Are you looking for a leather dog harness in 2022 and can’t find your way around the large selection on the market?
Then I will help you in this article.
In research lasting several hours, I examined many products on the market and compared them based on the manufacturer’s information and customer reviews.
Then I summarized the four best models for you. There are different models and approaches among my four favorites.
I personally like the Hunter Round & Soft Elk Petit best. But that doesn’t mean that this harness also suits you and your four-legged friend. Just look at the four leather harnesses.
I am sure that there is also something suitable for you.
My dog harness leather favorites
product test
Hunter Round & Soft Elk Petit
The first leather dog harness I tested came from the German manufacturer Hunter. This is a round sewn dog harness made of soft elk leather. This type of processing makes the dishes particularly comfortable, as there are no edges that could pinch.
The glittering rhinestones in different places ensure a glamorous look. The harness is more suitable for small dogs. Your dog should have a maximum neck circumference of 36 cm and a waist circumference of 45 to 51 cm.
The harness can be individually adjusted on the stomach and between the front legs. In this way, the manufacturer guarantees an optimal fit and maximum wearing comfort.
Norwegian Harness Hunting
The second leather harness in my test was also made by Hunter. This model is a Norwegian harness made of nubuck leather. This leather is very soft and yet robust and can therefore be used in various activities in everyday life, on trips or during training.
Due to the good fit, the pressure is evenly distributed on the chest and shoulder straps. As a result, there is no overloading of individual parts of the body. Instead, your four-legged friend benefits from maximum freedom of movement thanks to the high level of comfort.
A handle on the back helps you to control and correct your dog. Especially if your dog tends to get upset in certain situations, a handle is very practical.
The dimensions of the harness are designed for medium to large dogs. The chest circumference should measure about 50 cm. The waist belt can be adjusted between 69 and 93 cm.
If you are looking for other Norwegian harnesses, then I recommend my guide to Norwegian harnesses.
Bestia Aztec leather harness for large dogs
If you own a large dog, I can recommend the Bestia Aztec leather harness. It is made of 100% leather and is very robust and durable with a thickness of 4 mm.
The design is very unusual and therefore a real eye-catcher. Various decorations made of decorative rivets in old silver and old brass can be seen on the harness, which make the harness look very noble.
What is certain is that you don’t see a harness like this every day and dogs that wear this product will draw a lot of attention. I personally like the design a lot, but in this case it’s really a matter of taste.
The chest plate is padded with orthopedic foam and is therefore particularly comfortable to wear.
The crockery is handcrafted in Europe with great attention to detail. It is only suitable for large dogs. The chest circumference is adjustable up to 145 cm, the neck circumference up to 83.5 cm.
If you are looking for other padded dog harnesses, I recommend my guide to padded dog harnesses.
HUNTER Aalborg dog harness
At the end of my test, a Hunter product made it into the top four leather dog harnesses. This makes Hunter the leading manufacturer in this area.
The Aalborg dog harness has a Y-shape, which is suitable for leisure, training and trips. It is made of soft, non-slip cowhide that has been dyed through. It was then specially tanned and oiled to make it particularly supple and comfortable.
The harness can be individually adjusted to your dog in various places and is easy to handle at all times.
The leather harness is suitable for dogs with a neck circumference of 44 to 56 cm and a waist circumference of 47 to 63 cm. This corresponds to the dimensions of a medium to large dog.
If you are looking for other dog harnesses for leisure or your hobby, I recommend my guide to mantrailing harnesses.
Purchase advice – Leather dog harness
What are the advantages and disadvantages of a leather dog harness?
Dog harnesses are mainly known in the fabric version. Many dog owners do not know that there are also good products made of leather, which certainly have their advantages. That’s why I’m going to explain the advantages of leather harnesses for dogs to you here, but I’ll also explain the disadvantages.
Leather is very robust and can – provided it has been processed well – withstand significantly more strain and stress than harnesses made of fabric. This makes leather particularly suitable for large, strong dogs such as Labradors or German Shepherds, or for dogs that like to pull on a leash.
The leather material is considered to be gentler on the skin and fur than fabric models. This is because leather slides better over the skin. Well-made, soft leather is good padding in itself, so no additional padding material is needed. It is important that the leather is of high quality and supple.
Cleaning leather is easy, often wiping with a (damp) cloth is enough and the material is clean again. Ultimately, leather also looks very elegant and looks much higher quality than fabric.
But leather also has disadvantages.
On the one hand, it is very sensitive to moisture and needs good care in order to be durable. Especially when it is very dirty or wet, you should clean the leather well, let it dry slowly and then treat it with leather care products. Otherwise, it can quickly become brittle and lose quality.
Leather is also often heavier and more expensive than fabric products, which puts off some potential customers. Sometimes the leather can also stain. The market for leather harnesses is not as big as for dog harnesses made of fabric. Therefore the choice is smaller.
It is also important to remember that leather is an animal product. Especially nowadays, when animal welfare debates rightly play a major role, you should think about using animal products before you buy them.
You should pay attention to these criteria when buying a dog harness made of leather
Quality of material and workmanship
The leather should be soft and supple, bend well and not have any sharp, uncomfortable edges. The stitching and buckles should be professionally applied.
robustness
It is important that a dog harness is robust and escape-proof. If the material breaks and your dog runs around freely, this can have serious consequences. You can often find out something about the robustness and durability in the product reviews. Here you can benefit from the experiences of other users.
design
The optics also play a role, of course. It is a matter of taste whether you prefer something unusual or a rather simple design.
freedom of movement
The harness should fit so well that your dog has a lot of freedom of movement without anything rubbing or pinching.
grab handle
Some models have an additional handle. This allows you to better control your dog in an emergency. For smaller dogs, such as a Chihuahua, such a handle is also practical for picking up and carrying.
Care
Leather requires a relatively high level of care, but the products differ in terms of how intensively they are cared for.
Easy to use
In order not to get stressed in everyday life and not bother yourself with an impractical harness every day, you should choose a harness that is easy to put on and take off.
Conclusion
My personal test winner is the Hunter Round & Soft Elk Petit Leather Harness. This harness made of soft elk leather is sewn in a round shape and is therefore very gentle on the skin and has a gentle effect. The rhinestones create beautiful details and your dog gets something glamorous.
With the option of adjusting the harness both on the waist belt and between the front legs, the manufacturer Hunter ensures a good fit and high wearing comfort.
Due to the dimensions, the product is ideal for small dogs. The high quality of the material and the processing – «made in Germany» stands for good durability and longevity.
The Bestia Aztec leather harness for large dogs is also a very high-quality dog harness that outshines Hunter products in terms of quality and stability. However, the design is a matter of taste. If you like it, you won’t find a better leather harness.