Ready-made patterns and sewing procedure for dog harnesses with your own hands

When you bring home a pet, you need to take care of its safety and comfort. Puppy safety begins with choosing a leash and harness. In order not to spend a lot of money on accessories, you can learn how to sew a harness for a dog with your own hands.

What is a harness and what is it for?

For large and service breeds of dogs, a harness is the trainer's best assistant, and you can't do without it at dog competitions. If you have a pet of a decorative breed (York), a harness will make the walk comfortable for all participants in this pleasant process. You can make it yourself using durable materials: leather and tape. A harness for domestic dogs must be equipped with a carabiner and a buckle. It is important that the device is not heavy.

In order to choose the right material, you need to decide for what purposes it is selected. For example, for a holding leash on a walk, it is best to use nylon and cotton. Leather in this case is not a very good choice, since it should be used in dry weather, and under the influence of moisture, it quickly loses its shape. If we talk about the classics, then the simplest model is two leashes sewn together, fixed at four points.

For small breeds, the harness also has a handle so that it is convenient to pick up the pet. For puppies, the harness should be soft and durable. For those who are preparing a dog for a show, the harness is designed and decorated with rhinestones and other fittings. For small indoor dogs, holding leashes are made not only comfortable, but also beautiful.

Main types of dog harnesses and their classification

Taking into account the size of the animal, as well as the purpose of using the equipment, types of harnesses for dogs are classified into the following categories:

• Walking ones are used in everyday life (when walking with an animal). Durable and wear-resistant material is used to make this accessory. For example, you can use leather or nylon.

• For small puppies. The dog should not get out of the harness. For them, the harness is specially selected strictly according to size. It is best to accustom the puppy to the accessory from the earliest age, approximately from 6 to 9 months. These models are convenient and lightweight.
• For very tiny puppies. Such products can be found in any store. They are presented in a large assortment. Many of them are equipped with handles on the back. Thus, it will be easy for the owner to lift the puppy in his arms.
• For large dogs. Using this model, even a child can walk a large breed dog.

Necessary tools

How to sew a harness for a cat or dog with your own hands quickly and easily is a pressing issue. Before you begin, you need to prepare the appropriate products.

Main and lining material

The main material for sewing can be nylon. It is advisable to make a model combined from leather and nylon. For decorative breeds, it is recommended to take a softer material, for example, velour.

It is convenient to sew harnesses with your own hands, as you can mix materials. Natural fabric in the form of a lining will give the product strength, and also provide the animal with an increased sense of comfort. The lining fabric should not only be natural, but also soft, as it comes into contact with the pet's skin.

Rings for fastening

Metal carabiner rings are used for fastening. The fastenings must be strong. It should be taken into account that the lighter the accessory, the more convenient and comfortable it is for the dog. In addition, the fasteners must be not only strong, but also convenient. The best option is to make several fasteners.

If there is no nylon rope, then you should prepare a medium-width capron tape. For reinforcement, you can use fabric from old jeans. All edges of the tape are melted with a lighter. The tape is thinner than leatherette, so it is reinforced. To do this, multiply the dimensions by four, two belts plus double tape.

Taking measurements

To make the dog comfortable and the harness not to rub on one side and not to hang on the other, the pattern of the harness for a small/large dog with your own hands is made as follows. The step-by-step master class is carried out with the measurement of the product using an ordinary tape measure for tailors.

The main measurement is the width of the back from the beginning of the withers to the base of the tail. The neck circumference is measured in the place where the collar is usually worn. After that, before writing down the size, 2 cm should be added to the resulting figure so that the harness is slightly loose and does not restrict movement.

Sewing instructions

Do-it-yourself cat harness - the pattern is made in the same way as for a dog. To get a cat or dog accessory, you need to follow these steps:

1. First, you need to take measurements using the method described above. After that, you will have to make a pattern, taking into account seam allowances. If nylon is used for sewing, the allowance will be 2 cm. If leather is used, it is necessary to leave about 5 mm for seams.
2. The pattern should be placed on the selected lining material and the lining should be carefully cut out. A line should be made along the inside of the future harness.
3. Having attached the pattern, the garment must be opened along the entire perimeter and soft tape stitched on. The straps will also need to be stitched on the outside.
4. Next, you need to assemble the product. Steel rings should be attached to the back. In order to make an adjustable leash, you will have to attach the rings to the straps.
5. The next step is choosing the decoration of the product. For small puppies, you can use bright stickers, bows, multi-colored stones, beads.

If you wish, you can find out how to make a pattern for a bed for a cat or dog.

Features of sewing a riding harness

Harnesses for riding and kits for skijoring, bikejoring, canicross (towing belts, harnesses, harnesses) are a great option for active recreation and sports with a dog. They are suitable for different seasons and people with different levels of physical fitness (in winter, a dog can pull a skier, in summer - a cyclist or a person running behind it).

When can you use weighted equipment?

Weight harnesses are suitable for training dogs. The cost of this product is approximately up to 5,000 rubles. The main feature of the accessory is genuine leather. The product consists of 10 lead weights of 450 g each. You can buy different sizes.

Rules for putting a harness on your pet

Putting the accessory on your pet is a complicated procedure at first. It is recommended to choose models with several fasteners. Before putting the harness on your pet, you should calm your dog down. That is, this action should not cause unpleasant emotions, and in addition, the animal should not lift its paws.

How to choose in the store

When buying equipment for a pet, it is better to take it with you, since choosing a product in absentia is a complex process. Many stores allow you to try on accessories. A good harness should not dangle on the animal. If the accessory is not chosen according to size, then when moving it will slide to the sides or slip. The best alternative is to purchase a product with adjustable straps. It is not recommended to take tight models so as not to make it difficult for the animal to breathe.

In conclusion, it should be said that all the parts need to be sewn firmly and qualitatively, so that the harness does not fail at the first serious jerk of the dog. Before putting it on the dog, you need to decide on the durability of the product. The straps can be made on rings to adjust their length.

*Prices are valid for January 2020*