The best harness for Yorkies is one which is comfortable, well fitted and easy to put on! It should take into account their small stature, and not get caught in their long coats. In recent years, using a harness to walk your dog has become more popular than using a traditional collar and leash. It has many benefits, including better control of your pup while walking or running. It can also be a far safer option for her neck.
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Top 3 Yorkie Harnesses
The best Yorkie harness size will be a good fit for her size, shape, and strength.
EXPAWLORER Best No-Pull Dog Harness
This do-everything padded harness* comes in many fun colors. It also is reflective for after dark, has multiple leash attachment points, and a loop for a seatbelt.
Voyager Step-in Soft Plush Dog Vest Harness for Small and Medium Dogs
This plush harness* is comfortable and perfect to take the chill off on cool to cold days. It has reflective material for safety and double D-rings for attachment.
Coastal Pet Lil Pals Mesh Step-in Dog Harness
You can also try This tiny harness* for teacup Yorkie! The mesh design should be cool and comfortable year-round.
Top Features
There are two main styles of dog harness that are suitable for use with Yorkies.
Padded strap harness
First is the strap harness. Most strap harnesses have buckles on the upper back and/or sides, making the harness fully adjustable. Adjustability can be very useful when choosing a teacup Yorkie puppy harness for really tiny pups!
Strap style dog harnesses come in different materials, but nylon webbing is probably the most popular as it is very durable, easy to clean, lightweight, and weather resistant. Leather harnesses are best avoided as they tend to lose their shape and fit.
Vest or wrap harnesses
Available in myriad colors and designs, including bling, Yorkie harness vests are a very popular choice for the fashionista and her dog-about-town! In addition, many tiny breeds, including teacup Yorkies and Yorkie puppies, find the wrapping effect of the vest harness comforting.
A vest harness is essentially a tiny vest that your Yorkie wears. You attach your dog leash to a D-ring or fabric connector on the upper back of the vest. Vest harnesses fasten via Velcro or nylon straps and feature a quick-release safety buckle.
Vests are easy to put on your Yorkie and fit securely and comfortably. Both harness style options allow your Yorkie total freedom of movement and keep their neck protected from injury. So, really, the best harness for Yorkies is the one you like the most!
What about collars?
Even though you may prefer to use a harness for your Yorkie, you should still have him wear a collar with an ID tag bearing his name and your contact telephone number. You should also have your Yorkie microchipped so that he can be easily traced to you if he gets lost.
It’s worth noting that, according to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, 15% of dog owners reported that they had lost their pet at some point in the last five years. Of these, 93% were eventually reunited with their pet parents, but of the 542,000 dogs found as strays, only 26% were claimed by their owners.
Why the correct fit is vital
It’s important that your dog’s harness fits him properly. A harness that is too loose may rub the dog’s skin, causing sore patches. A loose harness around the dog’s neck could place him in danger of strangulation should be become tangled in low-hanging branches or brambles while out walking.
If the harness is too tight, it will be uncomfortable for your Yorkie, restricting his movement and potentially causing painful pressure sores.
How to fit your Yorkie’s harness
Whether you’re buying online or from a pet supply store, you’ll need to know how to measure your Yorkie for the perfect harness fit. Generally, you should choose an extra-small harness, as these are usually a good fit for a Yorkie. You can also buy a Yorkie puppy harness or harness for teacup Yorkie.
Use a flexible cloth tape measure and measure your Yorkie around his chest. Begin at the bottom of his rib cage, go up and over his back, and then back down to your starting point.
Next, measure his neck by wrapping the tape around the thickest area right where his neck joins his shoulders. Many harness manufacturers use weight as a sizing guide. If your lively pup won’t sit still on the scales, weigh yourself first. Now pick up your pup and weigh both of you together.
The difference between the two measurements will be the weight of your Yorkie! Now let’s move on to look at the best harness for Yorkies we’ve found for you and your pampered pet!
Best Seatbelt Harnesses
If you travel with your Yorkie in your car, you should choose a harness that can be attached to the seatbelt. In the event that you have to brake harshly, your pet won’t fly off the seat and be injured. So what is the best dog harness for Yorkshire Terrier when it comes to travel?
EXPAWLORER Best No-Pull Dog Harness
This lightweight padded adventure dog harness* comes in a range of colors to suit every pup! The breathable fabric is durable and is lined with a soft sponge padding for comfort, making it a sympathetic training aid for dogs that have a tendency to pull. Brilliantly reflective material is included in the design, making your pet highly visible during nighttime walks.
The unique design includes a Duraflex buckle, making the harness very strong. There are also two leash attachment points via an aluminum V-ring on the back and reinforced webbing on the chest. This ergonomically designed harness has a sturdy handle, allowing for easy seat belt attachment to keep your Yorkie safe while riding in your car.
PAWABOO Dog Safety Vest Harness
This best-selling harness from Pawaboo* is designed to be used with a seatbelt for safe car travel, as well as for normal leash walking. The robust metal seat belt attachment can be used in most family cars and SUVs. The harness is vest style and made from breathable Oxford Polyester. It has a padded chest plate for added protection and comfort.
