Soft And Gentle Dog Harnesses And Where To Buy Them

If you are a dog owner like me, the first two things that you probably bought for your dog were a leash and a collar so that you can keep control of your dog while taking it for a walk. Although the normal leash/collar combo is important and will always hold a solid spot in every dog owners home, there's another dog accessory that you should also be aware of and that's the dog harness. If you're looking for a soft and gentle harness for your dog, then this article will give you all of the information you need to research, find and buy the one that best fits your needs.

As I just said, using a leash and a collar is probably one of the most traditional and time-tested methods to walk your dog in a controlled way. When out walking with your dog, this is a great way to keep your dog from acting up and from running off to who knows where, but unfortunately there's always been one major thing wrong with this -- it's very uncomfortable and potentially painful for your dog. If for some reason you needed to suddenly pull your dog away from some danger, all of the force that you pull on the leash with would be directly applied to your dog's neck, which could result in some pretty nasty injuries. 

Of course, you're still going to keep a collar on your dog for identification and overall handling purposes, but if you are going out for any type of significant walks with your dog, then you should definitely look into one of the much softer and gentler dog harnesses. Most of the harnesses are fairly inexpensive and can fit most smaller breeds of dogs, although larger dogs can potentially use harnesses as well (even though they look a lot less cute doing it). By utilizing a dog harness you will gain even more control over what your dog is doing and where your dog is going during walks, all while making your it much, much more comfortable along the way.

Even though dog harnesses are the greatest thing since sliced bread when it comes to walking your dog, your dog's collar will never be fully replaced by it. This is due to a couple of reasons:

1. Your dog's collar isn't just a way for you to walk your dog, it's also a way to identify your dog if for some reason he ever was lost. For this reason many dog owners never even take off the dog's collar, even when he's running around the house.
   
2. The dog harness needs to be put on your dog each time that you want to use it because it's not made to be a permanent thing for dogs to wear. They are made specifically for the purpose of being able to control your dog during walks and they would also be fairly uncomfortable for your dog to lug around when not out for a walk.
   

So, if you purchase a dog harness it won't be the end-all be-all, it will simply be another doggy acecessory that will compliment the standard leash and collar combination.

Step-in harnesses are probably the least comfortable harness option for your dog, but they are still very popular and a much better and safer option for you to use than just a collar when going for a walk. These types of dog harnesses tend to be a little stiffer (especially when you first get them), but they are definitely a step in the right direction. Many of these harnesses are made with nylon straps, so they're very durable and will last a long time and some even have reflective straps so that your dog is a little safer once the sun starts to go down.

These come in all shapes and sizes and also tend to be cheaper than some of the more contoured-fitting options that I list below. Just be sure to follow the instructions carefully when you first put your dog into a step-in harness because they can be a little confusing at first. There are lots of holes and straps, which can potentially make your head spin.

If you want to step up the comfort, style (and of course, price) a bit then you should look into one of the vest-type harness options such as the Puppia Soft Dog Harness that you see to your right. These dog harnesses are made out of much more comfortable materials and cover more area around the dogs neck and shoulders, which results in a much lower impact on your dog when pulling on it's leash (not that we ever have to do that, right?). These types of dog harnesses are also much more flexible, which means that they can give a little bit when your dogs makes sudden moves as opposed to jerking them to a complete stop instantly.

As you can see in the picture to the right, these types of harnesses come in all types of colors, so you have plenty of options to choose from. They also have several different sizes so you can find the one that fits best for your dog.

There are also other more specialty and unique types of harnesses that are available if you're looking for something a little different when buying something for your dog. After searching for harnesses there's one thing that I realized quickly -- you can get about any type of harness that you can think of and that your only limitation on what you can buy is your imagination. Maybe you want a harness that doubles as a denim jacket? Or, maybe you need a walking harness that will double as a seat belt harness? Oh, you want a leather harness, eh? You can buy that, too.

Just remember that whatever harness you choose, you need to be sure to get the right size for your dog so that it fits as comfortable and effective as possible. Too tight could be uncomfortable for your pup and too loose could make the harness ineffective, so getting the correct size for your dog is something that you should be sure is right.