Best No-Pull Dog Harness 2024: Tested and Reviewed

Nov 04, 2024

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If your dog pulls on leash, walking them can be a real challenge. However, one of the best no-pull dog harnesses can help you train an enthusiastic puller to walk on a loose leash. These front-clip harnesses have a ring at the chest where you attach a leash. With this design, your dog will pivot toward you anytime they lunge forward and the leash tightens.

For this guide, we tested 15 popular no-pull harnesses with over two dozen small, medium, and large rescue dogs. We also interviewed veterinarians, dog trainers, and professional dog walkers for advice on how to stop leash pulling safely. Our top pick is the Blue-9 Balance Harness, a highly adjustable harness that significantly reduces pulling. If you're looking for a budget option, we recommend the Petsafe 3-in-1 No-Pull Dog Harness, a durable harness that's around $30.

Read more about how Business Insider Reviews tests and researches pet products.

Best overall: Blue-9 Balance Harness - See at Amazon

Best padded: Ruffwear Front Range Dog Harness - See at Chewy

Best budget: Petsafe 3-in-1 No-Pull Dog Harness - See at Chewy

Best for small dogs: Wild One Harness - See at Chewy

Best with handle: PoyPet No-Pull Dog Harness - See at Amazon

Our top pick for the best no-pull dog harness is the Balance Harness. It significantly reduces pulling without impeding a dog's movement, sagging, or twisting.

Specifics

Among the best no-pull dog harnesses, the Blue-9 Balance Harness is a favorite among dog walkers and trainers, including Nicole Ellis, a professional dog trainer and owner of Tails With Nicole. Our testers at Family Dog Rescue, an animal shelter in San Francisco, were impressed by how much easier it was to walk untrained shelter dogs when they were wearing this harness. The dogs pulled less and were easier to control when we used the harness with a leash attached to the front D-ring.

Unlike the popular Petsafe Easy Walk Harness, the Balance Harness's Y-neck design doesn't cross the dog's shoulders or pinch under the armpits. "It is great for daily performance, and it doesn't interfere with the dog's shoulder movement," says Robyn Socarro, a professional dog trainer. Like the other harnesses in this guide, you can also attach the leash to the back of the harness for dogs that don't pull.

If you've had trouble finding a well-fitting harness, this is an excellent option. It has six places to adjust for wide necks, barrel chests, chunky bellies, and straps that clip around the torso and neck. While the neck strap is ideal for dogs that resist putting their head through a harness, this design can make it confusing to put the harness on. The colored top strap on the back helps you keep straight what goes where.

The soft nylon has a 3,500-pound test strength. I toss mine into the washer and let it air-dry, and it's still in great shape.

Read our full Blue-9 Balance Harness review.

The Front Range is a comfortable harness for active dogs that will hold up to years of use.

Specifics

Designed for outdoor adventures, the Ruffwear Front Range Harness can take a lot of punishment while keeping your dog comfortable. After seven years, this is the only intact harness reporter Ren Volpe's dog still wears from his younger days. The foam padding on the chest and belly prevents rubbing and chafing, and the built-in clasps are covered with fabric so they don't touch any part of a dog's body.

"The padding is nice because it doesn't rub on my thin-coated dog," says Scarlett Cermak, a professional dog trainer and owner of Embark Today. "I also really like that there is a back-clip option because there are times, believe it or not, when I want my dogs to pull, like in sports like canicross or joring."

The harness is easy to put on and remove, with two clasps and two adjustment buckles. There are two leash attachments: an aluminum V-ring on the back and a reinforced webbing attachment on the chest plate.

The Front Range doesn't reduce pulling as well as the other best no-pull dog harnesses we recommend. Although it is normal for a front-clip harness to move when your dog pulls, this harness twists more than our other top picks, causing it to shift to the side with consistent pulling. If you have a barrel-chested dog, the Rabbitgoo No-Pull Dog Harness has a similar design that may be effective. However, the straps require frequent tightening as they loosen too easily.

