Most types of step-in harnesses should do well. I have a super tugger/puller and her trachea is supposedly fine so far according to the vet's x-ray and physical testing but I still don't believe it. What I do notice is that most harnesses don't work well for her. When she tugs it hits her lower trachea causing her to cough some. This happens with the typical
nylon strap step-ins but it's mostly fine when I just use this over winter fleece clothing and also when I don't allow her to pull so much during her walks. The
Premier No-Pull Easy-Walk Harness caused her coughing within seconds of starting her walk since that's when she's most excited to explore new sights. However, the Premier harness seems to have worked wonders for some members on here, so it could have been a matter of fit or my girl's build.
When my girl was still a puppy, I had started her off on this
suede sport harness. I think it worked out alright but she might have been lighter then and also less pully, maybe. But it also felt a little hot and bulky to use in the midst of summer.
I've used it for a while until I found the perfect one for the most part. The ONLY one that almost never causes coughing on her as she's become even more pully lately than ever before is
this no-choke soft leather step-in harness. The only times she's coughed was recently when we were heading down on a steeper decline and she pulled forward/ahead, that's when it caused a bit of discomfort. I've been using it for months now. It has gone through a lot as we depend on it so much. It's obviously a bit stretched and worn-in and is extra soft now. The only thing is, it gathers up her hair where it wraps around (as I'm growing it out) and this tickles her into thinking she's itchy but she only bothers to scratch it when we're not moving. At those times, I try to position my hold on the leash angle so that it lets her hair fall back down/straighten so they're not "bunched up" tickling her. The
leather Buddy Belt harness bothers her just as much in the "tickle factor", so I think there's no helping it.
This latter one is also a harness quite a few swear by.
For myself, I feel the leather is a little tougher/thicker comparatively to my
best performer so far and lightest amongst the leather harnesses I've tried. It did cause a little discomfort for her when she pulled enough, but it's the next best thing to my other and I wanted to keep an alternative handy. I'm also thinking it might need some breaking in as it's leather, it should soften/stretch a little.
So far, these last two listed are my choice picks.
Chattiesmom of YorkieTalk custom makes silk/satin step-in harnesses that a ton of YT'ers vouch for the no-choke factor and the material is great for minimizing hair static and breakage. I have yet to try that out as I'm waiting on a trade I made with someone for one. I am hoping it fits my girl properly and ends up being the end all solution to our problems.
Good luck finding the perfect harness for your pup! I'm just very difficult to please because I don't want my girl to cough or be tickled by the harness.
So in spite of having the one that performs best, I'm on a quest to find one that does that AND not bunch up some of her hair causing them to tickle her senses.
