Harnesses are very helpful in keeping your pup from slipping out of your grasp, especially in the young ones that are still learning to walk on a leash. The use of a harness can also help to prevent injury to your pup’s throat area, specifically the thyroid, esophagus, and trachea. Pulling too hard on a leash can cause injury to those areas.
A harness is something to consider even if your pup is a polite leash walker so to speak. If a pup gets startled or excited their instinct is to pull forward and it is our natural instinct to pull if we are startled as well. The harness can protect your pup from an accidental collar correction due to our reactions. However, when considering a harness for your pup, shape and design matter!
The most important aspect to look for when searching for a harness is fit. It needs to be the proper size for your pup and the straps need to sit far enough away from your pup’s shoulders. If the straps are too close to the shoulders, it can impede the movement of the shoulder joint, be uncomfortable for your pup, and could cause future injury.
When pup’s walk, their legs extend in front of them in order to take a stride, which means they need the motion their shoulder joint can provide. Harnesses that are more “Y” shaped, do not limit the motion and ability of the leg when walking. Harnesses that are more “T” shaped, the front part of the harness is placed directly across the pup’s shoulders and can rub on the surrounding structures.
Remember, a poorly fitted harness, regardless of shape can make your pup more vulnerable to injury and irritation. Here are a few tips so you can ensure your pup’s harness fits properly:
- There needs to be enough space between the belly strap and your pup’s armpits and front limbs. Too little space will cause rubbing and at times, pain with each step
- The belly strap should be on the ribs. Too far back and it can put stress on the abdomen and organs that are not protected by the ribs.
- The breast ring should be on your pup’s sternum. If this is too high up, the force will not be properly distributed over the skeleton and cause unnecessary muscular stress.
- Lastly, the breast strap should leave the shoulders free.
~Canine PT and Me Team