09/03/2026
Let’s Talk About Harnesses 🐕
There’s a common idea that if a harness takes pressure off the neck, it must automatically be better for the dog.
Before anyone starts sharpening their pitchforks…😂
There’s another side of the conversation that doesn’t get talked about nearly enough:
What is that harness doing to the rest of the dog's body?
A dog doesn't move in isolated parts.
Unfortunately, dogs did not come with individually operated body parts 😂
The shoulders, elbows, spine, pelvis & hind limbs all work together to produce movement. So when we put equipment around the chest, shoulders & ribcage, we're potentially influencing much more than where the leash pressure is being applied.
Research has shown that harnesses can alter canine gait even when a dog is simply walking on a loose leash. Meaning there doesn't necessarily have to be significant pulling or pressure from the handler for measurable changes in movement to occur.
So what can change?
•Shoulder Movement•
The shoulder needs to move through a significant range of motion for normal locomotion.
Studies have found that harnesses can reduce shoulder extension compared with moving without a harness.
Interestingly, one study found that a Y-shaped harness marketed as “non-restrictive” actually restricted shoulder extension more than the chest-strap harness they compared it with.
So the shape of the harness alone doesn't tell us whether it is truly non-restrictive.
Basically, “But it's a Y!” isn't quite the scientific mic drop we sometimes make it out to be. 😂
•Stride Length•
Harness use has been associated with changes in stride length. A dog may alter how their limbs move through the gait cycle when wearing different harness designs.
•Elbow & Forelimb Movement•
Research has also identified changes in elbow movement & how the front limbs are being used.
And this matters because the front limbs aren't simply there to carry the dog. They play an important role in absorbing forces, controlling the body & contributing to efficient movement.
More recent research has found measurable changes in multiple forelimb joints when dogs wore a tactical harness, including the shoulder, elbow & carpus.
•Weight Distribution•
Harnesses have also been shown to influence how weight is distributed between the front & hind limbs.
Again, we're talking about a piece of equipment changing how the dog uses their body, not necessarily because the dog is pulling, but simply because the harness is present.
•Spinal Movement•
This is the part I think is particularly interesting.
Dogs don't just move their legs when they walk or trot.
Their spine is part of the movement too.
Research using detailed gait analysis has found that harnesses can alter spinal movement as well as limb movement.
This makes sense when you think about the anatomy.
The harness sits around the dog's thorax. Depending on its design, it can contact the chest, shoulders & surrounding structures. If equipment changes how freely one part of the body can move, the rest of the body may have to adapt.
& then there's FIT.
A harness that doesn't fit properly can create additional problems.
Too tight.
Too loose.
Sitting too far forward.
Sitting too far back.
Straps sitting over the shoulder joint.
Straps interfering with the elbow.
A harness rotating or shifting as the dog moves.
A harness that looks perfectly fine when your dog is standing still may look very different once they're walking, trotting, turning, jumping or pulling.
Because apparently, standing still is the easiest part of being a dog 😂
This is why we shouldn't evaluate harness fit based solely on a stationary dog.
Watch the dog move.
Look at their stride.
Look at their shoulder extension.
Look at their elbows.
Look at their spine.
Look at whether the harness moves with the dog or moves against the dog.
& watch for changes when the harness comes off.
So are we saying harnesses are bad?
Nope. Put the pitchforks down 😂
As Professional Dog Trainers, we absolutely believe there is a time & place for harnesses.
Harnesses can be extremely useful for specific applications.
For example:
🐾 Safely securing a dog in a vehicle
🐾 Certain dog sports
🐾 Tracking, pulling & other working activities where the equipment is specifically designed for that job
🐾 Situations where a harness provides a safer or more appropriate form of restraint for an individual dog
A harness designed for a specific activity may actually be an important piece of equipment because the purpose of that harness is different.
We're not anti-harness.
We're anti-“just put a harness on the dog because it's automatically better.”
There isn't one harness that is biomechanically perfect for every dog.
Research has found that different harnesses can affect movement differently, & that those effects can vary between individual dogs, breeds/breed types & harness designs.
So instead of asking “Is this harness good?”
We think a better question is “What is this harness doing to THIS dog?”
Because equipment isn't neutral.
& apparently, even choosing your dog's walking equipment comes with a biomechanics lesson 😂
What we put on our dogs can change how they move, & how they move matters 💓
*This post is based on published research examining canine gait, biomechanics, spinal movement & the effects of harness design on movement. Current research demonstrates measurable changes in movement, but it does not establish that every harness-related gait change causes injury or long-term damage. More research is still needed in that area.
