Harness recommendations

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littlen

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Can anyone please recommend a harness that would suit a young large excitable dog?

Ideally something able to be washed easily and that won't allow the dog to set its whole body into the front and pull (if this is even possible!) as the dog is 50kg.

Said dog has previously injured his neck so no halti/collar etc possible due to risk of re injury. He is very silly and leaps around and my dad is worried about him jumping into his collar and hurting his neck again.

Any ideas anyone?
 
people seem to like the Julius K9 harnesses for big dogs. as for pulling, thats a training issue-I know people dont believe me on here but dogs dont know to pull in harness anymore than they know to pull in a collar-you train them not to pull in either.

saying that, for remedial training, some harnesses have a front ring and one on the back-if you use a double ended lead you can teach them that pulling will unbalance them. I personally have not tried any of the anti-pull harnesses.
 
We’ve recently got a husky puppy. Everyone I know that owns huskies has recommended the K9 headcollar. We’ve actually been given a small one, but it’s still too big for her at the moment.
 
I'm a big fan of the Ruffwear harnesses, Fizz has the 3 strap version as she has a habit of going backwards when she's over excited at flyball and being a whippet any normal harness comes straight off (she doesn't wear a harness to walk on normally now she's learnt to jump stiles) but the front range has a front loop for help with pulling.

A friend a flyball with a mastive cross and a boxer uses perfect fit harnesses and they really do help.
 
very few harnesses can do anything much to stop pulling- as others had said- it is training and a big strong dog with pull against anything if they want!

personally I love julius k9 harnesses. I had one for my GSDx rescue, who was about 40kg. he wore it everyday and I would chuck it in the washing machine.reflective and I attached lights to it in the winter. after years you could barely tell it had been used after a wash.

sadly we lost him to cancer in january and new rescue is a collie x and too small, but again I have bough a julius k9.

(I do not work for them!)

I like the 'grab' handle, when occasionally needed for excitable dogs! also very easy to get on and off- some harnesses are a faff!
 
Honestly for a large dog and to stop pulling I would not recommend anything with a large back covering/breastplate and handle etc. The design allows for the dog to lean into it for things like searching and I personally use one for 'in drive' work as he pulls into it and it allows for total freedom of head and neck (which you are looking for) and for hiking as he is not restricted in any way. Might work for smaller dogs but for a 50kg dog I wouldn't to counter pulling. JMO.
The brand mentioned above is popular with service/working dogs working remotely...for a reason.
 
Mekuti and Perfect fit are good makes, with a front chest ring and a double ended lead you can ask the dog to stay in balance next to you and reward for staying there. The harnesses to avoid are those designed with the back ring further along the back, this will encourage pulling and should be avoided.
 
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I have heard of great success with the Easy Walk harness that has a chest ring. It's not big and bulky like the K9 but can still fit a large dog.
I have never used a harness but have had this recommended by a few friends with big dogs they couldn't control.
 
Thanks to everyone.

He can't wear a headcollar sadly so the bridle is out as are dogmatics etc.

He injured himself jumping for another dog, he jerked his neck and ended up with neck pain hence harness only. He is a lovely boy but flings himself around when there's something exciting he wants to get too, he's in training for this but had to have 8 weeks house rest so going outside is very exciting.

Going to look at the recommendations now!
 
No harnesses actively encourages pulling, it is as others have mentioned down to training- introduce the harness with a strict training routine and a zero tolerance on the dog putting pressure into the harness and the dog will not learn that pulling works.
Dog puts pressure in harness person at other end stops, when dog releases pressure person moves forward. No voice/food/encouragement, the idea is for the dog to figure out what works for them on their own.
Personally I don't like the harnesses with a front ring as persistent pullers will be constantly moving with twisted shoulders and spines which I believe is a health worry long term.
Any well fitting snug harness should be fine with good training attached.
 
We have Eezi-dog harnesses with shock absorber leads for the Rottweilers (both 40+kg). However they can, of course, lean into the harness. We use fig.8 leads over the nose to control the pulling. The combination works well.

ETA, some breeds, inc Rotties, know instinctively how to pull into a harness - you can see them using their weight into their shoulders when they are playing, without harness. Of course, stopping them doing that on the lead is a training issue.
 
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