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Dogs chew through pretty much everything. Everything! That includes leashes, collars and even, yes, harnesses! So chew proof dog harnesses are really a thing. There are all sorts of strange and interesting dog behaviors that can be behind aggressive chewers. Therefore, as a pet owner it’s important to start early with basic dog training to discourage such destructive behavior. However, chew proof dog harnesses are, well, a different animal in some ways. Well placed snaps, straps, buckles and handles can be just as important as the straight up durability of material.
We researched over 75 dog harnesses to arrive at our list of well designed harnesses made of varied types of durable material. We looked at all sorts of dog harnesses, including mesh harnesses, nylon harnesses, neoprene harnesses, polyester/memory foam harnesses, denim harnesses, canvas harnesses and even leather harnesses. We also took into account, does the harness have a comfortable handle, is it easy to adjust, are snaps, clips, buckles logically placed or does it have helpful safety feature(s)? In arriving at our list, we did the following.
We also explored several different strong materials and designs but didn’t disregard regular harnesses, leather harnesses or nylon harnesses. In addition, we considered practicality. Well, hopefully you get what we’re driving at here. We were extremely thorough.
We also took into account some key considerations for each type of harness as well such as weight, type of material, key features + comfort.
Our Short List: Best of the Best Chew Proof Dog Harnesses
We loved all the chew proof harnesses on our list below but if we had to short list a few, here’s our selections.
Ruffwear Front Range Dog Harness (Best Overall Chew Proof Dog Harness)
Best overall dog harness, combines durability and allows good comfort/mobility. Great for active dogs.
ICEFANG GN8 Quick-Moving Tactical Dog Harness (Best Tactical Harness – Large/Extra Large Dogs)
Best dog harness for large dogs that are heavy chewers. Very rugged nylon harness with metal hardware that rated very well with pet owners.
Gooby Escape Free Easy Harness (Best Easy Fit Harness – Small/Medium Dogs)
Great easy on/off option if convenience is a top priority. Best for small/medium dogs.
rabbitgoo Dog Harness (Best Value Harness)
Exceptional harness for the money. Quality harness with most of the best features at an attractive price.
What Makes for a Quality Chew Proof Harness?
Durable Material
Plainly put, highly durable material is paramount. There are some good choices and some not so great choices here. Mesh, rip-stop nylon, neoprene, canvas and denim are some of the best options.
Well Placed Straps, Snaps, Buckles and Clips
Making straps, snaps, buckles and clips hard to reach but easily accessible for you as the pet owner is what you need to look for in a well design dog harness. Take this into account to avoid this annoyance as you’ll be fitting the harness on your dog often!
Sturdy Hardware
Look for the toughest hardware you can. Metal or aluminum hardware is strongly preferable. However, due to weight constraints, comfort and other issues keep in mind that plastic clips and fasteners are usually the norm. High quality harnesses usually have well placed hardware that are durable enough to sustain moderate chewing.
With that said, we’ve put together a solid roster of 13 of the most durable and well designed chew proof dog harnesses on the market. We encourage you to explore the list below, to find the best harness for you and your dog!
#1 ICEFANG GN8 Quick-Moving Tactical Dog Harness
ICEFANG’s Tactical Dog Harness (GN8 Quick Moving) is a highly durable nylon harness made with triangle climbing rated metal hardware and integrated metal V-rings in front and back. Maxium-cut design also allows for extra mobility for training, running or walking. Chest plate keeps the harness centered and the straps make for a comfortable yet snug harness fit.
ICEFANG GN8 Quick-Moving Tactical Dog Harness
Key Features:
- High-quality, durable nylon material
- Maxium-cut design allows for good mobility
- Heavy-duty climbing rated metal hardware
- Top quality straps and stitching
| Positives (+) | Negatives (-) |
| Durable tactical design | Not available for smaller dogs |
| Exceptional nylon and climbing rated hardware | |
| Available in 8 different colors | |
| Maxim-cut allows good mobility | |
| Good quality/price point |
#2 Auroth Tactical Dog Harness
Auroth’s Tactical Dog Harness is constructed of high-quality 900D nylon with durable stitching and a front clip for pull control. This harness has many useful features for this price point including reflective stitching, extended comfort pads, sturdy plastic buckles and a heavy-duty stitched handle.
Auroth Tactical Dog Harness
Key Features:
- High-quality 900D nylon with durable stitching
- Available in 14 different colors
- Sturdy plastic buckles
- No pull front ring
- Extra strong handle and stitching
- Reflective stitching for nighttime safety
- Extended padding for comfort
| Positives (+) | Negatives (-) |
| Durable tactical material | Not as comfortable as other premium harnesses |
| Very good quality/price point | Plastic buckles |
| Available for XL – S dogs & 14 different colors | |
| Reflective stitching for nighttime safety |
#3 Gooby Escape Free Easy Harness
Gooby’s Escape Free Easy Fit Dog Harness is a great option for small/medium dogs. This harness will fit dogs up to 35 lbs and is extremely easy to put on, while providing a comfortable fit for your dog.
