Short answer
No study we've found compares front-clip and back-clip harnesses directly. Ruffwear says its front clip is designed "to redirect dogs that pull on leash"1, and one small 2024 study found less pulling on a front-connection harness than on a martingale collar2, so a front or dual-clip harness is a reasonable choice to try for a dog that pulls.
What each one does
This article answers one question from our guide to dog harness types.
- Back-clip: the lead attaches to a ring on your dog's back. The lead pulls from above the shoulders.
- Front-clip: the lead attaches to a ring on the chest. When your dog pulls ahead, the pull comes from the front of the chest.
- Dual-clip: both rings. Ruffwear describes its Front Range harness as having "an aluminum V-ring centered on the dog's back for everyday walks, and reinforced front clip at the dog's chest to redirect dogs that pull on leash"1. That is the brand's own description of its product.
What the evidence says
We haven't found a study that compares front-clip and back-clip harnesses directly.
A 2024 study by Johnson and Wynne walked 23 dogs on a martingale collar, a front-connection harness and two prong-style collars. Pulling was significantly lower on the front-connection harness (and on both prong collars) than on the martingale collar, with no significant difference among those three, and the authors found no clear evidence of poorer welfare on any of them. They caution against generalising from a small study2.
That study compared a front-connection harness with collars. It didn't test a back-clip harness, so it can't tell us whether front-clip beats back-clip.
We don't suggest prong collars. The RSPCA says: "Prong collars are designed to cause pain or discomfort to the animal to reduce or stop them from pulling on their lead," and "Research has shown that aversive training techniques, like prong collars, can cause pain and distress and can compromise dog welfare."3
Either way, a harness helps protect the neck
The PDSA says: "We recommend walking your dog on a harness if they pull - this will help prevent them from hurting their neck."4
The PDSA also says: "Don't use anything that is painful for your dog or restricts their movement (such as a choke collar)."4 If a harness is designed to tighten or restrict your dog's movement when it pulls, check it against that advice.
Trying a different type
Battersea says switching harness types "can help if your dog has negative associations with a previous harness or if they have already learned to pull strongly in certain equipment"5. If your dog has learned to lean into a back-clip harness, a front or dual-clip design may be worth trying.
A harness changes where the pull goes. Teaching your dog to walk on a loose lead is a separate job: the PDSA has a guide to training dogs not to pull4.
Fit matters with either
A front clip only works as designed if the harness fits: a loose harness can twist so the front ring slides to one side. Battersea says a good harness avoids pressure on the neck and allows free shoulder movement5. See how tight should a dog harness be? and signs your dog's harness is too small or too big.
We suggest watching your dog walk in a new harness. If its stride looks shorter or the chest strap sits across the shoulders, adjust it or try another design. A small study found harness designs can reduce how far the shoulder extends6.
Breed harness guides
Every breed fits a harness a little differently. These guides cover the sizes in each brand, how to measure that breed, and the styles that suit it.
- Labrador Retriever harness sizeSizes by brand, measuring and fit
- German Shepherd Dog harness sizeSizes by brand, measuring and fit
- Siberian Husky harness sizeSizes by brand, measuring and fit
- Staffordshire Bull Terrier harness sizeSizes by brand, measuring and fit
Find your dog's harness size All breeds
Questions
Do front-clip harnesses stop pulling?
A small 2024 study found less pulling on a front-connection harness than on a martingale collar2. It didn't compare it with a back-clip harness, and a harness isn't a substitute for training.
Is a back-clip harness bad for a dog that pulls?
We haven't found a study comparing back-clip and front-clip directly. A back-clip harness still keeps pressure off the neck, which the PDSA recommends for dogs that pull4.
What is a dual-clip harness?
One with both a back ring and a chest ring. Ruffwear's Front Range is an example: the brand says the back ring is for everyday walks and the front clip is to redirect dogs that pull1.
Should I use a prong collar for a strong puller?
We don't suggest it. The RSPCA says prong collars "are designed to cause pain or discomfort"3.