When it comes to having a dog of any type, one thing you are going to have to do is take them on walks. They love it, and it is great for their health. However, English bulldogs might bring some concern to their loving owner when it comes to making the appropriate choice. Why? Because they virtually have no neck. So what should the owner of an English bulldog do?
Is it better to use a harness or a collar when walking English bulldogs? When it comes to the English bulldog, it is best to use a harness when walking them. They lack a full neck like most other dogs, can easily slide out of a collar if they become uncomfortable wearing it.
Hey, we get it! As the owner of an English bulldog, you want to be able to take him outside for his daily walk without the risk of him sliding out of his collar. We are going to vehemently speak against the use of a collar for walking an English bulldog because it can be dangerous for him. Don’t worry, though. Within this guide, we are also going to show you the best harnesses that will keep both of you happy.
Do English Bulldogs Need a Harness?
The simple answer to this question is yes. Since it is necessary to walk an English bulldog to promote good health within the breed, your bully is going to need a harness when being walked. There are two primary reasons why English bulldogs require harnesses instead of collars. They are:
- English bulldogs lack necks. The lack of a neck is crucial in your decision as to whether you should get your English bulldog a harness, or a collar. If the dog becomes uncomfortable during the walk with the collar, it doesn’t take much for them to become stubborn and slip out of the collar. This problem is even more prevalent while they are undergoing training and socialization.
- It poses a huge safety risk to you and the English bulldog. Your English bulldog slipping out of the collar is not only inconvenient; it can be unsafe for you and the dog, especially while walking near busy streets. Your bully could slip out and run into traffic, getting hit, and the same could happen to you if you’re blindly chasing him.
With this in mind, it is important to make sure that you have other options for walking your English bulldog in place. Using a harness is going to be a better option instead of relying on a collar that is not going to keep them from slipping out and running off somewhere.
When you do decide on what you’re gonna get, you’ll need to know how to train your dog to walk with a lease, which you can learn in our easy 7 step guide.
We know you don’t want to be worried about your bulldog while you’re walking him, and we don’t want to worry either! To help you keep your English bulldog safe and secure, here are some of the better harnesses that we have found on our search.
Kurgo Gray & Blue Journey Dog Harness
If you want to ensure that your English bulldog is safe, secure, and comfortable, we want to point you in the direction of the Kurgo Gray & Blue Journey Dog Harness. This harness offers soft padding in its center to provide comfort and is durable for traversing along uneven and rockiest of terrain.
It doesn’t matter if you decide to take your English bulldog on a walk around the block or if you’re more for the mountain trail experience, this harness is designed to deal with it all. The harness is equipped with a wide and padded chest piece, with a handle on the back to allow you to control and lift the bulldog in tough terrain easily.
Aside from that, it’s constructed out of breathable Ripstop fabric to prevent the harness from tearing because of rocks and low-hanging branches. It even comes with an attachment to connect a seatbelt harness as well for rides in the car. When putting this harness together, Kurgo left nothing to chance. The only con, if you can call it that, is that this puppy goes for about fifty dollars. You can’t price safety!
| PROS | CONS |
| Has padded chest to provide extra comfort to the dog. Comes with back handle for easy control and lifting of the bulldog Comes equipped with seatbelt harness attachmentExtremely durable and breathable with ripstop construction | Costs a little bit more than what people expect from a dog harness |
Didog Leather Spiked & Studded Bulldog Harness
You know that your English bulldog needs a harness. The only problem is that you want to make him look tough while doing it. For those of you who want to make a statement, that’s no longer an issue. The Didog Leather Spiked & Studded Bulldog Harness is just what you need to make a fashion and “Don’t mess with us” statement at the same time while protecting your bully from the woes of a collar.
The thing that makes this harness stand out is that it’s constructed of real leather, which is uncommon for most harnesses on the market. If you have an English bulldog for deterring would-be criminals, a leather harness is what you need to make him a little scarier.
