12 Best Dog Harnesses, Tested for All Types of Dogs

Pet parents can choose from a variety of colors and sizes of the affordable Rabbitgoo No-Pull Harness. "This harness definitely prevents any extra pulling and enabled better control during our walks," said one of our testers.

Four adjustable straps keep your dog secure, and two leash connection points let you choose the front one to prevent your dog from pulling. "The buckles are super sturdy and easy to use. Whenever my dog wears the harness, I feel comfortable knowing that she can’t slip out of it whether we’re walking, running or traveling," said a Lab expert.

Easy-release side buckles and reflective strips for visibility are helpful for early-morning or late-night walks. A back handle makes it easy to grab your pooch with your free hand to keep it from lunging. "The one con is that it’s a bit annoying to have to force it over my pup’s head. She hates that part," our Lab tester said. "It’s a bit tight. Other that that, I absolutely love how it looks and performs." Our sample arrived with sparse instructions but there's a video on the Amazon link.

Sizes: XS, S, M, L, XL; from a 11-inch chest girth to a 38-inch chest girth | Main materials: polyester and nylon

Small dog owners may already know the brand Puppia, which has earned an almost cult-like following for its soft, polyester mesh dog harness created for smaller dogs. It also come in large dog sizes, but small or sensitive-skinned dogs especially love the fit because polyester fabric rubs and chafes less than regular harness straps.

This harness is easy to get a dog to step into if you don't have an overly wiggly one. "A lot of harness brands have a video on how to put it on," says Dr. Lippman, and there's a straightforward video for putting on a Puppia using a small dog as the example.

It's affordable, and we've found it to be a great choice for dogs that have rejected other types of harnesses. It's got more than 17,000 five-star reviews on Amazon. Pet parents who are looking for some style appreciate the many color options. (Get a matching leash to be really stylin'!) While Puppia recommends hand-washing the vest, some reviewers say it also works fine machine-washed in cold and hung to dry. Since it exclusively connects to a leash at the back, this design is best for dogs that don't pull too much.

Sizes: XS, S, M, L, XL, XXL; from a 9-inch chest girth to a 41-inch chest girth | Main material: polyester mesh

This easy-on harness is a tester favorite due to its five adjustable points, which help create a secure fit on dogs of all body shapes. "It was very easy to adjust the harness to a comfortable fit and to put on and to remove," said one tester. Our Lab analysts appreciated how thick and durable the material felt; it's made with seatbelt webbing. Another tester's "escape artist" pooch was unable to break free from this harness, unlike some of the smaller ones they've tried before.

Above all else, the harness did a great job of preventing our tester dogs from pulling their owners all the way around the block, particularly with the front leash attachment. If you're unsure on size, we recommend erring on the larger side since we noticed it could be a bit tight. While our Lab experts haven't assessed the seatbelt attachment personally, the harness comes with a seatbelt attachment that one of our consumer testers tried and enjoyed.

Sizes: XS, S, M, L, XL; from a 12-inch chest girth to a 44-inch chest girth | Main material: polyester seat belt webbing

"The Easy Walk Harness is a popular harness," says Dr. Lippman. With a front loop to prevent pulling (as shown in the picture) and easy-to-adjust style, this no-frills harness lives up to its name. It comes with four adjustment points and a video tutorial to help you get the right fit, as well as email and phone support if you still need help. As one of the original anti-pulling harnesses, it's earned a following for its affordability, ease of use and how immediately it can improve dog-walking.

Our testers loved how easy it was to put this harness on, making it perfect for excitable pets that can't sit still when they sense it's time for a W-A-L-K. Yet there is a learning curve to figuring out how to adjust it precisely for your dog. Once you get it, it's simple from there. This is one of the most popular on Amazon, with more than 28,000 five-star reviews. The Easy Walk comes in a larger range of sizes than any other harness on our list, appropriate for nearly any dog.

Sizes: Petite/S, S, S/M, M, M/L, L, XL; from a 12-inch chest girth to a 49-inch chest girth | Main material: nylon

Wild One's lightweight, stretchy harness comes in a variety of rich colors including limited-edition ones; you can see all of the possible choices on the brand's website. While testing, our Lab analysts liked that the materials felt high quality and exceptionally soft and cushiony. "This harness is definitely one of the softest, most luxurious-feeling one we've tested," said one. However, since the material is so soft we noticed that it can show more signs of wear and tear than some other heavier-duty options.

There are three leash attachment points including one in the front for dogs that try to pull. Pet parents can purchase the harness on its own or snag the brand's walk kit which includes a leash and poop bag carrier that all match. Our one complaint is that we can't find a video from the brand that helps new buyers put this on their dog for the first time. Note that the newest colors come with an additional neck buckle and slightly different sizing.

Sizes: XS, S, M, L; from a 12-inch chest girth to a 38-inch chest girth | Main material: performance stretch fabric

If your squirmy dog doesn't want a harness vest pulled over its head, this step-in option might be right for you. Simply put the harness on the ground and direct your pooch's front two paws into the leg holes. Though small and light, we were impressed by its durability. One tester said, "It was small but really strong, and I wasn't worried that my dog would break out of it or that I wouldn't be able to control him."

