One in five dogs will experience joint issues that cause extreme pain and mobility challenges.1 These problems aren’t necessarily related to age either. Even young dogs can suffer from disorders like hip dysplasia and osteoarthritis.
These painful conditions can take away from your pet’s quality of life. If your dog has been struggling to get around your home or outside, you might want to consider buying a lift harness to help them get around.
Here are reviews of nine of the best dog lift harnesses on the market this year. Keep reading to learn all that you need to know to make an informed buying decision and improve your dog’s life.
If you’re looking for the best overall dog lift harness, look no further! The PetSafe CareLift Rear Handicapped Support Harness provides the support your aging pup needs in their lower half. The rear lift design ensures that their weight is spread evenly across their hips and abdomen.
This harness is fully padded to provide a comfortable and supportive experience. Its thoughtful design also ensures easy potty breaks for both male and female dogs. A removable protection shield is included with your purchase to help reduce any discomfort that your pet may feel as you use the harness. The harness has a lifting leash extender to help you lift your dog more easily without straining your back.
This product comes in both medium and large sizes. The medium is best for dogs 35–70 pounds, while the large can accommodate dogs in the 70–130-pound range.
Pros
Machine washable
Adjustable sizing
Sturdy handle
Perfect for dogs with limited rear mobility
Cons
Can be difficult to put on if your dog is lying down
Hard to find the right fit
2. Frisco Rear Lift Handicapped Support Dog Harness — Best Value
Is your pup having problems with the back half of their body? Maybe their hips are sore, or they have an injury on their back leg? If so, this lifter with a rear support design provides even weight distribution to ensure they’re comfortable and not putting too much pressure on their joints.
This design is fully adjustable, so finding the right fit for your pup won’t be an issue. The support handles are also adjustable, so you can stay comfortable while assisting your dog.
This harness is available in size medium for dogs 35–70 pounds and large for dogs in the 70–130-pound range.
Pros
Easy to clean with a wet cloth
Adjustable to find the perfect fit
Distributes weight evenly across hips and abdomen
Includes male protection board
Cons
No size option for small dogs
Slight learning curve for getting it on
3. PetSafe CareLift Handicapped Support Dog Harness — Premium Choice
PetSafe, as you might be able to tell from the brand name, is in the business of keeping pets safe. The PetSafe CareLift Handicapped Support Dog Harness takes the premium spot in this list, as its high-quality design is comfortable for both you and your pup.
The harness provides support for your dog’s entire body. The support handles are designed to help you lift your aging or ailing dog without putting any unnecessary pressure on their joints. The harness’s shoulder strap ensures you won’t hurt or strain your back while lifting or carrying your dog around. The key here is an even weight distribution, which PetSafe nails with this design.
This harness is fully adjustable to fit the size of any dog in the giant breed range. It is also machine washable, so if it gets soiled, you can toss it in your washer and get it ready to use again fast.
The manufacturer provides measurements for chest girth and weight, as well as suggested pet weight for each size option.
Pros
Padded in the chest, neck, hips, and abdomen
Easy to put on and take off
Sturdy construction
Easy to clean
Cons
Rear straps can sometimes loosen or come undone
May be too small for big dogs with thick coats
4. Peak Pooch Store Lifting Carry Harness — Best for Puppies
It’s not only large or senior dogs that need assistance. Small dog or puppy owners can also benefit from having extra support. This carry harness is great because it comes in a variety of sizes, from extra small to extra large. This design is unique because you can thread the sizing buckle through the harness’s mesh padding to adjust the length. We do highly recommend measuring your dog before ordering to ensure you have the right fit, though.
The Peak Pooch Store Lifting Carry Harness is made with a breathable mesh material throughout to keep your pet comfortable on long walks or during warm days. It also has reflective trimming throughout, so your dog will be safe during evening strolls. The high-quality ripstop nylon construction ensures that even the most aggressive dogs can’t destroy their harness.
If you like your dog to travel in style, you’ll love that you’ll get to choose one of the many different color options available. There’s even one with a “Service Dog” designation on it.
