7 Best Dog Harnesses for Yorkshire Terriers in 2024

Don’t let the small size of the Yorkshire Terrier (or Yorkie) fool you. Terriers are known for being tenacious, persistent, and adventurous, so it’s no wonder that Yorkies are known for their larger than life personality.

Weighing under 10 pounds, Yorkies act like dogs who are much bigger than they are. They are popular as a designer breed and with people who live in small spaces, making them the tenth most popular overall breed in the U.S.

While they are affectionate and make great companions and family dogs, Yorkies do require a lot of attention. Leaving them alone for long periods of time may result in destructive behavior due to anxiety.

They are also prone to being suspicious of strangers and territorial, so it’s essential to train them and socialize them when you first adopt one.

Because of their miniature size, owners like to carry them around in purses and designer carriers. But Yorkies are still dogs and love going for walks around the neighborhood or playing in parks, so you still need a leash and harness.

We prefer harnesses over collars because Yorkies have delicate windpipes that pulling on a collar can easily damage. Harnesses also offer more control over your pup and are harder to wiggle out of than a collar.

Different Kinds of Dog Harnesses for Yorkshire Terriers

There are a few different styles of harnesses that work well for Yorkies. Which one you choose will depend on what activities you and your Yorkie like to pursue.

Vest vs. Strap Harnesses

Harnesses come in two different styles: vest or strap. Strap harnesses are the most popular kind of harness sold today because they are lightweight and easy to adjust. You either put them on over their head or place their front legs through the leg holes.

However, we prefer vest harnesses for Yorkies in most cases because they have such a delicate bone structure. Vests distribute pressure from pulling across the dog’s body and are more comfortable for your pup.

Vehicle Harnesses

Because Yorkies do love adventures and companionship, they will love riding with you in your car. While it’s tempting to let her ride on your lap, it’s better for both of you to use a crash-tested car harness to keep her in one place in the vehicle and protect her in the event of an accident.

Other Important Features to Consider

First, you’ll want to make sure your Yorkie’s harness has soft, padded straps and/or chest piece if it’s a vest style harness. They have thin fur and no undercoat, so their skin is easily irritated.

A harness you can easily adjust will help prevent injury to your Yorkie’s windpipe and minimize strain on their neck and chest.

Are you starting to get a better picture of what makes a harness a good choice for your Yorkie? If you still need some guidance, here are our honest reviews of seven high-quality harnesses and one harness for puppies.

Best Dog Harnesses for Yorkshire Terriers

Best Overall – Puppia Soft Vest

Key Features :

• Soft-material
• Easy to put on
• Extremely durable
• Machine-washable

The vest design is perfect for teacup Yorkies. Just slip your pup’s legs through the leg holes and fasten the harness around his chest with Velcro fasteners, rapid-release clasp, and two rings for attaching your leash to the harness.

The vest itself is made out of a soft mesh material that you can toss in the laundry. Users state that despite the softness, the harness is extremely durable and will last the life of your dog.

Six Other Top-Notch Dog Harnesses for Yorkshire Terriers

Here are six more harnesses to consider for your Yorkie, including ones that are perfect for riding in the car, discouraging pulling, and taking your pup on a run or hike. We’ve even included a stylish harness, just for the fun of it.

PetSafe Easy Walk – Best for Training and No-Pull

Key Features :

• No leash-twisting
• Deters pulling
• Strap-style
• Comes in eight sizes

Yorkies love showing everyone who the real boss is. As such, they will tug and strain to chase that squirrel or intimidate that Lab. To help break that habit, we suggest this harness.

This is a lightweight strap-style harness that deters pulling and prevents leash twisting thanks to the Martingale front loop attachment. It discourages pulling because this design redirects their attention away from whatever they are pursuing and turns them toward you.

We also like the fact it comes in eight sizes, and the smallest size works very well for your furry friend. The straps are not padded, so if your dog has sensitive skin, it may not be the right one for you.

Kurgo Tru-Fit Smart Harness – Best Car Harness 

Key Features :

• Padded chest plate
• Crash-tested
• Durable nylon
• Stainless steel hardware

We recommend this harness for taking your furry friend with you in the car because it is one of the few that is crash-tested for dogs up to 75 pounds.

It’s made out of durable nylon with stainless steel hardware that will help you keep your pup safe in a car accident. Just attach the extra clip to your seat belt system for the ultimate protection.

While it is a bit on the heavy side for a Yorkie harness, it’s still comfortable for them because of the padded straps, chest plate, and five areas where you can adjust the harness for the best fit.

Frisco Small Breed Soft Vest – Best for Walks 

Key Features :

• Budget-friendly
• Not easy to escape from
• Soft & lightweight
• Low on chest to protect trachea

If all you need is a harness for taking your Yorkie for walks, this is the harness for you. It’s specifically designed for the smallest breeds and provides the best fit. If you’re budget-conscious, you’ll also like how affordable it is.

The vest simply fits over your pup’s front legs, and you fasten the harness in the back with Velcro and a sturdy plastic buckle. You attach the leash to the two steel rings for added security. Wiggling out of it will be next to impossible.

We also like the fabric and padding, which is soft and lightweight, making it an excellent choice for Yorkies with sensitive skin or too small for larger harnesses. The vest rides low on their chest, which protects a Yorkie’s trachea from getting damaged with excessive pulling.

Sporn No Pull – Best for Taking Hikes

Key Features :

• Soft, stretchy nylon
• Many adjustment points
• Keeps your yorkie cool
• Deters pulling

While Yorkshire Terriers aren’t thought of as athletic dogs, they need exercise and would love to go for a hike with you.