This works best for well-trained dogs that don't pull since it doesn't have a front leash clip. Also, the rings are on the small side, which makes it difficult to attach a leash with a big clip. It's best for a medium-sized dog, which is reflected in it only coming in two sizes. Fans of the brand like that the harnesses come in beautiful patterns, not just bright colors. The green one shown is called Tail Feathers; there's a blue called Rain Song, an orange called Go Go Gecko and many more.

Sizes: M, L; from a 15-inch chest girth to a 30-inch chest girth | Main material: nylon

"A harness is good for training," Dr. Lippman says. "It takes a lot of pressure off of a dog's delicate neck" while you are correcting behavior and guiding your dog on a walk, compared to using a leash attached to a neck collar. We like Sporn's No-Pull version for a dog that's still growing because instead of using buckles or clips, this harness is secured using a cord lock which makes it easy to fit to your pet's correct size. You'll notice this brand doesn't use chest girth for sizing; it goes by neck size and their sizing chart also asks for your dog's length, height and width.

Although it clips in the back, this is a tightening harness, so still works well for teaching dogs not to pull. When your pet starts pulling, the harness tightens around the front of their chest to signal them to stop. The mesh panel stretches and is soft, so we found it to be non-irritating.

Sizes: XS, S, M, L/XL; from a 9-inch neck size to a 24-inch neck size | Main material: nylon

A "tactical" harness is designed for service dogs and is made to be extra durable, with added storage features. Though you'll see, for instance, police dogs wearing a tactical harness, one can be useful for your own dog, too, especially if you have a large dog or if you like to hike or camp. With this one, four different buckles make it easy to strap your dog in and out in a variety of ways. Lab experts noted that this harness felt very sturdy without being heavy enough to weigh your pup down. "I like how many ways there are to adjust this harness and the four quick-release buckles that mean it only takes seconds to put the harness on and off," said one tester.

A handle on the top of the harness lets you quickly grab ahold of your dog if you need to hold it back for any reason. Bungee cords on the top of the harness are great for some light storage and there are hook-and-look strips for adding a patch, like one that says "in training" or "therapy dog." The vest comes in green, brown or black and is available for medium and large dogs only who weigh between 20 to 90 pounds.

Sizes: M, L; from a 24-inch chest girth to a 36-inch chest girth | Main material: nylon

The main feature of this soft, padded harness is the large, easy-grab back handle for lifting your dog up when necessary and controlling them when in close quarters with fellow furry friends. "I also liked the option to attach a leash on either the top or bottom side of the harness," said one tester. "I think this harness could be good for running with the dog if you connect the leash to the top clip."

Sturdy construction makes this worth the extra price. It's even machine-washable. This does run a bit big and the brand says it's not for dogs who weigh less than 15 pounds.

Sizes: XS, S, M, L, XL; from a 12-inch chest girth to a 44-inch chest girth | Main material: nylon

The name is kind of funny because, in fact, the Freedom is among the hardest harnesses for a dog to escape. Use it with the brand's double-clip leash, as shown, to connect to your dog at two points simultaneously for training and control.

The martingale loop connection on the back of the harness ensures that pressure is evenly distributed across your pup's body with no worries about pinch points, and the loop on the front helps you direct your furry friend. We've seen the Freedom harness recommended on Reddit forums, but we've also had trainers warn that it can be overly restrictive for some pups.

"The velvet liner of the leash seems particularly soft and comfortable," a tester said. The nylon webbing in the harness is tested on up to 3,800 pounds so it's not likely to rip or fray without your dog actively chewing on it. Even then, you can purchase the chewing warranty to get a replacement harness sent to you. We checked with the brand and received word that, "You can take advantage of the warranty even if you purchased through Amazon."

One of our Lab experts did have trouble returning it for ripping versus chewing. Some online reviewers say that if you take the harness off carelessly, it can twist up. We recommend this video on straightening the harness if that happens.

Sizes: XS, S, M, L, XL, XXL; from a 14-inch chest girth to a 44-inch chest girth | Main material: nylon and velvet

Made for a long outing, this harness has padded front and back panels for your dog's comfort over extended walks or hikes. A sturdy front loop leash attachment discourages pulling, while a back metal loop works well for more easygoing dogs. It comes in more than a dozen colors, all with reflective trim for visibility. The four adjustment points make it easy to fit it to your dog's body and it won't hinder their mobility so they can still run around.

"We've had this harness for years and it's held up really well even though we have a strong dog that pulls," said one tester with a greyhound/lab mix. We appreciate that the harness is made with some recycled materials. This is another popular choice on Amazon with more than 12,000 five-star reviews.

Sizes: XXS, XS, S, M, L, XL; from a 13-inch chest girth to a 42-inch chest girth | Main material: polyester

Some dogs are trickier to fit with a harness than others, and we've had dog parents recommend the Balance as a very customizable no-pull option with six points of adjustment. Testers say that this doesn't rub under a dog's legs like some harnesses do, and it's less restrictive of their motion. One ring on the back and one on the front can help you manage pulling. There are nine colors available, but this harness is less of a fashion choice and more of a quality choice as it's made in the USA. This is a hand-wash only choice.

Sizes: XS, S, M, M/L, L; from a 13.5-inch chest girth to a 43.5-inch chest girth | Main material: nylon