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Looking for the best dog harness for your Pitbull? While Pitbulls are a breed with boundless love, they also tend to have boundless energy. With their stocky stature, Pitbulls are powerful dogs. To walk your dog safely, you need to make sure that you have the right equipment in hand. If you plan to harness train your Pitbull, you’ll want to make sure you find the right harness for your pup’s size & energy level.
One of the best ways to stop dogs from pulling is to opt for a harness instead of a collar. It’s also far more comfortable while your pup is out for walks. There are plenty of different models that offer the strength, security, and durability that you need as a Pitbull owner.
Below we’ve compiled our extensive research to help you find the perfect fit for your pup. Each of these harnesses should provide peace of mind when walking your dog out in public. Choosing the right harness will help you to enjoy more quality time together and improve walks for everyone. Let’s jump in!
At a Glance: Our Favorite Pitbull Harnesses
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Buyer’s Guide
Choosing the right harness for your pitbull can be a challenge. There’s no one-size-fits-all solution when it comes to proper pet gear. However, there are a few main features to look out for when shopping for pitbull harnesses.
First let’s take a look at why harnesses can be a better choice than collars. This rings true even for breeds that notoriously are pullers, like the Pitbull. Keep in mind that these harnesses can swap out and are a good option for Pitbull mixes that are similar in size.
Harnesses vs. Collars
Traditionally, most people use a leash and collar to walk their dog. These days, though, more and more trainers are recommending that owners swap out collars for harnesses. This is even more highly recommended with large and powerful dogs.
Several issues can arise when using collars with a dog such as a Pitbull. Our four-legged friends can suffer severe neck injuries from pulling on a collar. This can lead to long-term damage to the windpipe or trachea. In some cases, collars can even lead to choking and strangulation.
Switching from a collar to a harness can help to reduce the chance of neck or spinal injuries, especially for dogs who are prone to pulling. Harnesses are effective for other short and stout breeds like the English Bulldog. It can also help to give you more control and reduced the chances of your pitty breaking free during a walk.
Safety
One of the main reasons to use a harness is safety. Pitbulls are powerful dogs with a strong prey drive. It’s crucial that you keep them under control when out in public to prevent accidental injuries or property damage.
The perfect Pitbull harness should fit your dog snugly so that he or she can’t wriggle out and break free. It’s best to look for models with an adjustable fit, especially with puppies. You can resize it as your dog grows, ensuring a perfect fit year after year.
It’s also a good idea to outfit your pitbull’s harness with ID tags. Each year, the American Humane Association estimates that around one in every three pets, or more than 10 million cats and dogs, are lost in the U.S. every year. In the event that your pitbull manages to break free and runoff, it will be much easier to locate your pet.
Durability
Pitbulls have a lot of power. As most Pitbull owners already know, this often means a short life for pet gear. Because they are aggressive chewers, everything from chew toys to food bowls need to be robust enough to hold up to heavy wear and tear. You should always opt for a heavy-duty model designed for larger dogs, and think about an anti-pulling option for your dog.
The material is one of the most important considerations when it comes to durability. Some of the best fabrics for harnesses include nylon, polyester, and leather. It’s also a good idea to look closely at the stitching.
Whether machine or man-made, the stitching on harnesses should use strong, high-quality thread, there should be no sign of missed stitches or frayed edges. Otherwise, excessive straining may break the harness.
Comfort
The perfect Pitbull harness isn’t perfect if it doesn’t fit. If it’s made of the wrong material, it can end up making walks unpleasant for your pup. You want to find an option that doesn’t chafe, overheat, or cause hair loss. It’s best to look for a model that offers interior padding, especially around rough edges and sensitive areas.
Padding should be made of a gentle material such as cotton, lined foam, or fleece. In addition to being soft, it should also be breathable. Each year, hundreds of pets suffer from heatstroke that can lead to long-term damage or even death.
While pitbulls have short hair, it’s still easy for them to overheat in hot or humid climates. It’s best to look for a harness that uses fabrics that allow for airflow over the back and torso to keep your pup cool and comfortable.
