It can be hard to choose a dog harness for an English bulldog that doesn’t chafe or slip. This breed’s thick neck, deep chest, and broad shoulders mean you need to be extra careful about which harness you buy.
Fortunately, we’ve tested many harnesses over the years and found some excellent choices for almost every breed. So, with the help of IMDT dog trainer Rebecca Morello, here’s our list of the best harnesses for English bulldogs.
Our #1 Pick: Ruffwear Front Range
Durable, padded, and easily adjusted to an English bulldog’s body shape
Our top pick for a bulldog harness is the Ruffwear Front Range. We found that it’s a tough and durable harness that’s easy to adjust, so it’s great for an English bulldog’s unique frame. It also has plenty of padding, and both front and rear leash attachments.
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5 Best English Bulldog Harnesses
The Ruffwear Front Range is one of our favorite dog harnesses for any breed – including English bulldogs. We love the durability of this harness, along with its lightweight and padded design. It also has four adjustment points, which is important for deep-chested bulldogs.
One of the features we like about the Front Range is that it has dual leash attachments. The front attachment can be used together with the rear to provide extra control (using a double leash), which can be useful for strong bulldogs. We also like that the Ruffwear has a reflective trim, which is helpful for walks in low-light conditions.
In terms of design, we love that the Ruffwear has lots of padding to reduce chafing or rubbing. The lightweight material is both strong and relatively breathable, which helps to avoid overheating.
There are several drawbacks though. We don’t like that the front leash attachment is only fabric, unlike the rear aluminum D-Ring. While it’s still reinforced, it isn’t as durable as the rear attachment. There’s also no handle and the harness can only be hand washed.
We think the Ruffwear Front Range is an outstanding harness for English bulldogs. It’s strong, has four adjustment points to adapt to a bulldog’s body shape, and comes with plenty of padding for extra comfort.
- Type: Front and Back Clip
- Colors: Blue Dusk, Meadow Green, Orange Poppy, Tillandsia Purple, Twilight Gray, Wild Berry
- Price Range: $$$
- Chest and belly padding to reduce the chance of chafing
- 4 adjustment points for getting a snug fit
- Front leash attachment for more control
- One of the all-round best dog harnesses
- Not machine washable
- Front leash attachment is fabric rather than aluminum
- No handle
The Jack & Bully Dog Vest is another excellent choice for English Bulldogs. We love that it has four adjustable straps, which is important for getting a good fit around a bulldog’s unusual body shape. We also like the soft neoprene design, which most dogs find comfortable and also helps to prevent overheating.
One thing to note is that the Jack & Bully is a step-in harness. In our experience, step-in harnesses can be more convenient for dogs who are nervous about anything going over their head. The downside is that you’ll need to physically move your dog’s front legs into the strap openings, which can be tricky for a big English bulldog.
On a more personal level, we love the style options that the Jack & Bully is available in! Most harnesses are a single color, but the Jack & Bully comes in a range of unique patterns.
We don’t love that it’s not as padded as the Ruffwear though. The neoprene is soft and shouldn’t chafe if fitted correctly, but be sure to check around your bulldog’s armpits and neck. It also doesn’t come with a front leash attachment, although for most dogs the strong rear D-ring is all you need.
The Jack & Bully isn’t as padded as the Ruffwear, but we love its lightweight and soft design. We also like that it has four adjustment options for getting a snug fit around both the chest and neck.
- Type: Back Clip
- Colors: Green, Checkered, Forest, Tattoo, Lightning, Tie-Eye
- Price Range: $$
- Step-in design can be useful for nervous dogs
- Breathable neoprene helps to keep your dog cool
- Excellent price
- No front leash attachment
If you’re looking for a cheaper alternative to the Ruffwear Front Range, then we think the Kurgo Tru-Fit is a solid choice. We like the padded chest on this harness, along with the quick-release buckles and durable design.
