| Dog harnesses are usually an addition to a collar, but | | | | ways to the harnesses used by horse teams. Freight |
| can also be used as a stand alone device. They are | | | | harnesses have a cross design, so that the weight is |
| worn around the chest and back area and can be | | | | evenly distributed over the animal's entire body. There |
| helpful for many reasons. If you have a large dog, a | | | | are other types of these, including H-back, the X-back |
| harness can prevent it from lunging forward and | | | | and a Y-back harness. Y-back harnesses are fairly |
| breaking free of your grip. You can also use it to | | | | new, and are usually used by the sport of skijoring, |
| safely pull back on your dog, to prevent them from | | | | pulling a skier or a bicyclist. |
| stepping out into traffic, or going after that errant | | | | When buying a dog harness for your pet there are |
| squirrel. It also prevents your dog from choking on its | | | | some things to consider. If you can, you should bring |
| collar when it is running, or trying to bolt away from | | | | your animal along with you, and there are many stores |
| you. | | | | that are pet friendly. It is a good idea to check the |
| Harnesses serve other purposes as well. Some are | | | | harness, to see how it works and is worn. With so |
| specially designed to help disabled people and are | | | | many different brands and manufacturers, some have |
| worn by service dogs. These harnesses have handle | | | | only one clasp, others have more, and there are even |
| attachments so the service pet can guide their blind | | | | some that your dog steps into. If you can't bring them |
| masters around safely. These will have extra padding | | | | with you, you should take some measurements, |
| around pressure areas of the dog, like around the | | | | around the waist, chest area, and around the shoulders |
| chest, through the legs, even on the back, to relieve | | | | at the base of the neck. You should also measure |
| the added strain when pulling their masters. These can | | | | their back, from the top of the shoulders to past their |
| also have harness hook ups like a horse's, in order to | | | | rib cage, because these measurements will help you |
| pull someone along in a wheel chair. Now these | | | | find the right size. |
| animals have been trained not to run at just anything, | | | | Now harnesses come in various prices and materials. |
| like going after a cat or squirrel, which could injure not | | | | You might think that just any harness will do, and want |
| just themselves, but their owners as well. | | | | to find the cheapest one, but you shouldn't do this. If |
| There are also different kinds of harnesses that are | | | | you buy the cheapest, it won't last long, and may |
| used by sled dogs, and dogs that are working dogs. | | | | break at a moment that you may need it to function |
| These are specifically designed for their needed | | | | the most. Make sure that the connection areas where |
| purpose, like a sled dog harness is similar in many | | | | the harness crosses has double stitching. |