Gooby Escape Free Easy Harness
Key Features:
- Neoprene/microsuede trimming
- Escape free design
- Padded shoulders for extra comfort
- Quick release buckles and adjustable straps
- Available in 6 different colors.
| Positives (+) | Negatives (-) |
| Simple, durable, lightweight design | Only available for small/medium dogs (35 lbs max) |
| Escape free, no pull feature (thwarts escape artists) | |
| Step in design – easy on/off | |
| Machine washable, hand dry |
#4 One Tigris Tactical Dog Harness
One Tigris’ Tactical Harness is constructed of high-quality 1000D nylon with durable stitching. Made with soft, breathable mesh lining, metal buckles and a unique X-bungee feature.
One Tigris Tactical Dog Harness
Key Features:
- 1 Year Warranty
- Soft & breathable mesh lining
- Durable handle and stainless steel D-ring
- X-bungee for securing/carrying items
- Quick release metal buckles
- Front chest velcro area for ID patch
- Available in 3 colors and 4 sizes
| Positives (+) | Negatives (-) |
| Durable nylon with comfort padding | Small number of hardware failures |
| Breathable mesh lining | |
| Easy on/off metal hardware | |
| X-bungee feature |
#5 Ezy Dog Quick Fit Adjustable Dog Harness
The Tactical Dog Leash by Excellent Elite Spanker is a high quality, heavy-duty tactical leash made with elastic bungee/nylon material with two comfort handles and durable hardware.
Ezy Dog Quick Fit Adjustable Dog Harness
Key Features:
- One click buckle, quick-fit system
- Reflective stitching
- Neoprene padded chest sleeve
- Available in 12 colors and 6 sizes
| Positives (+) | Negatives (-) |
| Simple design, easy to use | Fits poorly for some breeds/body types |
| EzyDog Quick-Clip Metal Buckles | |
| Highly visible reflective trim stitching | |
| Water resistant non-rusting materials |
#6 BUMBIN Tactical Dog Harness
BUMBIN’s Tactical Dog Harness is a light weight and comfortable cotton material harness. This versatile design provides good mobility for small and large dog breeds. As well, this harness has some good features for this price point.
BUMBIN Tactical Dog Harness
Key Features:
- Comfortable cotton fabric
- Solid, metal no pull clips (front & back)
- Soft, breathable mesh lining
- Quick release, buckles
- Nested, adjustable straps
- Durable handle
- Clear identification sleeve
- Available in 10 different colors and 5 sizes
| Positives (+) | Negatives (-) |
| Soft material (comfort cotton) design allows more mobility | Less durable than nylon tactical harnesses |
| Attractive and versatile design | Plastic vs metal buckles |
| Good quality/price point | |
| Positive reviews across range of breed sizes |
#7 LOS ANDES Ultra-Reflective Dog Harness
LOS ANDES’ Ultra-Reflective Dog Harness is a great design for pet owners that love those evening dog walks. Material is a combination of nylon Oxford with an interior, padded breathable mesh.
LOS ANDES Ultra-Reflective Dog Harness
Key Features:
- Durable nylon Oxford exterior
- Padded breathable mesh interior
- Highly reflective straps
- Safe snap buckles with lock
- Front metal ring (anti-pull) and back metal ring
- Back clip snaps into seat belt for car rides
| Positives (+) | Negatives (-) |
| Good quality/price point | More limited set of ratings |
| Sturdy harness best suited for small/medium dogs | |
| Highly reflective, as advertised | |
| Great seat belt clip feature |
#8 Julius – K9 IDC Dog Power Harness
Julius’ – K9 IDC Dog Power Harness is a nice easy fit dog harness option with glow in the dark lettering and straps. Available in a wide range of sizes.
Julius – K9 IDC Dog Power Harness
Key Features:
- Durable nylon construction
- One click fit
- Glow in the dark letting and straps
- Heavy duty, shatterproof buckle
- Available in 47 color/design options and 19 size options
| Positives (+) | Negatives (-) |
| Good, sturdy harness | Not well suited for small dogs (escapability) |
| Easy fit, good for medium/large dogs | |
| Glow in the dark lettering and reflective strips for night walks |
#9 TRUE LOVE Adjustable No-Pull Dog Harness
TRUE LOVE’s Adjustable No-Pull Harness is a great option for small and medium dogs. The ability to adjust the harness is simple, practical and has proven to prevent escapability for smaller breeds.
