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What is a Y shaped or Y-front harness?

AnnyX dog harnesses have a Y shaped front with the centre of the Y resting on the sternum. Should your dog pull, the pressure is on te sternum, not the soft tissue.

Y-front harnesses also sit further back than most harnesses, so there is no chance of rubbing behind the front legs. A Y-Harness allows the dog to move more freely because the front strap will not limit the front legs from moving forward or sideways.

Dog harnesses with a Y-shape, like our AnnyX harnesses are designed for comfort and safety!

What is the best dog harness?

Generally there are two main walking harness styles:

  • The Y-front or Y shaped
  • The straight-front (also known as a Norwegian harness).

As the names suggest, Y-front harnesses feature a Y-shaped design on the dog’s chest and straight-front designs feature a single strap running horizontally across the chest.

Y-shaped harnesses come in a lot of variations, but the predominant design remains the same. This style of harness is favoured by most dog trainers, behaviourists, vets, and physiotherapists since it allows free movement of the dog’s shoulder blades. Y model dog harnesses typically have one or two fastening buckles on the dog’s back, although AnnyX OPEN models do offer additional buckles on the neck as well. This can be helpful for dogs that don’t like harnesses that go over their heads.

AnnyX UK offers 4 different Y-shaped harnesses:

What is the Best Harness for Dog Training?

Training your dog to walk beautifully on the lead starts with getting the right dog harness. Contrary to popular opinion, there is no one harness that will stop pulling and teach your dog to walk on a loose lead. Making sure your dog is comfortable and secure is an important place to start.

Using dog harnesses for our furry friends has grown in popularity over the years – they keep your dog's neck safe when pulling into the lead which is especially good for young puppies who haven’t yet learned how to walk nicely.

With popularity comes choice, AnnyX offers a lot of choice when it comes to buying a new harness for your dog! Different sizes, styles, materials, colours,,,

Are Straight-Front Dog Harnesses Safe to use?

Straight-front harnesses (also called Norwegian Harness) have a bit of a tarnished reputation due to the positioning of the chest strap. These straight front harnesses usually only have one buckle on the dog’s back or side, so are very quick and fuss-free to put on and take off. However, if your dog is a bit of a flight-risk – perhaps a new rescue dog, or a dog who is fearful of certain triggers in their environment – a straight-front harness is not the most ideal choice since they are designed to allow a dog to quickly back out of the harness.

This harness style can be a great choice for dogs who are in the process of learning to feel comfortable when wearing a harness.

Which Harness to use for a Houdini Dog?

If your furry friend is a flighty dog, consider an escape-proof double-strap harness to prevent your Houdini's big escape. AnnyX SAFETY harnesses have a Y-front with an additional tummy strap that fastens behind the dog’s ribcage, thus preventing the possibility of reversing out of the harness when frightened. This style is also brilliant for deep-chested breeds such as Whippets and other Windhounds.

What If My Dog Hates Their Harness?

Whilst we usually consider harnesses the most comfortable equipment choice, some dogs can find them quite aversive and may avoid having to wear one. We can usually improve a dog’s feelings about wearing a harness by spending some time introducing it gradually with positive reinforcement, but we also recommend checking the harness fit and inspecting for signs of wear and tear, as ill-fitting or damaged harnesses can chafe, pinch, rub or even cause acute pain.

As your dog grows and develops, they may also change shape and need a different size and fit of harness.

If despite your best efforts your dog still really doesn’t enjoy wearing their harness, consider trying out different adjustments to see if your dog prefers a different fit, or opt for a personalised collar instead. Every dog has a different preference and it’s okay to choose what your individual dog feels most comfortable in! Do bear in mind that if your dog is a puller, attaching the lead to a collar could put severe strain on their neck and back though, so if opting for this, lots of loose lead training (and possibly some expert help!) will be essential!

Our 4Kyon wide, neoprene padded dog collars might be a comfortable alternative for dogs who don't feel comfortable to wear a dog harness.

A good Y shaped harness won’t stop your dog from pulling, or cause them to pull, but the right size AnnyX harness for your dog can help them feel happy and comfortable. Happy dogs learn faster and better, so spending the time to find the right harness for your dog will set your loose lead walking journey up for success!