Like so many of you, my wife and I are meticulous shoppers. Whether it be online or in-person, we tend to put a lot of research into the things we purchase so that we know we're putting our hard-earned money on the proper products. There are so many options for even basic items like leashes and collars that it's easy to get lost in what we're buying.

We will be writing reviews as we purchase and use these items ourselves. As you do your research for products you're planning to buy, our goal is to add another layer to that research.

It was only three months ago when I reviewed the Freedom No Pull Harness. I mentioned at the time that we were already starting to notice a bald spot around his chest area and since that time, it hasn't gotten any better. In fact, I think it may have gotten worse. With the way the harness is worn, there is a strap that goes below on his chest and that is exactly where the balding is happening. It’s also not too tight. We’ve adjusted it according to the instructions, so we’ve concluded that the harness is just not for us. We went and purchased a new harness for Markus while we were out on our previous trip about a month ago and we’re really liking this new one so far.

The new harness that we’re using now is the RUFFWEAR Front Range Harness. If the previous harness contributed to the balding because of how bare the straps were, the RUFFWEAR is the exact opposite. RUFFWEAR harnesses are known for their padding especially around the chest/belly and back areas. The harness is worn by putting the dog’s head through the main hole with a top and bottom flaps secured together by two clips. What’s nice about the clips is that there’s a layer of padding between the clips and the dog, so you don’t have to worry about accidentally pinching the dog with the clip. 

The Front Range Harness comes with two rings - a metal one on the back towards the bottom part of the harness or the midsection of the dog and a cloth ring on the front right just below the neck. At first we weren't fond of the front ring being made out of cloth because it didn't feel very secure, but we quickly realized that dogs don't generally pull as hard when the leash is attached to the front. If they pull, they end up being pulled to the side, which is uncomfortable for them. 

The harness also comes with an ID pouch located right by the back of the neck. If you have an extra dog tag or something with identification, it doesn't hurt to leave something in there just in case. 

For sizing, we thought that we were going to be a large, but we ended up getting a medium. We tried it out at the store and it was a no-brainer once we had it on him. I'd recommend trying it out at the store too because these are one of those things that's important to get the size right and no amount of measuring is as good as just trying it out. Because of all the padding, the harness looks a lot bulkier than other ones, but if you explore a lot, you can rest easy knowing it’s very secure and comfortable for your dog.

These days, Markus doesn't pull as much as he used to on a leash anymore. He will if something like a squirrel passes in front of him and he thinks he has a shot at catching it. While the harness is secure, I do find that because the back ring is so low, it encourages him to launch forward more. That said, I do feel more comfortable knowing that we he launches himself, the strain isn't around his neck, but towards his midsection area. 

In the two years that we've had Markus, this is the the third harness that we've owned, but it's also the best one so far. In hindsight, I wish we had just cut to the chase and gone with this harness from the beginning. We were hesitant because of how bulky it looked and it is also the more expensive harnesses out there, but for what we've spent on the previous ones that didn't last, getting a RUFFWEAR Front Range Harness from the beginning would've been worth it. We’ve come around on the bulkiness and while we realize that the style is not for everyone, it is a product that's designed for both comfort and security for the dog and that’s what mattered the most.

We’re so grateful for your support of The Markus Project. We mostly choose our locations through searching and word of mouth. If you know of a park, trail or location you think we should check out, please share it with us. We’d love to know!