TRUE LOVE Adjustable No-Pull Dog Harness
Key Features:
- Breathable air mesh material
- Woven 3M reflective material
- Duraflex plastic buckles
- Aluminum allow D-ring and round buckle
- Available in 11 colors and 5 sizes
| Positives (+) | Negatives (-) |
| Breathable air mesh material | Not a good option for larger breeds |
| Easy to put on, once initially adjusted to dog | |
| Reflective material for night walks | |
| Durable aluminum and metal hardware |
#10 Ruffwear Front Range Dog Harness
Ruffwear’s Front Range Dog Harness is a great well rounded, lightweight option for many dogs. This harness is designed for easy on/off and is made for active, outdoor dogs.
Ruffwear Front Range Dog Harness
Key Features:
- Durable Colorfast fabric
- Reflective fabric trim
- Comfort foam padding across chest and belly
- Four convenient adjustment points
- Aluminum v-ring and reinforced webbing loop
- Easy access identification pocket
- Available in 10 colors and 5 sizes
| Positives (+) | Negatives (-) |
| Durable fabric holds up well to chewers | Not a good option for small dogs |
| Sturdy design and high quality | |
| Fits medium, large dogs well | |
| Comfortable harness |
#11 BARKBAY No Pull Dog Harness
BARKBAY’s No Pull Dog Harness is a solid standard harness that has good size versatility across different sized breeds (check size chart and reviews closely for your breed/dog size)
BARKBAY No Pull Dog Harness
Key Features:
- No-rip nylon Oxford
- Anti-chafe padding
- Four point adjustment system
- Ultra reflective stitching strips
- Front clip for anti-pull
- Available in 15 colors/design and 4 sizes
| Positives (+) | Negatives (-) |
| Good quality nylon with anti-chafe padding | Small number of hardware and strap failures |
| Ultra reflective stitching strips are a good touch | |
| Good adjustability with strap system |
#12 Embark Adventure Dog Harness
EMBARK’s Adventure Harness is a good standard harness with some good standard features. Material and design is sturdy and works relatively well for active dogs.
Embark Adventure Dog Harness
Key Features:
- Military grade nylon
- Durable buckles and D-rings
- Adjustable straps
- Soft, extra padding around neck area
- Available in 5 colors and 4 sizes
| Positives (+) | Negatives (-) |
| Durable nylon material | No reflective material |
| Highly adjustable straps | Plastic buckles |
| Easy on/off | |
| Design allows good mobility |
#13 rabittgoo Dog Harness
rabbitgoo’s Dog Harness has most of the standard features at an exceptional price. This is the most affordable harness on our list.
rabbitgoo Dog Harness
Key Features:
- Durable polyester/nylon
- Soft breathable cushioning
- Easy to use, quick release buckles
- Four adjustable strap system
- Reflective stitch straps
- Available in 14 colors and 4 sizes
| Positives (+) | Negatives (-) |
| Exceptional value – quality/price point | Stitching came undone for some pet owners |
| Sturdy harness | Plastic buckles |
| Reflective stitching | |
| Amazon Best Seller (4.5 stars on over 145,000 ratings) |
To Sum It All Up
There are a wide variety of dog harnesses out there. It’s important to evaluate dog harnesses carefully for durability (chew resistance) and fit, since escapability is a real safety issue. Although dog training will help mitigate chewing, dogs inherently like to chew! Many dog harnesses are advertised as chew proof, when in in reality they are chew resistant. This is either due to their durability and/or the placement of their straps to hold the dog in the harness. Therefore, you should inspect your dog’s harness periodically and keep it out of reach when not in use. Our goal is to narrow down the universe of choices based on our in-depth analysis, so you can find the right choice for you and your dog.
FAQs
How do I choose the best dog harness?
You obviously want to choose a harness that is appropriate for your dog. If you have a large dog and he is a heavy chewer you’ll probably want to steer toward some tougher material such as 900D or 1000D nylon, typically found in tactical dog harnesses. If you have a smaller dog, other options probably make more sense.
What’s most important in choosing a chew proof harness?
Choosing the best harness for your dog involves various trade offs. You have to decide if you need to focus on material strength or if other things are equally or even more important such as comfort, weight, mobility, reflective stitching, and easy on/off, among other features.
How do you make sure the dog harness fits properly?
To make sure you’re buying the appropriately sized dog harness there are typically sizing charts provided. However, in addition watch the videos (if provided) as well. They often cover this and how to best adjust the harness. Further, read the related reviews as they’ll provide a sense if the the the sizing chart is indeed accurate or if you need to size up/down.
How can I stop my dog from chewing its harness?
First of all, it’s important to make sure the harness is fitting properly. Dogs will be inclined to chew a poorly fitting harness. Also, as mentioned before, it’s important to make sure your dog is properly trained to appropriately focus their chewing. You can start off with the basics of dog training here and then determine if you need to provide your dog more advanced dog training. Some dogs also respond well to things such as CBD oil for dogs.
