The 6 Best Puppy Harnesses Australia: Tested & Evaluated 2024

Looking for the best harness possible for your new puppy? It can be a hard choice, especially when it’s the first harness you are getting for your new canine companion to learn about their new world. 

How can you introduce and train a pup to walk on a lead in the most gentle way possible? This guide is here to help you with everything you need to know about a puppy harness.

To provide you with all the information you need, we teamed up with veterinarians, canine behaviourists and dog parents to form an independent panel of experts. We then spent months testing out the most popular puppy harnesses and finally agreed on this list of the best puppy harness Australia offers after trying out dozens and dozens of choices.

Along with our list of the best of the best, we also share our expert tips on how to shop for the perfect harness for your precious pup. So let's get to it!

Australia's Best Puppy Harnesses Reviewed

It's time to check out the best puppy harness Australia offers. These are the harnesses that stood up to testing by our team of independent experts, were comfortable for our pups and didn't break the bank in the process. Then we will step you through know how to pick the correct harness for your particular pup, so you can buy with confidence. 

Puppies need time to get used to harnesses. This is why you want to start them with something that is not too heavy and cumbersome. You need a harness that is lightweight and comfortable, but also secure at the same time. After all, you don’t want the pup running away during the first walk outside.

This harness from Dog Nation offers all that! The chest and back panels are made of Cordura fabric which offers the perfect balance between weight and durability. Hint: it’s lightweight, and very strong. In addition to this, everyone on our team of independent experts loved how the panels are padded so the only thing our puppies felt against the skin is softness.

Related: Best No Pull Dog Harness

Additionally, this harness is equipped with strong nylon straps and metal hardware to ensure it always stays in place. Speaking about hardware, I liked how there are two lead attachments on this harness - one at the front and one on the back. This is great because it offered me a lot of flexibility when I was lead training my pup.

Another great feature of this Dog Nation harness is that it’s fully adjustable. Each of the four straps comes with an adjustment mechanism. Thanks to this feature, it’s not only possible to achieve the perfect fit, but the harness can grow with your puppy too - at least to an extent.

This is also our number 1 small dog harness choice!

This True Love harness is a great choice if your puppy is gonna be wearing a harness for the first time. The harness is extra lightweight and soft. If you are trying to get a dog used to wearing a harness, this is what you need to start with.

The body of this harness is made of mesh fabric, unlike our number one choice that features strong Cordura. The wide strip of mesh nylon gently wraps around the dog’s neck and goes down the chest. The shape of the mesh piece ensures that there are no edges cutting into your pup’s skin. In addition to this, the weight is equally distributed across the chest when the dog pulls instead of cutting into the neck. The fabric is also very breathable, so any chance of discomfort is eliminated.

So how does it work? I put the soft mesh part behind my pup's front legs. The part made of soft fabric also covers this sensitive area. Behind the front legs, I attached a sturdy adjustable strap to the soft mesh piece. The strap wrapped around my dog’s back, which made the harness relatively escape-proof too.

Another cute thing about this True Love harness is that you get to choose from eight colour options. If you are looking for a neutral colour, there is black and brown, but it also might be a good idea to choose neon yellow or orange. This way, you’ll always be able to spot your puppy, even in low visibility conditions.

This is not a harness made specifically for puppies, but it does work great for them! There are a couple of reason for this:

First of all, this is a step-in harness, unlike our number one and number two options. This means that there is no need to wrangle the harness over your pup’s head. All I had to do was lay the harness on the floor, put my dog's two front legs inside the holes (hence “step in”), lift the harness up and close a single buckle on his back. With puppies who are not used to standing still to have the harness put on, this can be great.

Second, this harness is designed to be really comfortable. It features a large chest plate made of soft and breathable fabric. The wide chest piece ensures that the straps don’t dig into your dog’s skin - which is just what puppies need.

In addition to this, the chest piece lies low due to the shape of the harness. It distributes the weight evenly and keeps the harness away from the throat. This feature makes the Urban Step-In Dog Harness a good choice for brachycephalic breeds like Bulldogs and Frenchies.

Overall, this is a great harness. It’s easy to put on, it’s adjustable and comfortable. Our panel of independent experts also loved how the colour schemes are cute and there are even reflective strips along the edges to make your pooch more visible during night walks!

This harness is especially great for outdoor adventures with puppies! Once they are old enough to enjoy outdoor activities, you’ll quickly notice that young dogs also never seem to run out of energy. The best thing you can do for a canine in such situations is let them get as much exercise as they need, and this harness is perfect for that.

The True Love Sport No Pull Dog Harness Outdoor Adventure with Handle is made from synthetic fabric that is strong and lightweight. Like our second choice, this harness features soft padding on the inside distributed strategically to prevent chafing and discomfort. At the same time, the outside is strong and scratch-resistant, so you can rest assured this harness will last.

What makes this harness stand out among the others are the multiple options for attaching the lead. Besides the standard attachment on the back, you’ll also find this harness has a D-ring in the middle of the chest. The front lead attachment is great for energetic puppies that need a firm hand to prevent them from pulling.

In addition to this, there is a built-in handle on the back. The handle might seem unnecessary, but our team of independent experts discovered it did come in handy in a variety of situations. When you need to lift your dog for whatever reason, the handle will help. Plus, it lets you quickly take control of the dog when needed.

