No-escape dog harnesses

In our years as dog trainers, pet-boutique owners and harness specialists, we've seen some very creative ways people have "MacGivered" collars/leashes/harnesses to keep their dogs safe.

Unfortunately, most of them don't really work. If your dog either hates a harness or is afraid of the great outdoors - you know the dread of watching your pup plant his front legs, stubbornly refusing to move, and then wiggling out the back of any harness or collar you've tried.

When nothing else works - you jury-rig your own solution, leashing the harness to a collar, with another leash wrapped around, knotted through, until you have a tangled mess that may or may not work.

We've spent years testing all kinds of harnesses for durability, fit, safety, and "escape-ability." We even have an on-call escape-artist who comes in to test each new harness. Coconut is a Miniature Poodle who's been able to escape almost every harness he's tried within 30 seconds. It's his specialty.

Coconut hasn't been able to escape either the Wrap-N-Go or the Harness Lead. And he's been trying for two years now. We finally found harnesses to keep escape-artist dogs safe.

The Wrap-N-Go Harness from Bark Appeal is an adorable and secure answer for even the smallest escape-artist dogs.

Lots of dog harnesses seem to consist of multitudes of straps whose functions are mysterious. Or whose job it is to achieve the inertial state of "tangled mess."

This harness makes all that fumbling with "which goes where" a thing of the past. Open both straps. Lay the harness on the dog's back. Close the front around the dog's neck. Close the other around the dog's tummy. Done.

The straps attach with industrial-strength hook-and-loop closures. No worries about impossible-to-open pinch clasps - even for people with arthritis in their hands.

Hook-and-loop is safe!

According to Wikipedia; hook-and-loop material "is strong enough that a two inch square piece is enough to support a 175-pound person."

"The strength of the bond depends on how well the hooks are embedded in the loops, how much surface area is in contact with the hooks, and the nature of the force pulling it apart."

The key to keeping any hook-and-loop closure at its best is to make sure it stays clean. Examine the material occasionally and remove any hairs that may keep the two ends from full contact.

But my dog chokes on leash!

We know that some dogs need to avoid anything going around their necks because they suffer from "collapsing trachea" or other health issues. For these dogs, this isn't an optimal harness.

However, most of the pressure from even a ferociously-pulling dog, is distributed out from the leash attachment, about halfway along the back. Most dogs shouldn't have a choking issue.

Winter or summer

It's available in either a soft mesh style, or a breezy, open netted material for summer! Four sizes and three available colors round out the choices - one is sure to be perfect for your dog.

The 3-in-1 Harness Lead not only is escape-proof, it also helps teach your dog not to pull!

The ingenious design is used to full advantage in the Harness Lead.

Easier to do than describe

Slip the loop over the dog's head. Rubber stoppers keep it from tightening around your dog's neck. With the stoppers aligned with the dog's front leg, feed the rest, including the rubber ring, under the dog and through the split. Tighten down the rubber ring and you're done!

You only have to position the rubber stoppers the first time you use it, so the second and all subsequent uses are faster, simpler, and with no need for adjustments.

It takes just a few second to do - but we know that a picture's worth a thousand words, and video's even better. Which is why we made a video and I've included it below. Keep in mind when you watch that it was the first time I'd ever tried it on Teddy, and it takes only moments.

Hugs your dog to keep him safe

When your dog tries to pull away from you and charge off, the Harness Lead tightens around his rib cage as a gentle reminder to "stay with me!" Likewise, if your pup tries to pull back, the it will tighten and keep your dog safely with you.

We've all become familiar with calming products for dogs that work by "hugging" the dog and making them feel more secure. This works similarly for fearful dogs - tightening when the dog tries to pull away, reassuring your pup that it is safely attached to you.

Some dogs try to escape because they're fearful, others because they're prey driven (SQUIRREL!), and other may be irresistibly drawn to visit either other people or dogs. The gentle tightening action reminds your dog he's with you, and safe.