When choosing walking equipment for puppies the first thing we need to look at is the fitting.
Puppies are still developing, their bones and joints are very soft, so what we put on their body will have a major impact. Even small traumas received in puppyhood will scar and over time have consequences for the dog’s posture and mobility. It’s absolutely necessary to invest in quality equipment to ensure your puppy grows healthy and avoid large vet bills going forward.
- A harness for a puppy must allow free movement of the paws and prevent soft tissue damage. We want to achieve natural healthy movement, as close as possible to a dog who does not wear anything at all.
- You also want the harness to be very light to reduce the impact on the dog’s body. A light and long-enough lead would make a perfect combo!
- Watch out for the shoulder area: most harnesses restrict shoulder movement! A good harness for a puppy should have a Y shape at the front. The tip of the triangle should sit on the sternum bone. You will feel it right away if you touch the chest area of your puppy.
- Puppies grow very quickly and might have weird body shapes, so several adjustment points are very important. The Canuzzo harness has six adjustment points and can fit dogs of any shape. We will help you to fit the harness correctly with our fitting guide.
- Harnesses that go over the head feel unpleasant to most dogs. We want our puppy to feel happy and relaxed to help them navigate this difficult human world. So a harness that opens at the front would feel much better to put on and take off.
Here are some common questions our clients ask us about harnesses:
What to do when the puppy grows up and needs to change the harness size? We suggest donating your harness to a dog shelter in your area or to low income families. You can also sell it to someone else - all dogs need a good harness and the planet will thank you.
Do harnesses cause pulling? No, harnesses do not cause pulling. On the contrary, dogs in a well-fitted harness feel more comfortable and relaxed. They slow down and enjoy their walks without pulling.
Can puppies / dogs of all breeds wear harnesses? Yes, a Y-shaped well-fitted harness is safe for dogs of any breed and shape. Canuzzo harness has 6 regulation points that make it easy to fit for every dog.
What about collars? We recommend choosing a harness vs a collar for dog of any age, breed and size. It’s because collars can easily damage the internal organs of the neck and create permanent consequences for the dog’s body. The neck of the dog hosts thyroid, nerves, blood vessels, trachea, and many other vital organs. All of them can easily get damaged with a sudden pull on the leash. And no dog is a robot (even trained ones), so pulls will definitely happen. You can put a collar on your dog to attach a silent address tag, but do not connect a leash to a collar.
Recommended reading:
Article: Smiling Leash - Puppies and Smiling Leash walks
Book: How to Raise a Puppy: A Dog-centric Approach, Stephanie Rousseau and Turid Rugaas
