English Bulldogs, also known as British Bulldog or just Bulldog, is a muscular wrinkled faced breed of dog. They are one of the most popular dog breeds in both the USA and UK.
They are also a popular staple of celebrities with owners including Ozzy Osbourne, Adam Sandler, Gloria Estefan, Brad Pitt and Miley Cyrus.
Not only is this breed adorable they are also strong, and unfortunately can suffer from health issues which we will cover later in this article. Therefore there are several considerations when choosing the right dog harness for an English Bulldog.
This article will guide you through the benefits of a harness, the types available and review our best seven bulldog harnesses for this breed.
Contents
Top 7 Best Harnesses for English Bulldogs
1. 🏆 Ruffwear All Day Adventure Dog Harness, Medium Breeds
| Preview | Product | Rating | |
|---|---|---|---|
 | RUFFWEAR Front Range Dog Harness, Reflective Padded No Pull Harness, Tumalo Teal, Medium | Buy on Amazon |
The next iteration of the hugely successful Ruffwear Front Range harness is their All Day Adventure harness.
This is a great harness and one popular with dog owners across the globe. The harness is designed to reduce pulling and take pressure from your dog’s throat.
This is a sturdy dog harness with designed with a lightweight nylon material and reflective trims around the outer layer for increased visibility at night.
Adjustable straps on the Ruffwear are located around the neck and belly area which can be tightened or loosened for a perfect fit.
The harness has two lead attachment points. The aluminium V-ring at the top (back) of the harness is used for attaching a leash for normal walking. If you require more control of your English Bulldog, particularly if they are pulling, you can attach the second part of a training lead to the reinforced webbing loop at the front (chest).
There is also additional soft padding on the chest and belly for comfort as well as a pocket for storing ID tags should your dog not be wearing a collar.
Overall this is a great harness and one which we have used on several breeds with great success. It’s not only comfortable and strong but also offers that additional control to keep your muscled friend in line and help them to extinguish undesirable pulling behaviour.
2. Julius-K9 162P1 K9 PowerHarness
| Preview | Product | Rating | |
|---|---|---|---|
 | K9 Powerharness, Size: L/1, Black | Buy on Amazon |
Julius K9 is renowned for making strong, heavy-duty harnesses that reduce pulling.
Popular with those with large dog breeds – they are both dependable and reliable. It’s another great choice as a harness for your English Bulldog.
The harness has a strong metal ring on top for attaching your leash.
There is also a large, adjustable handle for increased control of your dog. The handle can also be used for easy grip and lifting of the dog where required.
The belly strap has a reinforced plastic buckle which can be adjusted. The chest strap has an adjustable hook and loop fastener for a better fit.
There are 3m reflective straps on the sides and you can change the logo at the side to countless designs (or design your own).
The K9 PowerHarness is a solid choice and a great alternative to the Ruffwear. It is both breathable and can be fitted and removed easily. Definitely one worth checking out.
3. HDP Big Dog Soft No Pull Harness
| Preview | Product | Rating | |
|---|---|---|---|
 | HDP Big Dog Soft No Pull Harness Size:Large Color:Red | Buy on Amazon |
This harness is one we’ve been recommended several times by English Bulldog owners and one that also has similar rave reviews online about it.
This is designed as a no-pull harness with special emphasis on muscular dogs like the Bulldog who can pull that extra bit too hard.
A single lead attachment point at the top as well as a handle for better control where needed. The wide chest surface area of the harness distributes pressure through your Bulldog’s chest and shoulders.
It’s made from 100% Polyester and is machine washable. It’s also a well-padded harness so should be a comfortable fit for your pup.
This isn’t a harness filled with features – but it is inexpensive and still a good choice to consider for your dog.
4. 2 Hounds Design Freedom No-Pull Dog Harness with Leash
| Preview | Product | Rating | |
|---|---|---|---|
 | 2 Hounds Design Freedom No-Pull Dog Harness with Leash, Medium, 1-Inch Wide, Teal | Buy on Amazon |
2 Hounds design harnesses which at first may look a lot different to harnesses you often see but it’s one we’ve had great results from in the past.
The harness both reduces pulling and distributes pulling in a way to not bring discomfort to your dog.
Made from soft Swiss velvet lining straps this dog harness has two lead attachment points.
