Because pugs are a flat-faced breed, walking them with a collar can restrict their breathing even more than their squashed noses already do. A harness is a great solution to this problem, but it’s hard to know which one is the best for the pug’s unique body shape.
We’ve done the hard work for you — we’ve created a list of reviews of the eight best harnesses for pugs. We’ve also included a buyer’s guide so you can know which features to look for when shopping for your pup.
Ready to find the best harness for your pug? Read on for our recommendations.
A Quick Comparison of Our Favorites
(2022 Update)
| Rating | Image | Product | Details | |
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Best Overall
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PetSafe Easy Walk Dog Harness |
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Best Value
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Sporn Mesh No Pull Dog Harness |
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Premium Choice
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Kurgo Tru-Fit Smart Harness |
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Industrial Puppy |
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Puppia |
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The 8 Best Harnesses for Pugs
1. PetSafe Easy Walk Dog Harness – Best Overall
The PetSafe Easy Walk Dog Harness is a walking harness that reduces stress against your dog’s throat and neck, dispersing it over their chest and the rest of their body instead. It is the best harness for pugs that we found, considering its decent quality and reasonable cost. It can be used to help train a better walking technique and to help prevent pulling and jumping. The harness comes in multiple sizes, with the petite size being suitable for an average pug.
There are quick-release buckles on the neck and chest, so taking it off is quick and easy, and it is a competitive price for a device of this type. It comes in a selection of colors, too, which means that you can get one to match your interior, your dog, or your mood. Whatever color you choose, it comes with a belly strap in a complementary color, which makes it easier to work out how to put the harness on properly.
You will need to watch to make sure that the harness doesn’t rub if you fit it too tightly.
- Good choice of colors
- Color-coded for ease of use
- Good price
- Will rub if too tight
2. Sporn Mesh No Pull Dog Harness – Best Value
The Sporn Mesh No Pull Dog Harness is the best harness for pugs for the money.
It is cheap, has a mesh chest piece that moves with your dog so that it is comfortable when walking, and it will tighten humanely around the chest if your dog pulls too tight. This makes the Sporn Mesh harness a suitable option if you’re looking for a way to prevent your Pug from pulling, lunging, or jumping while out on walks. And it does so without using inhumane techniques. The restraint sleeves under the legs are padded, so they will help control your dog but they won’t rub or leave friction marks against the skin.
Dogs with sharp teeth and powerful jaws may make short work of the harness material, but it should be more than ample to stand up to your Pug.
- Mesh sits comfortably around the chest
- Humanely stops pulling
- Easy one handed-application
- Will not withstand sharp teeth
3. Kurgo Tru-Fit Smart Harness – Premium Choice
The Kurgo Tru-Fit Smart Harness is a crash-tested dog harness for use in the car. It uses the same technology that is relied upon by rock climbers and its five adjustment points ensure the proper size and secure fit.
It has a chest pad so that if the worst does happen and you are in a car accident, the kinetic energy is dispersed right across the dog, minimizing the risk of impact injuries. The chest pad has been designed for comfort, otherwise, you would find it difficult to persuade your dog to get in the car and wear it. Its comfort and design also mean that the harness can be removed, a leash attached, and it can be used as a walking harness. It is on the expensive side, but it performs an invaluable and priceless job, of keeping your dog safe during car journeys. What’s more, because it can be used when walking, it means that you only need a single harness for two jobs.
As effective as this harness is for dogs that sit calmly on the seat of the car, it won’t work for those that prefer to lay down.
- Provides in-car safety
- Minimizes impact injuries during accidents
- Crash tested
- Can be used as a walking harness as well as an auto harness
- Expensive
- Not suitable for all dogs
4. Industrial Puppy Service Dog Vest
The Industrial Puppy Service Dog Vest is made of a fast-drying, breathable fabric that’s both comfortable and durable. The harness has a nylon handle to give you more control over your pug and to help with training. It has a welded D-ring that’s strong and resists breaking. The harness features adjustable straps so you can customize the fit. It also has a reflective safety band so your pup can be easily spotted at night.
This harness is stiff and for some dogs, it’s too heavy. The D-ring can also be pulled off by a heavier, stronger dog.
- Fast-drying, durable, breathable fabric
- Nylon handle for control and training
- Welded D-ring
- Reflective safety band
- Straps are adjustable
- D-ring can be pulled off by a heavier dog
- Too rigid and heavy for some dogs
5. Puppia RiteFit Pug Harness
The Puppia RiteFit Harness is fully adjustable so you can get a perfect fit for your pug. You can adjust both the neck girth and chest girth. The harness is made from a soft, breathable mesh material that’s cool and comfortable. It’s easy to put on and take off, thanks to two quick-release buckles around the neck. It’s also available in a variety of sizes and colors.
It can be difficult to put on some dogs because of the placement of the buckles. The buckles and straps can also cause chafing, so be sure the harness fits snugly.
- Neck girth and chest girth are both adjustable
- Soft, breathable mesh material
- Two quick-release buckles around the neck
- Available in a variety of sizes and colors
- Can be difficult to put on some dogs
- Can cause chafing
6. PUPTECK Soft Mesh Dog Harness for Pugs
The PUPTECK Soft Mesh Dog Harness has a classic plaid pattern for your stylish pug. The harness is made from a lightweight, breathable mesh that’s cool and comfortable. It has a strong, metal D-ring for the leash attachment and an adjustable chest clip so you can customize the fit to your pug.
