An essential piece of apparel for most tiny dogs is a harness. Paired with a leash, harnesses keep your pup safe and secure while enjoying the outdoors during such activities as walking or jogging. There are two styles of harnesses: step-in style and head-in style. The style you choose depends on you and your pup. Good tiny dog harnesses are critically important for a number of reasons. Because our dogs are so small a harness must fit securely to prevent escaping and needs to be lightweight. Also, a lot of our small dogs, my Toy Poodles especially, have very small delicate tracheas that can easily be damaged by an ill-fitting harness. I’ve put together a short list of THE best tiny dog harnesses (step-in style) based on personal experience, recommendations from family and friends, TONS of research, and product reviews.
Please remember to always measure your pet to ensure proper fit. Harnesses should be snug but comfortable. For our tiny guys, there should be about a finger’s width of space (two fingers for larger dogs) between harness and dog for ease of movement. (This post contains affiliate links. When you buy via these links, I may earn a commission at no cost to you).
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1. Bark Appeal Harness
Key Features
- Adjustable Velcro for snugger fit
- Padded leg holes and harness trim to prevent chafing
- Securely fastens with Velcro, D-rings and one-click buckle
- Reflective stitching (some models)
- Multiple cute colors and patterns to choose from
- Leash attachment on pet’s back
- Affordable
- Minimum chest girth 9″
- Harness weight 1.66 oz (S)
Bark Appeal is a family-owned business based in California. They have been making high-quality pet products for decades and I like that they donate a portion of their products to rescues. We first discovered Bark Appeal years ago when shopping for a harness for my Toy Poodle, Sparky. He was a super skinny guy with long legs. I’ve had this collar so long that the size tag is too worn, but it is most likely an extra small. This harness has withstood almost 10 years of heat, rain, and snow and is still in pretty great shape. I will say that the Velcro isn’t as sticky as it used to be and the harness is a little stretched out from Sparky’s constant pulling, but still works like it should! Easy on/easy off and never had an issue with chafing. Mine does not have reflective material, so when I’m ready to replace, it’ll be with that upgrade. This harness works well for me but if you have an escape artist for a pet, there are more secure harness choices than this one since there are not multiple points of adjustment.
2. RC Step In Cirque Harness
Key Features
- Specifically designed for small dogs
- Hook-and-loop (Velcro and D-rings) closure makes it easy for people with reduced hand mobility
- Step-in style
- Reflective material logo
- Lots of colors to choose from
- Leash attachment on pet’s back
- Breathable mesh material
- Minimum girth 13.5″
- Harness weight 1.20 oz (XXS)
RC Pets has been making quality pet products for years. The step-in style of harness is great for any pups with anxiety issues. Although there are no adjustable straps, the Velcro can be repositioned for a tighter or looser fit. RC Pets has a loyal fan base, and this harness is highly rated. Most complaints center around sizing issues and inconsistencies even when people measured their pets, and some felt the Velcro closures weren’t strong enough or don’t last very long.
3. EzyDog Chest Plate Dog Harness
Key Features
- Pet steps into harness then harness buckles around pet’s neck and chest
- Chest plate designed to conform to your dog making it difficult to escape harness
- Securely fastens with one-click buckles
- Padded chest support
- Detachable swiveling car restraint allows this harness to double as a vehicle harness
- Lots of colors and patterns to choose from
- Reflective stitching
- Adjustable straps
- Leash attachment on pet’s back
- Girth 12″
- Harness weight <3.0 oz (XS)
I know several people that own EzyDog products and all like how durable they are. The Chest Plate Dog Harness is a customer favorite, but I was a little worried about its weight. Some of their products are just a little too heavy for my tiny Poodles. I reached out to EzyDog and got a reply almost immediately letting me know this harness as well as the QuickFit Harness (XS) are both under 3.0 oz. I like that this harness also functions as a car harness.
4. PUPPIA Soft Vest Harness
Key Features
- Adjustable Velcro for snugger fit
- Padded leg holes and harness trim to prevent chafing
- Securely fastens with Velcro, D-rings and one-click buckle
- Reflective material (some models)
- Leash attachment on pet’s back
- Multiple cute colors and patterns to choose from
- Minimum girth 9.4″
- Harness weight 0.96 oz (XS)
This harness is a bestseller with thousands of 5-star reviews. It is built similar to the Bark Appeal and Voyager harnesses. If you have an escape artist, please look at a more secure tiny dog harnesses with multiple points of adjustment for a more secure fit. That being said, this harness works great for my more sedate Poodles. The small fits perfect on my 14″ chested Poodle, Fred. I did try out the medium size for Charlie who is a 14.5″ chest girth and could adjust the Velcro small enough to make it work, but the small fit him a little better. The sizing chart is odd, which seemed to be the major complaint among negative reviewers. I’m thinking that maybe it is a typo on the sizing chart for the small size and it should state 14.5″ not 12.5″ for the small. If that is the case, then a small would be the correct choice for my Poodles. The padded leg holes are a little smaller than the Bark Appeal and Voyager harnesses, not sure if that provides a more secure fit or not. This harness is really easy on and easy off. It feels really well-built. My only concern is the buckle. The hard plastic buckle isn’t padded, and it sits on my Poodle’s back. I wouldn’t be concerned but he is cut super short for the summer so has very little hair to cushion the buckle. So far, I have not seen any chafing issues but might be something to consider for short hair doggies.
