I love working dogs because they help me perform tasks, not just companionship. But that comes with its basket of problems. These dogs are energetic. They can easily get out of control if you don't have a way to control them during walks and hikes. But I found a solution: tactical harnesses.
These harnesses are specifically designed to handle energetic dogs, especially larger breeds. Here is everything you need to know about tactical harnesses, their features, and the best options on the market.
The Best Tactical Dog Harnesses for Working Dogs
As the name suggests, working dogs are bred to perform tasks such as police and military work, search and rescue, hunting, herding, and protecting property. They are not like pets that are only trained to offer companionship and look great in a home setting.
The tasks that working dogs do require lots of energy and fitness. So, these dogs are bred to have strength and muscular endurance. Otherwise, they'll have challenges performing their tasks. The risk of injury is also high.
For instance, there are high chances of drawing if a small dog without muscular strength tries to do water rescue operations. Or imagine a herding dog with low agility and minimal cardiorespiratory endurance. It'll have challenges sprinting and rounding animal groups.
The problem is that the build-up of energy in these muscular companions makes them destructive if they don't work. They have to spend energy for both physical and mental satisfaction. If you don't have enough tasks to stimulate these dogs, you'll need to take them for exercises, walks, and hikes.
Now, these walks and hikes can be hell if you don't have a sturdy tactical harness. The sheer pulling power of these breeds can easily break a normal harness or drag you on the sidewalks. So, if your companion is one of the working dog breeds, make sure the harness excels in the following features.
Key Features of a Tactical Dog Harness
A tactical harness should be able to give you enhanced control over the dog and keep it comfortable as it performs its tasks. It's one thing for the manufacturer to say a harness is tactical and a different thing for the harness to have what it takes to achieve the above goals. The best thing to do is check whether the harness excels in the features below.
Durability
There's no added control you can enjoy if the harness isn't sturdy and durable. For example, a standard harness will easily break when engaging in a tug-of-war with a Husky used to sledding. In most cases, harnesses break around the pressure points and stitching areas.
So, in addition to making sure the harness is made of high-quality nylon webbing, make sure all the attachment points and pressure areas are reinforced. I also suggest you go for harnesses with metal D rings.
Comfort
The comfort benefits of harnesses extend from the dog enjoying wearing the harness to the health and safety of the dog. So, it's not a feature you can ignore when buying a tactical harness. Remember, working dogs apply lots of pressure on the harness such as when pulling boats, sleds and fishing nets.
If the harness doesn't distribute the force evenly around the chest area, the straps, and buckles will hurt the dog. Usually, the discomfort discourages pulling, which is counterproductive. For instance, if it's a sledding dog, it'll start refusing to pull to ease the discomfort. Another thing is that continuous rubbing causes chafing, irritations, and hair loss.
It's therefore advisable to go for tactical harnesses with padding. This prevents the webbing from directly rubbing the skin. The padding also improves pressure distribution, so straps and buckles don't become pain points.
Extra Features
Some manufacturers add extra features to their tactical harnesses to improve handling and safety. There are no right or wrong features, but there are features I believe are almost a necessity. For instance, a harness with a built-in pouch or featuring an attachment where you can attach one.
This molle system means you can have your furry friend help carry some supplies like water bottles. I highly recommend harnesses that allow you to attach your pouch, as you will have the flexibility to attach your desired pouch size and design. You can even detach the pouch when you don't need it.
I also recommend getting harnesses with reflective stripes or elements such as silvery or golden D-rings. These help to reflect light and make the dog more visible when walking in poor lighting, such as in early morning and late evening walks.
Top Tactical Dog Harnesses
When I was buying my first harness, I knew the features to look out for, but still I landed on the wrong quality. I don't want you to fall in the same trap. Let me give you a list of the harnesses I have used and confirmed that they work great, so you just pick your preferred option from the list.
Chocolate Hunter Dog Harness
The Chocolate Hunter Dog Harness is the most sturdy and durable harness I have ever bought. It's not a coincidence that the manufacturer calls it a hunter harness. It's because the design is rugged, and it can withstand even harsh jungle environments.
The type of nylon webbing used to make this harness doesn't fray, even when the dog passes through bushes and rubs against rocks. As I mentioned, most of the working dog breeds have massive pulling power that can break seams and snap closures. But not the seams and closures of this harness.
All the pressure points are reinforced, and the closure is made of metal. In fact, your worry should be the leash breaking, not the closures of the harness snapping. Another thing is that the design of the harness takes into account the nature of most working dog breeds.
Dogs descended from wolves. Wolf's know that necks are sensitive, so the dogs. When the harness passes over the head, going to the neck, dogs see it as a threat and refuse to wear it. Territorial and protective dogs like the Doberman Pinschers and German Shepherds might even become aggressive.
The good news is that this harness doesn't pass over the head. The dog wears the harness, and you close the buckles the same way you wear a zippered jacket.