Attachment Points
While a collar forces you to lead from the neck, different types of harness attachments give you options. There are harnesses specially designed to stop your pitbull from pulling against its lead during walks. These harnesses have a front or side attachment point.
While an attachment point at the back of the neck can strain a dog’s spinal cord, a frontal or side attachment translates energy to the side. It allows you to keep your dog under control by working actively to prevent forward motion. This style is designed to go to the side when your pitbull pulls, directing your pup back toward you.
Top Harnesses for Pitbulls
Every Pitbull is different and typically so is the size and need for a proper training harness. We’ve put together a compehensive list that will help guide your purchase decisions. Each one of these brands/models is battle-tested and can hold up to the durability that your dog will need during morning and evening walks.
No matter what type of pitbull or pitbull terrier mutt you have, we’ve got you covered. Here are our favorite harnesses for pitbull owners who want to spend some time outdoors with their four-legged friend. As mentioned earlier, these harnesses are also good choices for some types of pit mixes that are the same size.
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This stylish lead is designed to handle even the wiliest of dogs, with an escape-proof design that includes four adjustable points to help you get a snug, comfortable fit. The Chai’s Choice harness is suitable for pitbulls with a chest size between 27 and 32 inches.
The chest piece is padded with a soft sponge material. This will help to prevent chafing and evenly distribute weight. A lightweight mesh lining around the chest and belly will also help to keep your pup cool during warm-weather walks.
The outer layer is made of a durable and scratch-resistant Oxford material. A lightweight Duraflex buckle allows for control over even large pitbulls by helping to improve the strength and dispersion of the harness.
The Chai’s ergonomic design is not only made to be comfortable for your pitbull but also you. You can easily put on and remove the harness simply by slipping it over your dog’s head and attaching the straps with a single click.
Nylon webbing with 3M reflective trim helps to make you and your dog more visible. This is helpful when walking at night or in low-light conditions. This feature can help to reduce the risk of an accident, especially if your route takes you near any major motorways.
We love that this harness has four adjustable points to allow for a snug, custom fit. The foam padding and mesh lining keep your dog cool and comfortable. The ergonomic design allows for an easy single-click fit. The reflective trim also makes you and your pup more visible in low light conditions.
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When riding in the car, it’s important to keep your dog restrained for both their safety and your own. According to the American Automobile Association, only around 16% of pet owners properly secure their pooch when driving.
This harness functions as both a walking aid and a car restraint system. It’s designed with safety in mind, with crash-test ratings for dogs up to 75 lbs. It’s been engineered using the same tech used in rock-climbing gear, ensuring the harness can withstand significant pressure.
There are two adjustable sizes to choose from, depending on your pitbull’s physique. The medium model fits dogs with a neck circumference between 16 and 25 inches, while the large fits pups with a neck between 18 and 28 inches.
The Kurgo is compatible with just about any car, boasting strong steel-nested buckles and a broad, padded chest plate that evenly distributes weight. The model even includes a 10-inch seatbelt tether with a sturdy steel carabiner.
We love that this harness can be used both in the car and on walks. It’s also been crash tested for large dogs (including Pits). It uses the same technology in belts and buckles that rock climbers use, and it includes a seatbelt tether for traveling safely. It will fit a wide range of Pitbull sizes, making it ideal for puppies.
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This harness is highly adjustable and designed to accommodate larger dogs such as pitbulls with a chest size between 22 and 35 inches. Its design distributes weight evenly to help prevent choking in dogs that tend to pull. It’s made of a lightweight nylon Oxford material that won’t weigh your pup down or overheat them during walks. Reflective accents make it easier to see both of you during walks in low light.
Unlike most harnesses, the Babyltrl has a triangular anti-tear design that places straps closer to the neck instead of around the body. This means it’s more resistant to straining and snapping when a dog pulls against it. Quick-snap buckles make the Babyltrl easy to take on and off without a hassle. Both snaps can be locked for a more secure fit.