In the case that you are concerned about the material used to make the leather for the harness, you will be pleased to know that its construction is of mixed leather that is safe for the skin. With the skin of an English bulldog being on every English owner’s mind, this brings a little more peace to it.
| PROS | CONS |
| The harness is reasonably priced Durable construction Made of real leatherSafe for the skin of English bulldogs Has five loop settings | You need to measure your dog before purchase Leather construction is not very breathable and can become too hot for an English bulldog during the summer months |
PoyPet No Pull Dog Harness
PoyPet No Pull Dog Harness is one of the best dog harnesses on the market that you can get. Simple as that, and when it comes to the safety and security of your English bulldog, you don’t want to leave anything to chance. For starters, its design is such that your bully won’t choke itself if it tries to struggle away from you while walking him.
For those who are safety conscious, the PoyPet No Pull Dog Harness also uses reflective materials in its construction. That means you can walk your English bulldog at night and be less worried about a car not seeing him and hitting the little guy.
The PoyPet No Pull Dog Harness also excels in carrying and controlling your English bulldog, as well as providing comfort to the dog. Similar to the Kurgo Gray & Blue Journey Dog Harness, it also has a padded chest and back handle to control and carry the bully easily, if necessary. For safety, comfort, and peace of mind at any time of the day, the PoyPet No Pull Dog Harness is an excellent choice.
| PROS | CONS |
| Designed specially to discourage the English bulldog from pulling during walks Is reflective, allowing for safe walking at any time of the day Comes with a 100% satisfaction guarantee Clip-on design that removes the need to pull the harness over the dog Is padded to provide comfort to the dog Easily adjustable to fit both small and large dogs Extremely well priced for the features it provides | Does not include attachments for a seatbelt harness like the Kurgo Gray & Blue Journey Dog Harness |
Julius-K9 IDC Dog Harness
The Julius-K9 IDC Dog Harness is one of the most popular dog harnesses on the market, so it would not be a surprise if you have heard of this harness before. There is are some very good reasons behind the fame and popularity that this harness has as well.
First, let’s talk about its looks. While it may not provide the stylish intimidation factor that the Didog Leather Spiked & Studded Bulldog Harness offers, it is one of the most visually appealing dog harnesses on the market.
It is also built with both the dog and its owner in mind when it comes to its efficiency and functionality. It is ergonomically perfect. Another thing that seems to be common with the higher end dog harnesses is that they keep people who like walking at night happy. By including reflective material in the design of the harness, they do exactly that. If you want your dog safe and look good, this is a great choice.
| PROS | CONS |
| Very durable and easy to use Constructed of high-end materials Reflective edges and chest strap to provide increased safety during night walks Ergonomic design Can be used at all stages of a dog’s life Skin-friendly and breathable inner lining | The English bulldog will need to be measured before purchase Is a bit more expensive than some other dog harnesses on the market Extremely popular- this can increase prices due to high demand for the product |
Ruffwear Front Range All-Day Adventure Harness for Dogs
By this point, you already know that a collar for an English bulldog is not the greatest idea. However, you still need to be able to place a dog tag on him in case he runs off somewhere. Luckily for you, the Ruffwear Front Range can help with that little conundrum.
By incorporating an in-built pocket into its design, owners are now able to place their English bulldog’s ID tags in a visible location that is not going to make the dog uncomfortable as a collar would. Safety and durability are also important features that are built into the dog harness as well.
The attachment rings are constructed of aluminum and reinforced with to webbing to help guarantee that the dog harness is going to last for time to come. Thanks to its design and padded construction, your English bulldog can wear it all day without becoming uncomfortable.
