Best Harness For Your Husky
Owning a Siberian husky is surely going to be exciting because the breed is full of energy. You won't have a dull moment while around Siberian huskies, but while they're playful, they're quite strong too, and quite notorious for pulling. That means you'll be better off discarding the regular leash and switching to the best harness for husky to discourage pulling and keep things under control.
You need to know that huskies can be escape artists, and they won't mind trying whatever they can to break free, thanks to their strong prey drive and high intellect. Therefore, you should avoid a cheap harness and only buy a quality product that can match your husky's energy and power.
Here are some good options for you to consider:
Ruffwear Front Range Harness
BEST overall
Rated by: Amber
Canine Equipment Ultimate Dog Harness
BEST No-Pull Harness
Rated by: Amber
Julius K9 IDC Harness
Best Heavy-duty Harness
Rated by: Amber
The Best Harness for Husky: Our Top Picks
1. Ruffwear Front Range Harness
Quick Summary
Rated by: Amber
You'll love this option if you're looking for a harness for everyday use. Putting it on is a breeze. It is extremely comfortable because it comes with adjustable fit. In fact, you can use from four adjustment points to ensure it is comfortable and allows a full range of motion.
It comes with two leash attachments, including an aluminum V-ring and a reinforced webbing. The webbing is at your dog's chest area to prevent pulling, whereas the V-ring is just perfect for regular walking. It uses a reflective trim to keep your dog safe in low-light conditions.
Overall, it's a great husky harness, but the only concern is that you can only hand wash it. It shouldn't be a huge issue though, as you can do it easily though using a mild detergent.PROS
CONS
2. Canine Equipment Ultimate Dog Harness
Quick Summary
Rated by: Amber
If you're looking for a no pull dog harness, you'll get good results using this product. Not only does it help discourage pulling, it's just as good for everyday walks as well.
The Ultimate Pulling Harness won't hurt your husky because it distributes pressure evenly. The use of plenty of padding along with a fleece liner ensures maximum comfort as well. The presence of adjustable straps also offers added comfort.
This best dogs harness also features a strong padded handle, is easy to use, and has a central leash attachment, but keep in mind that it may feel a bit expensive. Also, getting rid of husky hair may be a chore.
PROS
CONS
3. Julius K9 IDC Harness
Quick Summary
Rated by: Amber
If you're looking for a heavy duty harness for your husky, the Julius-K9 IDC is the best dog harness for you. With its heavy-duty buckle and an extremely tactical design, it works well even if you have an overactive and excitable husky.
This dog harness features two fully adjustable straps, so you can make changes to find a comfortable fit for your dog. It doesn't put pressure on your dog's trachea, thanks to its low front design.
The presence of a strong handle means you can use it with more confidence while training your husky to quit pulling. The only issue is that it doesn't come with a front leash attachment.
PROS
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FAQ - A Buyer's Guide
What Type of Harness is Best for a Husky??
These days, you can find many different harness types, so what works great for your husky depends on your unique preferences and the size of your dog. So, measure your dog first and consider the following points when buying harnesses for your dogs:
If you travel a lot with your husky, you may want to buy an auto dog harness that helps keep him safe during the ride. The presence of attachable hooks means you can easily connect them with car seat belts.
If you're looking for the best husky harness for walking, you may like a back-clip dog harness because you can easily attach it with your standard leash. You may find these more useful when your husky is still a little puppy because it won't hurt his delicate neck.
If your husky is undergoing training and is a strong puller, you may consider buying a front-clip harness. With a ring attached at the center of your dog's chest area, this type of harness provides you with additional control over your dog.
You may want to try a support dog harness if your husky has undergone surgery of some sort. It may also be a good choice for an aging dog who isn't in a position to use his legs properly. The harness helps lift the dog up so he could walk conveniently.
For strong pullers, which most huskies are, you may like a no-pull or tightening harness. As the leash attachment ring is in front, so it is quite like a front-clip harness, but the main difference is that it tightens as your dog pulls. The tightening can cause a little discomfort, telling your pulling dog to avoid this behavior completely. Just ensure your dog harness no pull is not painful because it can make your husky a bit aggressive.
