The 6 Best French Bulldog Harnesses Australia: Tested & Evaluated 2024

Every dog needs something to keep them safe during walks and otherwise - a collar or a harness. But, if you are a proud pet parent of a French Bulldog, you might be wondering if there is anything specific you should be looking for.

Do some harnesses work better than others for the Frenchie’s body shape? Our French Bulldog Harness Australia guide is here to answer this question. By teaming up with an independent panel of experts comprising veterinarians, canine behaviourists, and other Frenchie parents, we were able to test several dozen harnesses claiming to be ideal for your favourite breed.

But how did they all stack up? After weeks of research and plenty of conjecture, we finally compiled this list of the best harness for French Bulldogs Australia offers. Let's check them out!

Australia's Best Harnesses for French Bulldogs Reviewed

So what kind of harness, exactly, is good for a French Bulldog? We’ve done the research and found many different options. The choices below are the ones we and our independent panel of experts were able to wholeheartedly agree are the best of the best for your Frenchie. 

The Urban Step In Dog Harness from Dog Nation is a harness that simply has it all. It’s comfortable, it’s lightweight, it’s secure, and it’s easy to put on. What more could we ask from a harness?

The trick behind this harness is that it combines a design that is more common in typical H-shaped harnesses with a step-in mechanism, just like our number two choice. The result is a harness that has a wide padded chest plate but does not go over the dog’s head. Instead, when testing it out, my dog needed to just step into the designated holes, and then I simply lifted the harness and buckled it up on my pooch’s back.

We’ve found that the shape of the Urban Step In Dog Harness works perfectly for breeds like Frenchies. On taller and skinnier breeds, the chest part can look and feel a bit awkward, but it fits just right on the muscular frame of the French Bulldog.

Most importantly, the chest plate and the chest strap sit very low when the harness is fitted right, so there is no pressure on your dog’s throat even if they decide to pull on the lead.

The only issue that might occur with this harness is the difficulty of finding the perfect fit. All straps on the harness are adjustable, but since it’s available in only three sizes, getting it to fit just right might be a matter of luck (a Frenchie might fall somewhere between the Small and the Medium).

This harness from Rogz is immensely popular among pet parents, and this is not a coincidence. They named this product a “utility harness” and the name is very fitting. The design is very minimalist but amazingly functional.

The harness is made completely from nylon webbing straps. There is a short vertical chest strap that’s connected to two longer straps. These straps go around the dog’s front legs and meet at the back. Each strap, including the vertical chest strap, is easily adjustable, similar to our first choice. This is quite important for this harness as the shape is a bit peculiar and it does need adjustment to fit different body shapes. Luckily, this can be done in no time.

On the back, you’ll find a quick-release buckle that is used to hold the harness in place. There are rings for attaching the leash on both sides of the quick-release buckle. Thus, attaching your leash to both rings creates an extra level of security.

Overall, every member of our team of independent experts say this is a great, lightweight harness that’s easier to put on than any other we’ve seen. The only potential downside is that the harness could be a bit uncomfortable, especially if your dog pulls a lot or they wear the harness for longer periods, setting it apart from our first and third choices.

The position of the straps in the front is different from most harnesses as they sit low. While keeping the pressure away from the throat, which is great, however this could also create some discomfort around the front legs.

In short, we think this is an awesome harness for quick daily walks. But for longer outings and intense exercise, perhaps choose something more comfortable.

Soft harnesses are a popular choice for small dogs like Frenchies because, well, they are just much more comfortable. This type of harness is not strong enough for large dogs with a lot of strength, but they are indeed a great solution for small breeds.

This harness from Puppia looks more like a vest, as the name suggests. It’s made from a soft polyester mesh with additional padding on the inside to make the harness as comfortable as possible. The fabric used is very breathable which is important since the harness does cover a large part of the dog’s body, so it could potentially trap heat and moisture inside - but it doesn’t! Design wise, it's the opposite of our second choice, which may be precisely what you need.

Another thing our panel of pros loved about this option from Puppia is that it’s a step-in harness. Most vest-type harnesses are quite difficult to put on, but unlike our first two options, this one isn’t. The dog simply steps inside and you lift the harness and connect it on the back.

The harness closes on the back with a large Velcro strap. This is not only a comfortable solution as it doesn’t disturb the overall softness of the harness, but it also allows for a bit of adjustment so you can get a better fit. To keep everything secure, I love how there is a quick-release buckle on the back that holds the harness securely in place.

The lead attachment is on the back and the harness does a great job at distributing the weight evenly (and away from your Frenchie’s sensitive throat) even if they decide to pull on the lead.

This harness from EzyDog is another example of how a simple design can fulfil all of your needs. Like our second choice, this is another harness that doesn’t have any large pieces of fabric - it consists only of straps. The nylon webbing straps are placed strategically to create a harness that is easy to put on and easy to adjust to a perfect fit.

While this is an overhead harness, our team of independent experts quickly noticed that getting it onto your dog is not a lot of hassle. You simply place the harness over your pup’s head, pass the belly strap under their belly and buckle it up on the side. The belly strap is adjustable and so is the chest strap.

We especially loved the chest strap adjustment mechanism. It’s adjusted with a large Velcro strap, but the part which you can adjust is then covered with a neoprene sleeve. That way, the harness feels completely comfy on the chest as there is no annoying hardware.

Overall, this is a great harness to use, especially in warm weather. Frenchies can overheat easily but this harness will not add to that due to the minimalistic design. In addition to this, I am happy to note that the nylon webbing and the neoprene sleeve will dry within minutes in case of rain or if your dog goes swimming.

