Service dogs provide assistance to people living with disabilities. It's not the other way around, where the owner goes through the entire process of training a dog on things like stopping barking and pulling on the leash. For example, you don't expect a disabled person to engage in a tug-of-war with a dog that pulls on a leash.
Whether it's a heavy puller like the Huskies or a giant breed like the St Bernards and the Newfoundlands, these dogs are trained to help and not become a burden for the owners. But that doesn't change the dog's natural desire to explore. These dogs still need a harness to keep them under control.
In this comprehensive guide, we'll look at the specific harnesses that suit a service dog, give you the key features to consider when buying a service dog harness, our top harness recommendations and tips on how to fit the harness.
Choosing the Right Service Dog Harness: A Comprehensive Guide
Before we dive into the best harnesses for service dogs, let's first clear some misconceptions about service dogs so you understand why collars and some types of harnesses can't suit these dogs. One, service dogs are different from therapy dogs and emotional support dogs.
Many people use these terms interchangeably, but these are different dogs with different tasks. Service dogs are trained to do specific tasks for disabled people. Although they are closely related to working dogs, they're still different.
A working dog helps his human companion with normal tasks, such as law and security enforcement for the military and police, search and rescue, hunting, herding, and detection. In short, working dogs don't deal with disabled people.
That means the owners of working dogs can train their dogs and do things like hiking and camping. As a result, working dogs use a range of accessories, from no-bark collars to no-pull harnesses. On the other hand, the tasks of service dogs need harnesses with specific features. Some of the tasks that service dogs do include:
- Detect seizures before they happen, and seek help or guard the person.
- Help a person with autism problems. For instance, the dog can de-escalate an emotional meltdown or interrupt a harmful behavior.
- Open cabinets and doors and get things for a person in a wheelchair.
- Alert a deaf person on what is happening, such as a person knocking on the door or entering the room.
- Help a blind person cross the streets on pedestrian crossings, find doors and seats, and navigate buildings and shopping centers.
As you can tell, most of the service dogs' tasks require large breed dogs. For instance, a dog that helps with mobility must be muscular and strong enough to withstand the weight of the person without losing balance.
These dogs are also allowed in public places where other dogs aren't allowed, such as restaurants and government facilities. But like any other dog, they are required to be on a leash and under control all the time. Now, from what service dogs do, a collar is not a viable option.
These dogs need a harness that allows them to move freely, carry some things, and remain comfortable yet under control. So, which harness suits a service dog? Here are some things you can check to know whether a harness is good for a service dog.
Key Features of a Service Dog Harness
There are lots of service dog harnesses in the market, some with the service dog label and others without. This makes it challenging to know exactly which harness suits the task of your service dog. The best way to know is to confirm whether the harness qualifies for the following features.
Durability
Reliability is key when it comes to service dog accessories. It's one thing for a harness attachment to snap when the dog owner is taking his furry friend for walks and another thing if the attachment snaps when the service dog is pulling a wheelchair.
That's why reliability and durability are so critical for service dog harnesses. Although other factors affect the sturdiness and durability of harnesses, it mainly depends on the material.
There's a lot of controversy regarding the best and most durable material. Many people believe that leather is more durable and sturdy than nylon. But many people don't understand that leather can't withstand extreme weather like nylon.
For instance, when leather is rained on, it becomes damp, soft, and smelly. This can make even a trained dog chew it. On the other hand, nylon is sturdy and can withstand extreme weather without failing. That's why even most mountain climbing gear is made of nylon, not leather.
Another common material used to make dog harnesses is polyester. Polyester is a synthetic fabric made from petrochemicals, just like nylon, but its sturdiness, durability, and resilience can't match that of nylon.
Note that not all nylon webbings are the same. Their sturdiness is measured in denier, which is the weight of the nylon strains. You can take denier (D) as density. The higher the density, the sturdier the fabric. The best material for a service dog harness is nylon webbing with a density of around 1000D.
