Dachshunds have grown to be loved by all thanks to their unique body shape. However, their long body is something that can potentially cause problems. Their long torso leaves them vulnerable to spinal injuries and diseases like IVD (intervertebral disk disease) and even puts them at risk for paralysis.
Thankfully, there are some steps you can take to help make sure your furry friend doesn’t have to suffer through these issues – and one of the best ways to start is to replace your dog’s collar with a harness. Never heard of using a dog harness? Not to worry! We’ve put together a detailed guide that will tell you everything you need to know about finding the best harness for your Dachshund.
Top Harness for Dachshunds Review
You can scroll down to see what makes a good harness and how to use one. Now, it’s time to find a harness that will work well for your Dachshund. We’ve put together a list of 5 that we think you’ll enjoy.
1. The Best Harness for Dachshund Overall
BINGPET No Pull Dog Harness Adjustable Soft Vest Reflective for Outdoor Walking, Pink Small
This design is best suited for
Any dachshund size.
Bingpet’s harness is waterproof and comes with soft sponge padding designed to keep your dog comfortable no matter what sort of adventure you find yourself in. If you enjoy taking your dog camping or swimming this is a great harness for you! You’ll also appreciate the reflective design if you enjoy going on night walks with your dog. It’s easy to fit, can handle a large loading capacity, and is adjustable in chest girth from 15”-21”. It also holds up very well when washed – we recommend letting it air dry though. This harness is very versatile and will work for anyone – plus there’s the bonus that you can choose from four distinctive colors to fit your style needs!
2. For Outdoor Adventure Lover
This design is best suited for
Any dachshund size. Specially for dachshund owners who enjoy taking their dogs camping or hiking in the woods.
Ruffwear has created an amazing product that is built to last! It offers 4 points of adjustment and makes sure that your dog will fit into the harness comfortably by adding padding around the chest and stomach panels. It also comes in a wide variety of colors and sizes, making it perfect for any pet owner! If you love spending time outdoors with your pet (running, swimming, camping, etc.) this is the best choice for you. Ruffwear designs their products with outdoor activity in mind and has produced a harness that will hold up under virtually any activity. They’ve also added a reflective trim feature to their product that will serve well for any nighttime exploration or adventure.
3. Alternative Pick
This design is best suited for
Owners looking for a simplistic alternative to a traditional collar.
This amazing harness comes in multiple sizes and is built with a breathable mesh material. It comes with a simple D-Ring system and can be purchased in your choice of black, blue, pink, purple, or red… Don’t worry if this harness seems a bit tight when you put it on your dog the first time. It may fit snug when you first receive it, but it will stretch out to accommodate your dog over time. Keep this in mind while ordering – if your dog seems to fall in between two possible sizes, choose the smaller of the two.
4. The Best Harness for Mini-Dachshunds
This design is best suited for
Mini Dachshund owners who have been struggling to find a good harness fit for their pups!
This harness works well for dachshunds of all sizes but has received special praise from owners looking for the perfect fit for a mini-dachshund. The straps are set far enough back from the front legs that chaffing isn’t an issue and the materials ensure that this harness will last! If you’ve been having trouble with your pet being able to back out of harnesses, you’ll be pleased to know that this design has fixed that issue without making the experience uncomfortable for your dog. It also offers three points of adjustment to make finding the perfect fit for your pet easier. It’s best used on dogs with a chest measurement of 13 to 19 inches, but you’d likely be able to get a good fit for your pet the difference in their measurements, and these is less than an inch.
5. For Owners Enjoy the Simplicity
This design is best suited for
Dog owners enjoy the simplicity and want a harness that will serve their dachshund’s everyday needs.
This harness is an excellent fit for any dog. It has elastic webbing that can stretch with your dog’s movements, and the mesh design is very breathable. It will fit a 12 to 17-inch neck size and is available in a great shade of red. If you like to let your pup wander off leash from time to time, this can prove to be a bonus since the bright red will make it easy to differentiate your dog from others during rush hour at the dog park. The harness is based on a simple over-the-head design and has several points of adjustment you can use. Make sure to adjust the fit carefully by using the guidelines provided earlier in this article.
Harness for Dachshund Buyer’s Guide
Why a Harness?
Many Dachshund owners believe that using a traditional collar on their pet is more likely to do harm than good. Any tugging or pulling that your dog may do while adjusting to a collar puts additional stress on their neck and vertebrae. This is bad for any breed, but it can be especially damaging for a dachshund.
A harness serves as a better option because any resistance towards the leash will be felt in your dog’s chest instead of in their neck. This also prevents your dog from choking, should the collar be on too tight.
What Should I Look For?
There are a lot of features to take into consideration when searching for the perfect harness. You’re going to need to keep three things in mind: the girth, chest strap, and neck measurements for all of the harnesses you examine.
The girth is the measurement of the front of your dog’s body (around the ribcage, behind their front legs). The chest strap area starts a few inches below the neck. It should run across the chest area and connect to the girth on both sides. The neck measurement is simply the measurement of your dog’s neck circumference.
It’s important that you know your dog’s measurements for these things because the comfort of your pet while wearing the harness will dependent on having an exact size match.
You should also make sure you look at the number of adjustment points available on the harness. When it comes to this product, one size fits all won’t work. For the best results, find a harness that has at least four adjustment points.
How to Measure Your Dog for a Harness
There are three measurements you’ll need to take; girth, chest strap, and neck circumference. Some companies may also have a weight guideline that you can follow.
- To take the girth measurement: take a cloth tape measure and place it 1-2 inches behind your dog’s front legs. Wrap the tape around your dog’s ribcage and note the measurement on a sheet of paper.
- To take a chest strap measurement: start the tape at a comfortable distance below your dog’s throat. You want to be certain that your dog won’t be choked by the chest strap, so this step is very important! Start the measurement 1-2 inches behind your dog’s front legs (this strap will connect to the girth strap) and wrap it around the front of your dog’s chest. End the measurement 1-2 inches behind your dog’s other leg and make a note of the number on your paper.
- To measure your dog’s neck circumference: wrap the tape around the base of your dog’s neck. Once you make a note of this measurement, you’ll be done!
This process is very simple, but be sure to take your time! The most important thing is to make sure you find a harness that will serve as a long-term solution for your Dachshund – getting a harness that doesn’t fit right won’t do anything to help your pet.
How to Put on a Step-In Harness
Have you found a step-in harness that you think will work perfectly for your dachshund? Eliminate all of the fuss by following these simple steps:
- Keep your dog to stay or sit.
- Place the harness on the ground. Make sure it isn’t tangled or twisted.
- Have your dog walk forward so that it’s two legs are inside the leg holes of the harness.
- Pull the harness up slowly, making sure that it doesn’t twist.
- Adjust the harness to fit your dog. If you can’t fit one finger underneath the straps of the harness, it’s on too tight. Loosen the harness so your dog can breathe and move properly. However, you need to be careful not to make the harness too loose. If you can fit more than one finger underneath the straps, you’ll need to tighten it back up.
Conclusion
There you go! You now know everything there is to know about finding the perfect harness for your dachshund! Be sure to take your time finding a proper fit that will match your needs and make playtime safer for your furry friend!
Thank you so much for this article..It is not easy to find what is best regarding harnesses for our dachshunds..I have 2 dachshunds and I am looking forward in using BINGPET No Pull Dog Harness Reflective for our walks…..I have tried many different harnesses and I do not feel them very comfortable.