Dog Harness Fit Questions — Small Shoulder Surface & Long Back

[Tove09Tilda]

Hello Leatherworkers!

I’m reaching out to those with more experience in English saddlery than I have — I need some advice! My dog needs a new harness. Sounds simple, right? But it’s turned into quite the project, and I wanted to share my approach to see what others think.

About my dog:

• 2 ½ years old, medium-sized (~40 cm shoulder height, ~20 kg)

• Very fine-boned, which makes fitting tricky

Her current harness is always too short. No matter how I adjust it, it slips over her shoulders and restricts her movement. She mostly wears it for nose-work at hunter dog school (long-leash) or jogging with us, but I just can’t settle for “good enough” — she deserves a harness that fits properly.

Today, I approached it like I would saddle fitting — I even chalked her up! Yes, I literally drew on her shoulders. To understand how movement affects the fit, I lifted each front paw one at a time and marked where her shoulder blade sits in each position. That showed me how the surface between the shoulder blades shrinks as she moves — finally explaining why most harnesses rub or slip. Her shoulders are steeply angled and quite flat, and there’s very little surface between the blades — about 1" to 1 1/16".

Because of this, I think I need to build a bit more room in the front so the harness doesn’t rub. Her back is straight, so I can safely use plastazote (6 mm) padding. If she were more overbuilt, I’d use a flocking system like in saddlery to ensure proper pressure distribution. Her back is long, and she’s had back problems before, so I can’t extend the harness beyond the widest part of her ribcage plus about an inch for padding under the D-ring.

My current plan:

• Y-harness with padding under the back strap, shoulder straps, and chest strap

• Two D-rings: one near the shoulders, one at the end of the back strap

• Leather: Italian harness leather (double butt, 3.5–4 mm)

• Padding: 0.4 mm calfskin

• Reflective piping on back and shoulder straps (for being fancy) 

I think a Y-harness makes the most sense given the small space between her shoulders. A sport harness wouldn’t suit her, and a step-in/vest harness would be too tight in that area.

So my question to you: Does this sound like a solid plan? Any tips for shaping the Y-harness to prevent rubbing over steep shoulders, or advice on padding placement and what to keep in mind, would be amazing. Or do you might even have another suggestion shape-wise? 

Thanks in advance! And yes, I did just saddle-fit my dog with chalk — she’s a very patient princess and just proved to me that self-making it is the best solution in her case. 

Best, 
Tove 

Edited 2 hours ago by Tove09Tilda

[Mulesaw]

Hi Tove

I think a Y shaped harness is a good idea. My only suggestion would be to go down a bit on the thickness of the leather. 
3.5 -4 mm might look a bit overbuilt/heavy when you also add the padding. But I guess it depends on how much your dog likes to pull on the leash when there is an interesting scent 🙂

How do you plan to adjust it and mount it on your dog? Will you use Velcro or buckles for adjusting?

Brgds Jonas

[Tove09Tilda]

Just now, Mulesaw said:

Hi Tove

I think a Y shaped harness is a good idea. My only suggestion would be to go down a bit on the thickness of the leather. 
3.5 -4 mm might look a bit overbuilt/heavy when you also add the padding. But I guess it depends on how much your dog likes to pull on the leash when there is an interesting scent 🙂

How do you plan to adjust it and mount it on your dog? Will you use Velcro or buckles for adjusting?

Brgds Jonas

Hey Jonas, 
Thanks for your input! I actually prefer a stronger and more stable build for her, which is why I opted for 3.5–4 mm leather. I wanted a thickness that’s sturdy enough to provide a reliable fit and hold up over time, especially since her current nylon and neoprene harness is way too soft for that. The thickness also allows for padding without compromising durability.

For mounting, I’m planning to use steel roller buckles in combination with looping. I’m not a fan of clips or Velcro. I also want the chest strap to be replaceable, so it can be adjusted if she becomes wider as she ages. We experienced that with our Spaniel, she grew wider again when she turned 10. I want this harness to be for life, not just a few years. ☺️

Best 
Tove