Hurtta's harness guide helps you find the right harness for your dog.

The right harness offers control, comfort and convenience.

How to choose a harness for your dog.

Y-Harness, H-harness or No-Pull Harness, don’t let the fact that there are different types of dog harnesses keep you from the benefits that they offer you and your dog. We’ll walk you through some of the features of the main types and help you find the ideal harness for your dog.

You may be thinking only about trendy colours or that you need a harness that is good for both daily walks and bigger adventures, or about a harness that is environmentally friendly. Those things definitely matter but we’ll help you look a little deeper. At Hurtta, we design dog harnesses with fit, breed, and breed behavior in mind. For example, the lighter Hurtta Y-Harness is designed for lighter, smaller breeds, while the Weekend Warrior Harness is designed to fit slightly larger dogs.

We’ll break it down even further and share a handy table that will help you shop for your next dog harness. Just know that whichever harness you choose for your dog, you can be sure that it is always designed with care, built under strict supervision, and tested for long-lasting durability. In other words, just what our best friends deserve.

Find the ideal harness for your dog, your use purpose and activity level.

Find your use purpose.

A snug and comfortable dog harness is one of the most important pieces of dog gear a dog owner can have. In a harness, dogs can move more freely and they are better protected against sudden movements as the force of pulls are distributed across their chest area.

When choosing a harness, it helps to think about the activities that you and your dog do together. For young pups that pull a lot, a No-pull dog harness can ease the strain and help teach leash behavior. Puppies and young dogs grow quickly, so an adjustable harness offers convenience as it will grow in size as the dog grows. For daily walks, look for a dog harness that offers quick and easy dressing. And for fast-paced activities and bigger adventures, a more durable dog harness will provide the extra support you need.

Also, when you pay attention to fit and ergonomics the harness will be more comfortable for your dog and it should provide better wear.

Fit, features and style – you can have it all.

Different dog harness types have notable differences. Hurtta’s proprietary sizing system is based on measurement data from over 8,000 dogs across hundreds of breeds. Adjustability is a big deal too, meaning a Hurtta dog harness can be easily adjusted to fit nearly every dog. When you shop for a harness, you’ll notice that some models are primarily designed for dogs with a narrow body so keep your dog in mind. Also note that some dog harnesses have adjustable straps at both the chest and neck, while some are only adjustable around the chest.

Also look for harnesses that have carefully thought-out small details, such as a back or top handle, with which you can quickly control the dog in tricky situations or in fast-paced hobbies. Reflective seams or patterns provide additional safety on walks at night or in the early morning. And of course the right colour can brighten your day and highlight your friend's captivating personality!

An H-harness offers easy dressing.

The H-harness is a traditional and popular type of dog harness that can be put on over the dog's head and fastened around the chest easily and without having to lift the dog’s legs. It’s suitable for daily walks and most outdoor activities year round for both puppies and adult dogs. If the space between your dog's front legs is narrow, an H-harness will generally fit better than a Y-Harness that sits between the dog’s front legs. Narrow-bodied breeds include, for example, the Yorkshire Terrier, Tibetan Spaniel, Poodle and Belgian Shepherd.

The Y-Harness is designed for comfort.

A Y-Harness allows the dog to move more freely because the front strap will not limit the front legs from moving forward or sideways. Because it’s so comfortable to wear, it’s perfectly suited for longer adventures, hikes, and fast-paced activities. Some models will offer adjustability in both the neck and chest area. Durable snap locks make dressing even easier and some dog Y-harnesses can be put on without lifting the dog’s front legs.

Hurtta Casual Y-harness is light, yet supported with comfortable padding. The following dog breeds were kept in mind during the design process: Dachshund, Cocker Spaniel, Shetland Sheepdog, Schnauzer, Border Collie, Spanish Water Dog, and Nova Scotia Retriever.

Other breeds may also need the extra adjustability, sturdy top handle, and wide padded sections found in the Y-harness. The Jack Russell Terrier, Beagle, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, Labrador Retriever, Golden Retriever, and Dalmatian inspired the design of the Hurtta Weekend Warrior Harness.

Hurtta Y-harnesses come in sporty and casual models, and both are suitable for forest trips and city adventures. The Casual dog Y-Harness offers everyday reliability and comfort. The Weekend Warrior dog Harness offers speed, dependability, and a cool factor for adventurers.

A no-pull harness offers more control.

There are many different models of no-pull harnesses for dogs. Their primary purpose is to restrain an active dog from pulling too forcefully and to help teach the dog not to pull away. When designing the Venture No-Pull Harness we thought about dogs that are narrow in build and that have the power to pull, such as Parson Russell Terrier, Miniature Schnauzer, Poodle, Collie and German Shepherd.

The Hurtta No-Pull Harness lends a gentle hand for teaching leash behaviour, but it can also be used without the No-Pull feature. When you attach a dog leash to the parallel attachment ring, the harness directs the dog's direction of movement and attention towards the dog handler. By attaching the leash to the attachment ring on the top side, the harness works without a pull stop.

Learning leash behavior takes time. Remember to reserve dog treats for training sessions and reward your dog whenever it can resist pulling or seeks contact with you. What could be nicer than spending time with your friend and learning something new together?

ECO Harness – protecting dogs and the planet

Our planet offers us and our dogs endless outdoor fun. That's why all Hurtta products are built tough for serious adventures and any other outdoor activity that dogs love. It’s also why we want to do our part to protect the planet. Our goal is to manufacture all Hurtta gear from recycled materials and we’re well on our way with several models already available. Just look for the Hurtta ECO mark.

Find your perfect fit

At Hurtta you might say that we’re fit-obsessed. Our sizing system was carefully designed and doggie tested. For comprehensive size charts and helpful measurement instructions visit our Find your perfect fit -page.