Best Harness for Dachshund
The best harness for dachshund is Muttitude Dog Harness And Leash Set For Small Dogs.
Dachshunds have, on different occasions, been called “sausages”, “toy trains” or “weenies”. But these stubborn little drop-eared scent hounds hardly seem to mind. What they do mind, however, is not having the best harness for dachshund that would spare them constant chafing of any regular old dachshund harnesses on their deep chests and curved keels. A distinct anatomy requires distinct apparel, right?
Whether you’re planning an evening out with other dog lovers, or just heading to the nearest dog park, you want your darling Dachshund to look dashing as ever. Here comes the Muttitude Dog Harness to answer your unspoken wish!
This is an exclusive designer series, strictly for the fashion conscious pet parent. Featuring ethnic patterns and striking colors, it is sure to turn the drabbest of Doxies into the talk of the town! What’s more, it comes with a matching leash.
The Muttitude Dog Harness offers full coverage and is made of soft, padded fabric for maximum comfort. After a couple of uses, just pop it into the washing machine and it’ll come out as good as new!
Pros
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The Muttitude Dog Harness is a cut above the rest because it combines practicality and convenience with high fashion. Embroidered in bright colors and edged with lace, it was designed to be a head turner. Your search for the perfect Dachshund-friendly harness ends right here!
Have you ever seen a flying Dachshund? Nope? That’s just because you’ve never tried the Voyager Step-In Air Dog Harness. This line of brightly colored accessories in lightweight and highly breathable mesh fabric is all it’ll take to get your Doxie airborne!
The safety features are nothing to scoff at either. Reflective strips on either side of the dachshund harness ensure full visibility even in low light conditions. The hook and loop fastener, buckle and double D-rings work in tandem to provide multiple layers of security.
It's also a breeze to step into!
Ticking so many boxes on our perfect Doxie-harness-list, the Voyager Step-In Air Dog Harness offers the best price-to-value ratio of all the dachshund harnesses we tried. We’re sure your furball will agree!
Pros
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Do you want the best Dachshund harness in the market without burning through a fortune? Just pick the Voyager Step-In Air Dog Harness! Made of breathable mesh fabric, it can be worn all year round. A host of cleverly designed safety features means that your satisfaction is guaranteed in every way. So easy to step into, users say it takes them only ten seconds to get their Doxie dressed for the day!
The Rabbitgoo Dog Harness is just what the doctor ordered for those naughty Dachshunds who insist on dragging their parents behind them. Use the chest attachment clip when doggo pulls hard. It's no-choke design will gently restrain your furry friend without causing injury.
Four adjustable straps around the body provide a perfectly customized fit, while two fast release buckles add to the convenience factor. Reflective strips ensure safety even in low lighting.
Pros
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This outstanding dachshund harness is made of durable, lightweight and easy to clean Nylon Oxford. It comes padded with soft cushions to protect your doxie's skin, while breathable mesh helps keep things cool and airy.
Another product that ranks high on the No-Pull Harnesses list is the PoyPet Dog Harness. Clip the leash on the front ring to gently discourage pulling, without the risk of choking or injuring your darling. The back ring is meant for more relaxed walks.
Two buckles on the chest strap give it a highly customizable fit with adequate room for growth. Reflective stitches along the straps enhance visibility as well. This is an important safety feature for night walks, considering all the variations of a dachshund’s fur color fall on the dark side of the color spectrum.
Pros
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This dachshund harness is soft, breathable, padded and reinforced with lightweight mesh. It has a padded and comfortable handle for convenient seat-belt attachment. A snap buckle at the neck makes for quick dressing as well as removal.
The Bolux No-Pull Dog Harness has a wide nylon strap designed to snugly encircle the front of your Dachshund’s chest. This makes it highly comfortable, yet impossible to escape from. Pulling pressure is distributed across the largest possible area, eliminating the risk of injury to delicate organs such as eyes or throat.
