7 Best Harnesses For Goldendoodles 2023

Walking your Goldendoodle can be bonding time, or it can be an ordeal. While an intelligent, lovable and playful breed, Goldendoodles are also as excitable and strong as their parent breeds.

This can lead to a lot of pulling on your arms and accidental neck tugging because of their collars. These are the reasons more owners of large and playful dog breeds opt to go for a harness instead of a collar and leash. If that sounds like you, you might be wondering how to go about choosing a harness that suits both you and your dog. After all, there are hundreds of options out there.

Read on to find out everything you need to know about harnesses for Goldendoodles – we’ll guide you through the buying process so you don’t have to lift a finger!

 

Best Harnesses for Goldendoodles

We’ll tell you more later about what you should be looking for in the best harnesses for Goldendoodles. First though, we’ve compiled a few of the best picks to get you started:

Best Overall: Kurgo Tru-Fit Smart Harness

 

This harness is adjustable, heavy-duty and made from durable nylon with metal fixtures. It also functions as a car harness and comes with an attachment for your car’s seat belt. It has a chest pad for your dog’s comfort and safety as well as your control. It’s suitable for big and energetic dogs while also having a breathable design.

We love this versatility – it can easily adjust as your dog grows and being able to take them in and out of the car in a hurry is a feature you won’t believe you ever lived without!

Best for visibility: Chai’s Choice Adventure 3M reflective harness

 

This harness has reflective material woven into the straps, ensuring maximum visibility on those night-time walkies. It comes in 9 different colors and has padding in the back, belly and chest for your dog’s comfort. With rings on the back and the chest area, you have more control over your dog – attach the leash wherever you need.

We’ve got another great reflective model next if this is a feature you can’t live without!

Best for comfort: RUFFWEAR Reflective harness

Are you tired of fumbling with complicated harnesses that take forever to put on and take off your furry friend? Look no further than this lightweight, durable harness designed for all-day outdoor adventures!

That’s not all… This harness features two leash attachment points – one with reinforced webbing at the chest for added control and training, and an aluminum V-ring centered on the back. Plus, with foam-padded strips across the chest and belly, your furry friend will stay comfortable even on longer walks.

Like the Chai’s Choice harness, this model is designed to be easily visible day and night with bright, visible fabric and reflective trim. Not only will your dog stand out against any landscape, but you’ll have peace of mind knowing they’re safe during low-light conditions.

Best for pullers: JULIUS-K9 IDC Powerharness

This dog harness features a durable nylon strap that goes across your dog’s chest to discourage pulling, as well as a neoprene pad that covers your dog’s shoulders. The pad provides comfort for your dog and offers increased control for you. This sturdy design is easy to put on; you just have to slip it on over your dog’s head and then hook it under the belly.

This is one of the best, most trusted brands so this no-pull harness is the way to go if you want quality from a well-known name.

Best for hiking: Kurgo Go-Tech adventure harness with seatbelt loop

This is a hiking harness made from durable nylon with metal leash attachment points and nesting buckles. It has padded chest and back pieces, and the back piece has a handle to help you lift your dog over difficult-to-navigate terrain. This makes it perfect for long walks in the moutains or even for camping or hunting trips – you can go places you never thought possible!

It also comes with a seat belt attachment to keep your dog safe during the car ride to the hiking spot – you won’t have to mess around changing them from their seatbelt to their hiking harness, so you can get straight out there and enjoy the trail.

Best for escape artists: Harness Lead Dog Harness

This no-escape harness is just one long, durable nylon cord and features two loops; one to go over your dog’s head and another to go under your dog’s belly. It’s 100% escape proof, making it ideal for Doodles who make a dash for freedom at any opportunity!

It comes in colors and sizes to suit all personalities, and will work equally well for Teacup Doodles and Standard ones. It’s designed to prevent rubbing and chafing, meaning your dog will always be comfortable on longer walks.

Easiest to use: EzyDog quick fit custom fit adjustable harness

This quick-fit harness has reflective stitching and neoprene padding along the back and chest pieces for your dog’s comfort. Its design makes it easy to put on and take off.

It makes use of the EzyDog One-Click Fit System to automatically fit the harness to the body of your Goldendoodle, meaning you don’t have to mess around with complicated buckles to ensure a perfect fit every time.

 

Types of Dog Harnesses

You might be overwhelmed by the sheer choice of harnesses out there – it’s not just a case of one-size-fits-all! Here are some of the most common types so you can decide which seems like the best fit for your doggo.

Step in harness

This dog harness offers a lot of coverage and often looks like a sleeveless vest for your dog with harness straps that encase both front legs and a closure at the top.

These are ideal for nervous Doodles who don’t like having their harness put on over their heads.

No pull dog harness

This style of harness is specially designed to lessen pulling from your dog by having a front ring placed across the chest that applies pressure when the dog pulls. Any Goldendoodle owner knows how strong these guys can be, so choosing this style will allow YOU to take the dog for a walk instead of the dog talking you for one!

