Harness your dog!

Harnesses are the recommended restraint for most dogs these days. With so many sizes, varieties and styles on the market, choosing the right one can be difficult. Here are some tips for correct dog harness sizing, which harness is right for your dog, and how to put on your dog's harness.

There抯 an old saying that goes 搘hen you know better, you do better.?That extends to everything in life, right down to how we treat our pets. These days most veterinarians are recommending that dogs wear harnesses instead of collars. Harnesses are better for most dogs, they抮e easier on the dog抯 neck and back.

Harnesses come in a multitude of styles, there is one for every dog and dog-behavior issue; whether your dog is an escape artist, a puller, a bunny-chaser, or has medical issues. Not every harness is good for every dog, but there is an appropriate style for every dog.

The first step in finding the proper harness for your dog is to measure her correctly. Manufacturers don抰 make dog gear by breed or weight ?they use measurements. Girth is the most important number. Take a tape measure and wrap it all the way around your dog抯 chest, just behind her front legs. If she抣l let you ?leave it there for a moment to make sure she抯 not 損uffing?out her ribs and snug it up if you feel it loosen. You should be able to get a finger or two between the tape measure and your dog, but that抯 all. If she wiggles too much, just come back a couple more times and try it again.

When you抮e pretty sure you have an accurate measurement, think about why you抮e getting Fido a harness. Your rationale will determine the type that抯 best for you and your dog.

If your dog has a particularly sensitive neck or issues with a 揷ollapsing trachea,?as many small dogs are prone to, look for a 揝tep-In Harness.?These are very easy on both you and your dog, just put Fido抯 front legs through, draw it up over his back and clasp it. The closure should rest between the dog抯 搒houlder blades,?well away from his neck.

If your dog is an 揺scape artist,?hunching her shoulders and wiggling back, look for a harness with hook-and-loop closures at the neck and girth. These harnesses look like jackets and should fit closely, without much room for adjustment, or escape. They have the added advantage of being easy to put on, just lay it on the Phydeaux抯 back and smooth the straps together at neck and girth.

If your dog tends to pull you down the street ?try a harness with the leash ring at the front of the chest. These seem to work magically, drawing your dog into you whenever he starts pulling away.

A particularly popular harness is styled almost like a human-wear dickey, with chest coverage that distributes any pressure from the leash across the dog抯 chest, instead of concentrating it at the neck. These typically slip over Fido抯 head, one paw goes through an 揳rmhole?and the strap is brought up under the tummy and clasped. Most feature mesh fabric and sporty styling.

There are dozens of variations and unique styles of dog harness. Materials range from leather, to cotton, to polyester. There is one to suit every dog and situation. Look for a store, locally or online, with a wide selection from many different manufacturers. Don抰 be shy about asking for recommendations, staffers at the shop you choose should know the strengths of every product they carry.