Honeydew Hunter Dog Harness
The Honeydew Hunter Dog Harness is another tactical harness that is virtually indestructible. This harness is made of the same webbing quality as the above harness. I love this harness because it solved the biggest issue I had with my German Shepherd: pulling.
This breed is like an entrepreneur, if you don't keep it busy, it'll venture into the leash pulling business. But tables turned when I got the Honeydew Hunter Dog Harness. This harness comes with two clips, the front and the back one. When we're going out for walks, the dog is still excited to explore, and pulls on leash.
I use the front clip harness to discourage pulling. The clip acts like a pivot. When the dog pulls, it turns the pulling force back towards you. When we're returning from long walks or hikes, and the dog is exhausted and walking beside me, I use the back clip.
It gives the dog freedom of movement for a more relaxed walk. Something else I overlooked when buying my first harness was the pouch. Since you're getting a harness for a working dog, let it help you carry some supplies when going for hikes and camping.
The Honeydew Hunter Dog Harness comes with Velcro backing at the top for this very purpose. You just attach a pouch, and the dog carries its supplies like waste bags, treats and a water bottle. When you don't need the supplies such as during short walks, you simply detach the pouch.
Camo Terrain Dog Harness
One of the must-have features of a tactical harness is comfort. Remember, a working dog does things like sledding and pulling fishing nets and boats. If the harness is uncomfortable, the straps will dig into the skin when pressure is applied.
I don't think there's any tactical harness that excels in comfort than the Camo Terrain Dog Harness. As you can see from the name, this harness is designed for use in all environments, works, and terrains. The harness comes with a Y-shape that doesn't offer as much coverage as the above harnesses.
Less coverage means two things. One, the harness doesn't retain much heat. This makes it the perfect option when the dog is performing demanding tasks such as sledding or hiking on a sunny day. Second, the harness offers more freedom of movement.
It's a plus when the dog's work involves running, such as when a Border Collie is herding or when a Greyhound is hunting. What sets this Y-shape harness apart from the rest is the broader chest plate.
Unlike other Y-shape harnesses that use straps around this area, the broad chest plate offers a better pressure distribution. So, the dog pulls without the risk of the middle strap digging into the skin.
Sofia Terrain Dog Harness
The Sofia Terrain Dog Harness is a Y-shape harness that excels in comfort like the option above. The nylon webbing in this harness is all lined with neoprene. This synthetic rubber is durable, waterproof, soft and less sensitive to temperature.
I only discovered how good neoprene lining is after having used harnesses with sponge padding. The sponge would absorb water and become damp and smelly every time my Newfoundland would go swimming. I had to always change the harness immediately for fear of mold growth.
Neoprene is basically the swimsuit material. It doesn't absorb water and odors. This makes it great for water rescue and assistance dogs. Your furry friend will enjoy the same comfort you enjoy when wearing a swimsuit.
So, no more worries of chafing, irritations, and bad odors after your furry friend wears a harness the whole day. Another amazing feature is that this harness comes with a handle. When we talk about tactical harnesses, it's all about getting control of your large, muscular dog. That's exactly what this handle delivers.
When you're walking with your large companion on a standard 6 feet leash, and you encounter a situation that provokes him to excitement or aggression, just grab this handle. It prevents the dog from bolting away and gaining momentum that can break the leash or drag you.
Something else worth mentioning is that even this handle is lined with neoprene. That means you won't get leash burns that you would get if the dog pulls while holding a standard leash.
CHengQiSM Tactical Dog Harness
To be point blank, the CHeingQiSM Tactical Dog Harness is not the best deal, but it's a great option for those on tighter budgets. But that doesn't mean the harness is not sturdy. It's actually made of 1000D nylon webbing.
So, there are no worries about the nylon webbing breaking or fraying when scratched by rocks while hiking. The issues arise with the paddings. This harness uses sponge padding. So, expect to face the issues of dampness, bad odors and mold growth when the harness gets wet.
The sponge also retains heat, so there are chances of your furry friend overheating if he's performing demanding tasks while wearing this harness. On the good side, this harness comes with the Molle system on both sides. So, your furry friend will help you carry tactical gear, water bottles, and waste bags.
How to Use a Tactical Harness
Using a tactical harness is no different from using the other types of harnesses. Unbuckle the harness straps and then place it on your furry furry friend. Let the buckles fall freely around your dog's midsection and chest area.
Reach for the opposite side of the closures under your companion's front legs and snap them close. Since the above harnesses have adjustable straps, adjust them to give your dog a perfect fit. That doesn't mean a tight fit like the leggings. Leave a room where you can comfortably fit two fingers between the body and the harness.
Conclusion
If you have a working dog breed, make sure you get a tactical harness that can withstand the pulling force. Otherwise, you're risking the harness breaking and your dog escaping. There are many tactical harnesses in the market, but I recommend the above options, ones that I have used and loved the quality and features.