The harness has reflective stitching for nighttime visibility, and the polyester shell fabric is highly durable. Although the brand recommends hand-washing the harness, she's put it in the washer and dryer numerous times. It's still in good condition, but the edges are slightly curled.

The 3-in-1 No-Pull Dog Harness is a durable, no-pull harness with a price that won't break the bank.

Specifics

With the Petsafe 3-in-1 No-Pull Dog Harness, you can attach the leash to the front of the harness to reduce pulling or secure it to the back ring for casual walks or running with your dog. At around $30, it's also a good starting point if you have a tighter budget.

Beth DiMeccio, a volunteer at Family Dog Rescue, tested this harness with shelter dogs and was impressed with how well it worked for serious pullers. "There's little chance a dog can wriggle out of this harness, which is a big concern with shelter dogs," she says.

The Y-shaped nylon 3-in-1 does not restrict a dog's movement. It has five different adjustment points to allow for a comfortable and snug fit, and with a buckle at the neck, you don't need to pull it over a dog's head. The light neoprene padding and reflective stitching are a nice touch.

With 1-inch wide straps, this harness is heavier than similar styles and creates too much bulk for smaller dogs. The wider straps help prevent chafing, but the plastic clasps do not have any padding, which may cause discomfort with all-day wear. Petsafe recommends hand-washing the 3-in-1, so it may be difficult to remove odors.

Once you get the hang of it, the harness is easy to put on. It also has a built-in adjustable strap for attaching to a seat belt if you'd like to limit your dog's movement in the car. However, the harness has not been crash-tested and may not protect your dog in a crash.

The Wild One Harness is sized well for small dogs and has extra padding to prevent chafing.

Specifics

Pulling is mostly associated with large dogs, but smaller dogs can tug hard on a leash, too. And like with their larger counterparts, a no-pull dog harness can help lessen pulling. Of the three harnesses reporter Alex Rennie tested with his 12-pound terrier mix, the Wild One Harness performed the best. When the leash was attached to the front D-ring, the harness redirected his small dog each time he attempted to pull.

The snug fit kept the harness secure, and it didn't budge when the dog lunged. Rennie got the correct fit with three easy-to-use adjustment points, each connected to a buckle (one at the neck and two at the back). The three buckles could be secured without lifting the harness over the dog's head — Ellis says this is a bonus feature for dogs who don't like having anything placed over or around their head.

No matter how snug the harness was after adjusting the fit, the dog didn't experience any chafing thanks to extra padding around high-friction points, particularly the armpits. A layer of stretchy polyester covers the interior of the harness. While this reduced the possibility of discomfort and chafing, it sometimes caused the harness to shift on the dog, even after adjusting the straps to get a perfect fit.

On its website, Wild One cautions that some richer colors may bleed onto lighter-colored dogs. To prevent this, it recommends handwashing the harness before using it. Rennie washed the harness and found it dried quickly.

This no-pull harness has a wide handle at the base and impressive safety features like a locking buckle and reflective strips along the side.

Specifics

The PoyPet No-Pull Dog Harness is reporter Sophia Carlisle's favorite no-pull harness with a handle. The versatile harness has various features that make it easier to walk a puller, including an essential D-ring at the front to prevent pulling, a handle on the back, reflective strips, and a locking buckle at the neck.

The wide handle that runs horizontally across the back of the harness is especially helpful when Carlisle needs to grab her lunging dog quickly. Her 50-pound dog has a habit of rolling in burrs during forest walks, and she regularly uses the handle to pull her away from spiky plants. Beyond burrs, it can be tough to see the dog when hiking in the forest since her black coat blends in with the surrounding trees during evening walks. The reflective strips on this harness are a fantastic safety feature that makes it easy for other hikers, dogs, and even people in cars to see her at any time of day.

