When it comes to keeping our four-legged friends safe, it can be hard to know what’s best for them. From choosing the right leash or harness, to figuring out how to keep them safe and secure, we as pet owners want to make sure we’re making the best decisions for our pets.
One popular pet accessory that owners may use is a harness, which is a type of device used to safely attach and secure a pet. Harnesses are often used for both small and large dogs, but are harnesses really the best choice for our canine companions? In this blog post, we’ll be discussing the potential risks associated with using a harness, and whether or not they can cause strain on a dog’s shoulders.
We’ll be exploring the potential benefits and drawbacks of using a harness, as well as what other options are available for pet owners. We’ll also be discussing the importance of choosing the right style and fit for
Take a look at some of the researches we found on the topic
Here are some links to papers and studies if you want to read more about this. It is surprisingly difficult to locate adequate studies on the subject, particularly ones that were conducted on a large enough sample (rather than just a small number of dogs) and in which the harnesses (both “restrictive” and “non-restrictive” ones) were properly adjusted. If you have any additional sources, send them our way, and we’ll be happy to add them as new information becomes available.
We will highlight the most intriguing findings from these papers here, but we advise reading them in their entirety at the links provided.
• Effects of restrictive and non-restrictive harnesses on shoulder extension in dogs at walk and trot by the British Veterinary Association. “The results of the study presented here showed that the angle of shoulder extension differed significantly between when dogs were not wearing a harness and when they were wearing a harness, showing greater shoulder extension when they were not wearing a harness. Both restrictive and non-restrictive harnesses showed significantly decreased extension of the shoulder. […] Interestingly, it was found that the non-restrictive harness actually restricted shoulder extension more than the restrictive harness used in the current study.”
• The Effects of Five Commercially Available Harnesses on Canine Gait: here is the description of the research and here is an article on the results: “Interestingly, some harnesses were shown to affect gait characteristics more than others. In particular, dogs reacted most strongly to the Julius-K9 IDC Harness, which was classified as a restrictive harness, and the Dog-Games Original Fleece-Lined Harness, which was classified as non-restrictive. Interestingly, these two harnesses had the most surface area touching the dog’s bodies.”
• Pressure distribution under three different types of harnesses used for guide dogs in the Veterinary Journal. While this is a fascinating study, the harness on the photo does not seem to be adjusted well, so we wouldn’t make assumptions based on the results. This incorrect adjustment just makes it even more impressive that they still found that the most significant pressure was on the chest strap, not on the neck strap. We imagine this is because the test was done on service dogs while working with their handler. It’s safe to assume that the pressure on a guide dog’s harness will be different than on an average dog even if the design is basically the same.
• Biomechanical analysis of the dog kinematics of different harnesses by the Cooperation Research Center for Biomechanics of the Budapest University of Technology and Economics. We know most of you will disregard this research since Julius-K9 sponsored it but wanted to leave it here since it does seem like a scientifically well-done paper. “Wearing the harnesses, does not alter the gait patterns, which could be statistically observed using the gait parameters studied. When applying retraction force by leash to the harnesses, the change in walking type is adapted similarly in case of each dog and harness.”
You can see that there is no conclusive information on how or when a harness is restricting a dog off-leash and on-leash if you read at least the summary of these sources. The studies mentioned above actually divided harness designs into two categories: restricting and nonrestrictive. non-restricting category differently. All harnesses, even those without restrictions, seem to be somewhat restricting the dog if we were to draw any firm conclusions from the studies. We also understand that a study of 5-8-10 dogs (as most of these did) can tell us virtually nothing meaningful because a larger sample size is required to draw a conclusion that is safe.
These are all the sources supported by any type of experiments and measurements on the topic that we found online, and we didn’t pick and choose them to help the article skew one way or another. As you can see, some of them contradict one another’s findings, and the majority of them came to the conclusion that further study would be necessary to provide an answer. They are still listed here because we anticipated that at least some of them would demonstrate distinct variations in shoulder movement when wearing “restricting” vs. “non-restrictive” harnesses, but none of them did.
Is it restricting the shoulders off-leash?
Many seem to think that wearing one of these harnesses restricts shoulder motion like wearing a pencil skirt while running, and they believe that dogs wearing a Norwegian harness are unable to freely move their front legs.
Norwegian harnesses (and the majority of others) are designed to sit farther behind the front leg (not in the armpits! ), leaving enough room for the shoulder to move back. Because there is no pressure on the front strap in that position, the harness cannot limit shoulder movement. Imagine a loose, flowy skirt around the legs. They don’t restrict movement because they are loose and go “across” the legs, so one can still move around freely while wearing them.
