Has this ever happened to you?
You leave Fido’s harness on while he’s in the yard or in the car, and he chews through it. Great! Now you have to hook the leash to his collar. If only you could find gear for your pal that’s indestructible or at least resistant to gnawing.
We’ve reviewed ten products to help you find the best chew proof dog harness for your furbaby.
Before we dig into the analysis, let’s look at types of harnesses and what features make them more resistant to chewing. Then, we’ll talk about the reasons pups turn to destroy their protective tackle and what you can do to prevent the behavior.
Rabbitgoo Dog Harness
Our Rating:
Price Range: $$
What We Like About It
- Customers report that it successfully discourages dogs from pulling
- It’s made of durable materials and stands up to chewing
- The reflective straps provide extra protection after dark
- The adjustable straps allow you to fit it to your dog’s frame
What We Don't Like
- It can cause chafing under the arms
- The adjustable straps tend to slip and need to be retightened frequently
RUFFWEAR - Front Range Dog Harness
Our Rating:
Price Range: $$
What We Like About It
- Customers report it appears comfortable and doesn’t rub/chafe
- It’s easy to adjust
- It helps discourage pulling if you use the front clip
- You can color coordinate the harness with a matching leash from the same manufacturer
What We Don't Like
- Some dogs find it easy to slip out of this harness
- The adjustable straps tend to slip and need to be retightened
Kurgo Tru-Fit Dog Harness
Our Rating:
Price Range: $$
What We Like About It
- Customers say it’s sturdy, well-made, and has reinforced stitching
- It discourages dogs from pulling on a walk when you use the chest clip
- It comes with a tether/seat belt that can be used for safe travels
- It’s easy to put on
What We Don't Like
- Some of the interior stitching is rough and can chafe the skin
- The design will not fit a sight hound’s frame
Julius-K9 IDC Powerharness
Our Rating:
Price Range: $$
What We Like About It
- The handle on top of the harness is useful when you need to quickly grab and control your pooch
- It’s super sturdy and you can accessorize it if you have working or field dogs
- It’s easy to put on and has no confusing straps
- It sits away from the armpits and is less likely to cause chafing
What We Don't Like
- The sizing chart is hard to interpret
- The harness can slip off if you try to pull your dog forward
EzyDog Convert Trail-Ready Dog Harness
Our Rating:
Price Range: $$
What We Like About It
- It’s easy to put on and won’t choke your dog
- The handle is sturdy and helps to support or control pups
- It helps customers keep their dogs under control during walks
What We Don't Like
- It can slip off an amputee pup with only one front leg
- The material is stiff when you first get it
Eagloo Dog Harness
Our Rating:
Price Range: $$
What We Like About It
- It’s easy to slip on and off most dogs
- It helps calm/control dogs that like to pull on walks
- It’s comfortable for dogs to wear
- It’s easy to adjust
What We Don't Like
- It can be difficult to fit the opening over a pooch with a large head
- The adjustment straps tend to slip especially if your dog pulls a lot
PYRUS Dog Harness
Our Rating:
Price Range: $$
What We Like About It
- It’s easy to put on and to adjust
- The lock on the snap-in buckle helps to prevent accidental unsnapping
- Dogs seem to be comfortable, and the padding prevents chafing
- The handle on the top is great when you need to control your dog
What We Don't Like
- Dogs can slip out if you pull from the front
- It doesn’t stop dogs from pulling on a walk
BABYLTRL Big Dog Harness
Our Rating:
Price Range: $$
What We Like About It
- The locking buckles help to prevent an inadvertent unsnapping
- It’s easy to put on and take off
- It’s super-reflective making it easy to see your dog at night
- It doesn’t seem to rub or chafe the skin
What We Don't Like
- The front clip is too low and causes dogs to turn sideways even when they’re not pulling
- The plastic clips have broken easily on some of the harnesses
WINSEE Dog Harness
Our Rating:
Price Range: $$
What We Like About It
- The handle is useful to train a new puppy how to walk nicely on a leash
- This harness works well for deep-chested dogs
- It helps keep a pulling dog under better control
- It’s sturdy but still comfortable on your pooch
What We Don't Like
- The front chest piece is not adjustable
- It’s hard to get a good fit, and the adjustment straps tend to slip
Bolux Dog Harness
Our Rating:
Price Range: $$
What We Like About It
- It doesn’t choke your dog when walking
- It’s easy to adjust and fits deep-chested dogs
- It’s easy to clip on and take off
- Dogs seem comfortable in the harness
What We Don't Like
- The chest piece is velcro and can lose grip over time allowing dogs to slip out
- Some dogs can pull out of the harness easily
What You Need to Know About Chew Proof Harnesses?
Do indestructible harnesses exist? Unfortunately, no.
