Using photos to help check the fit of a dog’s pulling harness

When fitting a dog’s pulling harness and checking its fit, it is essential to understand that when loose and not under tension, a pulling harness can easily look ill-fitting and too small to the untrained eye. It is also often surprising how small the neck opening of a correctly sized pulling harness appears. Pulling harnesses are therefore very commonly mistaken for being too small—and incorrectly exchanged for a larger size.

The golden rule: You can only assess a pulling harness’s fit under tension

You should—and can—assess the fit of a pulling harness only when it is under proper, strong pulling pressure. Only then does the harness settle into place. Without tension, the harness is often sitting on the throat, tight in the armpits, and oddly bunched up on the dog’s back.

How the harness sits without tension—and under tension

In the image below, you can see the same dog wearing the same harness. On the left, you can see what the harness looks like on the dog without tension. Too short, ill-fitting, and tight in the armpits?—you might think so. However, the situation changes completely when tension is added to the harness. In the image on the right, the harness is under natural, strong pulling pressure. You will notice that the harness straightens out and, thanks to the tension, extends all the way to the base of the tail, leaving room behind the armpits. The neck opening nevertheless remains in front of the dog’s shoulders. The harness is the correct size and fits the dog properly.

How can I create natural tension in the harness for fitting or taking photos?

A. Go outside!

If this is a new product that you may still be able or want to return, make sure it stays completely clean and in resalable condition. For fitting, however, it is essential that the dog has excellent grip under its paws and stands in a natural position. This is usually easiest to achieve outdoors.

Never draw conclusions about the fit of a pulling harness based on how it looks when the dog is standing on a bare wooden floor, laminate, a sofa, or a rag rug.

B. Use photos taken by an assistant or record the fitting on video

For fitting, you will need either an extra pair of hands or the ability to record video—or preferably both.

Instructions for taking fitting photos

• The dog is standing on a level surface where its paws do not slip (preferably outdoors, never on a bare wooden floor)
• The camera is aimed directly at the dog from the side
• There is proper, strong tension in the harness, but the dog is not arching its back excessively as it would when pulling a load. The tension should be close to the level of force the dog actually uses to pull a runner, skier, bicycle, or sled.
• Pulling the harness backward with the strength of a couple of fingers does not yet create the kind of force your dog is likely to use in real-life activities. It may be easiest to create genuine, natural pulling tension by attaching a leash to the harness and holding onto it.
• Check that the tension comes from the same angle as it naturally would with a tow line (usually slightly from above for a small dog, and straight from back height for a large dog)
• If no assistant is available, use video recording. Leave the camera filming from the side while you fit the harness.
• You can send video clips and photos to Traildog, and we can check the fit with you.

Let’s review the most important point once more

If there is no tension in the harness, its fit under tension cannot be assessed reliably. A trained eye can identify pulling harnesses that are clearly too small or clearly too large even from images taken without tension. However, if you want a more certain assessment, the photos must show the dog standing on a surface with good grip and the harness under substantial tension from a natural angle.

Use photos and video regularly throughout your dog’s sporting journey

It is difficult to fully and reliably assess how a harness fits if you only look at the dog by yourself and often only from behind. It is best to use photos or video taken from the side. If no extra pair of hands is available, you can simply leave your phone recording video somewhere along a short pulling route. Especially by slowing down the video or taking screenshots from it, you can see how the dog’s pulling harness actually fits during a proper pull. You may sometimes be surprised to notice that the harness no longer fits in the same way as it did when the dog was young, in better condition, or had a thicker coat—or that the harness really does not look the way you once thought it would when fitting it in the living room or at the shop.

More about dog pulling harnesses

Also see our pulling harness guide. There you will find more tips for assessing the fit of a harness, as well as instructions for measuring your dog if you need help choosing one.