The Best Small Dog Harnesses

Best Dog Harness for Small Dogs

Common questions that Small Dog owners may find themselves asking are:

• Should I buy a small dog harness or dog collar for my dog?
• What is the best small dog harness for my dog?
• How do I correctly measure my dog?

Why You Should Choose A Dog Harness Over A Collar

Walking your adorable fur baby isn't a choice, it’s a must. Your new best friend needs to have regular exercise to be healthy and happy. Just like humans, going for a 15-20 minute walk every day will do wonders for their health and reduce the number of health-related issues they have. Whether you're going for a walk or visiting the vet, the best dog harness are critical for your pup’s well-being. As we all know, a dog can be notorious leash-pullers and a well-fitted harness is the safest way to control your best friend whilst on a walk. 

That’s why using a collar is not such a good idea as it constricts the air intake and may even cause your dog to choke themselves. Any pressure on their windpipes, such as when they pull on the leash and may cause your dog real distress. A safer and more comfortable choice is to choose to a harness over a collar, as it spreads the kinetic force across his entire chest. But it is not always that easy to find a harness that fits your dog as there are so many different styles of dog harnesses.

What Should I Look For In A Small Dog Harness?

Do you find yourself asking what should I look for in my dog harness?

Ensure that your dog's harness is comfortable, lightweight and breathable fabric is a great start for your dog. You should ensure that material used on the harness is also durable and strong to cope with your dog’s physique.

Leash anchors must be strong as dogs can be strong and pull quickly will cause strain on the anchor point. Try to select a harness that at a minimum is double-stitched. You’ll want to ensure the leash anchor will hold as dogs have been known to get excited and lunge away from you like a rocket.

As a bonus, a handle can be quite useful for this too to ensure you have extra control. Another important point is to select a harness that is adjustable to allow a snug fit to your dog’s chest and doesn’t rub against its skin and cause discomfort. A harness that is too loose and moves around on your dog’s skin risks causing chaffing. Your dog definitely won’t want that and neither would you!

Of course, you still will need to have patience and after a few walks, you’ll find that he will be less likely to try and pull away from you and be more than happy to walk by your side.

Top 5 Best Small Dog Harnesses For Your Dog

Here are our reviews of the top 5 best small dog harnesses for your dog!

#1 Best Small Dog Harness: Pretty Unicorn PORKYPAWS Reversible Harness

Introducing Pretty Unicorn PORKYPAWS Reversible Harness

Standout in the vibrantly designed Reversible Harness specially designed to provide the ultimate comfort and support whilst looking oh-so-cute!  

Features:

• Showcasing 2 print designs in 1 harness 
  (reversible apparel)
• Breathable, soft and stretchable - Single layered L-Foam Neoprene and cotton mesh 
• Anti-chafing - Unique 3mm black neoprene trimming, back-stitched around the harness prevents armpit and chest chafing making walks and/or runs pleasant
• Durable & Long lasting - Harnesses are double and back stitched to achieve long-lasting durability
• Tested hardware - Featuring durable tested hardware D-ring for leash attachment

#2 Best Small Dog Harness For Pulling: Tribal Waves PORKYPAWS Reversible Harness

Introducing Tribal Waves PORKYPAWS Reversible Harness

Standout in the vibrantly designed Reversible Harness specially designed to provide the ultimate comfort and support whilst looking oh-so-cute!  

Features:

• Showcasing 2 print designs in 1 harness 
  (reversible apparel)
• Breathable, soft and stretchable - Single layered L-Foam Neoprene and cotton mesh 
• Anti-chafing - Unique 3mm black neoprene trimming, back-stitched around the harness prevents armpit and chest chafing making walks and/or runs pleasant.
• Durable & Long lasting - Harnesses are double and back stitched to achieve long-lasting durability
• Tested hardware - Featuring durable tested hardware D-ring for leash attachment

#3 Best no pull small dog harness: Little Robots PORKYPAWS Adjustable Harness

This small dog harness comes with an adjustable strap and quick-release buckles that make it extremely easy to put on. Tightening the harness is a cinch as you’re able to easily guide the straps through the zinc alloy rings and tuck it in place. The smart ergonomic design aims to optimize the harness’s comfort through:

• Reducing chafing thanks to the soft double padded interior feature
• Removing any restriction around the neck which is achieved by the wide collar design
• Expertly tailored for your dog's body frame resulting in a snug fit.

