Ruffwear front-clip harness, medium

What it is good at

• Two attachment points: the chest ring gives a point of contact in front of the dog, the back ring suits an ordinary walk.
• Padded panels spread load across the chest instead of the throat.
• Webbing, buckles and rings are separate parts on most sizes, so a worn strap can be replaced.

Check before you buy

• Girth measurement against the size chart, with room for two fingers under every strap.
• Whether the chest ring is welded metal rather than a coated split ring.
• Padding where the strap crosses behind the front legs, and how quickly it dries.

Who it is not for

Dogs who back out of a harness. A design with a second belly strap is a different shape of harness.

A front-clip harness changes where the lead connects, not how the dog walks. The ring sits at the chest, so a dog who leans forward meets the strap before the throat takes any pressure, and the handler keeps a second, quieter option at the back for an ordinary walk.

Fit decides whether the harness is useful or irritating. The chest strap should cross the breastbone clear of the armpit, and the belly straps should be snug enough that the dog cannot step out of them. Owners who walk in the rain should check how quickly the padding dries.