Harness advice please

[Sue Jordan]

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Hi … could anyone please advise me on what size Julius K9 Harness I would need for my Whippet who is nearly seven months old now. He's growing out of his current harness and i've heard some good reviews about these ones but i'm unsure of the sizing.. Should I be measuring him up or something?
TIA

 

[JoanneF]

Actually, I'm not keen on the Julius K9. The chest strap is quite restrictive to movement. Let me find some photos to illustrate what I mean.

 

[Sue Jordan]

Thank you @JoanneF , I would appreciate that, do you have one in mind that you would recommend for a whippet? I want him to be comfortable.

 

[lurcherman]

I don’t get the whole harness thing, and for a whippet I’m just at a bit of a loss, now big strong dogs I understand, a undertrained dog I understand, now like I’ve said before I’m old school so please advise, oh and I can see a point at shows and non working dogs.

 

[Sue Jordan]

Well ive heard that because of their small heads in comparison to their necks they can easily slip a collar..so that is why I have been using a harness for him.

 

[JoanneF]

This isn't the article I was looking for but it does explain it.

Reflections on chest harnesses | Facebook

A Y fronted harness is better, I use the Perfect Fit which comes in 3 pieces that you buy as individual parts so you mix and match the sizes to get a perfect fit.

With the deep chest of a whippet, do make sire the part behind the elbows is far enough back not to interfere, and with any harness, make sure buckles and fasteners are not close to moving parts.

Also, the nylon webbing on some harnesses is sometimes finished off by melting, and that leaves a very hard edge, so something else to be careful of.

 

[JoanneF]

I don’t get the whole harness thing, and for a whippet I’m just at a bit of a loss, now big strong dogs I understand, a undertrained dog I understand, now like I’ve said before I’m old school so please advise, oh and I can see a point at shows and non working dogs.

I like a harness because the throat is really fragile. And with an extending lead or long line, it's especially important because a running dog could get pulled up suddenly when it reaches the end, and at full speed (or even half speed or whatever) that could seriously injure the trachea.

 

[lurcherman]

I understand the theory, never had a dog slip a collar, I will not go into detail, I see the point, I suppose I just didn’t need one, I.e.dog was stable on lead, didn’t pull once trained and off collar as soon as we see a field, only asking hehe, oh long leads and them pathetic retractable leads are a joke, but hey ho , ok let the thread carry on.

 

[JoanneF]

I'm personally not a fan of the retractable leads, but that's more to do with my fingers and thumbs getting in a knot. I do know people though, whose dogs are able to get at least some freedom on them because they can't be safe completely off lead if they see something to chase!

 

[lurcherman]

Not a fan at all of the retractable leads, but ok decent owners only needs to own one lol I’m just old school, lead, collar, I suppose I can see a point on whips necks and stuff,

 

[Sue Jordan]

Thank you @JoanneF I will check out the perfect fit ones , his current one is a y padded style so ill look for something similar.

 

[Whippylove]

hi I have 3 whippets and they all wear harnesses, my youngest has ruffwear webmaster and flagline and my other 2 wear Indi dog I like the extra strap so they can't back out of them.

 

[Rinkydinkydo]

I understand the theory, never had a dog slip a collar, I will not go into detail, I see the point, I suppose I just didn’t need one, I.e.dog was stable on lead, didn’t pull once trained and off collar as soon as we see a field, only asking hehe, oh long leads and them pathetic retractable leads are a joke, but hey ho , ok let the thread carry on.

You see so many photos of running dogs with collars not fitted right. They always tend to fit them too far down the neck making it easy for the dog to slip.

 

[lurcherman]

Rinky, I suppose you do and I do understand, mine was just right, it’s not hard,if a dog is stable as when mine was when trained, all I’m saying it wasn’t a problem with mine, 16 and 14 was there ages, and the 14 would have made over 16 in my view as only a tumour stopped that, but like I say old school , but I do understand as diff methods in walks, dogs , and people,

 

[lurcherman]

But then again my dogs was mainly in fields so hardly a collar, hehe , hey I see the point ,

 

[Tinytom]

I use trixie fleece harnesses from Ebay for my jack russell and i used to use them for our foster lurchers..really soft and padded and easily washed

 

[Sue Jordan]

Thanks everyone for your advise , ive written all the names down so ill take a look at them

 

[JoanneF]

I should add, if you need one for the car the Kurgo is one of the few available that are crash tested and car safe for the dog. A lot of harnesses say they are car safe but what that really means is safe for the people, as in not turning the dog into a missile in a crash. The Kurgo is supposed to be safe for the dog too.

There are others but they were really expensive when I was looking.

 

[Sue Jordan]

Ah thank you , ill look into those because he does travel in the car with us a bit.

 

[Biker John]

I use a Bergan harness for my Whippet in the car and I use a Martingale collar with a normal length lead for walking. I like the Martingale as its wide and soft so covers quite a bit of her neck and slips over her head to put on but if she pulled it tightens up so she cant get out of it.