Harness Research
Introduction
Service dogs rely on harnesses to enhance their mobility and effectiveness in assisting individuals with disabilities. These harnesses, when fitted correctly, provide stability, support, and communication between the dog and handler. By distributing weight evenly and offering a secure attachment point, harnesses enable service dogs to navigate various environments with confidence and precision, ensuring both their safety and the success of their tasks.
Dr. Chris Zink 2013 limited study
- Assigned into categories based on initial study: Restrictive vs Non-Restrictive
- Wearing a harness has an impact on the dog’s natural movement (there was no leash attached)
- Chest can alter a dog’s natural gait
- In this study, a harness that had a strap horizontally across the front of a dog’s chest caused a more significant alteration of the dog’s gait compared to the Y style; it is referred to as the “restrictive harness”
- In this study, a harness that had Y-shaped straps across the front of the dog’s chest caused less alteration of gait than the straight strap style; it is referred to as the “restrictive harness”
- So-called “restrictive” harness finding was widely discussed in the dog world, leading people to draw conclusions that overly-simplified the results to erroneous conclusions, including “restrictive is bad” and “straight chest straps cause damage”
- Follow up studies have conflicting results (see 2018 study below)
- Further research is necessary to better understand how harnesses affect dogs
- Limitations of this study include: Small sample size; the dog’s were measured on a treadmill; no leash was attached; did not consider the human’s role holding the leash; the fit of the harnesses was not discussed–only the shape of the front chest strap; the long-term impact in the real world has not been studied
This 2017 article about harnesses offers a great explaination of research findings.
Harnesses for Agility Dogs
By Brittany Jean Carr, DVM, CCRT, Chris Zink, DVM, PhD, CCRT, CVA, CSMT, DACVP, DACVSMR, and Kaitlyn Dreese
Read the full article “Harnesses for Agility Dogs” by clicking the image below.
Permission granted from Clean Run Productions to reprint/share this article.
Chest Straps – The Great Debate
- Y-shaped
- Straight
- Restrictive
- Non-Restrictive
- Research
- Expert Opinions
- Findings
- Limitations
What the research does say
- Review of general-purpose harness studies
- Review of working guide harness studies
- Research takeaways
Dogs in Motion (Hunde in Bewegung)
Published in 2011, this book that illustrates the findings of research done at the University of Jena on the locomotion of dogs. It is special because it represents the first time we learned, in detail, the biomechanics and kinetic movement of canines. Advances in technology allowed researchers to see what live movement on the inside of the dog looks like.
The “Jena study” as it’s been called, was conducted by Prof. Dr. Martin S. Fischer, Professor of Special Zoology and Evolutionary Biology at the University of Jena, and his team presented their study on the locomotion of dogs in 2011. has been published in a beautiful book Dogs in Motion is available here on Amazon. See also: 2013 Book Review
Two Styles of Harness: restrictive and non-restrictive
Effects of restrictive and non-restrictive harnesses on shoulder extension in dogs at walk and trot
M Pilar Lafuente, Laura Provis, Emily Anne Schmalz, 2018
“With the addition of weights, to simulate pulling or work, it was hypothesised that the angle of shoulder extension would be decreased in both harnesses, but particularly in the restrictive harness due to the presumed restrictive cross-chest design.”
Non-restrictive
With Y-shaped chest strap (Trixie Fusion harnesses with Neoprene padding)
Restrictive
Strap coming across the chest horizontally (Easy Walk nylon harness, PetSafe; this harness is designed to impede gait when leash is attached to the front of the dog to manage leash pulling)
Dogs were walked and trotted on a treadmill at a comfortable walking and trotting speed
- First with no harness
- Then with each harness type (no attachment)
- Finally, with each harness type and 5 kilograms (11 pounds) weights attached with a lead connected to the back of each harnesses to simulate pulling from the lead
- Dogs were filmed and the angle of shoulder extension was measured
- Without weight, there was a significant decrease in shoulder extension found with both types of harnesses in comparison with no harness
- With weight, the “non-restrictive” Y-harness restricted the extension of the shoulder significantly more than the Y-harness without weight
- The addition of weights did not consistently add more restriction to shoulder extension.
- With weights, the so-called “restrictive” harness did NOT significantly decrease shoulder extension as anticipated
Meaning…
- a straight front harness with a leash attached may offer more freedom of movement if fitted properly
- There’s more to it than the shape of the chest strap
Limitations
- The “restrictive” harness tested was not used in the way it was intended
- Proper fit of harness was not addressed
- “It is reasonable to hypothesise that body conformation will have an impact on joint angles during gait. Previous studies have suggested that comparisons of kinematic data cannot be made between different breeds of dogs or between groups of dogs of different conformation or bodyweight.” – referencing the Jena Study
We still don’t know:
- Long term affects of any equipment
- How the human impacts the dog
- If and how different harness designs affect individual dogs with varying confirmation and size
- If coat length or skin movement affects harness effects
- If material type and texture or the width of straps affects movement
- If there is a connection between harnesses and injuries
Learn about guide dogs working in harness research
Helpful Articles written for Lay People
To Harness Or Not To Harness? That Is The Question
Chris Zink, DVM PhD DACVSMR, Avidog-Zink Ventures 2019
How to Choose a Well-Fitting Y-Harness for Your Dog
Dog Gear Review
Harnesses for Agility Dogs
Clean Run Magazine, April 2017 By Brittany Jean Carr, DVM, CCRT , Chris Zink, DVM, PhD, CCRT, CVA, CSMT, DACVP, DACVSMR, and Kaitlyn Dreese