Like the Ruffwear this can be used with a training lead such as a Halti.
The 2 Hounds patented action loop sits at the back between the dog’s shoulders. This allows your Bulldog to walk in a straight line without twisting or straining.
Online reviews from sites like Amazon are excellent and it’s definitely a good harness. You may consider this harness as your second once your dog has got used to wearing a normal harness when out walking.
It is also a different style of harness which can work in situations where other harnesses haven’t corrected your dog’s pulling habits.
5. Beirui Leather Dog Harness
Leather harnesses aren’t to everyone’s taste – but if you’re looking for a good one that is both stylish and practical – this is one that comes recommended often.
Made from soft genuine leather this harness is easy to put on and take off.
There are two Chromed heavy-duty D-Rings for attaching your leash and can be used to reduce your dogs pulling behaviour.
Reviews for this harness are good. Not only does this harness look great, but many Bulldog owners have also had great success at controlling their pup in style.
6. Rabbitgoo Escape-Proof No-Pull Dog Harness
| Preview | Product | Rating | |
|---|---|---|---|
 | rabbitgoo Escape-Proof Dog Harness No-Pull Adjustable Working Pet Vest Dog Harness with Handle Dog... | Buy on Amazon |
We often cover the Rabbitgoo on this site, but this is our first time looking at their Escape-Proof harness.
The Rabbitgoo has 5 adjustment points; three around the neck and two around the chest/stomach) to ensure comfort without restricting movement.
7. Big Dog Harness
| Preview | Product | Rating | |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Big Dog Harness No Pull Adjustable Pet Reflective Oxford Soft Vest for Large Dogs Easy Control... | Buy on Amazon |
This sturdy dog harness is mainly available for USA and Canada buyers. Made by Babyltrl, the harness is made from a premium durable nylon oxford with an internal layer of soft padded material for comfort. It is designed to be both no-choke and no-pull.
A Collar or Harness for an English Bulldog?
Like their cousins, the French Bulldog, English Bulldogs have been bred with short faces (brachycephalic). Respiratory problems are common and can lead to excessive panting and loud snoring.
In addition, they may also experience weight issues, patellar luxation (dislocation of the kneecaps) and hip dysplasia all of which can reduce the Bulldog’s mobility.
With all dog breeds, if you have a dog that pulls when walking on a dog collar and leash – pressure can be put on the neck, particularly if the dog is prone to suddenly bolt.
Not only does this make an unpleasant walking experience it can damage the dog’s throat. This is particularly true for Bulldogs who may already have issues with respiration which could be made worse by constant pressure on their necks.
For an English Bulldog puppy, a harness can take the initial strains away which can lead to long term issues. It can also train them to reduce or extinguish pulling behaviour.
For an adult, the harness can offer support as well as continually allow the dog owner to control their pet reinforcing good behaviours.
It is essential to find a harness that not only can deal with the strength of an English Bulldog but can also offer support to reduce any undue pressure on the dog.
Dog collars, though useful for ID tags and walking well-behaved dogs, can be problematic and with enough force can slip off.
It is definitely worth considering a harness for your English Bulldog. Try to consider one that is easy to put on, offers help with pulling behaviour, doesn’t tighten when they pull pinching their skin and can offer more mobility support should your bulldog develop problems.
No Pull Harness for an English Bulldog
As the name suggests, a no-pull dog harness is one designed to reduce pulling. Given the strength of a British Bulldog, when they decide to pull – the person walking can feel it.
Not only that but a poorly designed or fitting harness can be ineffective in reducing the pulling behaviour. There are two types of no-pull dog harnesses, the first being a single clip with straps and padding distributing the pull across the dog’s chest and body.
The second type is a front range, a harness type that includes two leash attachment points. The main lead attachment is normally located at the back (top) of the dog and any good lead can be clipped on for normal walking.
The other point is usually located at the front (chest) and can be attached using a double-ended training leads.
These training leads, such as the HALTI, can be used as a normal leash or can be separated out so both ends can be attached to the harness. Your dog can then be guided similar to the way a horse is manoeuvred. There are several examples of both harness types in the collection below.
