How to make a dog harness at home
The duration of production depends on your desires and capabilities. In order to prepare the simplest accessory you will need several hours of free time. To perform such a device, you need to prepare the following equipment:
- scissors;
- strap;
- Velcro;
- needle and thread;
- roulette;
- leash.
In order for the harness to be comfortable for the animal, you must first take its measurements. It is important to measure the coverage of the chest, neck and the distance from the chest to the neck. Then you need to cut the strap according to the data obtained into 3 parts. Two strips will be intended for girth of the animal's chest, and the third for the back. Velcro must be sewn onto the ends of long straps. When unfolded, the design should resemble the letter H. After the harness is completely ready, you need to sew a leash to it.
But many pet owners want their pets to look fashionable and stylish, and therefore they sew accessories for them from different fabrics. Below we will look at an example of how to make an accessory from old jeans. To make a harness you will need the following materials:
- the front and back of the jeans, one of the pockets, a strip of jeans for a leash;
- ring and carabiner (can be removed from the bag);
- 2 large buttons;
- 2 rivets;
- needle and thread to match the color of the jeans.
Of course, you can sew a harness with your own hands, but it is best to use a machine to ensure that the seams are smooth and beautiful. The manufacturing process is very simple, the photo shows what patterns will be needed for sewing:
- Cut the front side of the jeans waistband in half and lay out the pattern as in the picture.
Sew the bottom of the pocket in the middle to the back of the belt, and sew it on top to both parts of the front strip of the jeans.
- Fold the strip for the leash in half and stitch it.
- Attach a carabiner to the leash using clasps. If there are no fasteners, then you can stitch them well.
- The dog harness is ready. Where the front of the jeans is, this side needs to be wrapped around the animal's neck. You need to try on the accessory to understand where to make the buttons.
- Sew on the buttons.
The denim harness is ready, now you can decorate it with various accessories. Beads, rhinestones, ribbons, beads, and various buttons are perfect for this. Veterinarians also recommend attaching a card with your address and phone number to the inside in case the animal gets lost.
Advice! It is recommended to sew harnesses yourself only for small breeds of dogs, since a large animal can jump out of it and tear it.
How to sew it yourself: step-by-step instructions
You can refuse to buy ready-made equipment and try to sew a dog harness with your own hands. Its design is simple and does not require special sewing and cutting skills. It is enough to make the necessary measurements:
- neck volume - take measurements in the place where the collar is usually located;
- chest volume - measured under the front legs in the widest part of the body;
- distance from the neck to the base of the tail.
Add 1.5-2 cm to each measurement for comfortable wearing of the finished product.
The simplest harness for a small and medium-sized dog is 2 belts (for the volume of the neck and for the volume of the chest) connected to each other along the chest and along the back by additional straps. A ring for a leash carabiner is attached to the larger (chest) strap. This is more of a decorative option that can be decorated as you wish.
The second simple option is a loop harness. It consists of one long strap (across the chest behind the paws), one shorter one (in front of the paws) and a jumper between them. This option involves a couple of fasteners and is suitable for a medium-sized, obedient dog that is already familiar with a harness.
And here is another simple option from one long belt. The main thing here is to sew it correctly so that the dog is comfortable and does not rub anywhere:
For large dog breeds, it is advisable to make a harness from bag and backpack wide ribbons - a durable and wear-resistant material that can withstand heavy loads. Use only metal fittings - rings, half rings, rivets and fasteners must be of increased strength.
But leave the sewing of cargo harnesses and equipment for sled dogs to the professionals. In the first case, you need to know exactly how the load should be distributed for a particular workout, and the health and safety of the dog depends on the quality of the harness equipment. In these two cases it is not worth saving.
How to choose an accessory for an animal
Choosing a good harness for your pet is not easy. Arriving at a pet store, your eyes widen at the large assortment of products. If you don’t know how to choose a harness for a dog, you should follow these tips:
- the best materials for the accessory are cotton and nylon;
- You need to adjust the size using straps;
- The shape of the harness should resemble the letter H or the number 8.
- the gasket must be felt;
- the width of the straps should not be more than one and a half centimeters;
- The fastener should be light and the fastenings comfortable.
You can now see the current price of dog harnesses and buy them right here:
Before purchasing, it is recommended to try on the animal’s “outfit” for walking to understand whether it is suitable for him or not. The optimal size is considered if two fingers of a person fit freely between the back and the harness. Along with such an accessory, you need to immediately buy a leash. Recommended length is 2 meters. The best models can be called roulettes, due to which you can quickly “pull” the dog towards you and protect passers-by from it.
