Dog Coat With a Harness Hole: How to Wear a Coat and a Harness Together
By the PuppyUnion team · Updated
The easiest way to use a coat and a harness together is a coat with a harness (leash) opening: the harness goes on first, the coat goes over it, and the leash clips to the D-ring through the hole. If your coat has no opening, put the harness on over the coat instead and adjust the straps so they are snug over the extra layer.
Two ways to do it
| Method | Good for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Harness under the coat, leash through a harness hole | Daily walks, a neat look, keeping the harness dry | The hole must line up with the D-ring; size the coat to fit over the harness |
| Harness over the coat | Coats without an opening, thick puffer coats | Re-tighten the harness – a padded coat makes straps looser once it compresses |
| Coat with a built-in harness | Small dogs, quick outings | Only use the built-in ring for walking if the product says it's designed for a leash |
How to size a coat for a harness
- Measure your dog's chest girth with the harness on, around the widest part behind the front legs.
- Add about 2" (5 cm) and pick the size from the product's size chart – see how to measure your dog for clothes.
- Check the opening position: the D-ring on most back-clip harnesses sits between the shoulder blades.
- Make sure the coat doesn't push the harness out of place or pull the neck strap toward the throat.
Safety checks before the walk
- Clip the leash to the harness, not to a collar hidden under the coat.
- Run two fingers under every harness strap with the coat on.
- Nothing should rub under the front legs – check after the first few walks.
- For flat-faced breeds like French Bulldogs and Pugs, a harness is usually kinder than pulling on a collar.
Look for "leash hole" or "harness opening" in our dog winter coats and dog raincoats – the product details say whether a style has one.
Frequently asked questions
Should a dog coat go over or under the harness?
Either works. With a harness opening, the harness goes under the coat and the leash clips through the hole. Without an opening, put the harness over the coat and re-tighten it.
Do I need a bigger coat to fit over a harness?
Sometimes. Measure your dog's chest with the harness on and size from that measurement, adding about 2 inches for comfort.
Can I clip the leash to a coat?
Only if the product says its built-in ring is designed for walking. Otherwise clip to a harness or collar.