I would agree to wait until she is about 1 1/2... I used the AKC Nylon harnesses before I got Riley's buddy belts and to be completely honest, he liked them, much much better. I never had a problem with putting them on him and taking him out..... Now when he wants to go out, he runs to the door, and then when I go to get a buddy belt, he runs under the dining room table. He really does not like them..... I Never had that problem with the Nylon Harnesses.