As a pet owner, you are always on the lookout for products that can help your pet feel more comfortable and safe at all times. One of the steps you could take to ensure greater comfort and safety for your dog is switching from the collar to the harness.
However, to make your dog feel comfortable and safe, you need to first know how to put on the harness properly. If you can’t fasten the harness correctly, your dog will slip out.
Many great harnesses are available in the market, such as the Voyager dog harness, which is mostly suitable for small dogs that don’t like collars. The two main varieties of dog harnesses are step-in and overhead. In this post, you learn how to use each of them.
Here are the steps to follow:
1. Place and Secure
Loosen the harness and slide your dog’s head via the neckpiece. Arrange the lower straps between your pet’s legs in the front below the belly. Take the buckles up behind their front legs around their belly.
You can use both traditional plastic and beating buckles. Push the metallic part upward via the female end. Then, field the metal over the female end, so the harness stays flat.
2. Unbuckle Harness
Unbuckle the step-in harness and lay it on the floor. Make your dog stand on the harness. Position your pet’s front paws inside one of the loops and put the other paw inside the other loop.
When your harness shows which loop should go well with every foot, snap the strap buckles on your dog’s backside.
3. Clasp the Side Strap
If your overhead harness is connected on only one side, make your dog step via the loop. Clasp the side steps on the other side. Ensure that the clasp straps on both sides of the harness are connected. Once you put on the harness, check the placement of straps.
The harness needs to fit under the pet’s neck. It should not put pressure on your dog’s throat. A harness chest strap should not go across your pet’s shoulder joint as it inhibits their shoulder and leg extension stride.
4. Adjust the Fit
Use the adjustment points of the straps to make sure it fits snugly on your pet. A harness should be sufficiently loose for you to fit in two fingers between your pet and the harness at any time.
Adjust the straps, so they sit on your dog comfortably. Ensure to keep one of their eyes outside to avoid chafing. Once the harness fits appropriately, you can slide it on and off your pet easily.
5. Check Harness Placement and Adjustment
Before stepping out of your home with your dog, check the buckles and straps to ensure they are fastened perfectly. Move the harness side-to-side and check if it does not slide over very far to one side or another.
You should confirm that the harness is not rubbing against your dog’s skin or restricting their movement. As a dog owner, you need to check the harness placement and adjust them to ensure your dog feels the utmost comfort.
You can always buy an excellent harness such as the Voyager dog harness but learning how to secure it properly is more important.