Walks and hikes are full of new smells, sounds, and sights. This causes a sensory overload for most dogs, and they will want to explore and experience all these new things. The excitement makes even a well-trained dog forget how it should behave.
It might spot another dog on the other side of the road and run into traffic or chase a squirrel and get lost in the bushes. The best thing you can do to keep your dog safe and under control is to keep it on the leash, using a collar or harness.
Collars have a history of not being comfortable on the dog's sensitive neck, especially when worn for prolonged periods. The best option remains a dog harness. In this guide, we will look at the Y-shape dog harness, its design, and why it is the best option for comfort and control compared to other harnesses.
Why Y Shape Dog Harnesses are the Best Choice for Comfort and Control
As the name suggests, the Y-shaped dog harness looks like the letter Y when seen from the front. The basic design of this harness is a strap that wraps around the dog's neck like a collar. Another strap wraps around the dog's body just behind the front legs and connects to the first strap around the shoulder area.
The two straps are then connected below by a strap that runs between the front legs. That means you can only see the Y shape of the harness when the dog is standing and facing you or sitting and facing you. Here are some of the benefits of the Y design.
Better Weight Distribution
Since one strap sits around the neck like a collar, and the other sits around the body behind the legs, pressure is distributed across the shoulders and the chest. This pressure distribution balances a step-in harness that exacts pressure across the chest and a Halti harness that exacts pressure across the shoulders.
That means the dog's weight is distributed across all the straps, and the pressure per strap is minimal. As a result, the straps don't dig into the skin, making the harness feel more comfortable. There is also a minimal chance of bald spots due to excessive hair rubbing.
Enhanced Control
There is a misconception that when a harness distributes pressure evenly and is comfortable for the dog, it encourages pulling. In reality, the dog pulls harder due to an oppositional reflex when it detects a force applied against its chest.
Usually, the dog realizes this force when it is concentrated in one area, such as the neck, and feels uncomfortable. Since this harness distributes pressure across the chest in areas comfortable for the dog, the dog won't easily realize there is a force working against it. As a result, the dog won't pull much, giving you better control.
Reduced Strain on the Dog
We believe the biggest benefit of a Y-shape harness is the reduced strain on the dog. The straps do not cover the dog's shoulder joints, allowing the dog to move its front legs freely, even when running.
The harness also doesn't cover the dog's stomach. That means the dog can breathe and pant freely. Since the center strap pulls the neck trap backwards, this harness doesn't sit on the trachea and the esophagus.
Top Y Shape Dog Harnesses
Like other dog accessories, Y-shape harnesses are not the same across the board. They vary in sizes, materials and build quality. Before giving you our top recommendations, let's warn that a poorly designed Y-harness can rub your dog's armpits. The result is chafing, irritation and discomfort.
As the dog tries to alleviate the discomfort, it changes its body posture and stride. Over time, the dog develops spine and joint problems. That's how seriously the build quality of a Y-shape harness matters. The good news is that we have tested many Y-shape harnesses, and here are our top picks that won't hurt your companion.
Camo Terrain Dog Airtag Harness
As you can tell from the name, the Camo Terrain Airtag Dog Harness is designed for all terrains and activities such as tracking, walking, and hiking. The harness straps are made of high-quality 1050D nylon webbing that can withstand heavy pulling without breaking.
In fact, the quality of this webbing is the same as the webbing used to make harnesses for mountain climbers. The straps are 1.5 inches wide, the same size as the standard collars for large dogs. That means the straps can't dig into your dog's skin even when it pulls.
Another great feature is that the straps are adjustable around the stomach, chest, and shoulders. That means you can give your furry friend a perfect fit that won't rub the armpits, even if he gains or loses weight.
Terrain Dog Airtag Harness
The Grape Terrain Dog Airtag Harness is one of the most comfortable harnesses in the market. This harness is made of a lightweight nylon webbing, so your furry friend won't feel exhausted after wearing it the whole day. But don't confuse being lightweight and being weak. The webbing is still 1050D quality, like the one above.
The nylon webbing is lined with neoprene, the material used to make swimsuits. That means your furry friend will enjoy the same level of comfort as you do when you wear a swimsuit. The material is also breathable, so your dog won't have bad odors after long walks and hikes.
Cobalt Terrain Dog Airtag Harness
Sometimes, our dogs get over-excited and go crazy during walks and hikes. For instance, the dog spots another dog and wants to attack or sees a chipmunk and wants to give chase. The Cobalt Terrain Dog Airtag Harness is one of the few Y-shaped harnesses that gives you complete control over your dog during such times.
This harness comes with a handle between the D-rings around the shoulder area. You grab this handle instead of putting pressure on the leash when you want to gain immediate control of your dog.
If that was not enough, the harness comes with a hidden pocket where you can keep an Apple Airtag. That means if your furry friend accidentally manages to bolt away or wanders off, you can use the Apple Airtag to find him.
Beirui Suede Dog Harness
The Beirui Suede Dog Harness is specifically designed for small and medium dog breeds, such as Miniature Poodles, Yorkshire Terriers, Pugs, and French Bulldogs. The chest sizes range from 13 to 15.5 inches, 17 to 19.5 inches, and 20.5 to 23.5 inches.
That means if your dog is a large or giant dog like the German Shepherds and Newfoundlands, you need to go for the above options. The Beirui Suede Dog Harness is one of the few harnesses that combine functionality and style. Apart from using it to control your dog, you can use it as a fashion statement.
It comes with sparkly rhinestones that you can match with your bling bling when going for walks. The straps are made of suede. This material is soft and smooth and feels almost like cotton, but it is as durable as normal leather. So, there are no worries about the fabric rubbing the dog's skin and causing chafing, irritation, or breaking.
Bridgeport Leather Dog Harness
The Bridgeport Leather Dog Harness is made of leather, giving it a classic and luxurious look. Since leather is generally harder and rougher than nylon, this harness has padding that protects the dog's skin from direct rubbing from the leather. The harness also has a handle that you can use to control the dog even when you don't have a leash.
The only issue is that the handle isn't as small as that of the Cobalt Terrain Dog Airtag Harness. So, when the leash is attached, the handle becomes an unnecessary bulk that falls on the dog's back. It can even be a hazard if the dog jumps over a fence and the handle gets caught.
The harness is adjustable, just like the top three harnesses. So, there are no worries if your dog gains or loses weight. However, the adjustability is based on holes in the straps, just like the holes of a leather belt. That means you can't get precise adjustments and perfect fit like in the above harnesses.
How to Fit a Y-Shape Harness
Fitting a Y-shape harness is almost the same as fitting the other harness types. Spread the harness out on the floor with the chest plate facing up. Guide your dog's front legs into the leg holes. This is straightforward since the harness is generally made of straps.
Wrap the neck strap around the neck. Make sure it sits comfortably and is snug but not tight. After closing the buckle, you should be able to fit two fingers between the strap and your dog's neck. Do the same for the strap that goes behind the front legs.
However, make this allowance a little bigger, enough to fit a couple of fingers' width between the strap and your dog's body. One more thing: make sure you leave a room of about 1 to 2 inches around the armpits. This will prevent the straps from sitting on the soft armpit tissues.
Conclusion
One of the most important things when going for walks and hikes with your furry friend is keeping him under control while ensuring he can move without straining. The Y-harness tops the list for securing your dog while giving it freedom of movement.
It doesn't restrict the shoulder blades, doesn't press on the trachea, and doesn't restrict the stomach. The above Y-shape harnesses are made of high-quality materials and won't snap when the dog pulls. The design is also well calculated to make sure they don't rub your dog's armpits.