Best Dog Harnesses for Dachshunds
The Dachshund dog breed is well known for it’s extra long back, short legs, and big chest. It can be tough to choose the right dog harness for your doxie’s unique shape.
After a good amount of research, I was able to find the Best Dog Harnesses For Dachshunds! Check out my doxie’s personal review for our #1 Choice below.
This page contains affiliate links and I earn a commission if you make a purchase through one of the links, at no cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Table Of Contents
Dog Harness VS. Collar: Which is Best?
A Dog Body Harness wins hands down, especially for a Dachshund! Dachshunds are prone to a spinal disease called IVDD. Using a body harness for your Dachshund can greatly reduce the strain on their neck and back, lowering their risk of any spinal injuries.
Post You May Like: How To Avoid IVDD in Dachshunds
Why I Use A Dog Harness
While hiking with my two doxies, I noticed that my dog, Bastian, tended to pull so much that his neck collar would make him cough and choke.
He loves to walk, so he literally would pull me up the big hills during our hikes. Reno, my dapple doxie, was a little slower on the hike, so he didn’t have as many issues with pulling, unless he darted after a squirrel.
So, I decided to try a dog body harness for both of my doxies. It really was the best solution for us! Bastian no longer hacks and coughs on the walks and I feel better about using a harness to protect their delicate necks and long backs.
Dachshund Harness Features: What To Look For
Type of Dog Harness
The three main types of dog harnesses include: body harness, no-pull harness, and back support harness.
Dog Body Harness:
A dog body harness is designed to reduce any strain on your dog’s neck and redistributes the pull pressure across their body.
No-Pull Harness
This type of harness will tighten slightly when your dog pulls on the leash. The pull is felt under the dog’s arms and chest instead of around his neck, unlike regular dog collars.
Pay close attention with this type of harness to make sure it doesn’t cause any irritation under your doxie’s arms.
Back Support Harness:
This type of harness is designed to support your Dachshund’s extra-long back and is special for IVDD conditions. This special harness usually comes with a supportive handle on the back to help lift the whole dog if needed.
Proper Fit
It is important for a Dachshund harness to fit properly and allow a good range of motion. To check your Dachshund’s size, carefully measure around their neck, the girth around their chest, and the length from their neck to the top of the tail. Scroll to the bottom of this post for video measuring instructions.
Dog Harness Material
Mesh Harness: On hot summer days, mesh is a great material to keep your doxie cool. But, make sure to pick a high quality mesh harness – the cheaper mesh may rip easily.
Nylon Harness: This type of material tends to be less expensive than most. They are easy to clean and are a little more durable than the mesh material.
Fabric Harness: Fabric harnesses tend to be easy to clean and come in various colors and designs. Their main purpose is to give your doxie some decorative flare, not necessarily to be a durable, active harness.
Leather Harnesses: A nice quality leather harness may cost a little more than others, but they are very durable. As long as it is good high-quality leather, it should be a comfortable and long-lasting choice for your Dachshund.
Easy On/Off
Putting on your Dachshund’s body harness shouldn’t be a struggle. When you are ready to go for a nice walk, it should be quick and easy to get out the door. A body harness that slips on without having to hold them down or flip them over is a winner!
Top 5 Dachshund Harnesses
The following are my Dachshunds, Eko and Gretta’s, favorite harness picks! They are high-quality, safe, colorful, and comfortable for daily doxie walkies. Let us know in the comments below which one is your Dachshund’s favorite.
Best Dachshund Harness: Puppia
Puppia Dog Harness is the best harness for Dachshunds. This harness is machine washable and super-fast to put on and take off. It’s made with soft, breathable polyester to prevent irritation under your doxie’s arms.
I love how I can just slip this harness on my dog and quickly get out the door. Overall, this is a great choice for Dachshunds!
Personal Review: My mini Dachshund, Gretta (black and tan pictured below) primarily wears the puppia harness on daily walks. It’s the quickest way to get her out of the house – it’s perfect for her!
Meanwhile, my piebald tweenie, Eko, started to pull a bit harder on walks as he got older, so we switched him over to the Django harness instead (see below).
Why we like this harness: Easy to put on, machine washable, good price.
Note: This Dachshund harness may stretch out if your pup is a puller. Make sure to check out the no-pull dachshund harnesses below.
See it in action: Watch our full harness demo video on our YouTube channel here: Puppia Harness for Mini Dachshunds.
Best Everyday Wear: DJANGO
The Django Brand link is an affiliate link and I will receive a commission if you click through and make a purchase, at no cost to you.
The DJANGO Dog Harness is made of weather-resistant neoprene with a breathable mesh lining. This harness is great for deep and barrel-chested pups, like your Dachshund.
