gets damaged or your dog changes weight.

large dog wearing a blue harness outdoors

Finding the Right Style

Once you’ve found the right fit, it’s time to find a style that best suits your dog.

Colour

Why not try match the colours of the harness with the colour of their collar, or a colour that complements the collar? A stylish colour combination like purple and gold or green and yellow would surely make your dog the most fashionable canine in the neighbourhood!

Pattern

A patterned harness like the Ribbon Designer Harness Navy Plaid or Pink Paisley adds a fun and light-hearted touch to your dog’s style.

Fabric

Does your dog like to get dirty and play in the mud when out on his walks? Choose a collar that will be easy to clean and maintain, such as COASTAL Nylon Padded Harness.

Any more questions? We can help!

If you need help sizing your doggie for their ideal harness, you can bring them into any of our locations nationwide and size them up in store. Our team would be more than happy to assist you in choosing the best option for your doggie and guiding you in the right direction.

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