One of our favorite features of this harness is that it has five adjustment points. We found that this makes it easy to get a snug fit around most English bulldog chests without chafing. We also like that it’s easy to secure once fitted – although you’ll need to slip it over the head, which may be a problem for some dogs.
When it comes to build quality, we found that the Kurgo harness is strong and durable. This is vital for big English bulldogs, and is why we don’t recommend the cheapest harnesses for this breed.
Something we don’t like is the lack of underarm padding. If your dog is a puller, you’ll need to double-check that the underarm straps aren’t rubbing when in use. The upside of the reduced padding is that the harness is lighter and cooler on a hot day.
Tip: Kurgo provides a detailed guide to sizing their harnesses on this page.
The Kurgo Tru-Fit is a relatively cheap dog harness that we think is a solid choice for English bulldogs. It’s strong, easy to put on, and has five adjustment points for getting a safe fit.
- Type: Front and Back Clip
- Colors: Black, Red
- Price Range: $$
- 5 adjustment points
- Front and rear leash attachments
- Padded chest
- No underarm padding
- Not machine washable
The Embark Adventure is another excellent dog harness that we found provides great value for money. It’s easy to adjust, has plenty of padding, and we like that it has a handle for when you need quick control.
We love that the Embark Adventure has adjustable straps around both the belly and neck, as this is important for getting a proper fit on an English bulldog. We also like that it has plenty of padding for the underarms, back, and belly, which we found helps prevent chafing and discomfort.
Importantly for big English bulldogs, we found that the Embark is a strong and highly durable harness. The Adventure is made with military-grade nylon for extra durability, so it should last a long time.
One thing we don’t like as much about the Embark is that it’s a relatively bulky harness, mainly due to the strong nylon and ample padding. It’s certainly not the coolest harness we’ve reviewed, which is something to keep in mind during warm weather. We also don’t think that the front leash attachment is strong enough for English bulldogs that pull, so it should always be used with the rear attachment.
The Embark Adventure is a strong and easily adjustable harness, making it perfect for English Bulldogs. It also has plenty of padding and both front and rear leash attachments. Just be wary of overheating on warm days.
- Type: Front and Back Clip
- Colors: Black, Orange, Blue
- Price Range: $$
- Easy to adjust
- Quick release buckles
- Strong and durable
- Front leash attachment isn’t strong enough for determined pullers
- Quite bulky and could be too warm in hot weather
If you’re looking for an inexpensive harness for an English bulldog puppy, the Puppia RiteFit is our top recommendation. We don’t think it’s as strong or durable as the others on this list, but the padded and adjustable neck opening means it’s a solid choice for puppies.
The Puppia Soft Dog Harness is made from air-mesh polyester. We like this material, as it’s comfortable against a dog’s skin and makes the harness more breathable than other options. The soft design also makes the harness less likely to chafe.
We also love that there are both adjustable neck and belly straps. This is great for English bulldogs, as their neck and breast girth measurements often put them between categories for non-adjustable harnesses. We like that the neck strap is covered by mesh padding, so it shouldn’t rub against your dog’s skin.
The biggest downside is that it’s not as strong as the other options on this list, which is why we don’t recommend it for English bulldog adults. It’s certainly not a weak dog harness, but as your bulldog gets stronger, we recommend a harness that’s more durable.
Note: Puppia also produces a “Soft Dog Harness.” This is similar in design to the RiteFit, but doesn’t have an adjustable neck. We don’t recommend this harness for an English bulldog, but it’s great for many other breeds.
We think that the Puppia RiteFit is brilliant for English bulldog puppies. It has both neck and chest adjustment points, so you can get a snug fit, while the air-mesh polyester keeps your pup cooler. The RiteFit is also available for a great price.
- Type: Back Clip
- Colors: Many Available
- Price Range: $
- Neck and chest adjustment points
- Great value for money
- Air-mesh polyester helps keep your bulldog cool
- Not as durable as other options on this list
Why Collars Are Dangerous for Bulldogs
At The Dog Clinic, we nearly always recommend attaching your leash to a harness rather than a collar, as harnesses are safer and more comfortable for the dog. But this is especially important for English bulldogs:
- The English bulldog’s short and thick neck makes it easy for collars to slip off. This can be extremely dangerous, especially when walking near a road.
