EDUCATION: What You Need to Know for a Pawfect Step-In Harness Experience

Being a fur parent means having to make lots of decisions on what is best for your furry friend. Geopetric is here to help make those decisions a little easier while providing plenty of options so your pets can be sure to be the most stylish...and the happiest! 

While lots of dogs look great in and love the feel of collars, they are often not the best tool for walking your pet. Whether it be for comfort, to prevent escape during walks or any other reason; for most pets, harnesses are the best option for a beloved fur baby. That's why Geopetric offers a variety of designs in a convenient and adjustable, step-in harness. Each step-in harness has a dual back clip with D-rings to balance the weight distribution of your pet and reduce pressure if they pull while on a leash.

Sounds like a step-in harness is the way to go for you?

Let's talk fit.

To size your pet for their new Geopetric harness, measure them in inches using a soft cloth tape measure. Measurements should be taken around your pet’s neck and torso at the widest points. Although all measurements are important in determining the right fit, the most important measurement is taken at the broadest part of your pet’s body. This is usually the torso behind their front legs. A well-fitting harness will fit snuggly behind the front legs, around the ribs and shoulders and clip closed on their back.

At Geopetric, you can find the correlating size for your pet's measurements on each individual Geopetric product page. We do not recommend basing a size selection on your dog's "average" build, weight, or what they wear in other brand's sizes. It's important to remember, just like humans come in all different shapes and sizes...so do our pet's bodies. If a harness you put your pet in does not fit them well, they will most likely experience chafing and hair loss. You will notice your pet easily getting out of the harness (danger!) or resisting walking with it when it is on. You may also notice the back of the harness rotating to the sides (this is usually if the harness is too big). Keep a lookout for these signs to make sure your pet has the best fitting harness possible for maximum comfort, safety and use.

Now that you’ve got a perfect fit step-in harness...

it’s time to put it on your pet!

First, lay the unbuckled harness at it's largest setting (using the adjustable sliders to fully extend the harness) flat on the ground with the two loops separated. Take your pet and place their front paws in the loops. If you have an uneasy pet, they might find it helpful if you talk to them in a gentle and calming voice, especially if this is their first harness experience. It's not unusual for pets to be nervous about a new object going around their body. It's ok to introduce the harness slowly and let your pet sniff around it before placing it on them.

Once the pet is standing in the loops, simply pick up the two ends and clip them together on your dog’s back (you'll hear a "click" and you can give the clips a small tug in opposing directions to ensure that your harness is completely clipped together). Make adjustments to the sliders now to make sure the harness is secure and cannot slip off. The harness should hug their body without being too tight. If you can slip a single finger between the harness and your pet's skin, this is usually a good identifier of whether or not the harness is sized correctly for them.

And that's it!

Now your fur babe should be all secured in their new harness and ready to take on the world in comfort, safety, and style!

For additional support please visit our Product Recommendations & Sizing Your Pet section.