Sold in pet boutiques and at Amazon.com
Paid around $22 for medium size at a pet boutique, $17 at amazon.com
We had large dogs before Gracie came into our lives. As a result, all of my “equipment” was way too big for her. One of the first pieces of essential equipment I bought was a harness.
I purchased a basic, nylon harness. It worked fine and was made well. Gracie tends to pull on the lead, though, especially during the first part of the walk. I did not like the way it seemed to chafe underneath her front legs.
While browsing around the local Three Dog Bakery, I found the Puppia harness. I LOVE it!! It is the best harness.
The harness is made from a mesh material that seems to be very breathable. It has enough thickness to be sturdy yet not overheat the dog. The clips are plastic; however, it is tough, thick, durable plastic.
Gracie has used Puppia harnesses for 3 years now. I have not experienced any issues with breakage. I have noticed slight stretching, but nothing that makes the harness unsafe. I just tighten the straps a bit to compensate for stretching.
She wears a tan-colored harness nearly every day. I have replaced it once. It had started to fray around her chest. I suspect it was my fault because, when I clipped the tag for the harness, I cut the piping too. Despite several repairs, the fraying could not be mended permanently. The mesh and other parts of the harness were still in good shape, though.
As I mentioned, I found the first harness at Three Dog Bakery. I have spotted the harness at other pet boutiques; I have not seen the Puppia harness in national chains, though. I have even found it on Amazon.com, where it is much more affordable and in a wide variety of styles.
You can find a similar (and sometimes cheaper) style at national chain stores, including Wal-Mart. The imitation harnesses do not seem to be made as well as the Puppia harness. In one case, the fabric felt very stiff which would lead to chafing. In another, the fabric was too thin. I could easily see Gracie ripping it on the first walk.
Yes, it is a bit more expensive than a basic harness. I do not mind paying more, though, for quality, and that is what you get with a Puppia harness.
Rescue Mommy
Note: Gracie weighs about 19 pounds. I purchased a size medium harness for her. It would be a good idea to know your dog’s measurements before you shop for any harnesses or collars. The neck area is particularly important with this harness, as a size small was too narrow for her.
The front of the Puppia harness
The back of the harness
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