Types of Bulldog Harnesses
- Vest Harness: This is a basic type of harness, generally inexpensive and lacking in features – it can be a great alternative to a dog collar for well-behaved Bulldogs. Leash attachment points of vest harnesses are generally located at the top (back).
- Front or Back Clip No-Pull Harness: As discussed above, this no-pull harness can either have one or two leash attachment points. Front Range harnesses such as the Ruffwear has two lead attachment points for use with a training leash. Others such as the Julius-K9 will distribute the pulling force across the dog’s body, resulting in less pressure being put on your Bulldog should they pull. These are the most common types of harnesses and are featured several times in this collection.
- Tightening or Control Harness: I’m dubious about these types of harnesses because of the adverse effects they can have on your dog. Designed to reduce pulling, these harnesses add pressure on the dog’s body when they pull. This can have two undesirable effects, the first is causing discomfort or pinching on the dog’s body as it tightens. The second is that this unpleasant sensation can actually increase the pulling behaviour as they try to escape the pain. We wouldn’t recommend these for most owners and are perhaps best left in the capable hands of experienced trainers.
- Head Collars: We have an entire article on the pros and cons of head collars as well as some general recommendations. Though not technically classed as a harness, the head collar can be used solely or in conjunction with a harness to offer better control of your dog. They can be used for both walking and guiding the canine as well as stopping sudden lunging or jumping.
- Leather Dog Harness: We’ve included a leather harness in our collection because they can be a popular choice among owners of these breeds. Although often associated as stylish or fashionable rather than practical – these are many excellent leather harnesses that do both. Leather has the advantage of being strong but you should also look out for padding on the inside to avoid chafing as well as a good design to offer all the practical aspects of a no-pull harness.
- Support and Rehabilitation Harnesses: We do not cover them in this article but are looking to include a feature on them shortly. Essentially these are designed for disabled, senior or dogs suffering from mobility issues and back problems. They offer less pressure on key parts of the dog’s body and can be used by owners to help lift or aid the dog when moving about.
Measuring your English Bulldog for a Dog Harness
It is important to measure your English Bulldog correctly when fitting a harness for a snug fit which is neither too tight or they could escape from.
In our collection, we have attempted to provide general sizings for the breed however it is best to check both the manufacturer’s size chart as well as the measurements you have made.
English Bulldogs can vary in size, including whether they’re a puppy or an adult and whether they have put on weight.
If you find yourself between two sizes of harness (e.g. medium and large) it is often best to go for the larger of the two and use the adjusting points and straps to tighten for a better fit.
You can check out our handy guide to measuring your dog for a harness here – however, here are a few tips.
- Measure the chest: Using a tape measurer you will need to measure the widest part of the chest. As a guide, this is usually a couple of inches, or the width of four fingers, behind the dog’s front legs.
- Add two inches: to allow for some flexibility and potential future weight gain.
- Measure the circumference of the neck: This may not always be necessary, but if the harness goes on/off over your dog’s head – this is important information.
Bulldog Harnesses: Summary Table
We compiled the top seven harnesses for this collection including review summaries. Full coverage below this table.
| Position | Harness | Online Rating | Available Online |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ? Ruffwear All Day Adventure Dog Harness, Medium Breeds | Buy on Amazon | |
| 2 | Julius-K9 162P1 K9 PowerHarness | Buy on Amazon | |
| 3 | HDP Big Dog Soft No Pull Harness | Buy on Amazon | |
| 4 | 2 Hounds Design Freedom No-Pull Dog Harness with Leash | Buy on Amazon | |
| 5 | Beirui Leather Dog Harness | No products found. | No products found. |
| 6 | Rabbitgoo Escape-Proof No-Pull Dog Harness | Buy on Amazon | |
| 7 | Big Dog Harness | Buy on Amazon |
Summary
Choosing a good dog harness for your English Bulldog needn’t be a chore. With plenty of harness styles to choose from – you should base your decision on your Bulldog’s pulling behaviour, temperament, weight as well as health needs.
Most importantly make sure you measure your British Bulldog properly for a snug fitting harness that isn’t too tight nor they’re likely to escape from.
We hope you have enjoyed our article on the best harnesses for Bulldogs and it has helped in your decision of whether a dog harness is good for your pup. If you have stories to share or other recommendations, don’t forget to comment below or visit us on Facebook.
