A Comparison of Types of Dog Harnesses

A dog harness comes in all shapes and sizes, depending on the reason for its use. Therapy harnesses differ in design from, say, a police dog's harness, which alerts others not to touch the dog. The most common harnesses, used for walking a dog and getting better control of it, are made of leather, nylon and padded leather. All harnesses, regardless of purpose, fit over the body rather than the neck only.

  1. Walking Harness

    • Walking harnesses vary in size, color and purpose.

      A walking harness buckles at the chest, shoulders or both. A harness should be adjustable so that your dog, if it is a puppy, doesn't grow out of it. Some brands feature a gentle squeezing action around the body, particularly the chest, which signals the dog to slow down. Choose leather straps with double stitching for powerful breeds, such as mastiff, pit bull and rottweiler; go with a nylon, single-strap harness for medium-sized and toy breeds. Short-coated breeds need extra padding, especially behind the elbows, to prevent chafing.

    Assistance Harness

    • Therapy dogs wear specialized harnesses that make it easier to help disabled people.

      Assistance dogs help people become more mobile. Assistance dogs need a durable harness that provides extra cushion at the chest, particularly if the dog pulls a wheelchair for a disabled person. Lighter harnesses without extra padding work well for such things as guiding a person gently or helping a person who is partially disabled complete basic tasks. Harnesses are usually professionally sized for safety and comfort.

    Identification Harness

    • Police dogs must wear a neon or brightly colored harness to identify them when they are working.

      Police, military and search-and-rescue dogs have a job to do. These canines are the four-legged first responders to various emergencies and need special identification. Working dogs wear harnesses that feature removable, neon identification tags that alert others to avoid petting or playing with them. These are identification harnesses and are mandatory on work sites per industry regulations.

    Vest and Coat Harness

    • Vest and coat harnesses are made with cold-resistant materials that protect dogs from the weather.

      Some dogs are sensitive to cold. Short-coated dogs of certain breeds, such as the Italian greyhound and boxer, as well as puppies under 6 months old and senior canines, need a coat in cold temperatures to keep them comfortable. Vest and coat harnesses are made with cold-resistant materials that protect dogs from the elements. Some body harnesses have a handle stitched at the top of the coat that you can grab to assist your pet through snow piles or slick ice patches.