Recent studies on the impact of harnesses on dog gait have resulted in a few key insights:
- There is no absolute superior harness: however, it is possible to select the best fit for a specific dog and application - justifying their large variety (Palya 2022).
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Reduction of Gait Irregularities: Harnesses tend to reduce irregularities in a dog's gait compared to using a collar and leash (Knights 2021).
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Harnesses do affect movement and impacts are greater when the leash is attached: Harnesses can affect a dog's stride length and frequency, and using a leash results in greater deviation from the norm. Harnesses mostly affect the movement of the front (thoracic) limbs, and the addition of a leash further deviates the motion from the natural one Knights 2021, Palya 2022). Harness can also affect the movement of the spine - especially in what's known as the horizontal or transverse plane
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Less Impact on Trachea and Neck: Harnesses distribute the force of leash pulling more evenly across a dog's chest and shoulders, reducing the strain on the neck and trachea. Avoiding neck trauma is especially important for brachycephalic breeds, and dogs with or at risk of cervical spine issues, but these are sensitive areas and such trauma should be avoided for ALL DOGS.
Regardless of the design, a harness lies over musculature in the front limbs known as the "thoracic sling", a set of muscles in the chest, shoulder and core, the function of which is to maintain posture and postural stability during movement.
For a while, due to the restrictive nature of H-shaped harness, it was thought that they were generally inferior to Y-shaped harnesses (Fischer & Lilje 2014).
"During forward movement, a harness with a horizontal strap is similarly restrictive for the dog as a rubber band around our upper arms would be for us humans. The physiological movement of the front extremity is inhibited in the dog. Just as a rubber band inhibits our physiological arm movement." - Dogs in Motion (Fischer & Lilje 2014)
This often remains true, but recent studies (Williams 2023) have shown that well-fitted H shaped harness is sometimes similar in impact as more bulky Y-shaped harnesses for tall dogs such as retrievers and some spaniels - in such cases the anticipated restrictive nature of the chest strap harness may be relieved by the position of the chest strap relative to the legs/shoulder assembly. Nonetheless, the strap must NOT be restrictive.
Depending on design, a Y-shaped harnesses may exert pressure over the Latissimus Dorsi, Cranial and Caudal Trapezius, Cervio-thoracic Epaxials, Acromio-Deltoid, Braciocephalicus and Deep Pectorals (Millis and Levine, 2013; Lafuente, et al., 2018).. A H-shaped harness has the potential to influence Caudal Trapezius, Cervio-Thoracic Epaxials, Latissimus Dorsi, Cleidobrachialis, Deep Pectorals, Triceps, Acromio- and Scapulo- Deltoid and Biceps Brachialis function (Millis and Levine, 2013; Lafuente, et al., 2018).
What does this all mean?
The key things to take home here are as follows:
1. A good harness should not restrict or hinder the shoulder blade or chest. These vital areas need to be able to move freely and naturally.
2. Differences in the impacts on gait of different designs vary wildly across body shapes, so fit must be INDIVIDUAL - try a bunch of different types.
3. Minimise the amount of material as MUCH as possible. Less stuff means less places for impact to occur.
4. Don't wear the harness when you don't need it
5. Make sure to provide lots of opportunities for natural movement without the harness as well as harnessed activities - you can provide for natural movement in your own home and yard if you have one, or by booking areas such as sniffspots.
6. Minimise leash tension by training a good loose leash or heel behaviour.
7. Make sure your dog gets lots of opportunities to move their body appropriately in all directions - PSSSSST canine fitness can help here.
8. NEVER NEVER NEVER use a "No Pull" harness as they are designed to deliberately screw with your dog's gait.
How do I know if my dog's movement is affected?
Video your dog with and without the harness, on and off leash and have a look at the movement before and after! If you need help, get in touch and i can do a gait assessment for you!
What do your dog's wear?
My dogs all wear the Dog-Copenhagen Air for everyday use. It is the least restrictive harness i can find and they are all relatively long bodied. It's not perfect for my boy Merlin, but so far the best fit i can find. When we are working and need a handle for safety (I have three working conservation dogs) we wear a non-stop line grip WD which has similar properties to the Copenhagen Air (but is a little shorter in the body), and has the handle in line with the body so it doesn't pose a hazard getting stuck on things. The other brand i like for it's minimalist nature is Anny'X, and our friends over at WAGD got so sick of poorly designed harnesses being the only ones with "cute factor", they designed their own - currently prototyping - so keep an eye out for those.
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