Ruffwear Front Range Harness Review

We recently rescued two dogs and (of course) I want to take them running with me. They are just pups (about a year old) and occasionally get skittish when they see a garbage can or some other super scary random object so they have pulled out of their collars a few times. I wanted to feel that they were secure in my hands when I took them into town so I wanted a harness for them. Like everything else I do, I did some research and came upon the Ruffwear Front Range Harness. It got decent reviews and looked more comfortable for a dog than a simple strap-type of harnesses so I thought I would give them a try.

Once I decided on colors, the next difficult decision was sizing. The website shows you the way to size for this gear and essentially you measure around the widest part of your running partner’s rib cage and pick the size where your measurement fits.

Before using them for the first time, you should make sure they are fitted properly. Relax all the straps as they are easier to tighten on your dog than loosen. The collar should be loose enough to get on and off easily as well as sit below the throat when on as to not choke your buddy and tight enough to stay snugly in place. The rib straps should be snug around the midsection but still allow you to slide a few fingers between the straps and your dog. Also, ensure that all the adjustments allow for the rib straps to avoid rubbing in the “arm-pits” of the dog and that the chest and back pads sit centered on the front and back of your dog as to reduce chafing. Once you have all those adjustments done, you will see how cool your dog can look in a new running vest.

The harness has two connection points as well. I prefer to use the back connection almost exclusively because it makes running significantly easier. The leash rarely falls low enough that either dog will trip or get tangled up and it gives a solid point as to keep both dogs under very good control. The front connection point can be used for an excitable dog who like to pull because it discourages pulling without having to choke. With that point connected, when your dog pulls, he automatically gets turned away from what he is pulling toward. I did not want to use it for running because it allows the leash to get in the way and I have read that it makes running uncomfortable for your dog.

As you can see, the reflective points on the harnesses are very visible. This was another good selling point for this harness as most of my running is done early in the morning and I wanted my buddies to be seen as well as I am. Both dogs seem to like running a little better now as well and they get to explore a few new places.