10 Best Dog Harnesses for Greyhounds in 2023
Contents
- What is the Best Dog Harness for a Greyhound?
- Different Types of Dog Harnesses for Greyhounds
- What to Look for in a Good Harness for Greyhounds
- Best Dog Harness for Greyhounds
- 6 More Highly Rated Dog Harnesses for Greyhounds
- Best Harness for a Greyhound Puppy
- Tips for Getting Your Greyhound Accustomed to Using a Harness
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Conclusion
With such a distinct appearance, it’s hard to miss a greyhound. Their long necks, narrow faces, and lean torsos make them designed to run.
In Ancient Egypt, pharaohs relied on the greyhound’s quick feet to catch skittish prey. The “godlike” beauty of the greyhound made many famous rulers even believe they had divine origins.
Today, they remain the fastest dog breed alive and can reach speeds up to 45 mph. While many greyhounds would happily spend the day lounging around the house, these dogs do require plenty of daily exercise to keep up their lean physiques. Just as you wouldn’t keep an Olympic runner cooped up, you shouldn’t coop your greyhound up either.
What is the Best Dog Harness for a Greyhound?
- 2 Hounds Design Freedom No-Pull Dog Harness and Leash
- PetSafe Easy Walk Dog Harness
- Chai’s Choice 3M Reflective Dog Harness
- Sporn Training Dog Halter
- Mighty Paw Sports Dog Harness
- JUXZH Truelove Soft Front Dog Harness
- RUFFWEAR Web Master Dog Harness
- PoyPet No Pull Reflective Vest Harness
- Puppia Soft Dog Harness
- PHOEPET No Pull 3M Reflective Dog Harness (Puppy)
Greyhounds will need regular safe opportunities to run without restriction as well as daily walks. While a collar might be appropriate if your greyhound is running without a leash, they’ll most likely require a harness when you’re walking them. Although it can vary from dog to dog, greyhounds—especially those who haven’t raced before—have a bad reputation for pulling on the lead.
Unfortunately, when they’re pulling on the leash while wearing a collar, greyhounds can actually injure themselves. With enough force, they may strain their necks or place too much pressure on their tracheas. A harness, on the other hand, can help prevent accidental injuries by distributing the pressure and fully supporting your dog.
Although finding the best greyhound harness can be intimidating, you don’t need to worry—we’ve reviewed some of the best harnesses of 2023 below:
Different Types of Dog Harnesses for Greyhounds
Even if all harnesses appear similar, there are actually several different types of harnesses to pick from—and not all of them may be right for your greyhound.
Many greyhound owners frequently use a front-clip harness when they’re taking their dogs out for a walk. These harnesses work by allowing you to attach the lead to the front of the dog and can offer more control than many other choices. Since the place of attachment is in the front, it’s more difficult for your dog to tug or jerk on the leash, and much easier to guide them.
Some owners tend to prefer the back-clip harness, especially if their greyhound is well-behaved on a leash. These harnesses have a rear attachment that provides less control than the front-clip but prevent tangling the leash and can offer the dog more freedom.
To get the best of both options, you may appreciate the dual-clip harness. These harnesses have two places to attach the lead—usually in the front or back—and allow you to quickly switch between the two.
On a long or crowded sidewalk, using the front attachment can reign in your greyhound, but if you’re only walking a short distance, attaching the lead to the back-clip can provide your dog with more freedom to move around.
The vest harness is another interesting option, especially if you’re worried about your dog’s comfort. With added padding and material, vest harnesses strap around your greyhound like a sleeveless shirt and provide extra support as well as additional comfort.
What to Look for in a Good Harness for Greyhounds
While loving, friendly dogs, greyhounds do have a bit of a stubborn streak. If you let them, they’ll walk you instead of the other way around. Finding a harness that gives you enough control to manage your greyhound as you walk is crucial.
In addition to the front attachment, a no-pull or no-choke harness can help reduce the risk of a neck strain or throat injury. When your greyhound tugs on the leash, a no-pull harness will evenly distribute the pressure instead of placing stress on the trachea. Puppies who are still learning how to walk on a leash can especially benefit from a no-pull harness.
Another feature to consider is adjustment. Because the greyhound’s neck is long and narrow, it’s easier for them to slip out of a loose or ill-fitting harness than some other breeds. While all harnesses have some room for adjustment, only some of them use multiple points of adjustment. The more areas you can adjust the harness’ fit, the better fitting the entire harness will be.
While it’s important for all greyhounds, comfort is specifically crucial for senior dogs. As they age, a senior greyhound may need a gentler touch and extra support as they walk. Although they might not be as durable, vest harnesses (especially those made with soft mesh or nylon) can provide your greyhound with a much more comfortable walking experience.
