Safety is second to only health when it comes to your big dog. I’m often asked the question, “Do big dogs need to wear harnesses?” I can say with confidence that MOST (but not all) big dog owners recommend using a harness for your big dog, alone or in combination with a collar. Discover why, as well as the pros and cons of a harness and which harness is right for your big dog.
I’ve saved you hours of research and compiled everything you need to know right here, in one convenient place! I’m answering the questions I most frequently receive pertaining to harnessing big dogs. I’ve included helpful information from the experts as well as the recommendations from my own big dog’s veterinarian, and helpful tips from other owners of big dogs.
In this article, you’ll Learn…
- Why most veterinarians Recommend Using a Harness for Your Big Dog
- Which Harness is Best for Big Dogs
- When (and How!) your Dog Should Wear a Harness
- Whether or Not a Harness can Hurt Your Big Dog
- …and What the Opposition to Harnessing Big Dogs has to Say About it
There’s a plethora of accurate and up-to-date information to go over, so let’s get rolling!
Do Big Dogs Need Harnesses?
The American Kennel Club (AKC) the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) and the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA)all condone the use of a harness for big dogs. All organizations note the risk of injury or choking when it comes to your big dog wearing a collar. however, dogs that tend to lunge when being walked, or exhibit other undesirable behaviors may benefit from wearing a harness and collar combination.
Your big dog could tip the scales over 100 pounds (45kg) by his (or her adulthood! For this reason, you must be confident in your ability to have direct physical control over your dog. It could be deadly if your dog was able to lunge away from you during a walk. He (or she) could lunge into traffic or toward another animal (or human being).
A harness, when used in combination with a collar, allows you to be confident that your big dog will stay by your side as you walk until you deem it appropriate to offer more leeway. It provides two touch-points in which you can physically direct your dog, each point supporting the other. A collar alone has the potential to cause a neck injury, should your dog lunge or you find yourself in a position where it is necessary to tug.
I would be remiss not to mention that restraining your dog using a harness or collar in combination with a leash (or using all three) goes hand in hand with proper training. Almost all big dog breeds are smart, and all dog breeds live to please their master. Knowing what is expected of him (or her) through proper training allows your dog to achieve the goal of pleasing you.
Training, including introducing a harness and/or collar, should begin the day after your dog arrives at your home. The experts agree training should begin with teaching your dog the 5 Basic Commands. They are:
- Come! Your dog will come to you when called by his (or her) name.
- Heel! Your dog will walk by your side and at your pace.
- Sit! Your dog will sit on your command.
- Down! Your dog will lay flat on the ground.
- Stay! Your dog remains in his (or her) position or area even if you walk away.
Good to Know! Puppies have a shorter attention span than adult dogs and will learn best when trained in 6-8 minute training sessions. Most adult dogs do well when training sessions last from 10-16 minutes.
A Word About Professional Dog Training for Your Big Dog:
It is highly recommended that you schedule at least a four-week training session with a professional dog trainer for your big dog. Because we love our four-legged companions, we can be slack in training without realizing it until the dog rivals our own weight and begins displaying undesirable behaviors. An insufficiently trained dog will garner higher consequences than a well-trained dog, should any given situation “go south”.
Additionally, a professional trainer offers your big dog an opportunity for socialization, also imperative for your dog to have a well-rounded personality. Even if the trainer works with you and your dog alone, he (or she) will likely be able to direct you to a local dog park or doggie daycare center where your dog can learn to play and be at peace around a plethora of other dog breeds.
To reiterate, use a harness alone or with a collar, but always use a harness in combination with on-going and lifelong training. Remember how I mentioned that big dog breeds tend toward the higher end of the intelligence scale? Like humans, this intelligence makes your big dog susceptible to boredom. Help keep your dog mentally stimulated by gong above the 5 basic commands, and teach him (or her) increasingly more difficult tricks and tasks as the simpler ones are mastered.
The Best Harness for Big Dogs
A harness should never be bought for its style or looks alone. Rather, a harness must be chosen for effective functioning. Each harness style is designed for a certain sized and shaped dog. Let’s take a look at which harness style do best for which dogs:
- Dual-Clip Harnesses: This harness style has rings for attaching a leash on the front and back, and some have even more attachment options! *This is the most popular harness style option for big dogs.
- Back-Clip Harnesses: With this harness style, the ring the leash clips to is located on the top of the dog’s back. Back-clip harnesses are the easiest harness style for most dogs to adjust to. It eliminates any threat of injury to the neck from the dog lunging or from you tugging on the leash. *This harness is not recommended for dogs who display walking issues like lunging or running ahead.
- Step-In Harnesses: With this harness style, there are two loops that slip easily over your dog’s front legs. You don’t need to pull anything over the dog’s head or struggle with multiple straps. Once the dog’s legs are in position, a single buckle attaches behind the dog’s front legs.
You Should Know! The Front-Clip harness, which is also called an anti-pull harness, is a popular harness choice by owners of big dogs, but these harnesses are not necessarily the safest option for your dog. A little further along in this article, you’ll discover why.
Should a Dog Always Wear a Harness?
Your big dog should absolutely not wear a harness all the time! A harness is more of a walking tool and should be put on before a walk and taken ff after. Aside from potentially being uncomfortable for all-day wear, a harness can irritate your dog’s skin or even tangle his (or her) hair if the dog is a long-haired breed.
Additionally, bacteria can collect under a harness and present the threat of skin irritation or infection. Wet harnesses are particularly susceptible to collecting bacteria, so make sure to remove a wet harness as soon as you can safely do so.
You Should Know! It is recommended that your dog wear a collar all the time to display his (or her) identification tag(s). Although microchipping is effective, dog tags can provide more immediate information and are usually a sign that a dog is a pet, rather than a stray.
