Ruffwear Dog Harnesses Guide

Whatever the adventure, a good dog harness offers solutions for everyday wear, training/lead pulling, or lift-and-assist - all built from a dog’s perspective.

Struggling to know where to begin? Ruffwear is a great start! We are going to give you a rundown of all of our Ruffwear harnesses to help you make the best decision for your pup’s needs. In this gear guide we’ll cover the following;

Do I even need a harness for my dog?
The importance of harness quality and fit
Why choose a Ruffwear harness?
Which Ruffwear harness is right for my dog?
How to measure and fit your Ruffwear harness

Do I even need a harness for my dog?

A dog harness is a great piece of gear for assisting in training, providing support to elderly or disabled canines, handling working or service dogs, or keeping your best furry friend safe from the beginning to the end of your adventures.

A Ruffwear harness offers the ability to control and keep your dog safe when out on your daily adventures. It can easily distribute pressure from a lead throughout the dog’s body, rather than through the dog’s airways.

The Importance of Quality and Fit

Choosing a comfortable, yet reliable harness is key. Select a harness that allows free front leg movement without rubbing or chaffing of a dog’s chest or armpits. Harnesses should fit snugly - a pinky finger should be able to slide between the harness and the dog’s body. Loose harnesses will rotate and shift during a walk, which not only causes chafing, but also means it’s easier for your dog to escape. We will take you through our Ruffwear Harnesses and outline the benefits and uses of each below.

Why Choose a Ruffwear Harness?

Many no-pull harnesses are very restrictive across the front legs. They often have a strap that sits lower and horizontal across the front legs where the lead attachment point is also lower. A y-shaped harness goes through the front legs, but sits below their neck and above the shoulders meaning they don’t restrict your dog’s shoulder movements in the same way that some horizontal chest harnesses can. Some harnesses also feature a chest loop attachment which sits at a higher point on the chest over the sternum. This allows dogs to have a full range of motion and enables them to move much more naturally, whilst you still have control over pulling.

Choosing a good quality harness is also important as your harness will accompany your dog on their many off-trail adventures. Crawling through bushes, climbing between rocks - your harness needs to be tough and withstand wear and tear. A harness that lasts years is also more sustainable and saves you money in the long run.

The quality of Ruffwear products is paramount. They choose fabrics and hardware that have been tested in the field, are environmentally friendly, and last the test of time. They have been partners with very skilled factories for decades, with a team in Vietnam dedicated to ensuring their manufacturing is on point. Ruffwear are so confident in the quality of their gear that in the unlikely event that something does go wrong with your product, they will work to make it right by offering a guarantee against defects in materials and craftsmanship.

Which Ruffwear Harness is right for my Dog?

Front Range Harness

A padded harness dogs can wear all day, every day.

Great for explorers looking for a padded everyday harness
Lead attachment points on the dog’s back and at the chest - great for redirecting dogs when they pull on lead
Side-release buckles for easy on/off

For all-day, everyday wear, Ruffwear’s most popular and fastest-selling harness is the Front Range. A great choice for everyday dog walks, it features two leash attachment points: One is an aluminium V-ring centered on the dog’s back for everyday walks and the other a reinforced webbing loop at the dog’s chest for teaching polite lead manners. With four points of adjustment and elasticated webbing straps, your dog is sure to obtain the perfect fit.

Flagline Harness

A lightweight, multi-use harness with a handle and chest/belly panel

Great for hiking, scrambling, mobility assistance, and fast and light pursuits
Six points of adjustment for easy on/off design
Three points of lead attachment - including one at the chest, good for redirecting dogs that pull on lead.

The Ruffwear Flagline Harness is a fast, light, and comfortable harness that keeps dogs in their flow, from scrambling in the hills to conquering everyday obstacles. A handle and load-dispersing chest/belly panel make for easy life-and-assist in a nimble design good for all -day wear. High adjustability and easy on/off make the Flagline secure and accessible, giving dogs a little boost and a lot of freedom when the path ahead is anything but flat.

Hi & Light Harness

Minimal, low-profile chest harness for fast and light pursuits

Great for explorers looking for a lightweight running or everyday harness
Fur and debris-resistant liner
Side-release buckles for easy on/off

The Hi & Light Harness is Ruffwear’s minimalist, low-profile harness option. This lightweight harness has a single lead attachment point on the back and offers four points of adjustment for a sleek, comfortable fit. The Hi & Light is scaled to fit even the smallest of canine companions, with size offerings ranging from XXXS to L/XL. And the debris-resistant liner will shed dirt and fur, making the Hi & Light Harness a great option for any adventure, from a local walk to running trails.

How to measure and fit your dog for a Ruffwear Harness

Do not underestimate the importance of correct fitting when buying a harness for your dog. If you don’t measure or try and guess your dog’s measurements, it could result in you buying the wrong size causing your harness to be too tight, too big and rub causing chafing for your dog. This is especially important for a dog running harness as there is increased friction between the harness and the dog.

To measure your pooch for a Ruffwear harness, take a tape measure and measure the widest part of their girth, which is the area behind their front legs approximately 3-4 finger spaces back from their leg. You can measure in cms or inches and then find the correct size on our chart on each page listing. If your dog is at the very upper end of the size chart or between sizes then it is best to size up rather than down.

We stock a wide selection of Ruffwear harnesses, collars, leads and accessories, ensuring there will be something for everyone! You can also match your harness, collar & leads for a stylish matching look.