10 Best Service Dog Vests & Harnesses in 2022 – Reviews & Top Picks

Service dogs are hard workers, no matter what job they have. Because of this, they need gear that’s durable, strong, and just as hard-working as they are. Service dog vests and harnesses need to also make it clear to the public that these are working dogs, so bright colors and reflective features are important, too.

There are so many options for dog vests and harnesses on the market, though, that it can make it difficult to know which ones are best for your service dog. To help you in your research, we’ve created a list of reviews of the best service dog vests and harnesses. We’ve also included a buyer’s guide of the important features of these vests and harnesses.

Ready to outfit your service dog? Then read on for our recommendations.

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A Quick Comparison of Our Favorites in 2022

The 10 Best Service Dog Vests & Harnesses

1. ALBCORP Service Dog Vest Harness — Best Overall

The ALBCORP Service Dog Vest Harness is our best overall choice because it’s very durable. It’s made of a tough nylon-polyester blend that’s long-lasting and stands up to constant use. The vest is lightweight but still padded for non-chafe cushioning. It has a sturdy handle with a durable D-ring to attach a leash or ID tag. The vest features highly reflective stitching with two bright “Service Dog” patches to make your dog more visible to everyone around it, even at night. The vest is also adjustable and has a hook-and-loop front chest-strap that makes it easy to put on your dog. The buckle is extra-strong and has an easy-snap clasp so you can put the vest on and off your dog quickly.

This vest isn’t suitable for small dogs, even though it comes in different sizes.

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2. Pawshoppie Reflective Service Dog Vest Harness — Best Value

The pawshoppie Reflective Service Dog Vest Harness is the best service dog vest & harness because it comes in a variety of colors and has “Service Dog” clearly marked on the sides. It has a sturdy top handle that’s well-stitched for durability. The inner lining is made of neoprene and is padded for non-chafe cushioning. The vest features a stainless steel D-ring for leashes and ID tags, and it’s very durable. The front strap has extra-reflective strips for better visibility and safety. The belly buckle is strong and easy to use, so you can put the vest on and take it off quickly.

The sizing can be inaccurate, so be sure to measure your dog rather than go by the breed guide.

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3. ICEFANG Tactical Dog Harness — Premium Choice

The ICEFANG Tactical Dog Harness is our premium choice because it’s made with high-quality 1050D Nylon with a water-resistant coating. This type of nylon is especially strong and durable, so the harness will be long-lasting. There are buckles in convenient locations on the harness, like the shoulder and belly. The buckles are especially strong and can hold up to 1000 pounds. They also have a quick-release function to allow you to easily put the harness on and remove it quickly. There’s a hook-and-loop panel for a badge ID, which is helpful for any ID that needs to be readily displayed on your dog. The harness also has two one-inch strips of MOLLE (Modular Lightweight Load-Carrying Equipment) sewn onto both sides for any attachments.

This harness is an expensive one due to the quality of materials. It’s also not suitable for small service dogs.

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4. Industrial Puppy Service Logo Service Dog Vest

The Industrial Puppy Service Dog Vest fits even smaller dogs. It has a top-mounted handle that’s easy to grab hold of. The welded D-ring is very secure and can be used for attaching a leash. The fabric is brightly colored, fast-drying, and breathable. The vest has a comfortable mesh lining that’s padded to prevent chafing. The vest has an easy-swap parachute clasp that makes it easy to take on and remove. The vest also comes with reflective safety patches and a reflective chest band as well as an easy-to-see “Service Dog” label.

The sizing isn’t very accurate on this vest, so be sure to measure your dog rather than go by breed standards. The handle, though top-mounted, doesn’t have any padding and isn’t very comfortable to hold.

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5. Bolux DC118-Re-S Service Dog Harness

The Bolux Service Dog Harness comes in a variety of bright colors to make your dog highly visible. The harness has 3M reflective strips to catch the light, even on dark streets, and it comes with a “Service Dog” removable patch. The harness has a soft sponge lining for your dog’s comfort and to prevent chafing from the buckles. It has a top-mounted nylon handle that’s easy to grab hold of. The harness also has a rustproof metal D-ring to attach a leash to the top.

