Harnesses for your Greyhound
Harnesses are becoming more and more popular among retired Greyhound owners but it's important to get your Greyhound a harness that is the correct fit.
There are many different harness options on the market but we always recommend 3 strap harnesses for Greyhounds as they are the most secure fit for their body shape.
Fleece Cosydog style harnesses are very popular and we love them for certain dogs but they are NOT escape proof, no matter how tight they are done up because they are only ‘2 strap’ harnesses. If a Greyhound pulls backwards or panics they can easily wriggle free from 2 strap style harnesses. We recommend this type of harness only be used on very well behaved dogs or ideally only used in conjunction with a fishtail / martingale collar, with a lead attached to both the collar and harness for extra security.
The best harnesses for Greyhounds are 3 strap harnesses as the extra belly strap means they are escape proof when done up correctly. There are lots of 3 strap harnesses available but some we recommend are listed below.
The Ruffwear Webmaster or Ruffwear Flagline harnesses are ones we highly recommend. They are on the pricey side but they are excellent quality and long lasting. They come in various colours and are also very comfortable for your hound as they have a Y shaped front, extra belly strap and are super secure when done up correctly.
The DryDogs harness is another escape proof harness we highly recommend. They come in a variety of colours and sizes, have a Y shaped front, handle on top and 2 points of attachment for a lead which is ideal. They are also really budget friendly (Photo below)
The Haqihana Double H harness is another well made harness and excellent fit for a Greyhound (photo below)
Harnesses with a chest strap style front should be avoided as they restrict the dogs natural movement and they are not secure or escape proof for Greyhounds (photo below). Harnesses with a Y shaped front are best.
Always remember that using a harness on it's own gives you no control of your Greyhounds head, this is fine for quiet hounds that walk well on the lead but if your dog is nervous or has a high prey drive it is best to have a lead attached to both a fishtail or martingale collar and to the harness to ensure maximum control of the dogs head and body (double ended leads are good).
They should wear a separate 'house' collar with identity tag attached that should be worn at all times when out in public (this is law in the UK), the house collar can also be left on in the house as a good way to hold onto your dog if anyone comes to the door etc.
Martingale collars should NOT be left on your dog when they are unattended in the house as if the collar becomes caught on anything it will tighten around the neck and can cause devastating consequences.
