A good quality and comfortable dog harness is a vital bit of kit for your cocker spaniel. It will make the dog walking experience even more of a joy for both you and your dog.
In our experience finding the right harness was difficult enough, but as new dog owners, putting it on our dog was really difficult. It just felt so complicated and I’m sure we got it wrong as often as we got it right!
Surely it shouldn’t be that difficult! In this guide on how to fit a dog harness, we will help by explaining how to fit the various types.
Back Clip Harness
A back clip is one of the most popular harness types available today. As the name says, the clip to attach the lead is situated on the back of the spaniel and there is normally one wide loop around the body of the dog and one thinner loop around the neck.
The process to put a back harness on your dog is as follows:
- Ideally, your dog should be in a standing position. Stand behind or alongside your dog.
- Place the harness over your spaniel‘s head, ensuring that the clip is positioned on your dog’s back. It is likely that the wider loop will need to go on first. The wider loop will need to be placed around the dog's body and the narrow loop around the dog's neck.
- Slip your dog's leg through the first leg hole of the harness, ensuring that its leg is positioned between the loop that goes around the body and the loop that goes around the neck.
- Ensure that your Spaniel’s other leg is positioned in the other hole and then buckle the harness, making sure that it is not too tight around your dog's body. You should be able to place two fingers underneath the strap. If the strap is it is too tight, loosen the straps.
Step in Harness
A Step In harness forms two triangles around your dog's legs whereas the Top Clip harness forms two rectangles around your dog’s legs.
- Place the harness flat on the ground. You should be able to see two triangles should be on top of the three rings.
- Take your spaniel and place their front feet into the space of the two triangles.
- Gather the two sections of the harness and click them together on the dog's back.
- Check that the harness fits and adjust if need be.
Front Clip Harness
With the front clip harnesses, the lead attaches to a clip at the front of the harness on the dog's chest. In some instances, a front clip harness is the same design as a standard back clip harness, so follow the guidelines above if that is the case.
- Kneel or stand to the side of your standing dog.
- Place the loop of the harness over your dog’s head. The metal loop for the lead should be positioned at the centre of your dog’s chest.
- Fasten the belly strap underneath your dog’s stomach
- Check that the harness fits appropriately and adjust if required
Final Thoughts
We have you’ve enjoyed and, importantly, found this guide on how to fit a dog harness useful. Enjoy walking with your wonderful Cocker Spaniel.
All content is written by actual Spaniel owners.