If you are in search of a husky dog harness that is easy to put on and off, your choice should be a step-in harness. All you have to do is place it on the floor and let your husky step into it. You just need to pull it up and wrap it around your dog's body. It is easy to secure the harness in the back area.
Are Harnesses Good for Huskies?
Yes, using a husky harness correctly will offer numerous benefits. For instance:
- It helps keep your husky safe. As they're a playful breed, you just can't control them with a collar or a leash. Some of these harnesses have reflective trims, which can provide added safety for your active husky. It is also easier to travel with your husky when he's wearing an auto harness, which, again, is going to help keep him safe even when you're in an accident.
- It helps prevent injuries. Using a collar on your husky seems to be a good choice when you're still training him, but wrong use of collars can lead to injuries, especially if your husky becomes a bit aggressive or is an instinctive puller. The action could lead to ear/eye problems, thyroid gland trauma, and behavioral issues. You can lower the risk of injuries by using a harness though.
- It helps support your injured dog. By using a harness, you can help your injured dog move around. A harness can also ensure you don't end up causing any further damage to his injured body parts. For instance, using a leash and collar on a dog recovering from respiratory health problems is not a good idea, but a harness will still help you have him under control while moving around.
- It helps discourage pulling. Huskies are powerful, so using leashes to discourage pulling is not always a great idea. Using a no-pull harness, though, is a much safer option because you can apply more force knowing it won't hurt your dog and it will also help change his direction when he's trying to pull ahead.
How Do I Stop My Husky from Pulling?
Known for their ability to pull heavy sleds, it is never going to be easy to train your husky to behave while you're out in the real world. Huskies are natural pullers but the good news is that you can train them and control their strength and endurance. The correct use of a harness might help a great deal when trying to stop your husky from pulling.
Before trying anything, keep in mind that no harness is going to work wonders unless you spend time training your dog. Harnesses are only going to discourage the pulling behavior, and you will have to replace that behavior with something else and resort to positive reinforcement – with lots of treats probably – to get good results.
A good way to stop huskies from pulling is to use a harness in combination with a shock collar. These collars emit a small electric shock that may be a bit uncomfortable for your dog and prove to be the 'interrupter' he needs to quit pulling. Also, eliminating triggers that make your dog to pull would also help. Just be sure to avoid painful or aversive collars because they're only going to make your dog more aggressive – and aggression is never good when you have a powerful and intelligent breed like a husky.
Can You Train a Husky to Walk Off Leash?
It is going to be tricky – and a test of your patience – but it is certainly possible to train a husky to walk off leash. Husky is an intelligent breed, so you can train them in whatever way you like.
Using the right husky harness is important at every step of the training, but you may also have to use a collar and sometimes, a retractable leash to keep things under control. Ensure the harness is not too tight because the discomfort would turn into painful and that could lead to aggression, which is only going to hamper the training.
Your aim should be to take the harness and leash off eventually. However, starting with a leash is usually a good idea, but keep it loose whenever you can. Be sure to keep some treats with you for positive reinforcement. Also, choose a quiet and distraction-free area for training. Here are a few tips to try:
- Use your husk's favorite toy to make him come to you. Wave the toy up and down to grab his attention and encourage him to follow you.
- Be sure to reward him or let him play with the toy every time your husky follows you and catches up to you. Remember to praise him verbally, as it is going to tell him that recall is great fun.
- Always pay attention to the behavior of your dog and reward him for attention. Be sure to reward him every time he stops and looks up at you.
- Take him out while keeping a loose leash and reward him for focusing on you. If it works well, you may try it off leash as well. Don't forget to reward him at least verbally for maintaining a good behavior off leash.
Conclusion
Training a Siberian husky is going to be a test of your patience and skills, but know that it is possible to have a well-behaved husky if you're willing to put in the effort. And while you're trying, be sure to get whatever help you can get in the form of dog harnesses, collars, and good quality leashes to eventually get rid of these aids and help your husky walk off leash. You'll feel proud when you achieve that goal!