Best Dog Harness for Greyhounds
Here are our top 10 picks:
| Our 2023 Picks: Greyhound Dog Harness Recommendations: | |||
| Rank | Harness | Price | Rating |
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#1 |
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$ |
A+
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#2 |
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$ |
A+
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#3 |
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$ |
A+
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#4 |
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$ |
A+
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#5 |
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$ |
A
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#6 |
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$ |
A
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#7 |
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$$ |
A
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#8 |
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$ |
A
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#9 |
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$ |
A
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#9 |
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$ |
A
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2 Hounds Design Freedom No-Pull Dog Harness and Leash
Best Overall
While many harnesses can reduce or eliminate the risk of injury from pulling, not all of them can do it as well as the 2 Hounds Design Freedom No-Pull Dog Harness. This patented design’s no-pull feature works by preventing your greyhound’s “opposition reflex.” In some traditional harnesses, the pressure of the harness may encourage the dog to pull harder. The 2 Hounds harness uses an action loop, keeping your dog in a straight line.
As a result, you can maintain better control of an uncooperative greyhound, and even help leash train them, too. With its innovative design, the harness also includes a soft velvet lining that helps reduce chafing or possible skin irritation.
PetSafe Easy Walk Dog Harness
This no-pull dog harness from PetSafe may look simple, but it offers maximum control for dogs who like pull on the leash. The chest strap keeps strain off your dog’s neck and throat when they attempt to forcefully pull, and a belly strap will keep escape artists securely in the harness. You can steer your greyhound in the proper direction and slow them down by way of the front leash attachment. Four adjustment options help this dog harness fit snug and comfortably. This Easy Walk Harness is a great tool for teaching your pup to walk well on the leash, and it’s ideal for dogs who simply enjoy taking control of walk time.
Chai’s Choice 3M Reflective Dog Harness
Perhaps the best greyhound harness you can buy for your furry friend is the Chai’s Choice 3M Reflective Dog Harness. Not only has it been crafted to keep the pressure off of your dog’s neck when they pull, but it also uses lightweight padding and mesh to keep your greyhound comfortable too.
To give yourself a little more control, you can attach your lead to the O-ring on the front chest pad, which makes it more difficult for your greyhound to pull or tug. If your dog still needs extra guidance, there’s a built-in handle at the top that will allow you to easily steer them away from trouble.
For those late-night walks, the 3M reflective material can help keep your dog visible in very little lighting.
Sporn Training Dog Halter
The Sporn Training Dog Halter harness features padded restraint sleeves that fit under your greyhound’s legs. The harness is made from high-quality materials and is equipped with steel fasteners for ultimate durability. The braided cord design is built to stand up against the strength of your active greyhound. Even if your dog is pulling on the leash, this harness will not put any strain on their neck. We like that your dog will be comfortable and easy to control with this harness, plus it’s super easy to put on! A special benefit of this dog harness is that it quickly turns into a standard collar if necessary.
6 More Highly Rated Dog Harnesses for Greyhounds
Mighty Paw Sports Dog Harness
To provide your dog with more freedom while still maintaining control, the Mighty Paw Sports Dog Harness may be just what you need. Not only does it contain two leash attachment points, but it also includes adjustable straps so that you can get a comfortable, individualized fit.
The harness’ design is made to be non-restrictive and allow dogs to move their shoulders freely while walking or running. For dogs that tend to tug or jerk the leash, the front attachment includes a no-pull feature that helps prevent injury.
In a congested environment, you can always use the built-in handle to maintain close control of your greyhound as you maneuver through a crowd or sidewalk.
JUXZH Truelove Soft Front Dog Harness
Even with all the features you need, a good harness can end up useless if your greyhound scratches it up or takes it on a few rough adventures. Fortunately, the JUXZH Truelove Soft Front Dog harness stays durable by using scratch-resistant oxford cloth and a lightweight Draflex buckle.
Besides a long lifespan, the JUXZH harness can also offer a comfortable, customized fit: with four different adjustment points and a vest design, your greyhound won’t be making any escape attempts in this harness.
Along with two leash attachment points, there’s also a seat belt attachment so that you can quickly and conveniently strap your greyhound in on those long car rides.
RUFFWEAR Web Master Harness
With five different adjustment points and 2 leash attachments, the RUFFWEAR Web Master harness is designed for adventurous dogs and challenging terrains. When your greyhound needs a little extra guidance or assistance, you can use the padded, built-in handle to lift and maneuver them anywhere you need.
Although the harness uses straps, they also include padding to improve comfort and help reduce the risk of chafing or skin irritation. While there is a reflective trim, the RUFFWEAR harness also has a loop for owners to place a safety light in.
This may be an ideal choice for service or working greyhounds since the vest includes extra space to place patches, signs, and stickers.
PoyPet No Pull Reflective Vest Harness
For senior dogs or greyhounds with highly-sensitive skin, the PoyPet No Pull Reflective Vest Harness may be an ideal option. With its padded vest design and quick-release buckles, you can slip your greyhound in and out of the harness in a matter of seconds.
