How do I choose the right harness for my dog?
To practice a sport with your dog, replacing the leash attached to the collar with a harness is often necessary. However, a harness is not equipment to choose lightly if you want to protect your pet's well-being. How do you choose the right harness model and size? For pulling sports, how can you ensure that your dog runs with the highest level of comfort and performance? We tell you everything in this special guide to dog harnesses.
Choosing the right type of harness for your dog
There is a family of harnesses for every dog sport. So make your initial choice based on your needs:
- walking harness: a short harness that ends halfway down the back, the walking harness is more comfortable than a collar and leash set. It is sometimes equipped with a handle to help your companion, for example, on a steep section, or to keep them under control close to you. Be careful: a walking harness differs from a pulling harness and is not suitable for having your dog pull (and even less so a puppy).
- specialized harness: a harness used for the various needs of assistance, rescue or intervention dogs. The choice of harness is determined by the specific requirements of the work requested of the dog and by its body shape.
- pulling harness: specially designed for dog-powered sports such as cani-hiking, canicross, bikejoring, skijoring, dryland mushing or sledding. A pulling harness allows dogs to pull by bracing against their chest. A pulling harness is long and fits the dog's entire body for a high level of comfort and safety during a pulling activity. When properly chosen, this type of harness allows the dog to pull and run without rubbing against the skin or restricting the rib cage.
For example, in cani-hiking and canicross, a pulling harness is used with an elastic leash (or towline) and a canicross belt (or waist belt). Indeed, using a collar with a walking leash can strangle the animal or injure its neck if it pulls too hard.
As a specialist in harness dog sports, Inlandsis offers 5 models of pulling harnesses for dogs:
Polar Quest Harness
The essential harness suitable for most dogs.
- Our best-seller with excellent value for money.
- Harness designed for Nordic dogs and shepherds.
- It is also suitable for certain hunting-type dogs.
- This harness is strong, very lightweight, and highly flexible.
- Made with hydrophobic technical materials.
- 9 sizes (from 14 to 42 kg) and 7 colors
This x-back harness (with two straps crossed over the back) is lightweight, flexible, and ergonomic. Designed without pressure points, it provides the dog with great comfort while pulling.
DISCOVER THE POLAR QUEST HARNESS
Storm and Blizzard Beast Harnesses
High-performance harness for racing dogs.
- Highly enveloping harness design.
- Maximum clearance of the animal's airways.
- Exceptional stability and power transfer.
- Storm: harness for Nordic dogs and shepherds.
- Blizzard Beast: hunting-type racing dogs and slender Huskies.
- 6 and 7 sizes (from 18 to 39 kg) and 4 colors
This highly enveloping x-back harness promotes stability and pulling power for top-level performance in harness sports.
Polar Evo Harness
The adjustable-length pulling harness.
- Based on the design of the Polar Quest harness.
- An adjustable harness designed to fit unusual body shapes (very slender or very compact dogs).
- Allows very precise harness adjustment for the most demanding users.
- Extremely strong thanks to the new Hexaline fabric, resistant to abrasion and snags.
- 6 sizes (from 14 to 45 kg) and 3 colors
The Polar Evo harness is the adjustable version of the Polar Quest harness. Choose it if you cannot find the right harness size among our non-adjustable models.
DISCOVER THE POLAR EVO HARNESS
Open-Back Harness
A true pulling harness for small dogs.
- A design specifically for small and compact dogs.
- The harness does not ride up under the throat or under the chest.
- Adjustable for back length and chest width.
- Strap width suited to the dog's build.
- 5 sizes (from 5 to 24 kg)
This open-back harness model was developed specifically for small and compact dog breeds. This allows them to develop their full pulling power at the chest while enjoying a high level of comfort. We recommend taking the time to adjust it properly.
DISCOVER THE OPEN BACK HARNESS
Each Inlandsis harness model is made with the utmost care and high-quality materials. Nylon straps lined with water-repellent foam in the pulling areas, a highly flexible design, and reflective elements to improve visibility at night.
Choosing the right harness size for your dog
To choose the right harness size, we recommend relying primarily on your dog's weight. Then refer to the size guide for the selected harness model.
The 1/2 neck measurement is provided for guidance only. It is measured from the tip of the sternum (the pointed bone in the middle of the chest) to the front of the withers (the junction between the neck and the top of the shoulders), on one side only. In reality, a pulling harness does not follow the shoulder along its entire length.
If your dog is between two sizes, choose the smaller one.
Good to know:
A properly sized x-back harness should fit snugly around the neck and extend to the base of the tail. Remember to pull firmly on the cord at the back of the harness to check its size. It is normal for the harness to float if you do not apply tension.
How do you check the harness size for your dog?
A pulling harness is correctly positioned only when it is properly taut. It is normal for the harness to "float" on the dog's back when it is not taut.
Assessment protocol:
•The dog is attached with a leash to a fixed point, at a height of approximately 80 cm•The dog puts all its weight into the harness: all the straps, including the X-shaped strap on the back, are properly taut.
If you are unsure which harness to choose, you can contact our customer service team for personalized advice. You can also browse our blog for more tips on choosing your dog equipment!