When your puppy belongs to a breed that is small anyways, it can be difficult to find a harness that’s small enough for them while they are still a puppy. Well, in that case, this harness could be a solution. The smallest size will fit dogs with a chest girth of 23 centimetres, which is quite tiny. No need to worry if your new canine companion is large, though. This harness comes in a variety of sizes, up to extra large.

So, this harness comes in appropriate sizes for virtually every dog, but this is not its main selling point. What our team of experts noted makes it so special is the fact that it’s escape-proof. This is possible because the harness is shaped differently than the other options on this list.

This one has two belly straps, in addition to the chest strap. Imagine a standard H-shaped harness, and then an additional belly strap in the back. This additional strap doesn’t change anything in terms of the comfort of the harness, but it makes it impossible to wiggle out from!

This harness is a bit more expensive than most other options, but it is well worth it. The higher price comes from the quality of materials used. The padding on the chest and back pieces is made of breathable microfibre, while the exterior is made of strong and water-resistant Cordura fabric, so kind of like a combination of our first and third-choice harnesses! This is all completed with strong nylon webbing and quality buckles.

Keeping a puppy safe on car rides is essential. The rules prescribed by law are often vague, so it's up to the owner to ensure their pet's safety. There is one thing everyone can agree on, though: it is safest to have the dog restrained while driving. A dog car harness like this one will ensure your canine companion is safely restrained and comfortable at the same time.

This harness from EzyDog is one of the best car harnesses our team of independent experts have seen, and it comes in small sizes suitable for puppies too. Plus, the harness is very adjustable so it can grow along with your pup, similar in that sense to our number one choice.

But, the main reason we chose this harness is safety. The extensively padded chest-plate with Crosslink technology ensures your dog doesn't get strangled by straps no matter what happens. 

I also liked how the setup is quite simple. I pulled my car's seatbelt through the two loops on the back of the harness, buckled it in, and that's it! And, when the car ride was over, I was able to keep using this harness for walks (regular D-rings on the back are included). 

What I Look for in a Harness for Puppies?

Finding the perfect harness for your puppy may seem like a daunting task with so many options available online. But our panel of independent experts have some suggestions to make your quest much easier:

Comfort

If it’s your puppy’s first harness, it’s crucial to find one that’s comfortable. If the first harness a dog uses is restricting and uncomfortable, it will be much harder to get them to accept using it. For puppies, it’s best to choose lightweight harnesses that are either made of softer materials or have lots of padding. This way, they might even end up liking the harness.

Safety and Adjustability

The primary purpose of a harness is to keep the dog safely on the lead. To achieve that, a harness must fit right. Not too tight but not too loose either. If the harness is too loose, it could be easy for the dog to wiggle out (when they want to), which we discovered firsthand during our trial phase! Moreover, harnesses that don’t fit well can even be dangerous.

If you get an adjustable harness, you’ll make the task easier for yourself. If you choose a harness where each strap is adjustable, you’ll be able to get the fit just right (there are plenty of options like this on the list above). An additional benefit of an adjustable harness is that it can grow with your puppy, at least to an extent.

Check out our YouTube video on How To Put On A Dog Harness

Shape

Most puppy harnesses fall into one of these two categories: H-shaped harnesses and step-in harnesses. The “H” shape is the most common. These harnesses usually have one strap that goes over the chest and one over the belly. They are fairly secure and functional and they work great for walks and all forms of exercise. However, you do usually need to pull the harness over your dog’s head when putting it on. It’s not too difficult, but there are easier options - especially when you are dealing with a wiggly and excitable puppy. 

With step-in harnesses, your dog literally steps into the harness. You then just lift the harness and clip the buckle on the back. Some pet parents, like myself, use exclusively step-in harnesses, but not everyone loves them. Depending on the model and your dog’s body shape, these harnesses can fit a bit awkward and be easy to escape from.

Control

The role of the harness is to give you control over your puppies movements. The way this is achieved will depend on where the lead is attached to the harness. The lead attachment on the back is the most common, and it tends to work well for dogs who have completed leash training. However, with some energetic and stubborn canines, this goal can be difficult to achieve.

A front-attach harness will have the lead attachment loop on the chest. This way, your dog will gently be brought back to you when they try to pull. While it is a great tool for training, the front attachment is usually not a permanent solution. This is why we recommend picking a harness that offers both front and back options for lead attachment.

My Final Verdict

What harness should you buy for your puppy? If you want a quick answer, our team of independent experts have two suggestions for you. Dog Nation Ultra Light No Pull Dog Harness is a perfect everyday harness for a puppy. It is lightweight but it can handle some serious wear and tear. Plus, you can use the front lead attachment when necessary.

However, if this seems like a bit too much for a pup’s first harness, then we think you should go with the True Love Breathable Mesh Nylon Dog Harness. It’s incredibly soft and comfortable, so the puppy will not feel over-encumbered!

References

1. McCarthy, C. November 29, 2017. “Surprising Dog Harness Dangers to Avoid”. PetMD. Retrieved January 15, 2024. https://www.petmd.com/dog/care/surprising-dog-harness-dangers-avoid
2. “What equipment should I use when teaching my dog or puppy to walk on a lead?”. RSPCA Knowledge Base. Retrieved January 15, 2024.  https://kb.rspca.org.au/knowledge-base/what-equipment-should-i-use-when-teaching-my-dog-or-puppy-to-walk-on-a-lead/
3. Loos, S. July 30, 2020. “How to Start Training Your Puppy”. PetMD. Retrieved January 15, 2024.  https://www.petmd.com/dog/training/when-start-training-puppy