Nothing can press against the front strap if the dog’s legs are moving freely because nothing is pulling the harness back.
Although Norwegian harnesses shouldn’t fit tightly around the dog’s front, a lot of people are actually putting them on that way. However, to be completely honest, this isn’t the harness’ “fault.” In this case, the harness is rubbing the armpits, constricting the shoulders, and will cause problems for the dog. ”.
Is it true that harnesses going across the dog’s shoulders restricting the movement?
People on both sides of this debate typically have strong opinions about it, making it one of the most contentious issues in the dog gear industry. Unfortunately, businesses and even veterinarians are attempting to feign controversy by publishing images or videos of dogs wearing incorrectly adjusted Norwegian harnesses. It is deceptive of them to post images of harnesses that are obviously restricting the shoulders and draw conclusions about a line of products based on an ill-fitting harness.
We would like to play “devil’s advocate” and raise a few objections to this well-known claim, despite the fact that we are not authorities, vets, or holders of any specialized certifications on the subject. Without having seen any evidence to support it, more and more people come to us after hearing that “Norwegian harnesses are restricting the shoulders and shouldn’t be used.”
We read reputable organizations’ studies and experiments on the subject for weeks before writing this article. Despite the fact that most of the viral videos, posts, and comments lacked supporting scientific evidence, we still watched and read them. Our objective was to gather all of the information and provide you with a comprehensive summary in one article. None of the above-mentioned businesses sponsored or otherwise supported our post. Like all of our reviews, everything said here is based on our unbiased opinion.
Norwegian harnesses refer to the design when the harness has a neck strap crossing the dog’s shoulders, despite the fact that different names are used for different types of harnesses. It can have a larger “saddle” portion on the back or just two straps that go around the dog’s neck and chest.
Many refer to the style as the “Julius harness” because Julius-K9 is likely the most well-known company selling these harnesses. But recently Julius-K9 also released a variety of Y-harnesses, and the most well-known brands (Hurtta, Kurgo, Ezydog, Truelove, etc.) ) also have their version with the Norwegian design.
When selecting a harness, each person has different considerations and preferences. There is nothing wrong with not liking a particular style of harness, and we are strong believers in assisting others in determining what they need for their dog. Nevertheless, it is crucial to comprehend the rationale behind the benefits and drawbacks of each item of equipment or tool you use for your dog because only you can decide what will work for you. This is why we feel compelled to advise using critical thinking whenever someone mentions a tool’s negative health effects. Nowadays, there is a counterargument to using ANY equipment or tool, so it is not surprising that some people are against Norwegian harnesses.
Even if one has no knowledge of the anatomy of dogs or the specifics of harnesses, the fact that so many service dogs, police dogs, military dogs, and search and rescue dogs have been using these harnesses for so long without incident should raise concerns. Given that these dogs are extremely expensive, require extensive training, and perform important tasks, their handlers and trainers take everything that happens to them very seriously. These harnesses wouldn’t be worn by these active working dogs if it were proven that they alter the dogs’ natural gait and damage their joints.
Even more shockingly, some sled dogs are equipped with similar harnesses. Some well-known mushers continue to use Y-harnesses rather than harnesses that go across the chest and neck. It is undisputed that their dogs do not sustain neck and shoulder injuries after pulling sleds over long distances, despite the fact that this is a contentious issue among sports audiences. As far as we are aware from speaking with a few competition participants, this isn’t the preferred type of harness for most of them, but competitions like the Iditarod still use them when the pulling harness begins to rub the dog’s chest.
There is, of course, some truth to these arguments, such as whether it is safe to use a harness that crosses the chest and whether it is actually restrictive.
FAQ
Can a harness hurt a dogs shoulder?
A dog harness can harm your dog’s joints in two main ways: by exerting too much pressure on the joints or by limiting the dog’s range of motion. The right dog harness can be chosen and fitted properly to prevent both of these issues.
Are body harnesses bad for dogs?
Harnesses are excellent for dogs, so the answer is definitely yes. Any age, size, or breed of dog can be walked in safety and comfort using them.
Do vets recommend collars or harnesses?
The best option for walking dogs is typically a harness because it relieves neck strain. However, collars typically provide more comfort and a spot to attach an ID tag. If you have a dog who is prone to breathing problems, such as a pug, you should use a harness rather than a collar.
Why you shouldn’t leave a harness on a dog?
No, you shouldn’t leave your dog’s harness on all day. Additionally, since harnesses are not intended to be worn continuously, doing so may result in sores developing under the armpits. Even when fully cushioned, clothing can rub and lead to sore spots.