The Best Service Dog Vests & Harnesses in 2024
Service animals are becoming more prominent and dogs are the most common ones by far. Each animal has its own unique talents and special gifts. A service animal out in public needs to wear a service vest or harness at all times.
This allows you to take your animal anywhere you need to go without any problems – even into places where dogs are normally not allowed. Some of the vests come equipped with handles and other accessories to meet different needs.
On this page, we have assembled the top 6 vests and harnesses on the market this year. So let’s go and check them out!
Our Top List
Last update on 2024-09-22 at 02:52 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
1. Emotional Support Dog ESA Mesh Vest
This service dog vest comes with a large metallic patch to show everyone that your dog is a service dog. It also shows a fitting logo and the words “Emotional Support Animal E.S.A.”
The vest fastens to the dog via chest and girth straps that you can adjust, and it also has a spot to attach the leash. You can get this product in various sizes and colors to fit your taste, though we prefer the red one as that makes the most sense to us visually.
The vest is made of lightweight materials with mesh sides to help keep the dog cool. You should measure your dog before you go to purchase one of these in order to get the perfect size to fit the dog for the most comfort. Particularly, you need to measure the girth of your dog.
Takeaways
- Metallic Patch
- Built In Leash Attachment
- Sizes From XS to XXL
- Lightweight
- Mesh Sides
2. Industrial Puppy Service Vest
This vest is made from some of the toughest materials possible. This means there is no more worry about fraying seams or a hook and loop system that stops holding up. It features removable patches so you can change what the patches say to fit the location and situation the dog is going to, such as a grocery store or a doctor’s office.
The vest is made so that additional bags can be attached to it in order to hold things people may need for their dogs, such as food and drink, and these packs are sold separately. It also has a buckle that goes around the belly to make it easy to fasten and use in a quick manner. A built-in handle sticks up from the vest to make for quick gripping in an emergency situation.
Takeaways
- No Fraying
- Removable Patch
- Accommodates Backpacks
- Easy Belly Buckle
- Top Mounted Handle
3. Chai’s Choice Harness for Service Dogs
The interior of this harness is made of elastic material to make it fit better, and it also has padding so the dog can be comfortable no matter how long they wear it.
The straps and body of the harness have a reflective fabric sown onto it to make it easier to see the dog at night time. The polyester material this vest harness is made out of makes sure it is more likely to not scratched up, but it is still very lightweight.
There is a spot on the harness to clip a leash, and there is also a stand up handle for easy control in emergency situations. You can change the patches on this harness to fit the area where the dog will be going, such as a doctor’s office, a hospital, or a grocery store.
Takeaways
- High Elasticity Sponge Inner Padding
- Reflective 3M Scotchlite Piping and Webbing
- Scratch Resistant Polyster
- Aluminum D Ring
- Nylon Handle
- Removable Patches
- Removable Chest Padding
- Lightweight Buckle
4. Petjoy-Wiredog Flow-Tec Mesh Vest
The Petjoy vest has a patch that is sewn onto it that says: “Service Dog.” This vest has reflective stitching all over it to make it easier to see the dog even at night.
It is made of super-light material and white mesh that helps to reflect the heat away from the dog instead of drawing it to them. There is a buckle that is designed to be a quick release, which means it is easier to take off the dog.
This vest comes with 50 information cards the size of a business card that you can hand out to educate people on what a service dog does. The vest is made in Ohio and comes with a lifetime workmanship guarantee. It also comes in different sizes and two colors to pick from.
Takeaways
- Sewn On Patch
- White Mesh Sides
- 360 Degree Reflective Piping
- Quick Release Buckle
- Lifetime Workmanship Guarantee
- 50 ADA Information Cards Included
5. YogaDog – Heavy Duty Harness
This dog harness is great for dogs that are hard pullers because it has a pulling resistance of 450 pounds. The handle of the harness is made with a padded handle and extended short leash design.
This design allows for some slight pulling but also helps to curb that instinct in dogs, and it helps the human as well because it buffers the force of pulling and reduces the chance of injury from pulling.
There is padding at the breast part as well as the backside of the harness to prevent injury to the dog when used for long times. The straps are adjustable, and it comes with buckles that are easy to clip.
There is reflective stitching all over the harness, which makes it easier to see the dog at night time. If quick control is important, the handle on this harness is perfect with its breast stress point.
Takeaways
- Wear Resistant
- 450 Pound Pulling Resistance
- Elastic Padded Handle
- Short Leash Handle
- Padded Breast and Back
- Easy Buckles
- Adjustable Straps
- Reflective Stitching
- Waterproof Nylon Webbing
6. Fairwin Service Vest
This harness has a mesh lining that allows the harness to be breathable and prevent the dog from overheating. It has padding on the back as well as the neck-straps to make it comfortable for the dog to wear no matter how long it is wearing it.
The harness is made from nylon and has removable patches that say “Service Dog.” As with other products on this list, you can change out the patches on the vest to fit the location where the dog is going. There is a built-in ring on the back of the harness for clipping the leash as well as ID tags. A stand-up handle is included as well, making it easier to control the dog in any kind of emergency situation.
Takeaways
- Padded Neck and Back Straps
- Breathable Mesh Lining
- High Quality Nylon
- Removable Patches
- Stainless Steel D Ring
- Top Mounted Standing Handle
Verdict & Review
Emotional Support Dog ESA Mesh Vest
Pros
- Metallic Patch
- Leash Attachment
- Many available sizes
- Lightweight
- Mesh sides
Cons
- We didn't encounter any cons.
With all the different kinds of service dog vests and harness available, it is important to get the one that works the best for you and your dog. The Emotional Support Dog ESA Mech Vest is our top pick in quality, look, and versatility.
The way this vest is made means the dog stays cool and can be outside for longer periods of time. The patch on this vest is one of the best because it is large and metallic, which makes it reflective and overall easy to see. Finally, we also find it easier to adjust this vest to fit your dog’s size the other options.
Buying Tups
Why Use A Service Dog Vest
A service vest allows your dog to go into places where dogs are not usually allowed. It can prevent people from distracting your dog, and it makes sure the people around you are comfortable with you having a dog by your side. Mind you, a tactical military dog harness or vest is no alternative for that, even though it makes your dog look important.
A service dog needs to be able to go into different businesses to help you out, but people need to know not to bother them without permission. A service vest lets everyone know your dog is working and should be left alone.
What To Look For
Some of the features that such a vest comes with include handles, reflective trim, easy buckles, pockets, and removable patches. Handles can help you keep control of your dog in an emergency situation but also helps your dog support you if needed.
Some vests have a simple handle that has to be pulled up off the back of the vest, but there are also some that are made with a handle that sticks up, which makes it easier to grab the handle in a timely manner.
Reflective trim makes it where the dog can be seen at night time. Easy buckles mean it is easier for you to put on and take off your dog’s vest, which can save you a lot of time if you need to rush off somewhere with your dog.
Having pockets on your vest can make it easier for you to have your dog out for long periods of time because it allows you the chance to store away things you might need for your dogs, such as food and water.
While some service vests have a sewn-on patch stating it is a service vest, not all vests do. A large majority of vests actually have removable patches. These patches can be changed to different ones if needed, but they can also be removed when taking your dog out without it being a service dog job type of situation.
We are the Pet Dog Pals, a group of avid pet owners, bloggers, product testers, and writers for all your canine needs! We own a collective 16 dogs and 21 cats to help us test and review pet products. Our top lists and tips come from experience to help you be the best dog owner you can be!