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.
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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
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harness for dachshund, best harness for dachshunds
Which harness would you recommend for 16# dachshund. She had IVDD surgery in December and vet said she needed a harness and not a collar.
Hi Sonya, so sorry to hear about your Dachshund’s IVDD. I hope her recovery is going well. There is a Dachshund harness / sling combo on Amazon called the Gingerlead dog support and rehab sling that gently loops under the doxie, just in front of the back legs along with harness support in the front. You can use the harness that is provided with the sling, but I really like recommending the sturdy, IVDD friendly Django harness for more durability and extra strong support.
Here is a full article on our friend, Django’s, IVDD journey and recovery.
Here is my article on IVDD recovery and treatment methods available.
Thanks so much for this information! I don’t see in your recommendations comments on back support for the dog. Is the handle for lifting the only feature that is helpful?
Hello, the specific “back-support” dog harnesses are designed for dachshunds who have ivdd. Yes, they do usually have a strong handle attached. It all depends on the doxie’s condition if they need that type of support harness or the front and “back support rehab sling harness” is another option. Here is more information on the support dog harnesses.
The harnesses featured in this dachshund harness post are great for dachshunds because they don’t put pressure on their necks or backs (for walking, hiking, or regular exercise activity). They can help prevent spinal issues (harness vs dog collar).
I have a 14-15# girl with diabetes that has a monitor on her upper back/neck. I am looking for a harness that will not interfere or dislodge the monitor. Would the Muttitude harness be likely to cover as I described. Please advise.
BTW – fantastic blog with wonderful harness descriptions. As you know, Doxies do not really fit the average harness well!
Regards,
Rob R.
Sarasota, FL
Hi Rob, thanks so much for the kind compliment – that made my day. Yes, the Muttitude harness covers a lot of the dachshund’s back and would cover over top of the diabetic monitor pretty well. Truthfully, I’m really not sure if it would dislodge it. It is on Amazon, and it does say ‘free returns’, in case this doesn’t work well for your dachshund. Best of luck and let us know if it works out well for you. Sending *Hugs* for your doxie.
Update to the Muttitude harness for my diabetic Doxie, Lovi. This harness has worked out extremely well. She runs over when I ask her is she wants to go for a walk and puts her head inside the front to get going. No issue wioth dislodging the monitor at all. Perfect Dachshund harness. Still looks like new after more than an year.
Hi Rob, thank you very much for the follow up on the Muttitude harness. I’m so glad that it worked out well for Lovi. She sounds like a super smart sweetheart. I appreciate the update. :) Take care.