For extra control, there’s a built-in padded handle, and a no-choke feature to reduce the risk of an accidental throat injury. When you’re walking your greyhound at night, you can take advantage of the highly-visible 3M reflective material.
Depending on how much control you want, you can use either the relaxed rear leash attachment or easily switch to the front attachment.
Best Harness for a Greyhound Puppy
If your Greyhound is still just a pup, check out this harness.
Puppia Soft Dog Harness
Puppia is a harness you can feel safe choosing for your new puppy. It’s made of an airy, nylon mesh that can withstand a lot of heavy duty use but won’t weigh your puppy down. The design can be adjusted even for puppies of any size to feel secure.
You can choose multiple colors and the easy fasten clip in the back could help you make walking a lot easier with no leash tangles. It should also help keep your puppy cooler on walks and may not chafe as much as a standard harness with lots of buckles. Make sure you measure your puppy carefully across the girth of the chest to get the right fit.
PHOEPET No Pull 3M Reflective Dog Harness
The harness you choose for a greyhound puppy is especially crucial. As they learn to walk on a leash for the first time, you’ll most likely need a harness that provides you with plenty of control—like the PHOEPET No Pull 3M Reflective Dog Harness.
With two sturdy metal leash attachments and the soft, padded handle to assist your dog in and out of the car, managing your greyhound puppy is effortless. If you regularly take your puppy out on nighttime adventures, the reflective straps will come in handy.
Since it has adjustable straps, you can continually adjust the PHOEPET harness as your greyhound puppy continues to grow in size.
Tips for Getting Your Greyhound Accustomed to Using a Harness
Not only does the shape of a greyhound’s neck make it difficult to fit them with a collar, but they often require the added support and security of a high-quality harness.
While greyhounds who have never used a harness before might be resistant early on, they’ll usually get the hang of it after a while. If you’re unsure of where to start, try using these handy tips:
- Before you begin trying to wrangle your greyhound into the harness, you should allow them plenty of time to sniff it. Any dog, regardless of breed, will be wary of an unrecognizable object and may be more cooperative once they’ve familiarized themselves with it.
- Use positive reinforcement. Anytime your greyhound interacts with the harness or allows you to slip it on them, you should reward them with a treat. Positive reinforcement will help your dog view the harness as a good thing, and hopefully make them more cooperative in the future.
- Let your greyhound wear the harness around the house before you take them outside. Initially, when you slip the harness on, your dog may try and pull it off or refuse to walk. Before you begin any outside adventures, allowing them a couple of hours or even an entire day to get used to the feel of the harness can prevent future issues.
- When you do finally take your greyhound outside in the harness, try taking them somewhere they enjoy. If they begin to associate the harness with their favorite places, they’ll always want to wear it.
- Don’t forget that the process can be time-consuming. Many greyhounds can be stubborn, and it may take a while before they truly get used to the harness. If your dog doesn’t immediately react well, don’t lose hope.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How do I fit my greyhound puppy for a harness? – Fitting a puppy can be a little trickier than an adult since they’re still developing and growing. Once you’ve measured their necks and chests, you can find a harness that matches their measurements—but make you leave room for growth. As they get larger, you can adjust the harness to get bigger as well.
- What kind of harness is best for a greyhound? – Although every dog is different, greyhounds typically work well with a dual-clip or front-clip harness. Since these dogs have a reputation for pulling on the lead, a harness that includes a front attachment can help you maintain better control of your dog. If you have an older greyhound (or one that’s unusually laid-back), they may only need a back-clip harness.
- How do I know which size harness to buy? – There isn’t a one-size-fits-all harness for greyhounds. Since every greyhound’s size will be a little bit different, you’ll need to measure your dog’s neck and chest girth before you purchase a harness. When you’re shopping, keep those measurements close by and find the size that matches. If you can, it’s better to find a harness that leaves at least a little room for adjustment.
- Is there a way to tell if the harness is too loose or too tight? – While many harnesses let you adjust them, the tricky part is making sure you’ve adjusted them correctly. While it might be obvious that a harness is too loose if your dog keeps escaping it, there’s actually a faster way to tell. Once you’ve adjusted it, slip two fingers underneath the harness. If you can’t, that’s a sign the harness is too tight, but if you’re able to slip more than two fingers underneath of it, it’s too loose.
Conclusion
Greyhounds are often referred to as the “cheetahs” of the dog world. Regardless of their age, greyhounds will always need plenty of exercise—and their long necks and stubborn nature make it much easier for them to wear harnesses rather than just a collar.
Finding the best greyhound harness for your precious companion can be tricky. Fortunately, we’ve done the hard work for you—if you’re having trouble, feel free to try one of the top-rated harnesses we’ve reviewed above.