There are only a few times when your dog’s collar should come off (other than for grooming). The first is when he (or she) will be closed in a crate. Too many dogs each year face a tragic ending because their collar got caught in the crate openings and the dog strangles. Another strangulation-by-collar hazard comes in the form of twigs and/or bushes. If your big dog has the opportunity to play off-leash in an area with a lot of bushes or undergrowth, go ahead and remove the collar when you remove the leash.
How Should a Harness Fit my Dog?
There are a couple of different types of harnesses for your big dog. No matter the type, though, there are a few guidelines to follow for properly fitting the harness on your dog. Thankfully, many pet stores allow you to bring your dog with you for harness shopping. The best way to find the right fit is to try several harnesses on your dog for the best fit.
A properly fit harness…
- …is snug, but not tight.
- …allows your dog’s legs and neck to move unencumbered.
- …has clasps or closures that do not pinch or bind your dog’s skin.
- …lays flat and evenly around the dog’s ribcage and across his (or her) chest.
Signs of an Improperly Sized or Fitted Harness:
- Hair Loss Around the Harness Area
- Chaffed Skin Under Harness
- Your Dog is Always Trying to Wiggle Out of the Harness
- The Harness Slips Freely From One Side to the Other
- You Dog Loses Enthusiasm for Walking When Wearing the Harness
If you don’t have the benefit of trying several harnesses on your dog to get the best fit, or if you prefer shopping online, you can buy a harness based on your dog’s measurements, and sometimes on his (or her) weight. Here are the measurements that will need to be taken:
- Chest: Starting at the middle/bottom of your dog’s rib cage, and using a flexible measuring tape, encircle your dog’s back and take the measuring tape all the way down to the starting point. This measurement is of your dog’s rib cage circumference.
- Neck: Wrap the flexible measuring tape around the thickest part of your dog’s neck. This will be “behind” when his (or her) collar lays, closer to the shoulder blades.
- Weight: Some harnesses have a sizing system based on your dog’s weight. Your veterinarian can weigh your big dog for you, or you can use the alternative method of weighing yourself, and then weighing yourself while holding the dog.
Can a Harness Hurt Your Dog?
Your big Dog’s harness can be uncomfortable for him (or her) and can even pose a threat of injury if the harness is ill-fitting, or not the right type for your dog’s body type. Not all harnesses support every dog’s weight and bone structure.
Front-Clip harnesses, more commonly called anti-pulls, have been known to cause muscle or joint dislocations and contractures. A contracture is a condition where muscles, tendons, or other tissues shorten and tighten. This can lead to rigid joints and even deformities!
A harness should never bind or be twisted. You should be able to comfortably slip two fingers under the harness all around it.
Discuss harnesses with the veterinarian during your big dog’s next scheduled check-up. He (or she) knows your dog’s particular needs, strengths, and weaknesses better than a salesperson in a pet store or a stranger on the internet. Consider his (or her) advice when making all major health and safety issue decisions about your four-legged best friend.
What are the Cons of Harnesses for Big Dogs?
As we’ve discovered, the AKC, PETA, and the ASPCA all condone using a harness on a big dog. I use one on my big dog, as well. However, those opposed to using a harness for their big dogs make some valid points worth sharing. You will ultimately choose what works best for your needs and the needs of your own big dog, I am just ensuring you have all the information you need about harnesses to make that decision.
Dog owners who do not use harnesses for their big dogs all note that harnesses are used to PULL things. Sled dogs wear harnesses. Weight-pulling dogs wear harnesses. Depending on your big dog’s temperament, it should be a valid concern worth considering that a harness may put YOU in the position of being pulled down whatever trail you’re walking on with your dog, should he (or she) decide to lunge or run.
Your dog’s strongest muscles are the frame over which a harness will fit. An insufficiently trained dog, or even a well-trained dog with the proper motivation, is in a position to effortlessly pull what the harness is attached to, which in most instances will be you.
Again, only you can decide whether or not you’ll want to utilize a harness for your big dog. It isn’t a “right or wrong” thing, it’s a “what works for you” thing!
A Variety of Harnesses for Big Dogs @ Amazon
Is a “Head Halter” a Good Alternative?
A head halter is a dog-sized version of the classic livestock halter. A head halter slips around the sides of your big dog’s face, muzzle and neck. It is designed to allow you to more easily guide your dog physically. The general idea is that the animal’s body will follow where his (or her) head goes. It makes sense, doesn’t it? Check out the photo below to see how the head harness looks when properly applied:
The head halter is used in combination with a collar and shouldn’t be used alone. Although I searched, I was unable to find whether the experts recommend using them on your big dog or not. Our information in this instance is coming from owners of dogs that utilize the head harness on their own dog(s). Most dog owners are in agreement that a head harness is effective for a rather docile dog who just needs a little “directional” urging when out for a walk.
Conversely, a dog that is a runner or a lunger may be put at risk of injury from a head harness being tugged on with force. Whereas horses and cows have massively muscular necks, most dogs do not. Pulling too hard to redirect your dog can be painful for him (or her) and can even cause serious injury!
This is another instance where you can only decide if a head harness is right for your dog. Some dog owners state that their dog’s head harness is highly effective for their dog. Other owners report the head harness wasn’t effective at all. Still, others don’t use a head harness because their dog didn’t respond well. Try one for your big dog if you please, as long as you stay ever-aware of the risk of injury.
I sincerely hope today’s article has helped you settle your mind on whether you’ll use a harness for your big dog or not. There’s nothing more important than the safety of our beloved four-legged companions, as well as the safety of the humans and animals he (or she) may come in contact with. Here at the Big dog den, our library of big dog knowledge is always growing, so stop by again soon!
*This article has been reviewed in accordance with our editorial policy.