In the pet store you will be able to find different versions of harnesses, with excellent functions and lighting. The most budget option is a universal harness with a leash, made of thin belts. Most often, such models are produced by Chinese manufacturers. But they are not suitable for many animals, since a large dog can jump out and tear it. An alternative to such a device can be called a jumpsuit for an animal, which many pets quickly get used to.
What you will need
Main material
The main material for sewing can be nylon. Try making a model using a combination of leather and nylon. For decorative breeds, choose soft material – velor.
Braid
If there is no nylon cable, then you should prepare a medium-width nylon braid. To strengthen it, you can use fabric from old jeans. All sections of the braid are melted using a lighter. The braid is thinner than leatherette, so it is reinforced. To do this, the dimensions are multiplied by four, two belts plus double braid.
Lining material
It is convenient to sew necks with your own hands, since you can mix materials. Natural fabric in the form of a lining will give the product strength and also provide the animal with an increased sense of comfort. The lining fabric should not only be natural, but also soft, since it comes into contact with the pet’s skin.
It is important that the material absorbs moisture well. Felt, fleece, and flannel are perfect for lining.
Rings for fastening
Metal carabiner rings are used for fastening. The fastenings must be strong. It should be borne in mind that the lighter the accessory, the more convenient and comfortable it is for the dog. In addition, the fasteners should not only be strong, but also comfortable. The best option is to make several fasteners.
Steel rings are chosen for fastening, but they must be solid so as not to weaken the structure. The diameter of the rings is chosen so that three loops for the sling are freely located there. Quantity – four pieces. You should also purchase a backpack buckle and two three-slot buckles.
Types of harnesses
The most common models are the following:
- H-shaped. There are two loops for the head and front paws, which are held together by a connecting bar.
- In form 8. The model consists of two loops, into one of which you need to insert the head of the animal, and into the second the front legs. This is the safest design that prevents the dog from suffocating and jumping out of the harness.
- Vests. These models are similar in design to the previous two, but are suitable for the winter season, as they are insulated.
- V-shaped harnesses. Similar patterns on the back of the animal form the letter V.
The best material for a harness is nylon, which is easy to clean and wash, and also does not get wet in rainy weather. Before you buy an accessory, you need to check its structural integrity, whether there are any threads sticking out of it and whether it is durable.
Taking measurements from your pet
For this particular harness model we will need only three measurements:
- A. Chest circumference behind the front legs. That is, the girth from the front edge of the shoulder blade to the widest part of the chest.
- B. The second measurement is the circumference of the pet’s neck at its widest point. Circumference from the anterior edge of the shoulder blade to the carina (the most convex part of the chest).
- B. Well, the third measure is the distance between lines A and B.
We multiply all the measurements obtained by 2. This will be the required length of the sling for making the harness.
How to wear
In order to learn how to quickly put a harness on a dog you need skill. It is worth noting that at first the dog will not want to try on such an outfit and will try to get out of it. You need to learn how to put it on correctly without causing discomfort to the animal.
First of all, you need to check that the leash is unfastened, otherwise it will only interfere with dressing and scare away the animal. The figure shows a diagram of one of the types of harness.
To properly put a harness on your dog you need to:
- Place the first ring on the animal's neck so that the belt with the clasp is on the dog's back.
- Place the animal's front paws into the second ring.
- Fasten all fasteners.
- Check that the parts of the harness lie flat and are not tangled.
- Adjust the size if necessary.
- Attach a leash.
It is worth preparing for the fact that the puppy will not like the first walks in a harness, as it will restrict movement. Some animals show their displeasure and fall down during a walk, and therefore you have to pick them up. The most important thing is to endure the time during which the dog should get used to such walks.
In order to better understand how to put a harness on a dog, we recommend watching the video:
How and where to walk rabbits in a harness
The video shows how to put on a harness for a rabbit, and in what conditions it is better to walk it.
- If you decide to walk your pet, then initially he needs to be vaccinated to protect him from common dangerous diseases. For a walk, you should choose a quiet place where the animal will not be disturbed by noise and passing traffic, barking dogs, etc. A great place for a walk would be the territory of your dacha, if you have one. In this case, it’s even worth purchasing or making an enclosure for walking.