In addition, the harness also features reflective safety material, ensuring the safety above all else whether it is day or night. The exterior is made out of durable outer layer fabric which is scratch-resistant. The interior is made of breathable nylon webbing boasting extra soft sponge padded sections with key load dispersion for ultra-comfortable and long-lasting wear. It’s perfect for all weather conditions. The nylon material helps keep your dog's body temperature cool in summer by releasing excess heat and warm in the winter by retaining heat.

The great thing about this harness the Zinc-alloy D-ring on the harness's back is great if your dog has a tendency to pull.

We highly recommend the Adjustable Ergonomic Harness Designed for your dog!

#4 Best small dog harness to stop pulling: Purple People Eater PORKYPAWS Adjustable Harness

A risk with fixed neck harnesses is that when you buy a harness with a neck opening large enough to fit his head through, the fit may actually be too large around the chest and cause chaffing. That’s why Adjustable Double Padded Halter Harness is also a great fit for a dog chest.

This harness comes with two separate adjustable straps, that made it incredibly easy to adjusts the tightness or looseness of the harness around Toby’s chest and stomach. At the back of the harness, is a strong and secure D-ring that is double stitched, so there is no risk it tearing when your dog tries to launch itself away from you.

Features:

• Adjustable around the neck and chest, perfect for growing dogs!
• Breathable, soft and stretchable - Single layered L-Foam Neoprene and cotton mesh 
• Anti-chafing - Unique 3mm black neoprene trimming, back-stitched around the harness prevents armpit and chest chafing making walks and/or runs pleasant.
• Durable & Long lasting - Harnesses are double and back stitched to achieve long-lasting durability
• Tested hardware - Featuring durable tested hardware D-ring for leash attachment

#5 Best dog harness for small dogs: Puppy Training Light Weight Harness Vest Designed

With an eight-week-old bundle of fun, a harness isn’t so much about restraint but about getting him used to wearing one and being happy in it.

With this in mind, the Puppy Training Light Weight Harness Vest is super comfortable, in fact it’s more like a hug than a piece of safety equipment, The harness comes tailored with super soft padding in the front chest and body panel so that when your puppy pulls on the leash, the force is evenly dispersed across the harness reducing any deep chafing or irritation to your puppy.

Using this harness is a great way to introduce your adorable puppy to be comfortable and excited to go on walks for many years to come. Due to the vest-like design, the head hole is not adjustable which means that you need to be extra careful about your measurement and select the right size for your puppy. Be prepared to up-size your harness as puppies grow very quickly.

Overall, we found the Puppy Training  Harness Vest to be an excellent tool to get your puppy use to wearing a harness and used to walk by your side. We highly recommend this as a first harness.

How To Measure Your Dog Correctly

An important thing to do is measure your dog correctly. This means to take the proper time to accurately measure your dog before you rush off and purchase the wrong sized harness. This will also ensure that you have a comfortable fit for your doggie and will reduce uncomfortable chaffing. Continue reading below for tips on how to measure your dog correctly.

Harnesses are generally based off of three main measurements:

Neck Circumference –measured at the base of your dog’s neck.

Girth – Measure your dog’s girth by starting 1 – 2 inches behind the front legs and measure the circumference of your dog’s rib cage.

Chest Width – Because the chest strap intersects the girth, start the measurement at one side of the girth and measure around your dog’s chest to the other side. This measurement needs to be a comfortable distance below the throat.

Please make sure that you take your time to ensure that you make accurate measurements as dogs love to jump around when you measure them. If your dog is in-between sizes it is generally recommended that you choose the larger size as all of these harnesses are adjustable.

How To Put On a Reversible Dog Harness 

How To Invert Your Reversible Dog Harness