Personal Review: Honestly, this is the only harness we put Eko in now! He is my puller and this harness is so durable, it keeps him safe on walks and hikes.
You’ll be happy to know that the creators behind this harness are also dedicated Dachshund parents, just like yourself.
Why we love this harness: Great for everyday walks and hikes. We love that it’s made with high-quality, durable materials.
Oh! Don’t forget your coupon code on Django’s Website: DACHSHUNDSTATION for 10% off. They offer free shipping on all USA orders. Here are some Django Dog Harnesses on Amazon as well!
See it in action: Watch our full harness demo video on our YouTube channel here: DJANGO Dachshund Harness Review.
Sporty Dachshund Harness: Gooby
The Gooby Comfort X is a lightweight dog harness that works well for doxies. It is made of cooling mesh to keep your pup comfortable on their daily walks. This harness is machine washable and easy to put on and take off.
Note: The mesh harness material is very lightweight and thin. Great for staying cool, but a little less durable for strong pullers.
See it in action: Watch our full harness demo video on our YouTube channel here: Gooby Harness Review.
Best Harness for Dachshund Puppies: Velpro
My Dachshund puppy, Gretta, is wearing the Velpro Dog Harness. This mesh harness will help keep your doxie cool during those hot summer days. Velpro harnesses offer smaller sizes than most, making them perfect for mini dachshund puppies that have a lot of growing to do.
The Velpro looks so cute on Gretta. I love the bright color choices and no adjustment straps to mess with. She is a little wiggle worm, so less is more at this point. She is 14 weeks old in this picture and weighs 6 pounds.
What we like: Lightweight, cooling, machine washable, easy on/off.
Note: Thinner material may not be as durable on hikes as the Puppia or Django harnesses, but it will help your doxie stay cool on hot days.
Slowton
Gretta is showing off her bright pink SlowTon Dog Harness. This is a soft vest harness with velvet padding. It is adjustable around the chest and comes with a no-pull, reflective leash. In this picture, Gretta is 1 year old and weighs 10 lbs.
What we like: Lightweight, durable, free leash, easy on/off
Note: The strap around the front of the chest may cause issues with smaller doxies, make sure to measure properly.
See it in action: Watch our full harness demo video on our YouTube channel here: SlowTon Dog Harness Review.
Good Quality Dachshund Harnesses
Here are some more Dachshund harnesses that combine durability with comfort, designed to meet the unique needs of your doxie.
Lucy & Co.
This beautiful harness is from Lucy & Co. This harness is reversible, so you get two cute looks in one. My puppy, Eko, is wearing the Ice Cream Dream Reversible Harness, size medium. That’s his new cheesy smile he’s been giving me lately. Amazon has a few styles here.
Find their new style collections here: Lucy & Co Harnesses.
What we like: Colorful, water-repellent, benefits a good cause.
Note: Hand wash cold, not for pullers.
The Lucy & Co link is an affiliate link and I will receive a commission if you click through and make a purchase, at no cost to you.
Voyager
Eko looks so handsome in his red-colored Voyager Dog Harness. This harness is made of plush fabric and includes reflective bands on the sides for better visibility while on your dog walks. It is easy to put on and take off. This harness is very similar to the Puppia harness – but costs less.
What we liked about this harness: Lightweight, machine washable, and easy to put on and take off.
Note: This harness does tend to stretch out for pullers.
Muttitude
The Muttitude Dog Harness is crafted with breathable and form-fitting comfort. It is made with an inner mesh padded lining. This harness is decorative and machine washable.
Note: Not intended for dogs over 20 pounds.
Mesh Dachshund Harness
Plush No-Choke Air Mesh Dachshund Harness from whatsupdox.com. The Plush No Choke Air Mesh Vest Harness is designed to keep your Dachshund secure, comfy and stylish.
No-Pull Harnesses for Dachshunds
DJANGO’s Tahoe No-Pull Dog Harness
Disclosure: Financial compensation was not received for this review. The DJANGO Tahoe No-Pull Dog Harnesses were gifted to my doxies by Django. Opinions expressed here are my own. The Django Brand link is an affiliate link and I will receive a commission if you click through and make a purchase, at no cost to you.
Why we love this no-pull harness: Great for daily walks and adventurous hikes. DJANGO’s Tahoe No-Pull Dog Harness is made with high quality materials and is super durable for all doxies who love to pull. It has a D-ring located in the front (for the no-pulls) and on the back of the harness.
Use code DACHSHUNDSTATION for an extra 10% off your DJANGO harness.
Here are the Django No-Pull Dog Harnesses on Amazon.
Embark Adventure No-Pull Dog Harness
This is another great choice for your puller Dachshund, especially on hikes. The Embark Adventure No-Pull Dog Harness from Amazon has the front and back D-rings, along with a control handle on the back.