5. Pawtitas Recycled Dog Harness with Reflective Stitching
Key Features
- Securely fastens with one-click buckle and D-rings
- Nylon straps with 2 points of adjustments
- Reflective stripes
- Made with recycled materials (some models)
- Multiple colors to choose from
- Leash attachment on pet’s back
- Minimum girth 11″
- Harness weight 0.64 oz (XS)
Pawtitas is a US-based company that focuses on quality and safety. I like that a portion of their product sales goes to help shelter pets. The construction of this harness is just straps making it incredibly lightweight with less restrictive movement. The reflective stripes work really well for seeing my Poodle at night. This was, amazingly enough, easy for me to put on Charlie and adjust to fit. The cute little logo helped me always know which way to put this on correctly. As a reference, Charlie has a 14.5″ chest girth and I bought him the XS. This harness has a lot of adjustability in the straps so it’s pretty forgiving on sizing. The buckle is very secure but kind of tiny so people with bigger fingers or arthritic hands may find it difficult to open. This harness feels well-made, very secure and choke-free, which is important for our little guys. The issue I have is the harness straps are too tight in Charlie’s armpit area no matter how much I adjust them. I have read reviews, and some have had this same issue while others specifically commented about zero armpit rubbing, so it might just be the way my “fluffy” Poodle is built, thousands of pet owners haven’t had any problems. Please check your small dog frequently to make sure this isn’t an issue for them. Pawtitas offers several styles of small dog harnesses in a wide range of colors.
6. Voyager Step-in Air Dog Harness
Key Features
- Securely fastens with Velcro, one-click buckle and D-rings
- Adjustable Velcro for snugger fit
- Leash attachment on pet’s back
- Lots of colors to choose from
- Reflective material bands on sides of harness
- Padded leg holes and harness trim to prevent chafing
- Minimum girth 10″
- Extremely lightweight 1.27 oz (XXS)
This harness has THOUSANDS of positive reviews for good reason. I’ve had mine for a while now. It’s lightweight, comfortable, super easy to get on my pups, and I actually get a lot of compliments from other pet parents. I like that the closure is Velcro, D-rings and a buckle for added security. The construction of this harness is almost exactly like the Bark Appeal Harness. This harness does not have adjustable straps, but the Velcro lets you adjust the harness slightly. If you have super wigglers, you may want to try a harness with multiple points of adjustment for a tighter fit. The reflective bands, although small, work really well. Voyager makes a soft plush step-in version that got great ratings as well. For reference, I have the XS, and it fits my tiny Poodle with a chest girth of 14″.
7. Lupine Pet Eco 1/2″ Step In Harness
Key Features
- Made in the USA
- No Chew Guarantee
- Securely fastens with one-click buckle and D-rings
- Nylon straps with 3 points of adjustment
- Leash attachment on pet’s back
- Reflective trim (some models)
- Made with recycled materials
- Multiple points of adjustment on straps
- Beautiful vibrant colors and patterns
- Girth 10″
- Harness weight 1.12 oz (1/2″ 10-13″girth)
Lupine Pet is a small business making quality pet products right here in the U.S. If that wasn’t enough, they also donate lots of gear to shelters and other groups working with pets. Their harness colors and patterns are so vibrant and designed to match their leashes. This harness provides choke-free security for your pet which is so important when walking our little guys.
8. Doggie Design Choke Free Dog Harness
Key Features
- Adjustable Velcro for snugger fit
- Securely fastens with Velcro, D-rings and one-click buckle
- Lots of colors to choose from
- Padded leg holes and harness trim to prevent chafing
- Reflective material strips
- Leash attachment on pet’s back
- Minimum chest girth 9″
- Harness weight 0.125 oz (XS)
Doggie Design is a California based company designing cute and comfortable dog apparel with great customer service. I love all the colors and patterns this company offers. Their tiny dog harnesses are very similar to the Bark Appeal Harness but with a slightly more breathable mesh material. The choke-free design works well for our small dogs with delicate tracheas. Doggie Design also offers a cool mesh harness with an ultra-light weight of 0.188 (XS).
9. EcoBark Step in Dog Harness
Key Features
- Securely fastens with Velcro, one-click buckle and D-rings
- Adjustable Velcro for snugger fit
- Padded leg holes and harness trim to prevent chafing
- Lots of colors and sizes to choose from
- Leash attachment on pet’s back
- Reflective material bands
- Minimum girth 8″
- Harness weight 0.14 oz (XXXS)
EcoBark makes several quality products with small dogs in mind. I like the extra padding around leg holes to prevent chafing and the Velcro closure for extra security and minor harness adjustments. Many reviewers warn that sizing charts are off so it may take several attempts before finding the perfect fit. This is looks exactly like the Puppia Harness. I am including it here because EcoBark offers even smaller sizes for your tiniest pooch.
Conclusion
A good harness is such an important piece of equipment when walking your dogs. They keep your dog safe, secure and protected so you and your pup can enjoy the outdoors. Sometimes though it’s hard to find tiny dog harnesses that actually fit our tiniest pups. They weigh too much, are too big, or don’t have a choke-free design so important for their delicate tracheas. All of the small dog harnesses featured here are step-in style. If you prefer a head-in style, please read my head-in style harness post. Do you have a style that works best for your dog? Do you have a favorite “go to” harness? I’d love to hear your comments.