The 5 Best No-Pull Dog Harnesses in 2025, Tested and Reviewed

If your dog pulls on leash, walks can be a stressful routine for both of you. With one of the best no-pull dog harnesses, you can train your determined puller to walk calmly on a loose leash so you can both enjoy walks. These harnesses feature a front-clip attachment at the chest for connecting the leash. When your dog pulls or lunges forward, the added tension at the chest gently discourages them from pulling.

For this guide, we tested 19 popular no-pull harnesses with over two dozen dogs, from pint-sized pups to large German shepherds. We also consulted dog trainers, professional dog walkers, and veterinarians for advice on how to stop leash pulling safely and humanely. Our top pick is the PetSafe Easy Walk Comfort Harness, a comfortable, well-fitting harness that significantly reduces pulling.

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Our top picks for the best no-pull dog harnesses

Best overall: PetSafe Easy Walk Comfort Harness – See at Chewy 

Best padded: Ruffwear Front Range Dog Harness – See at Chewy

Best budget: PetSafe 3-in-1 No-Pull Dog Harness – See at Chewy

Best for small dogs: Wild One Dog Harness – See at Chewy

Best with handle: PoyPet No-Pull Dog Harness – See at Amazon

Best overall

Last year, PetSafe released the Easy Walk Comfort Harness. After testing it with three dogs ranging in size from 14 to 80 pounds, we are confident in naming it the best no-pull dog harness overall, replacing the Blue-9 Pet Products Balance Harness, which carries more of a learning curve and isn’t ideal for some body shapes.

The Easy Walk Comfort does an excellent job of preventing pulling and features neck, chest, and back padding for comfort. Using the five points of adjustment, we were able to achieve the ideal fit on all of the dogs. At $30 to $35, it’s also one of the most affordable no-pull harnesses.

Like the other harnesses in this guide, it has a front leash attachment — specifically, a stainless steel D-ring. What’s unique to PetSafe no-pull harnesses is the nylon martingale loop that tightens when the dog pulls, creating gentle pressure that further deters pulling. Freelance reporter Elizabeth Holbrook says it stopped her 40-pound mixed-breed pup from pulling without affecting her gait or turning her too much to the side.

No harness will stop the strongest of pullers, of course. Freelance reporter Jackie Brown used the Easy Walk Comfort with Midas, an 80-pound golden retriever who is 9 months old and still learning to walk on a loose leash. When Midas pulled his hardest, there was enough slack at the chest that he wasn’t fully redirected. “However, the redirection from the front clip was just enough that he was unable to physically drag me at those high-excitement times,” Brown says. If you anticipate your dog is going to pull, the added handle at the back can come in handy.

Meanwhile, freelance reporter Alex Rennie found the harness’s polyester padding helped him get a snug fit on his 14-pound Chihuahua/terrier mix, and there were no exposed straps that could dig into his sensitive armpit area. However, the hardware on the size XS was quite small, and he had some difficulty gripping and sliding the rings to adjust the fit. For this reason, some people and small dogs may do better with the Wild One harness we recommend in this guide. Its hardware is easier to handle, it offers more padding, and it’s lighter weight.

There are really only a few downsides to this harness, but they are important to note. Although the polyester padding is soft, flexible, and lightweight, it isn’t breathable. Some dogs may feel too warm wearing it in hotter climates. If that’s the case, the strappy PetSafe 3-in-1 or Blue-9 Balance Harness may be a better choice. You also must slip it over the head to put it on and take it off, which may make it a dealbreaker for some handling-sensitive dogs.

Best padded

Designed for outdoor adventures, the Ruffwear Front Range Harness is made to withstand heavy use while keeping your dog comfortable. After seven years of use, this is the only intact harness reporter Ren Volpe’s dog still wears from his younger days. Foam padding on the chest and belly helps prevent rubbing and chafing, and the built-in clasps are covered with fabric to ensure they don’t touch any part of a dog’s body.

“The padding is nice because it doesn’t rub on my thin-coated dog,” says Scarlett Cermak, a professional dog trainer and owner of Embark Today. “I also really like that there is a back-clip option because there are times, believe it or not, when I want my dogs to pull, like in sports like canicross or joring.”

The harness is simple to put on and take off, with two clasps and adjustable buckles. It also features two leash attachments: an aluminum V-ring on the back and a reinforced webbing loop on the chest plate.

The Front Range doesn’t curb pulling as effectively as the other best no-pull dog harnesses in this guide. While it’s typical for a front-clip harness to shift when your dog pulls, this one twists more than our other picks, causing it to slide to the side with repeated pulling. And for broad-chested dogs, the similarly designed Rabbitgoo No-Pull Dog Harness may work better. However, the straps require frequent tightening as they loosen easily.

