What specific features do YOU look for in a harness?
 

Hi guys! I'm looking for specific feedback. Not general comments like: "I like this harness" (sorry if I'm being picky). I'd like to know exactly what features you look for when choosing the proper harness for your baby. Or what would make you not buy one! If you have the time and would like to help in my research I'd appreciate it!

I'll start: I will not use harnesses that attach with Velcro. It wears away after time and Baby has gotten loose from one I had once. She escaped on me and once on mom!

I like Buddy Belts bc my dogs seem to like them. They buckle up snuggly and don't put pressure on their necks. They are hard for dogs to escape from, although one of mine did, so I adjusted it a bit tighter and all's been fine since. Also, they don't seem to get as matted as they do with other harnesses I have tried.:D

I like Buddy Belts...easy to put on,comfortable soft leather, easily adjustable with the buckle and works well with our without clothing. I don't like harnesses that use velcro either.

So buddy belts are step in harnesses with buckles?

That is now my biggest concern with any harness. I used a Puppia step-in harness and ZoE escaped from it. I thought maybe is hadn't put it on right or fastened it tight enough, so the next time I paid special attention to making sure it was on right, and she still escaped from it! I've not had a problem with the regular over-the-head Puppia style or the Buddy Belt, so those two are my favorite, although completely different styles.

Yeah you also have to be careful with the cheaply made step ins with poorly made plastic adjustable buckles. I bought some off eBay years ago not realizing they were crap. We were at a dog convention. She slipped right out of it bc the plastic buckle wasnt tight enough. Thing was, it wasn't my fault, it was just really loose to begin with!

I don't know if I'd like the metal belt buckle type on a harness. I like the snap in kind.

What I look for in a harness:

It must allow Charlee full range of motion in her front legs...i.e. it cannot be restricting her shoulders from moving easily. It needs to be made of a material that seems to cause as few mats as possible (leather - buddy belt, choke free or silk - Chattie's mom's step in harness made of duponi silk) I prefer a harness that has a good size clasp, so its not too "fiddily" to do up, i.e. the buckle on the buddy belt, or velcro/d-ring on the choke free harness. I haven't found the "perfect" for all occassions harness yet...but that's ok, because I kinda like buying them :D I use the buddy belt over clothes (because I find it seems to tear/rub her coat and cause breakage), the silk harness when it needs to stay on all day, or under any of her coats...and the choke free for easy set-up and go...if we are heading out for a walk.

Happy harness shopping!

I always pinch my skin with the plastic kinds, plus with the strength Tink pulls with, I'm always worried that they'll break or pull apart....

Features in a harness that I like (and grandpa likes):

* safe: inescapable
* does not put pressure on neck, choke-free
* easy to put on and take off quickly, does not go over head (like our first one)
* comfortable
* durable
* enables me to "helicopter" (lift and pull away) the doggies from bad things
* stylish

For those with doggies who have escaped the Puppia, was the harness too big maybe? I haven't tried one yet with my guys. It seems like they would be fitted tightly enough to make them inescapable.

I see now that you did tighten down the Puppia. ZoE is a Houdini escape artist! :p

1. Adjustable to a wide arrange of sizes. So, it fits as she's growing, over clothes, and under clothes.
2. Comfortable enough so she can wear it for long periods of time.
3. Step in
4. I like the style where theres the plastic buckle, and then the two D rings. It makes me feel like it's extra secure. (and I put her ID tag on the D ring).

I have two that I use the most, but have others as well.

Buddy Belt -

Attachment 361662
Attachment 361665

I have been using this one the most lately. This is our harness typically when we are going to be out and about in public because it looks really nice! It's by far my favorite in terms of looks. Jackson does not seem to mind it so it seems comfortable enough. It's real easy to get on and I like that it's a belt-style, so if for some reason it needs to be tightened (if we added a shirt, or a jacket, or took OFF a shirt or jacket, etc), then it's easily done without any adjusting. I feel it's the most secure, so for being hooked into the car, it's nice and I feel it's safe. I would trust it to be able to pick up even 16lb Jackson easily if I had to swing him up in the air to get him out of trouble. It's a really nice leather but not real heavyweight. I guess my only cons would be - I don't want to really get it dirty, so if he's going to be near water, or sand, or lots of mud, it won't be my choice as I don't want to mess it up since it's so nice. But I did get a leather protector on it when I purchased it. So we use this for our regular walks, and walking around downtown, or visiting local stores and pet shops, etc.

Puppia Original Harness -
Attachment 361664

is our other "go-to" harness. I find it super easy to put on and off, as Jackson does not really mind it going over his head. I think it looks adorable, always get compliments on it. Oh, and love all the colors. We've had black, red and camo, but the camo one got thrown away by accident, and the red has been lost for a while :confused: LOL... The mesh is "breathable" so it doesn't seem too terribly hot. I don't care if it gets dirty, because it's really easy to throw it in the wash. It does seem to stretch out over time. But it's still in good shape and we've put it through the wringer, as it's been through rain, snow, dirt, sand, etc, etc. I also don't mind leaving this harness on him ALL day if need be, as it seems super comfy and almost just like wearing a shirt or a little vest.

We also have just a regular ole' nylon step-in harness from Petsmart... we use this as our "cheap" harness, so when we are going through the woods and farm fields exploring, I usually put this one on him as I don't give a crap how dirty and nasty it gets. It's just so that he can drag his leash behind him and run around and if need be, I can step on the leash to stop him.

Oh, and we do have the ChokeFree leather harness -
Attachment 361663
got this one before the Buddy Belt and was happy with it but since we've gotten the BB, I haven't used it really at all. I did not find the velcro to be a problem as the d-ring comes through, so there's really no way for the velcro to come loose. But yeah it's not extremely adjustable which kind of sucks and why I've preferred my BB over it. I will say it's a lighter leather and seems a bit more comfy than the BB.

That's a great description, and I've had to do that a couple of times with Joey, just a quick tug and he's in my arms and safe.


I love the buckle, it's not only looks cute, it's so easy to do, and you can wear the harness under or over clothing without a bunch of adjusting.

I was going to say soft because Teddy Bear won't walk if he feels anything touching the back of his front leg. And something that doesn't come near the neck. Maximo covered everything I look for. I got one from GW Little that looks like the Buddy Belt but was a lot cheaper. It has held up great and it is soft enough that it doesn't bother Teddy Bear's legs.