Pros
Perfect padding placement
Reflective edging
Customizable color and size options
Chest and stomach straps provide full-body support
Cons
Can be difficult to find the right fit for male dogs
The Labra Plush Dog Support Sling is the perfect companion for someone looking to provide extra support for their dog. This style lifter is designed to take weight off of your dog’s aching joints without giving them too much assistance.
The biggest selling point of this harness is its super plush material. The sling itself is made with a cozy fleece fabric so there won’t be any uncomfortable buckles or straps getting in the way of your pet’s comfort.
This sling has adjustable straps so you can find a length that’s comfortable for you. The last thing you want is to strain your own back while trying to help your pet.
The manufacturer suggests measuring your dog’s length and width to find the right fit.
The WALKABOUT Original Back End Harness is a walking aid that can help cats and dogs suffering from mobility issues. This item comes highly recommended by veterinarians for pets that have issues like hip dysplasia, spinal trauma, or age-related fatigue.
This lifter has a unique design that caters to both male and female pets, as there’s plenty of clearance in the back to provide the space that males need to urinate comfortably.
The manufacturer outfitted the harness with additional padding in the leg holes. This ensures that your dog has the cushioning that they need to stay comfortable and that there won’t be any issues with chafing.
This product comes in a wide range of sizes, so finding the perfect fit for your dog shouldn’t be a problem.
If you’re in the market for a full-body support lift harness, Coodeo Dog Lift Harness has you covered. This durable and sturdy lifter is designed to help you assist your dog in stair climbing and to use it as a normal harness for walks too.
It has a comfortable handle and easy-to-operate Velcro fasteners to increase your dog’s comfort. The material is breathable and soft to ensure a cozy all-day wear experience if necessary.
This lifter is available in a variety of sizes. The small is designed for dogs in the 10–20-pound range, while the XXL is for large breeds in the 91–115-pound range. The company provides a thorough size chart, so be sure to take accurate measurements to find the perfect fit.
Pros
Well-thought-out design
Simple to get on and adjust
Highly supportive
Sturdy Velcro attachments
Cons
Some male dogs may pee on the harness while wearing it
Don’t let its simple design fool you! The Max and Neo Dog Lift Support is a high-quality sling that has clear benefits for both you and your dog. Its extra-long handles ensure you stay safe and protected while assisting your dog in their daily duties. The padded neoprene handles are comfortable for your hands to help reduce fatigue.
This product closes with strong Velcro folds so you can fit your dog in the harness snugly. There are no pressure points or Velcro in the sling portion, so you never have to worry about your dog getting hurt or uncomfortable.
We also love that the manufacturer donates one harness to a dog rescue for every harness bought. That said, it may not fit male dogs comfortably.
The Kurgo Up & About Lifter is a perfect pick for anyone looking for a great weight-distributing lifter. Its ergonomic design features a comfortable padded area to reduce unnecessary contact that could cause your pup pain. It comes with a chest strap that provides a little extra control for you as the lifter.
It’s important to take accurate measurements of your pup before placing an order for this item. The chest strap measures 21 inches, but the company claims that it can fit dogs with a chest girth of up to 36 inches. However, it can be a bit cumbersome and may not work for some dogs.
Pros
Male dogs can urinate while wearing the harness
Sturdy and comfortable
Handles are the perfect length for support
Great for even weight distribution
Cons
No sizing option for small dogs
Chest strap may not be deep enough for some breeds
Buyer’s Guide: Tips for Finding the Best Dog Lift Harness
The internet is a great tool for shoppers, but it can make choosing the right product for your needs so difficult. With a seemingly infinite number of dog lift harnesses on the market, how can you know which is the best one to suit your needs?
In the following section, we’re going to dive a little deeper so you can make your purchase knowing all that there is to know about lift harnesses and slings.
Image By: Pixabay
Materials
The material used in the construction of the harness needs to be strong, durable, and flexible. This ultimately provides you with a guarantee that what you’re buying is going to last beyond a few uses. Nylon is a great material choice because it’s high-quality and long-lasting.
You might also consider a material that’s waterproof or easy to wash. One of the main issues we found in our research is that many dog lift harnesses aren’t equipped to handle the unique anatomy of male dogs. You don’t want to buy a harness only for it to get ruined if your pup has an accident on it.
For sling-style harnesses, you must look at the material that’ll be on your dog’s underbelly. Plush fleece fabric is best, as it’ll be soft and comfortable and won’t cause any pain points.