Pros
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A sturdy nylon handle gives it extra strength. A reflective strap across your dog's chest, and a range of fluorescent colors make it highly visible. Just pick your pet’s favorite color, and you’re good to go!
Puppia Authentic RiteFit Harness prides itself on giving your pet the perfect fit - even if it happens to be between two standard sizes. Both its neck and chest circumference are completely customizable.
Pros
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It is made with soft and breathable mesh that is lightweight yet very strong. Two quick release buckles around the neck make this an easy on and off harness.
This clever “step-in” harness is for Dachshunds that can’t hold their alert little heads still long enough to slip a harness on them. With the Downtown Pet Supply Dog Harness, dressing time is just a few seconds! Just have your Doxie step into the ‘arm’ holes, close the velcro, and push the buckle together till you hear a click. Off you go, head-turner!
Pros
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Its breathable mesh fabric makes it all-weather wear, while the padded design increases comfort and reduces risk of injury. Security features include double stitched fabric, strong velcro closure and heavy duty metal D-rings.
Don’t let those droopy ears and chocolate truffle eyes fool you for a minute. Beneath its silky coat, your Dachshund is pure predator. Once bred to hunt badgers, Doxies are never too far from their inborn instincts.
Which is why these military-inspired dachshund harnesses are perfect for them.
Pros
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Super strong nylon offers an extra high degree of durability and resistance, while fleece padded front strap is for chafe-free comfort. This dachshund harness comes equipped with quick release buckles and a heavy duty vertical grab handle. Inbuilt straps can be used to attach message patches (e.g. “Do not pet”, “Blood Group__”, etc.), dog treat pouch, dog bowl, etc.
Buyers Guide
Harness for Dachshunds Buyer's Guide
Dachshunds! What’s not to like about them? They are described as alert, determined and stubborn - a ton of pluck in a pretty package! Thanks to their distinctive silhouette, they are one of the most recognizable dog breeds in the world. If you’ve ever wondered whether you’re picking the right accessories for your hot-dog, this handy guide is here to help!
Harness vs. Collar For Dachshunds
There are several reasons why a harness is a better option than a collar.
- Your darling Dachshund might suddenly decide to “dash” after another doggo. And you might end up cricking your neck and throwing out your elbow – especially if you were hanging on to that flimsy collar and leash set. The worst part? You’re going to forgive Dachie instantly, but it might be weeks before your neck and elbow forgive you. A harness gives you more control over your pet when you’re out and about on busy streets or crowded parks.
- Leashes (especially the thinner varieties) can dig into your pet’s neck making them extremely uncomfortable – and sometimes even leading to serious canine injuries, e.g. choking or tracheal collapse. Harnesses overcome this problem by distributing this pressure away from your Dachshund’s tender neck and around it’s much sturdier chest and shoulders.
- An excited dog will often wrest off a collar – setting itself free when it most needs to be restrained. A well fitting harness sits snugly under your furry escape-artist’s armpits and around its chest, making it nearly impossible to wriggle out of. For car travel, securing a seatbelt to a dog harness is a far better option than attaching it simply to a collar.
- A dog that is trying to fight off a leash will often run around its owner’s legs, tangling the leash and leading to nasty tripping accidents. Tangling a leash attached to a harness is far more difficult.
- Dachshunds, due to their long backs, are prone to a spinal disease called IVDD (Inter-Vertebral Disc Disease). Using a body harness is one of the best ways to prevent onset of this condition.
- Flimsy collars are particularly dangerous to dogs with eye conditions such as glaucoma or thinner corneas. Doesn’t your best friend deserve better than this?
Types of Doggie Harnesses
Looking through the multitude of dachshund harnesses available online or in brick-and-mortar stores can leave you spoilt for choice. Should you pick the sleek leather-thong harness, or the natty neon blue nylon one? Let’s talk about the different dog harness types, and their pros and cons!
