Everyone wants to walk their dog without being pulled down the street. Not only is it unpleasant for you, but a dog who constantly pulls on his collar—and therefore his throat—can injure himself. A good no-pull harness is a training aid that encourages the dog not to pull without causing harm, pain, or making the walk more punishing than enjoyable for your dog—and you!
Dog no-pull harnesses run from cheaply made to inexpensive quality to seriously pricey. We focused on affordable choices that work without punishing or harming the dog in any way. A good no-pull harness for a dog should discourage pulling without hurting him.
Note for usage of any no-pull harness: These harnesses are not meant to be worn continually. They are meant to be worn for outings such as walks. Continual wear of such harnesses could contribute to skeletal and skin issues.
I focused on finding what appeared to be the most affordable no-pull dog harnesses that are designed to not cause harm or pain and are widely available. I tested them all on my 45-lb. female Chow Chow, Meridiana, who has some attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) tendencies, despite responding well to training.
What We Want in a No-Pull Harness
An affordable no-pull dog harness should help you train your dog to stop pulling on the leash while doing him no harm. It should fit well so he can’t escape the harness, and it should be well constructed so it’s strong enough for the dog it’s designed for. With the harnesses in this test, I looked for:
- Easy fit: It shouldn’t take half of your day to figure out how to fit a harness on your dog.
- Size range: Adequate size ranges for most dogs.
- Quality of construction: Even affordably priced harnesses should not appear as if they are going to fall apart with use. They should be comfortable for the dog.
- Pricing: I targeted harnesses under $50.
- Function: A harness promoted as a no-pull harness should minimize pulling.
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The Best No-Pull Dog Harnesses
| Whole Dog Journal Rating | Product and Maker | Price and Size | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
 | 2 Hounds Design Freedom Harness | $44 and up Seven sizes from XS through 2XL | Includes a double attachment leash if needed. The underneath portion is velvet for comfort. It’s reasonably easy to fit on the dog and secure when fitted properly. The fit does not migrate much with usage. |
 | Petsafe 3-in-One Harness with Two-Point Control | $30 3 sizes, small, medium, and large | This harness has the most fit adjustment points, but that makes it complicated to fit. It was very secure once fitted with too many attachment points to fail at once. Has a double attachment leash as an option. Very well padded for comfort. |
| TrueLove Adjustable No-Pull Harness | $25 and up 5 sizes from XS to XL 10 colors | Well-padded for comfort, not terribly difficult to fit but not the easiest either, reflective, with two points of attachment. |
| JWalker No-Pull Dog Harness | $46. 5 sizes tiny to XL 10 colors | This is the only harness that is a side attachment harness. Very well made and stylish and very easy to fit and use. Can attach the leash to either side attachment. |
| Petsafe Easy Walk Harness | $23 Petite through extra-large Nine colors | Martingale loop on front of harness where leash attaches to, easiest to fit but may be easiest to get out of, too. Fits wider-chested dogs better than narrow-chested dogs. The fit migrates the most with usage. |
Best Affordable Dog No-Pull Harness: Freedom No-Pull Harness by 2 Hounds Design
Freedom No-Pull harness by 2 Hounds Design was the easy top choice here. It was a bit complicated to fit initially, but with use, it became simpler. I sometimes fit it differently than the manufacturer’s instructions suggest. For most dogs, I will shorten the front cross strap and the T-strap all the way before putting it on the dog to determine the fit of the underneath velvet portion. For very tall dogs, I eyeball the T-strap and shorten accordingly. For very broad-chested dogs, I may leave the cross straps out a bit more. My aim is to create a V-shape in front versus the straps going straight across the chest. The clips end up being on each shoulder blade on top of the dog. This creates not only more comfort for the dog but also more control for the human. The front won’t sag as much. I don’t generally recommend using the double-ended leash. Instead, I use a regular six-foot leash on the front attachment. In the car, I use that double-ended leash on the back attachment as a car harness tether. This harness, when properly fitted, is virtually impossible to get out of. The quality of construction is fabulous. It comes in many colors and patterns and two widths.
If you want the reflective version, the fit may migrate much more with each use than with the non-reflective options. That said, this harness’s fit rarely migrates much with use, regardless of whether the dog attempts to pull while wearing it.
One complaint is that because of the positioning of the front attachment, there is a high likelihood that the leash gets repeatedly under the legs. A hack that prevents this is to attach the leash on the front then loop it through the tiny martingale on the top of the harness. I do this when I walk with a regular six-foot leash, but it’s cumbersome to do with a long line. It retains its shape with washing, which can be done in a washing machine. I do suggest line drying though.
Most Adjustable No-Pull Dog Harness: Petsafe 3-in-One Harness
The Petsafe 3-in-One harness was a pleasant surprise and our runner-up. While it was the most complicated to fit, once I got what I wanted, I was satisfied. I’d bet it would take a double-jointed dog to get out of it with the way that it fits—there are so many clasps that would have to fail. It’s well-made and cushioned. The structure ensures that you fit it securely but not tightly. It’s comfortable for the dog. I found the structure makes this well-suited for hiking as well as a car harness. The higher front attachment point makes this one less likely to have the leash get repeatedly under the legs, which I appreciate having a low to the ground dog.
Best Budget No-Pull Harness: TrueLove Adjustable No-Pull Harness
If you’re looking for the most bang for your buck, the TrueLove Adjustable No-Pull Harness is amazingly well made for the money. It was complicated to fit, but once done, it was comfortable for her. It might feel a bit heavy for coated dogs, especially in the warmer months. It prevented pulling nicely, and the leash got under her legs less than some harnesses because of the higher positioning of the front attachment.
Best No-Pull Dog Harness with Side Attachments: JWalker Harness
The JWalker harness is beautiful with vibrant colors and a satiny feel. The design is unique with the attachments being a martingale loop on either side of the front. It’s easy to fit and doesn’t migrate much with use. My only complaint about this harness is that I think the martingale loops should be smaller. This harness was the one that I could not use without having it under my dog’s legs continually. Those with taller dogs would have less of an issue with that. I like the side attachment quite a bit, and it did reduce pulling in a unique way that front attachments don’t seem to do, without causing any discomfort to the dog. This harness was invented by a positive trainer.
Also Tested: Petsafe Easy Walk Harness
The Petsafe Easy Walk harness is probably the most widely available no-pull harness, but I found the martingale loop in the front allows the harness to sag a bit too much and may obstruct normal forward movement. I found the fit can be improved by snugging up the top first and taking care to adjust the fit so that the front strap is high enough on the chest to not be a problem. In addition, I would use a connector with this harness to attach the harness to the collar as well because I was concerned that a dog might be able to slip a leg out of the harness and escape, especially a dog with a short elbow-to-shoulder ratio.
A no-pull harness is certainly the way to go if your dog is a puller because you don’t want him to escape or harm himself. I encourage training to correct pulling, and a no-pull harness is also a training tool.