The harness features a D-ring leash attachment that’s slightly further back than that of competitors, putting less pressure on your dog when they pull. For even more control, the Babyltrl also offers a sturdy nylon handle in the back. This feature gives you an easily accessible point to handle and control your pup when necessary.
We love that this harness fits a wide range of sizes, making it ideal for growing pups. The D-ring attachment and back handle give you the enhanced control that you need, and the triangluar anti-tear design prevents escape and improves safety. It’s also easy to get on and off with the quick snap buckles.
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This harness boasts an easy, everyday design that’s intended for extended wear in all weather. Materials are lightweight and durable, while foam-padded strips across the chest and belly help to reduce pressure and enhance comfort. This feature makes the Ruffwear ideal for an all-day outing.
This harness easily slips over your dog’s head and can be fastened with one quick clip. There are 18 leash attachment points that you can use depending on your pitbull’s walking tendencies, and 4 points of adjustment to allow for the best possible fit.
An aluminum ring in the back and a webbing loop on the chest help to keep your dog comfortable and contained during walks. These features stand up to pups that pull and give you just a little bit more control while on the move.
For peace of mind, this harness offers an ID pocket to allow you to store your dog’s tags for easy identification. There are also bright, reflective trim elements that will help to make your dog more easily visible to passing pedestrians and motorists alike.
We love that the comfortable materials make this model a great choice for all-day wear. There are 18 leash attachments and 4 points of adjustment to give you complete control over fit. The aluminum leash ring and webbing loop help enhance your control. It also has a built-in ID pocket that protects your pup in the event he gets loose.
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This everyday harness is made to hold up to overenthusiastic dogs and larger breeds such as pitbulls. It’s made of a strong yet lightweight no-rip 1200D Oxford nylon with padding designed to reduce chafing. There are four adjustment points that allow you to fit the harness to your dog’s body. You can also choose between four separate sizes that fit dogs with chests between 17 and 38 inches.
The overall design is intended to help discourage leash-pulling and train your dog to walk politely. A metal clip on the front, an additional D-ring on the back, and a handle on the top all help to give you the maximum amount of control. Carefully placed reflective strips help to make you and your dog more visible, even at night. You can also find it in several bright colors for better daytime visibility.
We love that this harness has plenty of adjustable size options to fit pitbull chests anywhere between 17 and 38 inches. The Oxford Nylon is resistant to ripping or breaking, and there’s four adjustment points for greater versatility.
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The Rabbitgoo dog harness is specifically designed with a d-ring attachment at the front to prevent pulling. It’s extremely budget-friendly, and will stop even the most aggressive puller in their tracks. A medium or large should fit your Pitbull, depending on their size.
This harness comes in four different sizes and has ten different color options. This will allow you to style your pup according to their personality. It’s also designed to also prevent choking and evenly distributes pressure across your dog’s entire body.
This harness is equipped with four easily adjustable straps around the body, allowing you to give your pup a perfect fit. It has a fully padded chest area that’s covered in a breathable mesh fabric. It comes equipped with two different quick release buckles making it extremely easy to get on your dog, and get it back off without hassle.
We love the budget-friendly price point on this harness. Rabbitgoo doesn’t sacrifice quality for budget either, and there’s a good chance this harness will last your pup for years.
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Final Thoughts
It’s crucial that you have the perfect Pitbull harness equiped when the two of you are enjoying time out and about in public. While Pitbulls are beautiful, loving creatures, they’re also a powerful breed with a strong prey drive. You want to make sure you get the right fit that’s not meant for a smaller breed.
For the sake of your own safety, that of your pup, and of anyone who happens to be around you, it’s crucial that you find the right walking gear. A harness is one of the best ways to keep your pitbull secure, comfortable, and controlled as you go about your day together.
If you’re interested in getting a new harness for your pitbull, it’s important that you do your research. For a good everyday Pitbull harness, we recommend Chai’s Choice Outdoor Adventure Harness. In terms of versatility and durability, it beats out much of the competition. It’s comfortable for your dog while giving you complete control during your walking time.