Harness For Dachshund IVDD
The Gingerlead dog support and rehab sling on Amazon is a great choice for doxies who are recovering from IVDD surgery. The sling gently loops under the back part of your Dachshund’s belly, just in front of the rear legs. This system is recommended for recovery from luxating patella, hip replacement, IVDD or spinal surgery, physical therapy, to assist senior dogs suffering from arthritis, and disabled pets needing help with mobility or balance.
I recommend pairing the rehab sling with the IVDD-friendly harness from DJANGO for extra strong support.
How To Measure Your Dog For A Harness
Here is a YouTube Video to help you measure your Dog before purchasing a harness: How To Measure A Dog’s Neck & Chest For A Harness.
Why Does My Dachshund Keep Escaping the Harness?
Unfortunately, a Dachshund’s extremely short legs make it way too easy to back out of their harness when putting on the breaks in the middle of a walk.
This is a common problem for many doxie owners, as they are natural escape artists. If your pup doesn’t feel comfortable in the harness or is extra anxious on their walk, they will try their best to escape and run.
How to Stop a Dachshund from Backing Out of Their Harness
While on a walk, try your best to keep your Dachshund in front of you or beside you. If your Dachshund gets behind you or stops walking to pull backwards, move yourself behind them to keep them moving or take a break.
- Never keep pulling forward on the leash, as this allows the harness to quickly slip off.
- If your Dachshund continues to slip out of their harness without much effort, make sure the fit is correct or try a different harness for a more secure fit.
Best Dog Leash
Ok, now that you have looked over all of the Best Dog Harnesses for Dachshunds, what about a new leash? I really like this sturdy and Reflective Dog Leash. My husband and I do a lot of nighttime walks with our doxies after work, so this is a perfect way to be seen and stay safe.
What Dog Harness Do You Use For Your Dachshund? Let Me Know Below.
Read Next: The One Thing Your Dachshund Needs Most
Helpful Links:
harness for dachshund, best harness for dachshunds
Which harness would you recommend for hind legs not working due to back issues. Email me at Sudeep.walleh@bell
Hi, would recommend talking to your vet and see if an ivdd back brace might be a good fit for your doxie. This harness is for prevention and treatment of IVDD and other spinal issues. It is an orthopedic harness designed to keep your doxie’s back supported when dealing with Intervertebral Disc Disease (IVDD) and other back pain.
Which harness would be best for the escape artist? I have a small six month old that no matter which style of harness we use she is out of it in a matter of a few minutes.
Hi there! Well, my dachshund, Eko, has never escaped the puppia harness – ever! As long as you have the correct size, it should keep your pup nice and secure. The strap based harnesses would not be the best for an escape artist. But, the puppia is more like a “bra” for doxie – I know, it’s kind of a weird analogy, but that is what I think of when I put it on my Dachshund. I hope this helps. :)
That’s a very helpful post! Thank you so much. I love Puppia’s harnesses. They are so soft and their designs are gorgeous. However, my little escape artist doxie has managed to back out from them way too many times, no matter how well I fit them. I’m sad they are not a good match for him. So far, Muttittude and Django are the ones that have kept him safe. Django’s quality is very good. Muttitude’s quality is lower, and needs to be replaced now and then to avoid accidents, but gets a lot of compliments.
If you have an escape artist who backs out of their harness, I’d avoid step in models like Puppia, Voyager and Lucy & Co. Never tried Gooby Comfort, but I’m intrigued. Tried Gooby Escape Free and gave up on it on the first day. The way the back buckle presses right down on the doxie’s spine when he pulls is terrifying.
Hi there, thank you so much for your dachshund harness reviews. This is so helpful too lots of doxie parents. Yes, I agree. I also tried the Gooby ‘escape free’ harness and returned it because of the same thing.
I’m going through a Wonderful breeder and we will be welcoming two babies of our own into the world next month. I’ve been preparing myself and my home with everything they will need,and educating myself. Being a first time Doxie parent I want to be ready. Do you think I should wait to measure the babies for the harness or just go ahead and order the smallest one’s they offer. The puppies are Miniature Doxies.
Hello, How exciting! I love Dachshund puppies. Please be aware that bringing more than one puppy home at the same time can have extra challenges (read more on: “Littermate Syndrome”). Here is an article link of what to expect: Problems Associated With Adopting Two Puppies At The Same Time
Yes, get all of their puppy essentials before they come home. Pick up a couple of smaller / different size doxie puppy harnesses ahead of time as well. They grow out of them so quick, but it is important to keep them safe, so they need a secure harness at every size. Here is a list of the dachshund puppy essentials, hopefully this helps. Take care and enjoy your new pups.