This harness doesn’t work well for small dogs. The straps also tend to come loose and need frequent adjustment.

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6. Doggie Stylz Service Dog Harness

The Doggie Stylz Service Dog Harness is made from a lightweight, breathable material that’s cool and comfortable for your dog to wear. The harness is brightly colored and has two removable reflective patches on each side that say different things, such as “In Training” or “Service Dog.” The harness has a welded D-ring on the top for leash attachment. It also has two adjustable straps for a custom fit. The quick-release buckle on the side allows you to put on and take off the harness easily.

The handle on this harness is uncomfortable to hold for long periods. The harness is also stiff and restrictive for your dog, so it can be uncomfortable for your dog to wear it frequently.

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7. Fairwin Service Vest Dog Harness

The Fairwin Service Vest Dog Harness has a padded neck and back straps that make it comfortable for your dog to wear. The harness is made of fast-dry and breathable fabric with a mesh lining to keep your dog cool. It features a top-mounted, standing handle that’s sturdy and easy-to-grip. The harness has adjustable neck and chest straps to customize your dog’s fit. It also has a quick-release buckle that makes the harness easy to put on and take off.

This harness is bulky and heavy, which can become uncomfortable for your dog to wear. The buckles also break easily and don’t last long.

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8. Rabbitgoo Tactical Dog Harness Vest

The Rabbitgoo Tactical Dog Harness Vest is a heavy-duty vest made of 1050D nylon, which is extremely durable as well as wear and tear-resistant. The vest has reinforced stitching for security and durability, so you don’t have to worry about it fraying easily. For your dog’s comfort, the vest has a breathable mesh to keep it cool. It has a MOLLE system on both sides for any attachments. The vest also has two metal leash rings: one on the front to prevent pulling and one on the back for daily walks.

This vest is only available in difficult-to-see colors of tan and black. The straps need to be adjusted frequently, which is frustrating. There are no reflective strips or “Service Dog” labels for this vest, so you’ll have to attach your own.

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9. OneTigris Dog Vest

The OneTigris Dog Vest is made of strong, 1000D nylon construction for durability. The vest resists dirt, water, abrasions, and tears, so it can stand up to hard daily use. It features a MOLLE system for attachments or patches. It also has a fleece-padded front strap to prevent chafing and keep your dog comfortable. The quick-release buckles allow you to take the harness off easily and put it on quickly.

The leash attachment is made of plastic and will not hold up as well as a metal, welded D-ring. The vest is also bulky and hard to fit properly, especially for very small dogs. The sizing guide for this vest is inaccurate, even if you measure your dog. The vest has no reflective strips and doesn’t include a “Service Dog” patch, so you’ll have to supply your own.

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10. EXCELLENT ELITE SPANKER Tactical Dog Harness

The EXCELLENT ELITE SPANKER Tactical Dog Harness features a soft, padded control handle that’s easy-to-grip for long periods. It has two adjustable straps to customize the fit for your dog. It also has two quick-snap buckles to easily put the harness on and take it off. The harness has a MOLLE system for attachments or patches as well as a sticker ID panel.

The straps on this harness need frequent adjustment, which is frustrating when you have to do it every day. The clips can come undone if your dog is strong enough and pulls hard enough. This can quickly become a safety concern. The harness can chafe and rub easily. This isn’t the best harness for big, strong dogs as the buckles just aren’t strong enough. The harness also doesn’t have any reflective strips to make your service dog more visible. It’s only available in hard-to-see colors such as tan and black.

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Buyer’s Guide: Choosing the Best Service Dog Vest & Harness

Service dog vests and harnesses have many different features to take into account when you’re shopping for the best one for your dog. We’ve created a buyer’s guide to provide you with a list of important considerations.

Strong Handle  

One of the most important features of a service dog vest and harness is for it to have a strong, durable handle. Many times, service dogs are used to assist people with mobility and stability and having a handle that can stand up to daily use is essential. The handle should be well-stitched to the rest of the harness so that there’s no risk of it breaking away when you pull on it. It’s also important for the handle to be comfortable to hold for a long time, so padding in that area is a good feature to look for.