Comfort
Another important consideration to make when buying a service dog harness is comfort. These dogs are working dogs. That means they can wear the harnesses for prolonged periods and sometimes even pull things.
For instance, a mobility assistance dog pulls a wheelchair—and you can imagine the weight of a full-grown human. That translates to a lot of pressure on the dog's chest area. If the harness is not well constructed, the straps will dig into the dog's skin and cause pain. This results in irritations, chafing, and hair loss.
Over time, the discomfort will turn to pain, and the dog will refuse to pull. Remember, dogs are intelligent and will eventually learn the harness is the source of pain. Then they'll start resisting wearing harnesses.
Improper pressure distribution also limits the dog's pulling power. Instead of the force going to the wheelchair being pulled, it's redirected, almost like a no-pull harness. The best solution is to go for harnesses with paddings to protect the dog's sensitive skin from the rough webbing.
Functionality
Dogs don't wear pants with pockets like humans. When the service dog is helping the handler, it carries everything needed using the harness. That's why you need to go for harnesses with pockets and pouches.
But after trying several harness options with pouches, we believe a harness that allows you to attach your own pouch is a better choice. You'll not be limited by the built-in pouch design. For instance, you don't attach the pouch when you don't need to carry anything. That means your companion won't carry unnecessary bulk.
When you want to carry a water bottle, you just attach a water bottle holder. If you want to carry cards and keys, you attach a small zippable pocket. We recommend harnesses with Velcro attachments because they are easier to use.
Top Service Dog Harnesses
We have given you tips on what to check when choosing a service dog harness, but that doesn't mean you'll land on the best product on the market. The good news is that we have tested many harnesses and have created a list of thes best ones in the market. Here is the list in the order of preference.
Camo Hunter 3.0 Dog Harness
The most important thing when looking for a service dog harness is durability and reliability. You don't want a harness that breaks when you need it most. Imagine a harness for a guide dog helping a blind person.
If the harness breaks and the dog is off-leash, it means there's no physical connection between the service dog and the blind person. It's a risky thing, especially if it happens in the middle of the road or stairway.
Remember, there's always some pressure on the leash to maintain the tension of the leash. That way, the blind person is able to follow the direction of the dog. That's why you need a study harness that won't break, or the attachment points snap when there is pressure on the leash.
The Camo Hunter 3.0 Dog Harness is the most reliable and dependable harness we have tested. This harness is made of over 1000D nylon webbing. That is the same quality of webbing that makes safety equipment for mountain climbers.
This webbing is so reliable that even heavyweight climbers peg their lives on it without worries. You can tell how much more reliable a dog harness is when made from this webbing. Another thing is that all the attachment points are reinforced.
This prevents any chances of the pressure points breaking even if the pressure applied on the leash doesn't distribute evenly across the harness.
Honeydew Hunter 3.0 Dog Harness
The Honeydew Hunter 3.0 Dog Harness is like a twin sister of the above harness, sharing the same design and materials. But we want to mention something very important in service dog harnesses: adjustable straps.
The work that service dogs do requires a perfectly fitting harness. For instance, if the harness of a mobility assistance dog that helps to pull wheelchairs is too large, it means the pulling force of the dog will be redirected from the chest area, which is the dog's pulling powerhouse.
On the other hand, if it's too tight, the harness will restrict the neck and stomach area and prevent the dog from breathing and panting freely. Again, this will limit the dog-pulling power. Luckily, all four sides of the Honeydew Hunter 3.0 Dog Harness are adjustable.
That means you can always give the dog a perfect fit, whether it loses or gains weight. Another thing is that this harness comes with Velcro backing on the top side. This makes the harness more flexible, as you can attach a pouch for carrying the essentials.
For instance, if you have mobility issues and you're using a walker, you can use the pouch to carry things like keys, cards, and water bottles.
Sofia Terrain Dog Harness
The Sofia Terrain Dog Harness is a little different from the two options above because it uses the Y-shape design. The straps of the harness don't limit the front legs from moving sideways or forward. The harness doesn't sit on the shoulder blades or restrict the intestines of the dog.