The harness also has an excellent safety feature for dogs prone to bolting: a locking buckle on the neck strap. When the lock is engaged, the buckle can't be unlatched. This feature kept Carlisle's dog secure in the harness even when she was startled by a charging dog and attempted to back out of the harness.

While the three separate attachment points mean you don't have to place the harness over your dog's head, this design can make it confusing to put it on at first. Another downside is the harness's lack of padding. The underside is reinforced with a webbed mesh material, which helps the harness move with the dog but doesn't protect against chafing. We recommend a more heavily padded harness for dogs with thinner coats.

The following considerations will help you find the best harness to prevent your dog from pulling on leash.

Design: A dog harness should not impede or restrict movement. Look for one that doesn't sag, and ensure the straps don't lay over the dog's front legs and shoulders. Y-shaped, rather than T-shaped, no-pull harnesses are less likely to restrict movement. Leash attachments on the front and back of the harness are also more versatile.

Ellis says that regardless of the style of harness you choose, you need a good fit. If you can comfortably fit two fingers under the harness without being able to tug it forward, the harness will likely be comfortable and secure on your dog.

Ease of use: There's less room for error if a harness is easy to put on and remove. A harness with more adjustment points will help you get the best fit for your dog.

Padding: Extra padding provides comfort and reduces chafing and rubbing, which is particularly important for dogs that pull.

Machine washable: An easy-to-wash harness will help prevent odors and look as good as new for years to come.

Warranty: No-pull harnesses are a bit pricey. If there are manufacturing defects, the ability to return the harness or get a replacement is a big bonus.

When we first published this guide in 2020, reporter Shoshi Parks collected opinions from professional dog walkers and trainers about their favorite no-pull dog harnesses and consulted with veterinarians and canine behaviorists.

The following year, reporter Ren Volpe tested the harnesses with untrained shelter dogs at Family Dog Rescue in San Francisco. For eight weeks, three shelter staff members and two volunteer shelter walkers tested the harnesses on walks with more than two dozen medium and large rescue dogs who were difficult to walk due to over-excitability, lack of training, or reactivity. Dogs were walked with the tester harnesses for 30 to 60 minutes on city streets and in local parks.

In 2024, reporting fellow Sophia Carlisle tested handle harnesses with her 50-pound pitbull mix, while reporter Alex Rennie tested small harnesses with his 12-pound terrier mix. The dogs were walked for a minimum of 30 minutes on city streets and in local parks.

We rated the best no-pull dog harnesses according to the following criteria:

Prevents pulling: We assessed how well it prevented dogs from pulling on leash while walking. We walked for a minimum of 30 minutes on 4-foot leashes.

Does not impede or restrict movement: Harnesses were tested on dogs of different sizes and shapes to check for sagging and straps that lay over the dog's front legs and shoulders. We disqualified the Petsafe Easy Walk and Wonder Walker harnesses due to significant sagging during testing.

Does not chafe or rub: We tested harnesses on both long- and short-haired dogs to check for chafing or rubbing.

Dog cannot slip or back out of the harness: This was a crucial consideration because we tested these harnesses with shelter dogs who tend to be flight risks.

Easy to put on and take off/ease of adjusting: Putting on or adjusting your dog's harness shouldn't be frustrating. Our shelter volunteers and testers recorded their impressions when putting the harnesses on dogs.

Durability and washability: We asked professional dog walkers for their opinions on how well these wear over time and whether they hold up after multiple washes.

Initial cost and replacement cost: We considered whether the price of the harness is justified and how easy it is to replace if chewed.

We did not test head halters, as most dogs initially find them uncomfortable and will resist wearing them. The no-pull harnesses in this guide are a better choice for anyone looking for the least intrusive, minimally aversive (LIMA) approach to dog training and behavior modification. If you'd like to learn more about head halters, read about them in our guide to the best dog harnesses.

We recommend a front-clip no-pull harness when training a dog to walk on a leash without pulling. It removes dangerous pressure from a dog's neck while reducing its ability to pull.