Fit 

It’s also important that the vest or harness properly fit your dog. It shouldn’t be too large that it slides around because that can be a safety concern for you if it comes off too easily. It also shouldn’t be so snug that it makes it hard for your dog to run or complete its tasks. The best way to ensure a proper fit is to measure your dog and compare the measurements to the manufacturer’s sizing chart. Using a dog breed guide as a sizing chart isn’t as accurate and won’t give as good results as measuring.

Comfort

Service dogs work long hours and typically wear their vests and harnesses every day. The vest and harness should, therefore, be very comfortable for your dog to wear. Highly adjustable harnesses are helpful because then you can customize their fit. It’s also important to look for a vest or harness with padding to prevent chafing. Lightweight, breathable vests and harnesses are especially important in warm-weather climates to ensure that your pup stays comfortable and avoids becoming overheated.

Strength and Durability 

Service dog vests and harnesses must have strength and durability to stand up to daily wear and tear. Choose one made from strong material like nylon that is ideally waterproof. The vest or harness should be well-stitched so that none of the rings or buckles pulls off easily.

Attachments 

Your service dog may assist you by pulling your wheelchair or offering some other means of mobility. Because of this, any attachments like D-rings must be strong and durable enough to withstand both daily use and heavy pulling. Some harnesses include MOLLE attachments, which stands for Modular Lightweight Load-Carrying Equipment. These attachments are typically used by the military and are made to be strong and durable.

Pockets

When you’re out and about with your service dog, pockets on the vest or harness make it easier to take things with you. You can put your dog’s treats, food, or even a collapsible water bowl inside, and then your dog can carry it for you.

Reflective Strips and Labels

When you’re out with your service dog, you want the dog to be highly visible for safety. Bright colors and reflective strips help others see your dog easily, especially at night. Service dogs also need to have a “Service Dog” label attached to their vests and harnesses. Some vests and harnesses come with this type of label already, and others allow you to attach one. Either way, you want the label to be large, easy to read, and reflective.

Easy On and Off 

Because a service dog vest and harness is something your dog will wear every day, it needs to be easy to put on and remove. Ideally, you should be able to remove it with one hand. This way, it won’t become a daily struggle. Some vests and harnesses have a Velcro strap in addition to the buckles so that once the buckles are adjusted and fastened, you can simply use the Velcro to put it on or remove it.

Buckles

The buckles on your service dog vest or harness should be well-made and durable. Because buckles are typically what keep the vest on your dog, it’s important that they don’t break, even with strong pulling. A broken buckle can cause the vest or harness to fall off, which is a safety concern. It’s also best to look for quick-release buckles so that you can easily put the harness on and take it off.

Material 

Nylon is the best choice of material for a service dog vest and harness because it’s durable and weather-resistant. Nylon can chafe easily, though, so padding is important to protect your dog’s skin and fur. Mesh in strategic places can also help keep your dog cool since nylon isn’t the most breathable material.

Weight of Vest

Your service dog will likely wear the vest or harness every day. Because of this, it’s important that your dog isn’t burdened by the weight of the harness. It also shouldn’t be so bulky that it restricts your dog’s movement.

Conclusion

Our best overall choice is the ALBCORP Service Dog Vest Harness because it’s lightweight, padded, and highly reflective. The vest is well-stitched, and it’s made of a strong nylon-polyester blend for greater durability. With strong, adjustable straps and an easy-to-use buckle, you can put this vest on and remove it quickly.

Our best value choice is the pawshoppie Reflective Service Dog Vest Harness because it comes in a variety of bright colors and is highly reflective so your dog will be visible even at night. It’s well-padded and has a sturdy handle that’s strongly stitched for greater durability. The vest is also easy to put on and take off.

A service dog deserves vests and harnesses that are durable and well-made to stand up to the demands of daily use. We hope our reviews and buyer’s guide have helped you find the best service dog vest and harness to meet your needs.

• Looking for the best harnesses on the market? Check out our reviews!