The harness features reflective stitching for better visibility at night, and its polyester shell holds up well to wear and tear. While the brand recommends hand-washing the harness, Volpe has run it through the washer and dryer many times. It’s still in good shape, though the edges have slightly curled over time.

Best budget

The PetSafe 3-in-1 No-Pull Dog Harness offers versatile leash attachment options — you can attach it to the front to reduce pulling or secure it to the back ring for casual walks or runs with your dog. At $25 to $30, it’s also a great starting point if you’re working with a tighter budget.

Beth DiMeccio, a volunteer at Family Dog Rescue, tested this harness with shelter dogs and was impressed with how well it managed strong pullers. “There’s little chance a dog can wriggle out of this harness, which is a big concern with shelter dogs,” she says.

The Y-shaped nylon harness allows a full range of motion without restricting a dog’s movement. It offers five adjustment points for a comfortable, snug fit, and the neck buckle eliminates the need to pull the harness over a dog’s head. Light neoprene padding adds comfort, while reflective stitching enhances nighttime visibility.

This harness is heavier than similar styles, which can make it too bulky for smaller dogs. While the lightly padded straps help prevent chafing, the plastic clasps aren’t padded and may cause discomfort when worn for long periods of time.

Once you get the hang of it, the harness is easy to put on. It includes a built-in adjustable strap to attach to a seat belt if you’d like to limit your dog’s movement in the car. However, it hasn’t been crash-tested and may not protect your dog in an accident.

Best for small dogs

Pulling is mostly associated with large dogs, but smaller dogs can tug hard on a leash, too. As with their larger counterparts, a no-pull dog harness can help lessen pulling with pint-sized pups. The Wild One Harness performed the best of the three harnesses freelance reporter Alex Rennie tested with his 12-pound terrier mix. When the leash was attached to the front D-ring, the harness redirected the small dog each time he attempted to pull.

Thanks to its snug fit, the harness remained secure and didn’t shift when the dog lunged. Rennie achieved the correct fit with three easy-to-use adjustment points, each connected to a buckle (one at the neck and two at the back). You can also fasten the buckles without lifting the harness over the dog’s head. This is a great feature for dogs who are uncomfortable with anything being placed over or around their head, says Nicole Ellis, a professional dog trainer and owner of Tails With Nicole.

No matter how snug the harness was after adjustment, Rennie’s dog didn’t experience any chafing, thanks to extra padding around high-friction areas, particularly the armpits. A layer of stretchy polyester covers the inside of the harness, which also reduces the possibility of discomfort and chafing. However, the material sometimes caused the harness to shift, even after adjusting the straps to get a perfect fit.

On its website, Wild One warns that some richer color options may bleed onto lighter-colored fur. To prevent this, it recommends handwashing the harness before using it. Rennie washed the harness and found it dried quickly.

Best with handle

The PoyPet No-Pull Dog Harness is former reporting fellow Sophia Carlisle’s favorite no-pull harness with a handle. The versatile harness has several features common in the best no-pull dog harnesses, including a front leash attachment to prevent pulling, reflective strips, and a locking buckle at the neck. Even more, it has a handle on the back.

The wide handle that runs horizontally across the back of the harness is especially useful when Carlisle needs to quickly grab her lunging 50-pound dog. Her dog has a habit of rolling in burrs during forest walks, and she frequently uses the handle to pull her away from spiky plants. It can also be tough for Carlisle to see her black-coated dog during evening hikes since she blends in with the surrounding trees. The reflective strips on this harness are an excellent safety feature that makes it easy for other hikers, dogs, and even people in cars to see her at any time of day.

The harness also has a locking buckle on the neck strap, an excellent safety feature for dogs prone to bolting. When the lock is engaged, the buckle cannot be unlatched. This feature kept Carlisle’s dog secure even when she was startled by a charging dog and tried to back out of the harness.

While the three separate attachment points eliminate the need to place the harness over your dog’s head, this design can make it confusing to put on at first. Another drawback is the lack of padding. The underside is reinforced with a webbed mesh material, which helps the harness move with the dog but doesn’t provide protection against chafing. For thin-coated dogs, we recommend a more heavily padded harness.

What else we like

Blue-9 Pet Products Balance Harness: Our former top pick for the best no-pull dog harnesses earned high marks from dog walkers and trainers. At Family Dog Rescue, an animal shelter in San Francisco, our testers were impressed by how much easier it was to walk untrained shelter dogs with the Balance Harness. It features a Y-neck design that prevents the straps from crossing over the dog’s shoulders or pinching under their armpits. “It is great for daily performance, and it doesn’t interfere with the dog’s shoulder movement,” says Robyn Socarro, a professional dog trainer.

