How to Choose a Dog Harness: A Buyer's Guide

A bad harness can cause shoulder injuries, restrict gait, encourage pulling, and chafe under the legs. A good harness solves all of those and makes the walk better for both of you. Here's how to pick the right one.

The 4 main types

Front-clip harness

The leash attaches to the chest. When the dog pulls, their body turns slightly back toward you. Self-correcting, no neck pressure, great for training loose leash walking.

Best for: pullers, training, reactive dogs, most pet dogs.

Back-clip harness

The leash attaches to the back. Comfortable for the dog but does nothing about pulling and can encourage it (sled-dog effect).

Best for: small dogs who don't pull, dogs with tracheal issues who need to skip the neck entirely, calm walkers.

Dual-clip harness

Both front and back clips. Use front for training, back for trail or relaxed walks. Versatile.

Best for: most situations, especially if you're training but want flexibility.

Y-shaped (no-restrict) harness

The chest strap forms a Y shape that doesn't cross over the shoulders. Allows full shoulder range of motion. Important for active dogs and breeds prone to shoulder issues.

Best for: hiking, running, working dogs, growing puppies, large breeds.

Avoid: T-shaped or H-shaped harnesses with straight chest straps

These cross over the shoulder joint and restrict natural movement. Long-term use can cause gait issues and shoulder injuries. Common in big-box store harnesses.

How to fit a harness

  • Two fingers under any strap. Snug but not tight.
  • Chest strap sits low, between the front legs and below the shoulder blade.
  • No rubbing under the armpits. Adjust until clear.
  • Doesn't ride up the neck when the dog pulls.

Material and durability

  • Padded chest plate for comfort.
  • Reflective stitching for night walks (Winnipeg winters are dark).
  • Reinforced D-ring at the clip points (cheap rings break).
  • Machine washable matters more than you'd think.
  • Buckle quality. Plastic buckles fail. Metal lasts.

What about head halters and prong collars?

Head halters can work for very strong pullers in the short term, but require careful conditioning to use safely. Prong and choke collars cause neck injury and create stress associations that often make leash reactivity worse. We don't recommend or carry them at Barks N Purrs.

By size and breed type

  • Small dogs (under 20 lbs): back-clip or dual-clip with soft padding. Avoid heavy harnesses.
  • Medium dogs (20-50 lbs): dual-clip or front-clip Y-shape. Versatile.
  • Large dogs (50+ lbs): Y-shape or front-clip with reinforced hardware.
  • Deep-chested breeds (Greyhounds, Whippets, Doberman): need adjustable chest, often a special fit.
  • Puppies: Y-shape, easy to put on, doesn't restrict growth plates.

Come fit one

Bring your dog in. We'll fit a few different harnesses and let your dog walk around in them. Easier than guessing online. Stop by Barks N Purrs at 925 Headmaster Row in Winnipeg, call 204-219-1928, or browse Leashes, Collars, and Bandanas.

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