Dachshund

A dachshund is built along different lines from almost every other dog, and the walking gear that suits a labrador does not suit a sausage dog. The long back, the deep chest and the short legs change what a harness has to do, which is why a collar is the wrong starting point for this breed and a harness is not simply a nicer option.

Why a harness rather than a collar

A dachshund carries a long spine over short legs, and the breed is well known for intervertebral disc disease. Every time a dog pulls against a collar, the force goes through the neck and down the spine. A harness spreads that load across the chest and shoulders instead. It will not prevent disc disease, which is largely genetic and something to discuss with your vet, but it takes an avoidable strain off a back that is already carrying more than most.

Fitting a dachshund, not a size chart

This is where most owners come unstuck. A dachshund's chest girth is large relative to its neck and its overall weight, so a harness chosen on weight alone usually arrives too tight around the ribs and too loose everywhere else. Measure the chest at its deepest point, just behind the front legs, and buy to that number. Then check the fit properly: two fingers should slide under any strap without effort, the chest panel should sit on the breastbone rather than riding up into the throat, and nothing should press into the armpit where a puppy will rub raw within a week.

Step-in styles suit dachshunds who dislike anything going over the head, which is a good many of them. Over-the-head styles are quicker once a dog accepts them.

What is in this range

Padded no-pull harnesses start at around $21 and are the sensible everyday choice for a dog who leans into the lead. Adjustable reflective harnesses from around $28 add visibility for early starts and evening walks, and LED harnesses from around $22 do the same job more brightly on a dark street. Matching harness and lead sets from around $27 are the usual gift choice. At the softer end there are lace, plush and pastel styles from around $20 for owners who want the dog to look like something other than a working animal.

Getting a dachshund used to one

Put it on indoors, leave it on for a few minutes with something interesting happening, and take it off before the dog gets fed up. Repeat that for a few days before you clip a lead to it. A dachshund who has decided it hates the harness is a genuinely difficult animal to change your mind about, and the whole problem is avoidable by going slowly at the start.

Check the fit every few weeks on a growing pup, and after any weight change in an adult. A harness that fitted in winter often does not in spring.

Related: Dog leads · Dog collars · Dachshund gifts · Dog car harnesses