The buckle on the neck strap is helpful for dogs who resist putting their head through a harness, but this design can make it tricky to put it on. To simplify things, the harness has a colored top strap on the back to help you easily identify the correct placement, and the top strap of the all-black harness includes a printed logo for easy identification.

With six adjustment points and straps that fit around both the neck and torso, the Balance Harness can be customized to fit wide necks and round bellies. However, the harness may sit too far back on dogs with shorter torsos, leading to gaping of the back strap and sagging of the belly strap. For those dogs, the PetSafe Easy Walk Comfort or PetSafe 3-in-1 harnesses are good alternatives since their straps are significantly shorter in length. Read our full Blue-9 Balance Harness review.

What to look for in a no-pull harness

The following considerations will help you choose the best harness to stop your dog from pulling on leash.

Design: A dog harness should not impede or restrict movement. Look for one that doesn’t sag, and make sure the straps don’t lay over your dog’s front legs and shoulders, which can interfere with movement. Y-shaped no-pull harnesses are less likely to restrict movement than T-shaped styles. Additionally, harnesses with leash attachments on both the front and back offer more versatility.

Ellis says a proper fit is essential regardless of the style you choose. If you can comfortably fit two fingers underneath the harness without being able to tug it forward, it’s likely to be both comfortable and secure for your dog.

Ease of use: A harness that’s easy to put on and take off leaves less room for error. Look for one with multiple adjustment points to ensure the best fit.

Padding: Extra padding provides comfort and helps prevent chafing and rubbing, which is especially important for dogs who tend to pull.

Machine washable: A harness that’s easy to clean will help prevent odors and look good for years to come.

Warranty: No-pull harnesses are a bit pricey, so having the option to return a defective one or get a replacement is a valuable perk.

How we tested the best no-pull dog harnesses

We published this guide in 2020 after freelance reporter and professional dog trainer Shoshi Parks interviewed dog walkers and trainers to learn about their favorite no-pull dog harnesses. She also consulted veterinarians and dog behaviorists to gather insights on what to look for in a harness.

The following year, freelance reporter and professional dog trainer Ren Volpe tested our top picks with untrained shelter dogs at Family Dog Rescue in San Francisco over an eight-week period. Three shelter staff members and two volunteer shelter walkers used the harnesses during walks with more than two dozen medium and large-sized rescue dogs, all of whom were challenging to walk due to overexcitability, lack of training, or reactivity. The dogs were walked for 30 to 60 minutes on city streets and in local parks.

In 2024, pets reporting fellow Sophia Carlisle tested handle harnesses with her 50-pound pitbull mix, while freelance reporter Alex Rennie tested small harnesses with his 12-pound terrier mix. They both walked their dogs for at least 30 minutes on city streets and in local parks. Now, in 2025, Rennie, freelance reporter Elizabeth Holbrook, and senior pets editor Lisa Sabatini have continued to test harnesses with their small and medium-sized dogs.

Below are the key factors we’ve considered when evaluating the best no-pull dog harnesses.

Prevents pulling: We evaluated how effectively each harness prevented dogs from pulling on leash during walks. We walked for a minimum of 30 minutes on 4-foot leashes.

Does not impede or restrict movement: We tested the harnesses on dogs of various sizes and shapes to ensure they didn’t sag or have straps that obstructed the dog’s front legs or shoulders. The PetSafe Original Easy Walk and Wonder Walker harnesses were disqualified due to significant sagging during testing.

Does not chafe or rub: We tested harnesses on both long-haired and short-haired dogs to check for any chafing or rubbing.

Dog cannot slip or back out of the harness: This was a key factor in our testing, as the shelter dogs we walked were more likely to be flight risks.

Easy to put on and take off/ease of adjustment: Putting on or adjusting a dog’s harness should be simple. Our shelter volunteers and testers recorded their experiences fitting the harnesses on our tester dogs.

Durability and washability: We asked professional dog walkers for their opinions on how well these harnesses hold up over time and after multiple washes.

Initial and replacement costs: We evaluated whether the price of a harness is reasonable and how easily it can be replaced if it gets chewed.

We did not test head halters, as most dogs initially find them uncomfortable and may resist wearing them. The no-pull harnesses in this guide are a better option for those choosing the least intrusive, minimally aversive (LIMA) approach to dog training and behavior modification. For more information about head halters, check out our guide to the best dog harnesses.

No-pull dog harness FAQs

What is the best harness to stop a dog from pulling?