Yes. The best no-pull dog harnesses are well-designed and reduce pressure on a dog's joints and neck when they pull.

Even the best dog collars should not be used for restraining or controlling your dog because they can cause tension and stress on the dog's neck. "Dogs that pull on leash are at an increased risk of choking," says Dr. Lillian Baker, veterinarian and owner of Baker's Mobile Veterinary Services in Texas. She explains that tracheal collapse is another potential consequence. A 2020 study using canine neck models with pressure sensors confirmed the danger, concluding that all types of dog collars have the potential to cause harm to a dog's neck. A flat neck collar's only purpose is for attaching one of the best dog ID tags or for decoration. A body harness is a much safer and more effective way of walking a dog that pulls.

Front-clip no-pull dog harnesses discourage pulling by pivoting the dog toward you whenever the leash is taut. No-pull harnesses come in two basic designs: A Y-shaped chest strap or a strap that lays horizontally across the chest. Y-shaped harnesses better allow for total freedom of movement. "Any product that forms a Y shape around the dog's neck and under the chest is non-restrictive," says Dr. Chris Zink, a veterinarian specializing in canine sports medicine and rehabilitation.

"Dogs may pull on a leash due to hypersensitivity to all that is going on around them as well as a lack of proper leash training as a puppy," Baker says. No dog is born innately understanding how to walk on a leash. They pull because they naturally walk faster than we do and want to get to the park, greet another dog, or sniff something interesting. Typically, they continue to pull because they've discovered that, when they do, they get to move forward.

Finding the best harness for your dog is like choosing the perfect running sneakers: Fit is crucial. There's nothing scarier than your dog wriggling or backing out of a loose-fitting harness. An ill-fitting harness will also be uncomfortable, and if it's too tight, it can cause chafing. Sagging harnesses can impede a dog's full range of shoulder or leg movement. A well-fitting harness should be snug but not too tight, with enough room to fit two to three fingers under all the straps. Check the sizing charts and read the instructions for measuring your dog. When buying online, measure carefully and check the return policy before ordering.

Front-clip no-pull harnesses are not a magic bullet that will instantly stop your dog from pulling, but they are a management tool. The best way to stop your dog from pulling is to train loose leash walking using positive reinforcement with one of the best dog leashes and some of the best dog treats for training. If your dog is a veteran puller, no humane piece of equipment will teach them to stop pulling, but a good harness will help you manage and control your dog while teaching them leash manners. If you keep walking whenever your dog pulls, you are not only missing out on the chance to train loose leash walking, but you are also reinforcing pulling.

Baker prefers a standard 4- to 6-foot-long leather leash for dog walking. She recommends avoiding retractable leashes, which present a variety of safety concerns for both dogs and their walkers.

We only considered no-pull equipment that does not cause pain or discomfort for a dog. Prong, choke, and shock collars are all designed to punish a dog by inflicting pain around the neck whenever they pull. Prong collars and choke chains can also cause damage to a dog's neck. "As a general rule, I don't like anything that puts too much pressure on the neck," says Dr. Carlo Siracusa, a board-certified veterinary behaviorist and associate professor of clinical behavior medicine at University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine. "Definitely no prong or shock collars. Even a martingale-type collar, which I do like, will not prevent the dog from pulling [and] will apply pressure on the neck."

Head halters are a humane alternative to body harnesses. Baker recommends their use on dogs that pull. "If you lead the head, the body follows," she says. Head halters may not be appropriate for every dog. Siracusa says that using a head halter can result in whiplash or neck or spine pain if your pup is easily over-aroused or highly reactive on leash.

There is no such thing as a chew-proof harness. A chewed-up harness is not a manufacturer defect or the result of poor design or materials. A determined dog or teething puppy can destroy a brand-new harness in less than 30 seconds, so take the harness off them when unsupervised. Be sure to remove a harness to prevent injury when dogs roughhouse, as teeth and limbs can get entangled.

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