A dog should always be controllable when walking. However, there are dogs that – even though they are on a leash – free themselves from their harness. Regardless of whether the cause of the behavior is panic or the urge to play, it is essential to prevent it from escaping.
Dogs roaming free, which in the worst case do not yet react to the owner’s calls and lures, are not only a danger to themselves but also to other people. For example, if a dog runs into the street and avoids motorists, serious accidents can occur.
To prevent this, I recommend special safety harnesses for dogs.
In this article I will introduce you to five products and show you my test winner. I also explain what is special about such a harness and for whom it is suitable.
My safety harness favourites
Safety harnesses for dogs tested
My test winner: Greyhound Safe it dog harness
Equipped with a second waist belt, the Greyhound safety harness prevents your dog from being able to remove the harness himself. It is particularly practical that your darling does not have to lift a leg when putting it on. That saves a lot of time and nerves.
The harness is infinitely adjustable at eight different points and can thus be individually adapted to each dog. The good fit ensures that there are no chafing or pressure points and your dog is not prevented from breathing even if the leash is pulled hard.
The harness, which is made in Germany, is completely padded with airmesh. This ensures a comfortable fit. Especially in summer it is practical that the material is breathable. This way your four-legged friend does not sweat too much underneath.
If the dishes are dirty, you can simply wash them at up to 40 degrees Celsius.
Ergonomic harness from Ferplast
This harness is ergonomically shaped and adapts perfectly to the body shape of your four-legged friend. It is also softly padded on the inside to avoid pressure or chafing.
With a special, patented locking system at six different points, the harness can be individually adjusted. It is therefore possible to use one harness for different dogs without any problems. You can also respond to changes in your dog, for example if he grows or gains or decreases weight. The simple locking also makes it much easier to put on and take off.
The Ferplast company has made its ergonomic safety harness out of nylon. This material is known for its strength and durability. At the same time, nylon is breathable, easy to care for and lightweight. This makes the material perfect for a dog harness.
Thanks to the secure hold, it is also possible to use the harness for hiking or climbing with a dog. With a carrying handle, you can even easily lift your darling over difficult obstacles or carry it a distance. The weight is distributed evenly over all parts of the body so that there is no overload.
Reflective stripes on the outside of the harness complete the good overall package.
Ruffwear Safety Dog Harness
Another safety harness for dogs comes from Ruffwear. This harness has been designed primarily for outdoor activities. Especially on rough terrain and with dangerous obstacles, it is important that you can always rely on nothing happening to your four-legged friend. The individually adjustable straps make the harness a real all-rounder that can be adjusted to any body shape. An additional waist belt provides extra security. This makes it impossible for your darling to slip out of the harness or free itself.
In order to be able to adapt the position of the line to the characteristics of the terrain or personal preferences at any time, there are two ways of attaching the line. First, there is an aluminum ring in the center of the back. There is also a fabric loop at the front for hanging. As with any good outdoor harness, this safety harness also has a carrying handle that you can use to easily lift your four-legged companion.
The adjustable straps make putting the harness on and off very easy and won’t take long. This is very important to me personally, as I have relatively fidgety and impatient dogs that don’t want to sit still for long.
This harness is also made of nylon and is therefore extremely stable and tear-resistant. The light weight and the breathable properties also speak in favor of this material. In addition, it is very easy to care for.
Thanks to integrated reflectors and a holder for a safety lamp, the harness is also well suited for night walks.
HUNTER Vario escape-proof panic harness
A relatively simple and therefore inexpensive safety harness comes from the Hunter company. The product is suitable for anxious dogs that panic and lose their heads in certain situations. If the four-legged friends manage to free themselves from their harness in this situation, they could run away and possibly even jump in front of a car due to their panic.
To avoid such scenarios, Hunter has integrated an additional waist belt typical of safety harnesses. This is on the narrowest part of the dog’s body and prevents your dog from simply slipping off the straps by itself.
It is particularly practical that the additional waist belt can also be easily removed. So you can use the harness like a classic dog harness without having to worry about your dog getting caught somewhere with the additional straps.
It is also easy to put on and take off. With click fasteners and continuously adjustable straps, you can adapt the harness to the body shape of your favorite.
rabbitgoo dog harness
The rabbitgoo safety harness for dogs also has an additional waist belt to prevent an escape. Compared to some competing products, this harness is wider on the dog’s back. There are not only straps, but the harness looks almost like the back of a backpack.
This distributes the pressure better and increases comfort. A handle allows you as a dog owner to lift your dog and carry it over obstacles.
Putting the harness on is very easy. The adjustable harness can be fitted to the dog at five different points on the neck, chest and abdomen. This way you can adapt the product perfectly to your darling and prevent it from pinching or chafing.
The inside is equipped with a soft mesh material. This is breathable and offers optimal comfort even in high summer temperatures. The high-quality workmanship and the high quality of the material ensure that the safety harness is extremely durable and weatherproof. The low dead weight is a pleasant extra.
Purchase advice: What is special about a safety harness?
With normal harnesses, it is possible for the dogs to wriggle out of the harness by making a certain backward movement. Sometimes this happens by mistake, sometimes the four-legged friends are still looking for a way out until they have freed themselves. Whatever the reason, your dog will quickly learn how to break out of the harness and will continue to do so. However, escaping is very dangerous. Your dog may run into the street or run away.
You no longer want your dog to wriggle out of the harness and thus put itself in danger? Then I recommend my guide to step in harnesses for dogs: Step In Harnesses. These are very easy to put on and do not allow your dog to get out of the harness.
In contrast to classic dog harnesses, harnesses that are escape-proof are similar in shape, but have small differences that change their effect. Safety harnesses are longer than regular harnesses and have an additional strap around the dog’s waist. At this point the body of the four-legged friend is narrowest, if a harness is attached there, the dog cannot take off the harness himself.
Many safety harnesses have a holding and carrying handle on the back, which allows you to hold and calm your dog from above. If necessary, you can pick up a wriggling dog and hold it in your arms. If you plan to go hiking or climbing, the handle is also useful for overcoming obstacles that your four-legged friend cannot handle alone.
Some harnesses specially designed for trekking trips have two chest straps that distribute the pressure more evenly when you carry your dog by the handle.
Please note that the term safety harness is not protected. This means that manufacturers who do not produce safety harnesses in the sense presented here can also name their products accordingly. In some cases, normal everyday harnesses that only have reflective strips are classified as safety harnesses for dogs.