Best Padded Yorkshire Terrier Harnesses
This padded dog harness* tends to come up slightly smaller than average than the given measurements, making the extra-small size the best Yorkie harness size of this model for teacup Yorkies and puppies.
The harness is made from comfy, padded, breathable polyester and features a quick-release buckle. Although the chest vest is fully adjustable, note that the neck strap is fixed and cannot be adjusted. The harness also comes in a range of stunning, bright colors.
Voyager Step-in Soft Plush Dog Vest Harness for Small and Medium Dogs
Pamper your pet with Voyager’s super-soft, padded harness*! Made from stylish suede-effect fabric with a soft, fluffy lining, this vest offers the ultimate in comfort for your precious furbaby.
The well-made harness has a durable fastener and quick-release safety buckle. The harness is also fully adjustable, enabling you to get the perfect fit for your pup. This luxuriously warm harness comes in a range of pretty colors and is also fully machine washable, making cleaning up after muddy winter walks a breeze.
EcoBark Classic Dog Harness
For environmentally conscious owners, the EcoBark harness* is a best-seller that’s made from recycled plastic water bottles. The lightweight harness design is safety tested by ROSH.
It’s lined with padded mesh for extra comfort and its no-choke design guards against injury to your Yorkie’s trachea and throat. The harness has an adjustable belt fitting and also features a reinforced anchor hook and quick-release clasps.
Best Vest Yorkie Harnesses
The Voyager Mesh Harness* makes a great Yorkshire terrier harness! It is made from breathable mesh fabric with an easy step-in style, making it quick and easy for the busy owner to put on their pet.
The harness has strong Velcro closures and robust metal D-rings for safe and secure leash attachment. The Voyager comes in a wide range of bright and cheerful colors for the trend-setting pup and owner!
PUPTECK Dog Vest Harness
This vest style toy Yorkie harness size* is also small enough to fit a teacup Yorkie or a puppy. The classic checkered patterned fabric is made from breathable mesh, keeping your pup dry and cool, whatever the weather.
The frilled neckline and cute bowtie ribbon make this vest cutesy perfection! This dog harness for teacup Yorkie fastens via a Velcro and strong plastic clip closure with two metal D-rings for extra security. The vest is also available in purple and red.
Best Teacup Yorkie Harnesses
What is the best Yorkie harness size for a teacup pup? These harnesses are made especially for toy breeds, and can also be the best harness for a Yorkie puppy.
Snazzi Step in Dog Vest Harness
These teacup Yorkie harness vests* are designed to fit teacups and tiny puppies. The breathable air-mesh will keep your pup cool and dry during hot weather and also has heavy duty D-ring leash attachments for added security. The harnesses come in a variety of cute colors for your tiny best friend!
Coastal Pet Lil Pals Mesh Dog Harness
The Lil Pals breathable soft mesh harness* is made with the tiniest pup in mind. The harness has adjustable sides for a perfect fit. The metal D-ring leash attachment is durable and built for safety and longevity.
Why Should I Get A Yorkie Harness
If you have a Yorkie puppy, you may find a harness is an effective and sympathetic training tool. A harness provides better control over dogs that are inclined to pull and jump when they become excited during a walk.
Due to the pressure that a collar places on their windpipe, dogs that habitually pull while on a collar and lead can suffer neck injuries and associated health problems. A harness does not place direct pressure on the dog’s neck, so the risk of injury is avoided.
Understanding your Yorkie’s Neck Anatomy
To understand why a collar can be so damaging for your Yorkie, it’s important to look at the anatomy of his neck. Underneath your Yorkie’s vocal cords, his throat splits into two distinct sections.
The trachea (windpipe) is situated toward the front of the dog’s neck. This tube leads to the dog’s lungs and enables him to breathe. The trachea is encased by rings of soft, flexible cartilage. Slightly behind the trachea lies the other tube, your pup’s esophagus, which transports food to his stomach.
What injuries can be caused by a collar?
Because the trachea is not protected by rigid bone, it can be easily crushed by a collar if the dog pulls. This could potentially result in serious tracheal collapse or, at the very least, coughing seizures.
Yorkies are particularly at risk due to their small stature and lack of muscular support around the neck area. Injuries to the dog’s trachea are extremely painful and can require surgery. Some dogs may never fully recover from collar-related injuries.
By comparison, a harness is designed to fit around your dog’s shoulders, chest, and upper back. These areas have much more muscle and are also bony, easily handing any tension that may occur if your Yorkie pulls while he is being walked.
Affiliate link disclosure: Links in this article marked with an * are affiliate links, and we may receive a small commission if you purchase these products. However, we selected them for inclusion independently, and all of the views expressed in this article are our own.
Mimi Greenberg says
My 5-month Yorkie is about 3 lbs. His girth is approximately 10″. I am supposed to buy a harness for him with a front clip, as opposed to the back clip I presently use on him. Any ideas where I can obtain such a small harness with a front clip?
Ola says
Hello , have you found the harness ? I am looking for a good one with front clip as well .