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Pugs are loyal and lovable canines with delightfully squished faces and bold barrel bodies—two features that also mean they sometimes need special care. Their enthusiasm for life and solid chests make them champion pullers on walks, but their fragile airways are also prone to collapse under pressure. That’s why it’s so important to find the right harness for your Pug.
An ideal Pug harness will evenly distribute pressure across the chest to avoid restricting your pup’s overtaxed airways, and it’ll be made from lightweight fabrics to keep the risk of overheating low. Because of a Pug’s unusual dimensions, it’s also a good idea to look for a harness with multiple adjustment points and ways to customize the fit with buckles or clasps.
To help you in your search for the perfect harness, we spoke to Dr. Michael Thompson, founder and leading veterinarian for Pets Food Safety, and compiled a list of our favorite harnesses for Pugs so you can spend less time searching and more time planning your next adventure with your furry friend.
Before you buy, don’t forget to check your pet’s measurements and compare them with your chosen product’s sizing chart to guarantee the best fit.
The Overall Best: Gooby Comfort X-Frame Harness (Verified Review)
According to Dr. Thompson, there are three essential feature to look for in a harness for a Pug: “A wide and padded chest piece to distribute pressure evenly across the chest, adjustable straps to accommodate a Pug’s unique body shape and ensure a proper fit around their deep chest, and breathable material to keep them cool due to their short fur.”
This Gooby harness more than meets all of these criteria. The X-frame design of this harness does a nice job of distributing weight across your Pug’s chest evenly, and its straps are fully adjustable. It’s made of light polyester fabric to help your pup easily regulate their body temperature, and its position right below your Pug’s neck avoids putting pressure on their airways.
Our only caveat? Our testers found that the comfortable Gooby mesh gets mildewy with repeated exposure to wet weather, and it can be tough to clean. But it took a lot of rain and mud to reach that point, and we liked our Gooby harness so well that we eventually just bought another.
What we like about it:
- Patented design that lowers the risk of choking
- Machine-washable, lightweight mesh material
- Available in 13 different color options
- Nearly 9K+ Amazon reviews
Available sizes: Small to X-Large
Shop on AmazonThe Best to Avoid Chafing: RUFFWEAR Front Range Dog Harness (Verified Review)
If your Pug chafes while wearing other harnesses, this Ruffwear harness is one to try. Don’t be deterred by the brand’s popularity with big sporting dogs—we’ve found this is a great harness for small pups like Pugs thanks to its ample belly and chest padding, four adjustable straps, and back clip for your leash. All those features help you avoid putting pressure on your dog’s neck.
Reinforced webbing in the chest keeps the harness so comfortable that the manufacturer even states that the harness is suitable for all-day wear. Plus, there’s a front attachment point for a leash if your dog is a puller, which Dr. Thompson says many Pugs are.
“Pugs may be prone to pulling due to their excitable nature, so a harness with a front-attaching leash can help discourage this behavior,” he told Rover.
What we like about it:
- Padding along chest and belly to minimize chafing
- Wide and adjustable straps
- Front attachment point helps reduce pulling
- Fabric includes reflective details for more visibility
Available sizes: XX-Small to Large/X-Large
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Best for Pullers: Rover Gear Better Walk
Pugs can be small but mighty pullers on leash, so a front-facing D-ring is a valuable tool, since it gently redirects a dog to the side when they pull forward. The Rover Gear Better Walk has two D-rings—one on the front for training, and one on the back for more casual outings. The padded Y-shape harness avoids putting pressure on a Pug’s vulnerable trachea, and four adjustment points make it relatively simple to find a good fit for a barrel chest.
We especially like the harnesses “belly” and “back” labels, which make it easy to snap on fast. If your Pug lands between sizes, we recommend sizing up.
What we like about it:
- Front ring for no-pull training, back ring for more casual strolls
- Clear visual cues for an accurate fit and buckles that minimizing twisting
- Padded Y-shape design avoids putting pressure on trachea
- Four adjustment points for a tailored fit
Available sizes: X-Small to X-Large
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The Best for Car Travel: Kurgo Tru-Fit Enhanced Strength Dog Harness
If you’re on the road with your pet, this option from Kurgo is a nice multi-purpose choice. It’s designed to keep your Pug safe both on daily walks and car rides. It features five adjustment points to customize the fit, and the chest plate is padded to keep your Pug comfortable and secure with the harness on.
It comes with a crash-tested seatbelt tether, which is a popular option for keeping small breeds safe in the car.
What we like about it:
- Crash-tested up to 75 pounds
- Customizable fit with five adjustment points
- Padded chest plate
- Comes with lifetime warranty
Available sizes: X-Small to X-Large
Find on Chewy Shop on AmazonThe Best for Escape Artists: 2 Hounds Design Freedom No Pull Dog Harness
Does your Pug turn into Houdini every time you strap them into a harness? If so, this 2 Hounds Design option might be for you. Its four adjustment points allow you to fully customize it to your dog’s body for a good fit designed to thwart escape artists and pups who back out (though no harness is totally escape-proof).
It features a patented Martingale loop around the chest to help discourage your pup from pulling. Although the chest straps are on the thinner side, they’re lined with soft velvet fabric to keep the harness comfortable for your pet to wear.
What we like about it:
- Has both front and back leash attachment points
- Offers a replacement warranty for chewing
- Durable metal hardware and nylon material
- 20 colors to choose from
Available sizes: XS to XXL
Shop on Amazon Find on ChewyThe Best for Pug Puppies: Voyager Step-In Air Dog Harness
Available in sizes as tiny as XXXS, this vest-style Voyager harness gets rave reviews from parents of Pug puppies who love the lightweight mesh, the simple step-in design, and the secure double D-ring back-clip closure. This harness provides padding and support in all the right places for young Pugs.
Bright colors and reflective strips offer visibility on low-light walks, and the affordable price point is ideal for young puppies who will only wear a harness for a short period of time before growing out of it.
What we like about it:
- Breathable fabric
- Reflective bands on chest add additional visibility
- Over 30 color options
- Matching leash and poop bag holder sold separately
Available sizes: XXXS to XL
Shop on Amazon Find on ChewyThe Best Pug Harness & Leash Set: AMTOR Dog Harness with Leash
For new pet parents (or those who like to color coordinate, this AMTOR dog harness comes with a coordinating rope leash. It’s made from padded mesh and features an adjustable Velcro strap to fit the needs of your Pug. Our favorite feature? It’s machine washable, and it dries fast.
We like it for reliable loose-leash walkers who want a cozy, breathable fit. It’s worth noting, however, that like most vest harnesses, it’s not easily adjusted for dogs of unusual shapes, so getting the right fit at the outset is important.
What we like about it:
- Easy to put on with a step-in design
- Soft, breathable material
- Reflective bands on shoulders
- Thick leash handle
Available sizes: XXSmall to XLarge
Shop on AmazonHow We Chose the Best Pug Harnesses
The products featured here were selected based on a combination of our own hands-on testing, a comprehensive look at customer reviews across a wide variety of retail platforms, and interviews with veterinary experts, including Rover’s Dog People Panel. We prioritized fit and durability. We’re also guided by the experience of living and playing alongside our own much-loved and strongly opinionated pets, who are never stingy with their feedback.