We recommend a front-clip no-pull harness when training a dog to walk on a leash without pulling. It removes dangerous pressure from a dog’s neck while reducing their ability to pull.

Are no-pull harnesses good for dogs?

Yes, the best no-pull dog harnesses are designed to minimize pressure on a dog’s neck and joints when they pull.

Is a harness or collar better to stop pulling?

Even the best dog collars should not be used to restrain or control your dog because they can put unnecessary stress and tension on their neck. “Dogs that pull on leash are at an increased risk of choking,” says Dr. Lillian Baker, veterinarian and owner of Baker’s Mobile Veterinary Services in Texas. She explains that tracheal collapse is another potential consequence. A 2020 study using canine neck models with pressure sensors confirmed the danger, concluding that all types of dog collars can potentially injure a dog’s neck. A flat neck collar should only be used for attaching an identification tag or for decoration. A body harness is a much safer and more effective option for walking a dog that pulls.

How does a no-pull harness stop a dog from pulling?

Front-clip no-pull dog harnesses discourage pulling by turning the dog toward you whenever the leash tightens. No-pull harnesses come in two basic designs: a Y-shaped chest strap or a T-shaped harness with a strap that runs horizontally across the chest. Y-shaped harnesses offer better freedom of movement. “Any product that forms a Y shape around the dog’s neck and under the chest is non-restrictive,” says Dr. Chris Zink, a veterinarian specializing in canine sports medicine and rehabilitation.

Why do dogs pull on leash?

“Dogs may pull on a leash due to hypersensitivity to all that is going on around them as well as a lack of proper leash training as a puppy,” Baker says. No dog is born innately understanding how to walk on a leash. They pull because they naturally walk faster than we do and want to get to the park, greet another dog, or sniff something interesting. Usually, they keep pulling because they’ve learned that doing so allows them to move forward.

How do I fit a no-pull harness to my dog?

Choosing the best harness for your dog is like picking the perfect pair of running shoes: A good fit is crucial. There’s nothing scarier than your dog wriggling or backing out of a loose-fitting harness. An ill-fitting harness will also be uncomfortable, and if it’s too tight, it can cause chafing. A sagging harness can restrict a dog’s full range of shoulder or leg movement. A properly fitted harness will be snug but not too tight, with enough room to fit two to three fingers under each strap. Be sure to check the size chart and follow the instructions for measuring your dog. When shopping online, measure carefully and check the return policy before placing your order.

Will a no-pull harness teach my dog to stop pulling?

Front-clip no-pull harnesses aren’t a quick fix that will instantly stop your dog from pulling, but they serve as a useful management tool. The most effective way to prevent pulling is to train your dog to walk on a loose leash using positive reinforcement with some of the best dog treats for training. If your dog is a longtime puller, no piece of equipment alone will teach them to stop, but a good harness can help you control and manage your dog while working on leash manners. If you continue walking whenever your dog pulls, you not only miss the opportunity to train loose leash walking but also reinforce the pulling behavior.

What’s the best leash for a dog who pulls?

Baker prefers a standard 4- to 6-foot-long leather leash for dog walking. She recommends avoiding retractable leashes, which present a variety of safety risks for both dogs and their walkers. You can find excellent leather and fabric designs in our guide to the best dog leashes.

Why don’t we recommend prong, choke, and e-collars?

We only considered no-pull equipment that ensures a dog’s comfort and doesn’t cause pain. Prong, choke, and shock collars are designed to punish a dog by inflicting pain around the neck when they pull. Prong collars and choke chains can also cause damage to a dog’s neck. “As a general rule, I don’t like anything that puts too much pressure on the neck,” says Dr. Carlo Siracusa, a board-certified veterinary behaviorist and associate professor of clinical behavior medicine at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine. “Definitely no prong or shock collars,” he says. “Even a martingale-type collar, which I do like, will not prevent the dog from pulling [and] will apply pressure on the neck.”

Is there a humane alternative to no-pull harnesses?

Head halters are a humane alternative to body harnesses, and Baker recommends them for dogs that pull. “If you lead the head, the body follows,” she says. However, head halters may not be suitable for every dog. Siracusa says they can cause whiplash or neck or spine pain if a dog is easily overaroused or highly reactive on leash.

Is there such a thing as a chew-proof harness?

There is no such thing as a chew-proof harness. A chewed-up harness is not a manufacturing defect or the result of poor design or materials. A determined dog or teething puppy can easily destroy a harness in less than 30 seconds, so always remove the harness when your dog is unsupervised. Additionally, take it off when dogs are roughhousing to prevent injury, as their teeth and limbs can become entangled.