The Best Tactical Dog Harness
Dogs are more than pets. They often have jobs in the military, police departments, and as service animals for the disabled. Tactical vests can help them complete those jobs by providing their handlers with space to store their gear and other essentials, along with making it easier to grab onto them in emergencies or for training. Service dogs often have identifying patches attached to theirs, as well.
What to Look For
Tactical harnesses are a tool, and as we know, you always want to choose the right tool for any job you’re doing. That’s why we paid particular attention to the size, durability, and features of each option so we could narrow them down to our top picks. For example, the large Aiwai tactical harness includes pouches and loops, making it an excellent choice for traveling with gear. However, that means it’s bulkier and harder for your dog to carry, unlike the streamlined harness by Auroth. If you’d like more details and insight into your options, check out our list below.
Auroth Tactical Harness
Sized for safety
The form-fitting Auroth tactical harness is available in many sizes, and you can further adjust each of those for the perfect fit. We love how it can help dogs with irregular body shapes, deep chests, or tiny waists stay comfortable while working. The heavy-duty nylon and military-grade mesh also ensure it lasts through heavy use.
Pros:
- This harness gives you maximum control over your dog, helping you keep them safe.
- Reflective piping makes it easier for people on the road to see you and your dog when you take walks or work at night.
- You can use the storage sections to carry poop bags, water, treats, and other outdoor essentials.
Cons:
- The adjustments can slip, so you’ll need to check them before leaving your house.
Icefang Tactical Harness
Tactical harnesses can help you keep a good grip on your dog during training, walks, and work exercises. But sometimes, our pups will try to pull or escape anyway. That’s when we turn to this one by Icefang. It has a heavy-duty leash clip that stays secure no matter how hard your pup tries to fight. The sturdy handle and extra clips come in handy, too.
Pros:
- You can adjust this harness to fit nearly any dog, even Dobermans, and other large-chested breeds.
- We like how the unique lead clip helps you keep complete control of your dog at all times.
- It is effortless to get on and off, and you don’t need to lift your dog’s legs or fight them to do it.
Cons:
- The side clips are plastic instead of metal.
OneTigris Tactical Dog Vest
Finding a tactical harness for your large or giant breed may be challenging, but the OneTigris vest has your furry friend covered. It’s available in several sizes and fits dogs as large as Great Danes and Mastiffs. The materials include Molle, which is military-grade and easily stands up to daily, heavy-duty use.
Pros:
- This harness is surprisingly lightweight and breathable, considering the strength and quality of the material.
- It’s easy to wash and dry, making it ideal for pet parents who are often on the go.
- We appreciate that the rings and clips are strong enough to stop big dogs from pulling or running off.
Cons:
- It doesn’t easily adjust to fit dogs with large chest to waist ratios, like Boxers or Dobermans.
Aiwai Tactical Harness
Pouches for your pack
If your primary reason for choosing a tactical harness is storage, this heavy-duty waterproof option by Aiwai is perfect. It includes three detachable Molle pouches you can use for medical supplies, bags, treats, water, and other essentials. A large hook and loop panel and extra loops give you the space you need to add more as well.
Pros:
- You can reposition and adjust the bags to keep them balanced and organized.
- We like how the unique design makes it easy to get on and off.
- Although it may be bulky, this harness is lightweight and doesn’t cause dogs discomfort.
Cons:
- It can slide around if the bags on one side are heavier than the other.
Hanshengday Tactical Harness
Small but mighty
While many people see small breeds, like Chihuahuas and terriers, as useless pets, that couldn’t be further from the truth. They’re eager to please their people, and they are fantastic at nose work, making them excellent service dogs. The Hanshengday harness helps you train your tiny pup while allowing others to see that they’re working just as well as the big dogs.
Pros:
- The sturdy handle on top of the vest allows you to quickly lift your dog in dangerous situations.
- We like that we can adjust the fit, ensuring your little dog can’t slip out or get loose.
- The harness keeps your small dog’s neck safe, which is essential since they’re prone to tracheal collapse.
Cons:
- We find the patches to be a bit oversized for the harness.
Frequently Asked Questions
When should I use a tactical harness?
You can use tactical harnesses for a lot more than military or police work. They are great for service dog training, and the extra space allows you to fit all of your dog’s training patches. In addition, the large handles often make it much easier to control your dog or remove them from danger.
How do I figure out what size harness to get my dog?
Sizing your dog can be challenging, especially when you consider each company has its own size guide. We recommend using a measuring tape to measure their chest, ribs, and back, so you can compare those numbers to each separate size chart. That will help you get an accurate fit no matter which harness you go with.
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