- The rabbit should be carried in a carrier to the place of walking. You should walk in warm weather - cold, wind and slush can negatively affect his health. In the summer heat, walks should be taken in the morning or evening, when the direct rays of the sun cannot harm the animal and it is not so hot outside.
- During exercise, you should monitor your pet so that it does not get tangled in the leash and harm itself. Make sure that the greenery growing in the walking area does not contain poisonous herbs. The following herbs can cause poisoning in a rabbit: cockle, hemlock, celandine, foxglove, buttercup, spurge, wekh, dope and others.
Important! Predatory animals can scare rabbits to death - these little ears do not tolerate stress well. Therefore, if you see a large dog barking loudly in a walking area, you should look for another place
It is recommended to carry the baby rabbit to the place of walking in a special carrier designed for pets. This reduces the likelihood that the animal will get tired or get hurt. The little rabbit does not obey commands like a dog and walks in the direction it chooses independently
You should behave carefully with it, since many things can frighten the animal, as a result of which it can begin to break free and run away
The preferred place for walking is the lawn
Since in nature rabbits are in constant motion, it is recommended to use a roulette leash, which will limit the animal’s walking radius at any time without scaring it. If the animal does not move, sits with its ears down and pressed to the ground, it is frightened by something. At such moments, the owner should pick up the rabbit and talk to it in a gentle voice to relieve stress and calm the animal.
It is not recommended to walk with pets outdoors in low air temperatures and winds, as there is a risk of catching a cold. The optimal time for walking is considered to be morning or evening in the warm season, so that the animal does not get sunstroke. If the summer evening is a little cool, the rabbit should dress up.
Step-by-step making of a harness for a large dog
Why does a cat need a collar, leash or harness?
Even the most phlegmatic domestic cats are happy with the new experiences that a walk gives. And if your pet has an active temperament or has lived on the street in the past, he may feel sad, sitting in the apartment all day long. In order to make walking with your cat safe and comfortable, special devices come to the rescue: a collar, a leash and a harness.
Walks give cats many new experiences
Collar
Some owners purchase anti-parasitic collars for their cats, which the pets even wear around the house. But for a walk you need a more reliable collar with a strong clasp.
If your cat walks, as the saying goes, on its own, you need to choose a comfortable collar for it that will not allow the animal to get caught on protruding dangerous objects and will not fly off during active movements. In addition, the collar must have a mount for an address book on which you can write the cat’s name, your phone number or address. If the pet gets lost or gets into trouble, the people who find it will be able to return the poor thing home. When deciding to walk an animal on its own, you need to be aware that it is unsafe.
The pet's collar must have a tag with the owner's number on it.
An option in which you can not worry about your pet, but at the same time give him the joy of a walk, is to use a collar in tandem with a leash.
Leash
As mentioned above, a leash is the key to a safe walk with a cat. It is best to opt for a long but strong leash. A chain, unlike dogs, is not suitable for cats - it is heavy and can scare your furry or cause him pain.
The cat's leash should be soft and light
And, of course, even when walking on a leash, put a tag with contacts on your cat’s collar - just in case.
Pros and cons of harnesses, the right choice
Pet stores offer a wide range of different products. When you set out to buy a new type of leash for your pet, you can get a little confused.
So what types of harnesses are there? They vary in design depending on the purpose for which they are made.
We can highlight:
- riding harness;
- walking;
- sports;
- official;
- medical;
- for puppies.
For each type, a special material is selected.
The advantage of harnesses over collars and other types of leashes has already been proven and not without reason.
Uniform distribution of the load has minimal impact on the animal’s body, without causing problems or pain with the musculoskeletal system, without squeezing the throat.
A four-legged friend behaves more calmly and obediently.
The disadvantages can be identified as:
- the difficulty of controlling a disobedient dog, for example, during sudden aggression towards a stranger, that is, when a jerk is needed to restrain the pet;
- more expensive price compared to collars;
- dog addiction and collar refusal.
Before going to the store, be sure to take the dimensions of the animal, and also take into account the purpose of the purchased accessory, the age of your four-legged friend, and even the breed.
The diagram in the picture clearly demonstrates what parameters need to be taken into account when choosing so that the size suits your pet.
It would be good if the store allows you to put a harness on your pet before purchasing. It should not be too big or fit too tightly to the body. Preference should be given to models with adjustable straps, several reliable fasteners, and high-quality fastening.
By the way, we have a separate article devoted to the choice of this accessory: .