The clasp can be difficult to open, which makes it hard to get on and off your pug. The neck area also isn’t adjustable, so your dog may not get the best fit.
- Lightweight, breathable mesh polyester/cotton blend
- Metal D-ring for leash attachment
- Classic plaid pattern
- Adjustable chest clip
- The clasp is difficult to open
- Neck area is not adjustable
7. BINGPET Soft Mesh Dog Harness
The BINGPET Soft Mesh Dog Harness is made with a soft breathable mesh fabric that makes it cool and comfortable for your pup. It has an adjustable buckle so you can customize the fit. There’s a metal D-ring for the leash attachment, which is quite durable. The harness is also available in a variety of colors, so you can find the best one for your pug.
The neck area of this harness isn’t adjustable, so you may not be able to get the perfect fit for your pug. The sizing chart is also inaccurate, which means you have to carefully measure your dog before ordering. The buckle also breaks easily on this harness.
- Soft, breathable polyester mesh fabric
- Adjustable buckle
- Metal D-ring for leash attachment
- Available in a variety of colors
- Neck area is not adjustable
- Sizing can be inaccurate
- Buckle breaks easily
8. iChoue Dog Harness
The iChoue Dog Harness is adjustable and easy to take on and off your pug. It’s made of a lightweight material that’s cool and breathable. It also has a control handle on top of the harness to make it easier to walk your pug.
The sizing on this harness is inaccurate, though, so be sure to measure your dog carefully. The harness is also too big for smaller pugs. Some are so big that the dog can simply step out of it, which is a safety hazard. Because of the placement of the straps on your pug’s neck, the harness can cause your pup to choke. It can also cause chafing on some dogs.
- Easy on/off
- Lightweight material
- Control handle on top of the harness
- Sizing is inaccurate
- Too big for small dogs
- Dogs can easily step out of the harness
- Not a no-pull harness
- Can cause chafing on some dogs
Related Read: 10 Best Dog Harnesses – Reviews & Top Picks
Buyer’s Guide – Choosing the Best Harness for Pugs
For a flat-faced breed like a pug, there are certain features of a harness that you should take into account. We’ve created this handy buyer’s guide so you know what to look for.
Comfort
The best kind of harness for a pug is one that’s padded and strapped. You want the straps to be wide enough that they won’t pinch or cut into your dog’s skin. Some harnesses offer padding on the chest, underarms, and straps. These types of harnesses can prevent chafing and uncomfortable pressure on your little pug’s body.
Some harnesses are made of stretch mesh. These can work well for puppies, since they slip on easily. However, for an adult pug, this type of harness might not be strong enough to properly distribute pulling pressure when you take your dog on a walk.
Harnesses are great for walks, but they shouldn’t be left on all the time like collars. They can rub and chafe your pug’s coat and skin. They can also cause a buildup of dirt and oil where they come into contact with your pug’s coat.
Materials
Pugs are strong. As such, they need a strong material to resist breaking. Nylon is the best choice because it’s strong, lightweight, and weather resistant. Some harnesses are available in leather, but they require more maintenance and care than nylon. If the harness isn’t made of quality leather, it can also break easily.
Ease of Use
Pugs can be squirming balls of energy. While this can be adorable most of the time, it’s frustrating when you’re trying to get a harness on them! A harness with quick-release buckles can make your life easier by allowing you to get the harness on and off quickly.
Adjustability
Not every dog is the same size, and not every pug is the same size. It’s best to have a harness that you can adjust easily. Some harnesses only have adjustable chest straps. Buying a harness with adjustable straps on both the neck and chest makes it so much easier to get the best fit for your pug.
Durability
For a long-lasting harness, you want to look for one that can resist pulling, snagging, wet weather, and daily use. The harness should have weather-proof material, reinforced D-rings, sturdy buckles, and strong seams.
Leash Attachments
All harnesses will have some sort of attachment for the leash, but which one you choose depends on how well your pug does on walks. If your pug tends to pull on the leash, a D-ring on the front chest of the harness can discourage this behavior. However, it also makes it easier for your pug to get tangled up in the leash.
A D-ring attached to the harness on your pug’s back is the usual placement. It’s harder for your pug to get tangled with this type of leash attachment, but it won’t do anything to discourage your dog from pulling.
Conclusion:
Our best overall choice of best pug harnesses is the PetSafe Easy Walk Dog Harness because it’s a lightweight mesh harness with padding. It’s made of a durable, long-lasting material and has soft, spongy padding on the chest and belly of the harness. The harness also has adjustable straps to allow a custom fit.
Our best value choice is the Sporn Mesh No Pull Dog Harness because it’s comfortable and stylish. It’s made of a soft, breathable material, has ample padding, and features a fun plaid design. It even has a little bow tie on the front, which is especially stylish on your pug during the holidays.
We hope that our list of reviews and buyer’s guide for the best harnesses for pugs has helped you find the perfect harness for your little pug.
Featured Image Credit: Bobby Bradley, Shutterstock
