For context, my dog can pull EXTREMELY hard. I don’t even trust other reviewers who say no-pull harnesses work for their dog, because no dogs pull-level can compare to Tuna’s. He is a beast.
I’ve tried at least 5 different no-pull harnesses before this one and none of them worked, so naturally I was a little skeptical of this one. It took me a while to get the fit right, but I was shocked to find that it actually did lessen Tuna’s ability to pull. It’s not perfect - there is still some pulling - but the difference between this and the martingale collar I was using is pretty huge! Huge enough that it’s saving me from pulling my back out (repeatedly).
My dog pulls consistently on leash, but the worst is when he lunges towards a dog, squirrel, bird etc. (that’s when the real damage to my back happens) so I was super happy that this helped with that! He can’t use his momentum like he could before because the faster he tries to lunge the more effective the harness is in turning him around. It seems like he’s figuring that out and avoiding lunging now. Which is great!
I think the reason this front clip harness works so much better than the others I’ve tried (I’ve tried 3 different, but similar designs) is the multiple adjustment points. The other harnesses would inevitably slide around in a way that allowed him to leverage the leash against his neck/shoulder and pull just as hard as before. This one seems to be better at staying in place. It’s a simple design but it works really well, and I was shocked by how strong the clasp is! I really didn’t think it would hold up but it’s stayed very secure, and I love how easy it is to put on and take off.
The cons:
1. Like I said, it isn’t 100% effective at getting rid of the pulling (at least for my dog) but it’s definitely better than anything else I’ve tried! It’ll be my primary harness (at least for on-leash activities) and I’m ordering another for my second dog (who is picking up on the pulling habit).
2. You have to fit it tight for it to work properly, which is to be expected, but it does rub a little under the arm pits. Not as bad as some others I’ve tried, but I noticed a little rawness after several walks in a row.
3. Lastly (and this is almost definitely MY fault), the color isn’t what I expected. I ordered ruby thinking it would be a soft red color but it’s definitely more pink than red. I’d describe it as a dark salmon. So people will probably think my dog is a girl, but oh well lol. It’s not necessarily a con, but I wanted to mention it in case anyone is debating which color to buy.
Overall, I really like the harness and can’t wait to get a 2nd one so I can (somewhat) comfortably walk my two big dogs by myself :) Finally a harness I DON’T regret buying!