Many dog owners are electing to use a harness instead of the traditional collar. While there are many collar options, most owners seem to be relatively knowledgeable. Many owners are not as familiar with the differences between the various types of harnesses. Buying small dogs harnesses can be a confusing experience. There is no shortage of manufacturers, styles, and materials from which to choose.

How should you start your search? There are two preliminary questions you must ask yourself:

1). What is my budget? and
2). What are my pooch’s needs?

Regarding budget, the vast majority of small dog harnesses are in the $20 range. If you’re willing to pay more, you will obviously have more options. Dog Harnesses A quality leather harness for a small dog and some padded dog harnesses will be beyond the $20 price point. A simple nylon harness can be well under $20.

Regarding your needs, consider the following: Does your pooch like to pull? It’s likely a padded, soft, or mesh harness is a good choice. Do you need a harness that is machine washable, or does your dog like to swim? Leather and many padded harnesses will not be suitable. Does your dog have sensitive skin? A soft harness is probably the place to start. Are certain colors important to you? Do you need a training harness like a Premier Easy Walk Dog Harness? Do you need a harness to restrain your pet in an automobile? Consider what you and your pet require. If you don’t have any special needs, then a basic nylon harness will likely meet your requirements.

Another tool available to help in your search are harness reviews. As you know, dog owners are a passionate bunch. Many are willing to let the world know what they think of a particular harness, both the good and the bad. These can easily be found on the internet or you can speak with owners directly.

Now that you have some idea of what you’re looking for, you will need to measure your dog to get the proper size harness. Most harnesses are sized by girth. To measure girth, you will need a flexible measuring tape. Measure around the dog, just behind his front legs. For most small dog harnesses, this is the only measurement you will need. In some instances, you will also need to measure your dog’s neck. Simply measure around the base of the neck. If the proper style measuring tape is not available, feel free to use a piece of string. The string can then be transposed to whatever type of ruler you have.

Buying a dog harness for small dog doesn’t have to be a daunting experience. Consider your budget, your needs, and your pooch’s needs. After you know what type of small dog harness you require, you can look at reviews and narrow your search. Then it’s simply a matter of finding the correct size and choosing a color. If you following the simple process above, you and your dog can find the small dog harness that best suits your situation.