Overhead harness

These harnesses have to be slipped over the dog’s head before being worked over the other end of the dog’s body, coming to rest on its belly. This can be a hard one to put on a wiggly dog – perhaps not the best choice for energetic Doodles!

Front clip harness

A front clip harness is also a type of no-pull harness that features a D-ring across the dog’s chest to prevent pulling. Over-excited dogs can sometimes get tangled up in their leashes with this style, though.

Back clip harness

This type has a leash attached to the back of the dog; it does little to stop your dog from pulling.

Hiking harness

This dog harness is designed for hiking, typically made from a durable material with metal fixtures. It can come with handles on the back to help you lift your dog over obstacles. It’s a great choice if you’re taking your Goldendoodle out into the wilderness on a camping trip, and it’s ideal for hunters, too.

Reflective harness

This dog harness is made with reflective material to ensure that your dog is visible should you have to walk them late at night.

Car harness

This dog harness comes equipped with a loop that can be securely fastened to a seat belt while the car is in transit. This is a great alternative to a dog seatbelt and keeps your dog safe during the journey. You’ll still be able to take them for a walk as they often have leash attachments too.

Dual clip harness

This style gives you the option of a leash attachment on your dog’s back or chest, depending on your needs. It’s the best option for flexibility – you can change how you use it as your dog grows and changes.

 

Choosing the Best Harness for Goldendoodle Puppies & Adults

Now, there are a few things that you must take into consideration while doing your research on what the best dog harness for you is. If you’ve settled on a no-pull harness, that’s only part one done. There are still other factors to take into consideration to ensure your Goldendoodle’s comfort and safety when using their harness.

Breathable design

Goldendoodles tend to have longer and thicker coats, so they’re at risk of overheating from exercising in a dog harness. This can be avoided by choosing a dog harness made with breathable materials.

Strong hardware

The best dog harness has strong rings and clips; metal is the best bet. Otherwise, they’ll easily break and can lead to your Goldendoodle breaking free.

Control

The best dog harness will be one that also allows you to have full control of your dog should it get very excitable and exhibit behaviors like pulling and jumping. You don’t need us to tell you that Groodles are full of energy! A no-pull dog harness is best for these rambunctious doggos.

Adjustability

You’ll want an adjustable dog harness to ensure that it fits your dog comfortably. No harness is made to fit every dog; it just can’t be done. That’s why adjustable harnesses are better because it allows you to customize the dog harness as your dog grows.

Material

It’s important to invest in a dog harness made from durable materials because it’ll reduce the likelihood of it tearing from the energetic nature of your Goldendoodle!

Nylon

This is a very common material for dog harnesses. It’s great for large energetic dogs, so it’s great for a Goldendoodle because it’ll hold up well against the inevitable wear and tear.

Polyester

This is another common choice when it comes to harnesses, or you can find a nylon and polyester blend.

Mesh

Mesh is added to dog harnesses to increase their breathability, especially harnesses designed for larger dogs. You’re most likely to find mesh in the padding of a dog harness.

Neoprene

Neoprene is also used in some of the best dog harnesses to make them more breathable, especially for bigger and hairier dog breeds. It also molds to your dog’s body for added comfort.

 

Does my Goldendoodle Need a Harness?

If you love your Goldendoodle but hate taking them for a walk because of their energy levels, a harness might be just what you need. Walking an energetic dog can be a chore because of all the excited pulling and attempts to escape to play and roam freely.

You can also use the harness to teach your dog how to behave on a walk, i.e, no pulling and trying to escape. After that, you can transition to a leash and collar but be aware that your dog might just be too much for a leash and collar, and a dog that is constantly pulling or not leash-trained can end up choking itself.

Don’t despair; many actually consider harnesses to be safer than a collar because there’s less chance of your dog jerking its neck for any reason, which can lead to internal damage. Harnesses also offer you more control so that you’re better able to control your dog in case you need to stop them or pull them to you suddenly for any reason.

We’re sure you’ll agree – harnesses are a great investment for Doodle parents!

 

FAQs

What size dog harness should I buy?

Goldendoodles are generally large dogs, but you’ll need to measure them to ensure you get the proper fit. Refer to your chosen brand’s website for their size guide to find out how to correctly measure your dog and ensure the dog harness fits correctly. This is also why it’s advisable to buy an adjustable harness.

Will a dog harness cause hair matting?

Depending on the kind of harness that you get, you may have some matting. The best way to avoid this is to thoroughly brush your dog’s hair out after each walk to make sure no mats can form. Also, look for breathable materials to ensure your dog stays comfortable under all that hair!

Check out our homepage for tips on grooming and trimming your dog if it does get matted. While you’re there, you can also read about the best clippers for Goldendoodles if the matting is severe.

Is a harness or a collar better for a Goldendoodle?

For active dog breeds like a Goldendoodle, a harness is best. It will prevent your dog from hurting its neck, and also give you more control when walking your dog.