This harness is also excellent for training your bully to go on walks as well. With two leash attachment points, it is much easier to control the dog, making it ideal for training younger English bulldogs. With adjustable settings on the straps, it is also possible for your English bully to wear this at all stages of its life. Did we mention that it comes in multiple color options as well?
| PROS | CONS |
| Built-in pocket to carry the dog’s id tag, removing the need for a collar Extremely durable in its construction Padded design for English bulldog comfort Can be worn in multiple environments Perfect for training younger dogs on walking with the owner Adjustable straps allow for wear at all stages of life Comes in multiple color options Reflective for safety during night walks Reasonably priced | No back handle to carry and control the dog |
Kurgo Tru-Fit No Pull Dog Harness
Did you think that you would only see Kurgo on this list once? Surprise! Kurgo makes great gear and accessories for dogs and their owners alike, so it shouldn’t come as a surprise they made it on the list again with the Kurgo Tru-Fit No Pull Dog Harness. If you want to take the efficient minimalist approach to your dog’s safety, this is going to be the dog harness to look out for online.
Believe it or not, dogs do care about how things look. English bulldogs are no different. If it is too flashy or attention-grabbing, they may not want to put in on. They may even chew on it (true story that we learned the hard way.) With a minimalist design, it may appeal to your dog more, and it won’t take long for them to get used to it.
Like the Kurgo Gray & Blue Journey Dog Harness, it comes equipped with an attachment for a seatbelt harness to ride with your English bully safely in the car. You also don’t have to worry about the headache of pulling the harness over the bully’s head because of its clip-on design.
Do you want your bully to learn how to walk without trying to pull you down the street? The Kurgo Tru-Fit No Pull Dog Harness lives up to its name in that department. With a front D-ring incorporated into its design, it will turn the dog around when it tries to pull on the leash. Imagine his confused face looking at you when this happens. On top of all that, it also comes with a manufacturer’s warranty.
| PROS | CONS |
| Minimalist Design Front D- Ring to train your dog on walking on a leash Clip-on design means no pulling over the dog’s head to put on Extremely durable crash-tested buckles in construction Comes equipped with a dog seat belt and attachment for seat belt harness Durable Ripstop fabric used in harness’s construction Comes with a manufacturer’s warranty in case of manufacturing errors in design Inexpensive | Does not come equipped with a back handle to control or carry dog Is not reflective to provide safety during night time walking One size does not fit all, and dogs have to get measured to avoid purchasing the wrong size |
HDP Big Dog Soft No Pull Harness
If you have a larger, older English bulldog, then the HDP Big Dog Soft No Pull Harness may be what you need for your elderly bully. It is constructed with a heavy foam padding to ensure that the older English bully doesn’t choke when pulling against the leash.
It is also half the price of the premium dog harnesses out there; however, it manages to pull off that similar “premium look” in its appearance. Aside from looking like a premium harness, it also performs like one. With the extra padding, design to address hard pulling dogs, easy clip-on, and a back handle, it provides features some premium harnesses do not.
Another thing that the owner of an English bulldog will appreciate is that it is extremely easy to wash. All you need to do is put it in the washing machine with cold water, and that’s about it. With the drool that English bulldogs are known for, this is a lifesaver.
| PROS | CONS |
| Extra padding in its construction Will not choke a hard-pulling dog Easy clip-on harness, no need to pull over bully’s head Comes with an extra back handle Low cost | No reflective material in construction for use during nighttime walks Lacks a seatbelt harness attachment |
In Conclusion
When it comes to your English bulldog’s safety and comfort, a dog harness is a better option than choosing a collar. Collars can be uncomfortable, and frankly, not having much of a neck renders them almost useless on English bulldogs. With that in mind, you must choose a quality dog walking harness for your English bully to wear on walks.
With this guide to dog harnesses and in-depth information provided about them, you are armed with the knowledge to go out and purchase a harness that suits your bully and keep them safe. We hope the information was helpful to you, and we’ll see you and your bully on your next walk!
Learn More
If you want to learn more about English Bulldogs or other types of Bulldogs, then consider checking out this Bulldog Handbook on Amazon.