- Collars focus all leash pressure on the windpipe. This can cause severe damage if your dog tends to pull the leash – especially if they suddenly lunge.
- English bulldogs are a brachycephalic breed. This means they have a narrower trachea and partially collapsed airways, so even a small amount of pressure can make breathing more difficult.
Collars are still important for your dog’s ID tag, as they can be worn all day without chafing. But for walks or other outdoor activities, a dog harness is a better option. They are safer for your dog’s throat, secure (if properly fitted), and give you more control over a powerful breed.
How to Choose a Harness for an English Bulldog
Many considerations when buying a harness are the same for all breeds. There are a few extra things to watch out for when buying an English bulldog harness though. These include:
- Adjustable Straps. Bulldogs have broad shoulders and chests, which make fixed harnesses challenging to fit. Look for a harness with several adjustable straps to get a snug fit without chafing. “Despite being a pedigree breed, the English bulldog can still come in all shapes and sizes, so adjustability is vital,” adds Rebecca Morello.
- Durable. English bulldogs are strong dogs. For this reason, the harness needs to be durable, so it won’t fail when you need it most. Strong seams and heavy-duty D-Ring attachments are particularly important.
- Design. There are two common harness designs: step-in and over-the-head. We usually recommend over-the-head harnesses, as there are more high-quality options and you don’t need to physically move your dog to get them into the harness. But if your dog is nervous and doesn’t like things passed over his face, a step-in could be a convenient option.
- Fit. A harness is safer and more secure than a collar – but only if properly fitted. Too tight, and the harness may restrict movement, while a loose fit could allow your dog to slip out. Make sure you follow the manufacturer’s sizing guide closely. It’s also vital to choose a harness that doesn’t have a high neckline.
- Comfort. A lack of harness padding around the neck, chest, and belly can cause chafing and discomfort for English bulldogs. “It’s important that the harness doesn’t rub or sit in creases,” says Rebecca Morello. “Get one with fleece lining or padding to ensure maximum comfort.”
- Breathable. The downside of extra padding is that overheating on hot days is more likely, particularly for brachycephalic breeds. To minimize the risk, look for a breathable harness that doesn’t have a lot of unnecessary material.
- Machine Washable. Dog harnesses are always going to get dirty. A machine-washable design makes it easy to keep the harness looking clean and new. Unfortunately, most harnesses are not machine-washable, but there are a few exceptions.
- Handle. It’s not essential, but a handle can be a useful feature when you need extra control over your dog.
Keep in mind that you’ll need to introduce a harness gradually if your English bulldog hasn’t worn one before. “Desensitization is especially important for English Bulldogs, who are prone to hearing and sight issues and can be easily startled,” adds Morello. Read our guide to introducing a harness positively to learn more.
Most Harnesses Are Not Safe for Cars
Despite many harnesses having handles that double as seat-belt loops, the vast majority are not safe for car travel. These fabric loops are almost certain to break in a high speed collision – especially when attached to large dogs.
You should only trust car harnesses that have been fully crash-tested. These don’t guarantee your dog’s safety in an accident, but at least give them a chance. If you need a car harness, check out our guide to car harnesses here.
Summary
English bulldogs are a wonderful breed – but they have special harness requirements. Aside from being strong enough to withstand their muscular build, an English bulldog harness must be easy to adjust and comfortable around the dog’s thick neck.
In our opinion, the best harness for an English bulldog is the excellent Ruffwear Front Range. We love how strong and padded the harness is, plus we found it easy to adjust. For English bulldog puppies, the Puppia RiteFit is a great alternative.
Do you have any questions about choosing the best harness for English bulldogs? Feel free to let us know in the comments section below! You may also want to read our harness guide for French Bulldogs.
