We’ve collected the most interesting studies and articles on canine biomechanics all in one place - to once again prove our point: every dog deserves an anatomically correct Y-shaped harness.
"Effects of collars and harnesses on canine tracheal pressure" (Pauli et al., 2006) - In this study, published in Veterinary Surgery, researchers examined the impact of leash jerks on a dog’s neck. They found that sudden force on a collar can cause serious injuries - including damage to the trachea, thyroid gland, and even the cervical spine.
By contrast, a harness distributes the force across the body and prevents direct pressure on the throat, reducing the risk of such injuries.
A study from the University of Wisconsin (Bentley et al., 2006) - looked at how collars and harnesses affect intraocular pressure (IOP) in dogs. Veterinary ophthalmologists measured IOP while applying leash tension with both.
The results were clear: collars caused a significant increase in IOP during leash pulls, while harnesses did not lead to any statistically significant rise in pressure.
"Effects of restrictive and non-restrictive harnesses on shoulder extension in dogs at walk and trot" (Lafuente et al., 2018) - the first scientific study to directly compare how different harness types affect a dog’s front limb movement.
In the experiment, 9 dogs walked and trotted on a treadmill both without a harness and with different harness designs. Surprisingly, even in the so-called “non-restrictive” Y-shaped harness, shoulder extension was reduced compared to the other harnesses.
"Harnesses for Agility Dogs" (Carr B.J., Zink C. et al., Clean Run, 2017) - in this study, veterinary sports medicine specialists tested 5 commercial harness models on 10 Border Collies to evaluate their impact on gait.
The findings showed that harnesses covering the shoulders or a large portion of the body significantly altered stride parameters. In contrast, the Balance Harness (a Y-shaped design with minimal coverage and multiple adjustment points) had the least effect on movement.
In their conclusion, the authors recommend avoiding harnesses that restrict shoulder extension or heavily encircle the dog’s body, as long-term use may contribute to chronic overload of the shoulder joints.
Dr. Christine Zink, DVM and canine sports medicine expert, in her article “To Harness Or Not To Harness? That Is The Question…” (2019), analyzes the study mentioned above.
She points out that for a Y-shaped harness to be truly “non-restrictive,” it must be properly fitted: snug enough around the base of the neck so that when the leash is pulled, the pressure is distributed over the sternum, and the straps do not slide back onto the shoulders.
Her recommendation is to use a well-designed Y-shaped harness for everyday walks, and to teach the dog not to pull through training, rather than relying on equipment to solve the issue.
Olga Makarova, a professional dog trainer, in her article “The Stumbling Block - Harnesses” (2020), explains why she chooses harnesses for her trainees.
From an anatomical perspective, the safest place to attach a leash is the dog’s chest - all vital organs and blood vessels there are protected by a solid bony framework, and the thoracic spine is the least mobile, which minimizes the risk of injury.
A soft, well-fitted Y-shaped harness does not restrict the natural movement of the front legs and does not cause discomfort to the dog.