The cars we drive were built to be as safe as possible for humans, but not really for dogs. That’s something we rarely think about, but in the case an accident was to happen, you’d surely want your dog to be safe too. Well, a good car harness can help with that.

This harness from SlowTon is a well-made and affordable option. The harness itself is a classic H-shaped harness. There is a wide soft chest plate in the front which holds the dog securely in place and makes sure the weight is distributed evenly in case of any sudden movements. The rest of the harness consists of adjustable straps that go around the chest and the belly and two quick-release buckles that allow you to set up the harness with ease each time.

Now, what our expert panel thinks makes this harness especially great for the car is the seat belt tether which is included with the harness. One side of the tether goes into the seat belt socket and the other one gets attached to the back of the harness. The tether strap is adjustable, but also elastic.

Is there anything cuter than a French Bulldog? Yes, a Frenchie in an adorable outfit! Now, we do not support dressing dogs up in uncomfortable outfits just for fun, but this harness from FuzzYard is both adorable and functional.

FuzzYard makes soft dog harnesses (and other dog accessories) with adorable prints. There are many different colour schemes to choose from so you can take your pick. Today, our team of independent experts decided to showcase the Summer Punch harness as we think the watermelon print looks incredibly cute on a Frenchie.

During our trail phase, I was happy to learn that the harness itself is very soft and comfortable. It's also less bulky than our number five choice. What’s unique is the part around the neck that looks more like a shirt than like a harness. There is a wide piece of fabric gently hugging your dog’s shoulder and chest area. This part needs to go over your dog’s head when setting up the harness. It’s not terribly difficult, but it can be a bit annoying.

Moreover, the neck part is not adjustable at all, although it is a bit stretchy. This means you’ll have to get the sizing just right when buying this harness, so don’t forget to measure your Frenchie’s neck circumference and compare that with the FuzzYard sizing guide.

What I Look for in a French Bulldog Harness

Are there any special considerations to take into account when choosing gear for a Frenchie? Our team of independent experts say that the most important thing to remember is that French Bulldogs are a short-nosed breed (scientifically called “brachycephalic breeds”) [1].

Related: Best Dog Harnesses Australia

What does that mean, except that they have cute faces? Well, the cute face also comes with its own set of issues. Brachycephalic breeds can suffer from various health conditions, most importantly the Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome (BOAS). BOAS is a lifelong issue that cannot be prevented and might get progressively worse during a dog’s lifetime.

The main problem caused by BOAS is that it makes it difficult for dogs to breathe. As a consequence, they might be prone to coughing, get tired easily during exercise, and be prone to overheating.

Now, choosing the right harness won't solve any of these problems, but it can help make your dog’s life easier. Here is what our research team say to pay attention to when choosing a harness for your Frenchie:

The Right Fit

French Bulldogs are one of those breeds that are a bit difficult to shop for. Finding the right fit is key when it comes to harnesses, but that’s not always easy to do.

When choosing a harness for a Frenchie, you should always consider the shape of the harness first. What you want is a harness that keeps any pressure and discomfort away from your dog’s throat.

That means that the chest plate or the chest strap (or any part that falls in that area) should sit fairly low. You absolutely don’t want to make breathing more difficult for your Frenchie, even if they decide to pull on the leash.

Front Clip vs Back Clip

One of the most important factors that determine how the harness will feel to the dog is the place where you attach the lead. While most standard harnesses have a lead attachment point on the back, there is also the option of a front-clip dog harness.

Related: What Is A Front Clip Dog Harness?

According to our team of independent experts, front-clip dog harnesses are designed to help teach the dog to stop pulling. The idea behind this design is that if you attach the lead to the dog’s chest, when they try to pull, they will end up going in the wrong direction (the lead will effectively turn them to the side and backwards).

Well, for small short-nosed dogs, we generally do not recommend a front-clip harness. Back-clip harnesses are designed to distribute weight evenly and keep excessive pressure off your dog’s throat, and that’s exactly what you need for a Frenchie. A front-clip harness can be used temporarily, and with caution, in order to teach your dog not to pull - but it’s not a good permanent solution.

Comfort and Safety

The key to finding the perfect harness for any dog is striking the right balance between comfort, safety, and durability [3]. For a small dog like a French Bulldog, a soft harness that’s made from fabric and looks like a vest might be most comfortable. However, these harnesses are typically not as strong and durable as some other options.

On the other hand, while comfortable, a harness that covers too much of the body surface might trap heat so it might not be the best option for warm weather. In short, a perfect harness should be comfortable, secure, and durable too, but what the perfect option is will depend a lot on your dog’s needs and preferences and on the environment they live in.

My Final Verdict

The best Frenchie harness? Our favourite is the Urban Step In Dog Harness. Every member of our team of independent experts think it’s just a great harness that is easy to fit and works well for any occasion.

If you are looking for something even more lightweight, we think you should check out the Rogz Utility Step-in Dog Harness which came in second place on our list.

References

1. “What do I need to know about Brachycephalic dogs?”. RSPCA. Retrieved October 23, 2023. https://kb.rspca.org.au/knowledge-base/what-do-i-need-to-know-about-brachycephalic-dogs/#ftn2
2. McCarthy, C. November 29, 2017. “Surprising Dog Harness Dangers to Avoid”. PetMD. Retrieved October 23, 2023. https://www.petmd.com/dog/care/surprising-dog-harness-dangers-avoid
3. Schade, Vitoria. September 26, 2018. “Get the Best Dog Harness for Your Dog’s Body Type”. PetMD. Retrieved October 23, 2023. https://www.petmd.com/dog/care/get-best-dog-harness-your-dogs-body-type