Size
You need to buy a harness that fits properly. An ill-fitting harness or sling can be uncomfortable and dangerous.
As you may have noticed while reading the guide, some manufacturers make sizing recommendations based on weight, while others recommend using measurements to find the right fit.
Once you know which product you’re interested in buying, read the manufacturer’s sizing guide carefully. Use a soft measuring tape to take the required measurements to ensure you’re getting the right size. Weigh your dog on your scale at home, or use your vet’s last recorded weight if you think it’s still accurate.
You must try on the harness or sling in the safety of your home before going outside. If the harness is too big and your dog falls outside on cement, you could cause further damage.
Image By: maniablack18, Pixabay
Style
Dog lift harnesses come in two main styles: full-body harnesses and slings. The style that’s best for you depends on your dog’s specific needs.
Full-body harnesses are designed for use in dogs that need a lot of support. They are much more complicated to use and do have a bit of a learning curve to get the fit right with all their straps. This style provides even weight distribution, which is what many dogs recovering from surgery or injuries need to bounce back. Sling styles are great if your dog only needs a bit of assistance. They’re simple to put on and use and are lightweight in design.
The downfall of slings is that they often don’t distribute your dog’s weight evenly. Your pup can become uncomfortable if you need to use the slings for extended periods, and if they need more support than the sling can provide, you might be doing more harm than good. You might find that after using a full-body harness for a while, your pup is ready to graduate to something that provides a little less help from you.
If you have a male dog, you’ll want to take the design of the harness into account. Some manufacturers don’t take the male anatomy into account, which results in messy accidents while wearing the harness.
Ergonomics
There’s no point in buying a lift harness if you’re going to wind up causing further injuries or pain. That’s why considering ergonomics is essential.
The perfect harness has a snug fit to provide the right type of support. It needs to distribute your dog’s weight evenly to ensure that there’s no unnecessary weight shifting or additional stress put onto their already weakened joints and bones.
Don’t forget yourself in this equation. An uncomfortable-to-use sling or harness can cause injuries to you too. The best options have straps with padding for your hands and adjustability measures so you can find the perfect height for your needs.
Our Selection Process For Dog Lift Harnesses
To create this buyer’s guide, our writing team and editorial staff checked customer reviews, brand reputation, and veterinary approval ratings to present the dog lift harnesses we think should be highlighted for our readers. In some cases, we conducted hands-on testing along with seeing how much our dogs liked the dog lift harnesses. All these factors were considered when selecting these listed dog lift harnesses to help you make the best purchase for your furry friends.
Why Trust Dogster?
Since 2004, Dogster has been a trusted brand for dog owners online, which means we have a lot of experience with dog lift harnesses. We take pride in promoting the well-being of all dogs—from toy breeds to giant canines. Our in-house veterinarians, writers, and editors examine each product on our lists, ensuring its quality and reputation. As pet owners ourselves, we only want the best for our furry companions. At Dogster, we are transparent about the products we promote. The nutritional information, overall brand reputation, and customer reviews are all considered for these lists. We inform you how we want to be informed.
While all the products are of great quality, some are just better than the rest. We recommend PetSafe’s CareLift Rear Handicapped Support Harness as the best overall harness due to its fair price tag and high-quality construction. The Frisco Rear Lift provides the best value for folks looking for extra support for their pup. The PetSafe CareLift Handicapped Support Dog Harness is a premium pick for anyone looking for a high-end full-body harness. We hope that these reviews have provided you with the guidance that you need to make an informed buying decision.
Featured Image Credit: Bobby Bradley, Shutterstock
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Chantelle is passionate about two things in her life – writing and animals. She grew up on the prairies of
Canada surrounded by animals and as an adult, she choose to share her home with five cats, two guinea pigs, and a bearded dragon. Chantelle, her husband, and their child take great pride in being great animal parents - the ones who spend a thousand dollars on wall-mounted cat shelves so that their cats can have an indoor jungle gym all year round. When Chantelle isn’t snuggling her cats on the couch or taking pictures of them being funny, she’s outside exploring in the Rocky Mountains, binging the same shows on Netflix over and over, and reading about whatever random topic pops into her brain.