With the materials that are currently available, there’s no way to manufacture an unchewable harness without putting your pal at risk.
Our pooches aren’t robotic. They need flexible materials that allow them to move and wriggle without chafing or cutting into the skin.
Sure, you can use stainless steel, kevlar, or another indestructible material for a leash. But the straps and vests that you put on your furbaby need to be softer and have more give. The trade-off is these substances aren’t chew-proof.
Fortunately, some products are more resistant to your pal’s teeth. We’ll look at features that make a harness harder to destroy.
Bear in mind that chew-proof materials are a temporary fix. You also need to figure out why Fido wants to gnaw on his harness. There may be things you can do to modify your pup’s behavior.
When you’re buying a harness for your pal, you want an option that suits your needs. The first step is to understand that these restraint devices come in different styles. Some common designs are:
- Back-clip harness – This type of restraint features a leash clip on the back or above your pal’s shoulders. If you have a pup that knows how to walk by your side without pulling on his lead, this works well. It’s also easy to attach and remove the tether with little risk of tangling.
- Front-clip harness – With a front-clip product, the leash attachment is in the front part of the harness on your pooch’s chest. This style provides more control if your furbaby likes to tug on his lead. You can turn your pal away from whatever’s causing him to pull. A product like this can come in handy when you first teach your four-footed friend how to walk on a tether. The one drawback is that the design makes it easier for your pooch to tangle his feet in the leash.
- Dual-clip harness – As you may have guessed, this style has clips in the back and front of the harness. It provides versatility so that you can use the option that best fits the situation.
To reiterate, you won’t find a dog harness that’s completely chew-proof because your pup also requires something that’s comfortable and flexible. However, some harnesses have features that make them more resistant to canine teeth.
Strong Materials
Dog teeth can be powerful, and some materials stand up to chewing better than others. It’s important to select a harness with fabrics and fibers that can resist gnawing. Examples of desirable textiles are:
- Nylon that’s rip-resistant
- Denim
- Canvas
Out-of-Reach Straps
It’s simple. If your pooch can’t reach the straps with his mouth, he won’t be able to chew through them. The problem is that there are very few places on the body that Fido can’t access. The hardest places for a pup to get to are the chest, neck, and shoulders. When you evaluate a harness, imagine where the straps will be on your furry friend’s body. Then pick a product that has the most inaccessible design.
Durability
In addition to wanting materials that are resistant to damage from chewing, you want a product that:
- Won’t rip or fall apart with regular use
- Has durable clips and fasteners, preferably metal in case your pup turns to gnaw on these components when he can’t chew through the straps
- Uses heavy-duty stitching and biased strips (materials that are fused together for extra stability)
Practicality
Look for a harness that’s easy to slip on and off your dog. If you can secure the device quickly and smoothly, you can minimize frustration on both ends. Soft material and a comfortable fit can also prevent chafing. Fido may be less prone to gnaw on something that feels good.
Extra Visibility: Some harnesses include stitching or patches made of reflective materials. This comes in handy if you like to go for walks at night or when the light is limited. The extra visibility is a valuable safety feature for you and your pal.
Stop Unwanted Behavior/Control Environment
- During the training phase, you’ll want your pup with you whenever you’re home. Tether Fido to yourself. That way you’ll know what he’s up to at all times.
- When you can’t be with your pup, put him someplace where he can’t find anything that you don’t want him to chew. A crate is an acceptable safe place.
- Try to divert your pooch’s attention by calling to him or distracting him.
- When your pup turns from the contraband, provide a treat and positive reinforcement.
- Offer a chew toy or other approved alternative for your pal to gnaw
- Use training exercises with a variety of household objects.
- Teach your pal the “Leave It” command and drill with as many things as possible.
- Each time your four-footed pal ignores the item and gives you his attention, offer a treat or other positive reinforcement.
- Finish each session by offering acceptable chew toys
How do I know which size to get for my dog? When selecting a harness size for your pooch, consult the manufacturer’s guidelines. It’s best to base your choice on chest and neck girth measurements more than weight alone. Take your measurements at the broadest parts of the neck and chest and compare to the product sizing charts to find the closest fit. Then, you can use the adjustable straps to fine-tune the fit.
Our Top Pick
After reviewing the above products and comparing their features to our criteria, we select the RUFFWEAR Front Range Harness as our top pick. It’s made of durable, nylon fabrics that are designed to stand up to everyday use.
To help prevent chewing, the straps are tucked out of reach from your furbaby’s mouth. The product has quick-snap buckles and is made to conveniently slip on and off your pooch.
Added features include reflective trim for improved visibility at night and padding that prevents chafing. The straps are adjustable at four points allowing you to fit the harness securely to your furbaby.
Given all these features, the RUFFWEAR Front Range Harness is the our pick for the best chew proof dog harness.