As a result, the dog moves freely, which makes the harness great for fast-paced activities and long walks. So, if the work of the service dog involves movement, such as mobility assistance or guiding the blind, go for this harness. Another thing is that this harness offers minimal coverage compared to the above harnesses.
This is a plus as the service dog can't easily overheat in the middle of its work, even if it's a hot day. We noted that the one thing that can make or break a service dog harness is the level of comfort. If the harness is uncomfortable, the dog will start resisting wearing it.
You can imagine the frustration of a disabled person dealing with a dog that runs away from harnesses. Luckily, the manufacturer took the comfort levels of this harness to a whole different level. The body of the harness comes lined with neoprene, the swimsuit material. This makes the harness extremely comfortable, the same level of comfort as that of a swimsuit.
Mumepet Service Dog Harness
The Mumupet Service Dog Harness comes with a large service dog label on the sides. So, when the dog wears it, it becomes clear to the public that the dog is a service dog. Somehow, it can save you time when entering places like restaurants, as some attendants won't ask for more verification to allow the dog to enter.
The harness is made of nylon and then padded with a sponge. This improves pressure distribution and comfort. But it's worth noting that the comfort and durability of the sponge padding is no match to the neoprene padding used in the three harnesses above. The sponge is also not water-resistant like neoprene.
That means that this harness can keep dampness when used in moist or wet environments. This can result in mold growth and bad odors. The straps of this harness are adjustable, just like the above harnesses. That means you can adjust the sizing to fit your dog perfectly.
However, although the manufacturer claims you can adjust the sizing to fit different dog breeds, we found the adjustability within a limited size range. That means if the harness fits a Newfoundland, you can't adjust it to fit a Teacup Yorkshire Terrier.
Voopet Service Dog Harness
The Voopet Service Dog Harness is another harness that comes with a service dog label. Unlike the other harnesses on our list, this harness is constructed using a breathable polyester mesh. This allows air circulation, keeping your dog cool even on hot days.
The mesh is then padded with a sponge for added comfort. However, the combination of polyester fabric and sponge paddings is a downside when it comes to water resistance. Another issue is that polyester is not as sturdy and durable as nylon.
That means you'll need to replace this harness more frequently, especially if the work of the dog involves difficult things like carrying items on a pouch attached to the harness or pulling for mobility assistance.
On the good side, polyester is lightweight, which makes this harness extremely lightweight. That means the dog can wear this harness all day without exhaustion. Something else worth mentioning is that handlers have little they can do to keep their service dogs safe.
For instance, dog owners will always guide their dogs away from cars and cyclists when walking on busy streets. It's different for service dogs. For example, it's the work of the guide dog to navigate a blind handler through traffic. That's why service dogs should be well visible to other road users to avoid accidents.
The good thing is that this harness comes with reflective straps. This increases the visibility of the dog in low light, such as early mornings and late evenings. Pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers can easily spot it and avoid accidents.
How to Fit and Use a Service Dog Harness
The first step to fitting a service dog harness is to make sure the size is right. The good thing is that we're dealing with adjustable harnesses, and all you need is to know which size category your dog falls under. Once you have the right harness size, use the following tips to fit it.
- Put the harness around the chest area and tighten the closures. Some harnesses are even better as they don't have to pass over the head, such as our top two recommendations.
- Make sure the straps have a snug but comfortable fit. The harness should not be too tight or too loose. We recommend using the two-finger rule.
- Attach the lead to the back D-ring on the harness. Note that our top two recommendations have both back and front clips. You can attach the leash on the front clip to discourage pulling.
- Most importantly, watch for discomfort, such as scratching, whining, coughing, bald spots, or avoiding the harness.
Conclusion
Service dogs are like handler's right-hand men. They do serious work that needs serious equipment—and that equipment is a high-quality harness. The harness should be comfortable and durable and have a place to attach pouches and pockets. We highly recommend harnesses with neoprene paddings.