Front-clip vs. Back-clip vs. Dual-clip Harnesses
Back-clip harnesses have a D-ring attachment at the back. They are great if your doggie constantly runs around your legs, wrapping its leash around you as it goes. However, they don’t do much to discourage determined pullers.
Front-clip harnesses are those in which the leash attaches in front. They are often preferred by professional trainers because they inhibit pulling.
Dual-clip harnesses provide the best of both worlds, but are rather more expensive. When buying a dual-clip type harness be extra careful to measure precisely.
Over-the-head vs. Step-in Harnesses
As the name suggests, over-the-head harnesses go over your pet’s head. On the other hand, a step-in harness requires your dog’s forelegs to go in first.
Harness Materials: Nylon, Net, Fabric or Leather?
Nylon harnesses are cheap, commonly available and can be purchased in many different colors – including those painted on with reflective stripes. They are inexpensive and easy to clean, so you can buy several of them. Padded nylon is far more comfortable than the unpadded alternative.
Net (by itself, or in combination with nylon) is a great option for hotter climes, as it facilitates all round air flow.
Fabric harnesses are available in many different colors, textures and patterns for the picky pet parent. They are soft, comfortable (especially padded fabric) and absorbent. Read the washing instructions carefully on this one!
Leather harnesses are the Rolls Royces of dog accessories, and convey an unparalleled elegance. Good quality leather is soft, pliable, and ageless – but can lighten your wallet considerably! If you decide to opt for this indulgence, make sure your weenie doesn’t mistake it for a snack and decide to chew on it!
No-pull Harnesses
If your determined Doxie consistently prefers to take you for a walk (instead of the other way round), you might need to invest in a no-pull harness, designed to tighten gently when doggo pulls hard, and to relax back to normal when it stops pulling. This is a far safer option than dangerous choke-collars that can seriously injure your four-legged friend in a very delicate place. Ideally, these should be used only as a temporary training tool – not for constant wear.
Why does a Doxie need a specially designed harness?
Dachshunds were originally bred to hunt badgers. These ‘little, but fierce’ pursuers would follow their prey right into subterranean tunnels. Their short legs and elongated bodies are great for maneuvering through tight spaces, while their deep chests give them extra “heart” for the hunt.
Thus, you have the peculiar Dachshund rib cage, shaped like the “keel” of a ship! It is highly curved – so deep, it only just clears the ground – and extends well beyond your dog’s forelegs. Indeed, this is a dog that can “sit” on its chest while its forepaws dig furiously towards its prey. Most harness sizes are based simply on weight categories and don’t do justice to its unique silhouette.
Verdict? Your Dachie is a highly-evolved marvel of engineering and absolutely needs an extra-special harness to contain his distinctive shape! So get out there and buy one already!
How do I pick a harness that fits my Doxie?
A poorly fitted harness isn’t just a buyer’s inconvenience.
It can chafe in the wrong places and affect your dog’s gait – ultimately creating negative associations with harnesses in your dog’s mind, and causing it to dread this accessory. Spend a few minutes measuring your pet, and save yourself a headache.
For the perfect fitting harness, you need two measurements:
(i) Use a flexible tape measure to measure around the widest part of your dog’s chest. This will be just behind the ‘armpits’ of its forepaws.
(ii) Measure around the wide part of your pet’s neck, right above her shoulders. While collars and bandannas fit around the narrow part of the neck, harnesses sit comfortably around the wider part.
Finally, add a margin of about an inch to both measurements so Doxie has enough space to breathe… and you’re ready to start shopping!
What else do I need to know about harness safety?
A harness should only be worn when outdoors. Constant wear can irritate the skin and matt l’il Doxie’s fur. Sleeping with a harness on is an absolute no-no. Same with leaving a wet harness on your dog for too long. Observe hidden areas such as armpits and under the chest regularly to catch early signs of chafing or skin irritation.
You can train your pet Dachshund to associate harnesses with fun things like walks and playtime. This should overcome any initial resistance to the new accessory.