We love the fact that this hybrid vest and strap harness is made to fit even the smallest dogs at 2 pounds. This is thanks to having several adjustment points to customize the fit.

The front vest is made from soft, stretchy nylon with an ample amount of padding. The back part of the harness is made solely from straps, which will help keep your Yorkie cool when they’re hiking alongside you.

A bonus is that this is a harness that discourages pulling with the padded straps that go under your Yorkie’s legs. The pressure of the straps tickles your Yorkie’s underarms. Note that it is not harmful or painful, but the sensation is effective in deterring pulling.

Kurgo Journey Air – Best for Jogging

Key Features :

• Breathable material
• Great for jogging
• Minimizes chest pressure
• Reflective strips

Have you recently taken up running and want to take your Yorkie with you? The Kurgo Journey Air is the right harness for you and your pup.

Your dog will stay cool thanks to the breathable material, and the padded v-neck chest piece minimizes pressure on your dog’s chest for easier breathing. We also like the reflective strips for added visibility.

It has four areas where you can make adjustments to get the most comfortable fit or your Yorkie. And the fact that you can attach the leash to your dog’s chest or his back allows you to accommodate your pup’s needs.

Alfie Sailor Harness – Most Stylish or Designer 

Key Features :

• Fashionable
• Sturdy
• Comfortable
• Quick-release buckle

We couldn’t resist adding this adorable Alfie Sailor harness to our list because Yorkies are one of the most fashionable breeds around.

While it may appear to be only a decorative harness, that is not the case. It is made out of comfortable cotton that is secured on the back by a wide Velcro fastener, a nylon strap with quick-release plastic buckles, and a steel D-ring to attach your leash to the harness.

Best Harness for a Yorkshire Terrier Puppy

And last but not least, we do have a recommendation for a harness that’s suitable for a Yorkie puppy.

Puppia RiteFit Soft Dog Harness

Key Features :

• Comfortable for a puppy
• Affordable
• Breathable mesh
• Designed to grow with your dog

Because Yorkies are a toy breed, you will not have to worry about replacing harnesses as your puppy grows to be an adult.

With that said, it can’t hurt to choose a more affordable harness to replace with one of the other recommendations on this list.

The Puppia RiteFit is a fine choice for your Yorkie puppy. While it’s not as sturdy as the other harnesses on this list, but you won’t need to worry about that as much with a Yorkie puppy.

The vest is designed with padded, breathable mesh for maximum comfort for your Yorkie puppy and his delicate skin and skeletal structure.

We suggest the smallest size for your puppy. If that’s still too big, then take another look at the Sporn No-Pull as it’s made for dogs as small as two pounds.

How Do I Guarantee a Great Fit for My Yorkshire Terrier?

Yes, Yorkies are tiny. But you should still measure your pup’s chest and neck for the best fit.

Measure their chest at its widest point and around the neck, adding an inch for a tiny bit of slack.

Here are our top 8 picks:

Yorkie Harness Comparison Table
Rank	Harness	Price	Rating
#1	Puppia Soft Vest Buy Online Customer Reviews	$	A+
#2	PetSafe Easy Walk Buy Online Customer Reviews	$	A+
#3	Kurgo Tru-Fit Smart Harness Buy Online Customer Reviews	$$	A+
#4	Frisco Small Breed Soft Vest Buy Online Customer Reviews	$	A+
#5	Sporn No Pull Buy Online Customer Reviews	$	A
#6	Kurgo Journey Air Buy Online Customer Reviews	$$	A
#7	Alfie Sailor Harness Buy Online Customer Reviews	$	A
#8	Puppia RiteFit Soft Dog Harness Buy Online Customer Reviews	$	A

How to Help Your Yorkshire Terrier Used to Wearing a Harness

If you think you can just put a harness on your Yorkie and take him for a stroll, think again. It can take weeks to get your dog used to the idea of wearing a harness, and there are steps you should take if you want to make it a pleasant experience for him and for you.

And while it might be tempting to choose a collar, harnesses are the best choice for not only maintaining control over your Yorkie but protecting his windpipe from the pressure a collar can cause when a dog pulls on his leash.

Patience is key when introducing your Yorkie to a harness because even though they are sweet and loving dogs, they can also be anxious and not very welcoming of anything new. You will do well to follow these helpful steps over the course of several weeks.

1. You can help your anxious Yorkie feel more comfortable around the harness–let her sniff it and examine it as much as she wants to. Treats are good to have on hand as your pup will associate the harness with something she enjoys.
2. Once she’s finished with his inspection, leave the harness out around different areas of your house.
3. After a while, you can pick up the harness and let her sniff and inspect it again as you undo the clips. Have more treats on hand for positive association.
4. Next, try slowly placing the harness on her. If she gets anxious, stop and try again in a few days.
5. Once you get it on her, let her wear it in the house without going anywhere and praise him as much as you can.
6. When you feel she’s comfortable with wearing it, it’s time to get out your leash and take her for a spin around the block. Do not take him to the vet or anything that might associate the harness with a scary experience.

Frequently Asked Questions

What size should I get for my Yorkie? 

We suggest an extra-small or petite size, but you should still use the measurements you took in one of the steps above to get the best fit. If you can fit two fingers under the straps and vest, it’s a good fit.

Is a harness necessary for small dogs like Yorkies?

Yes. Like all dogs, Yorkies will benefit from the safety a harness gives because owners can control their dogs without putting any pressure on their tiny windpipes or necks. They also make training your pup to walk on a leash much more effective than a collar alone.

How do I choose a harness for a Yorkshire Terrier puppy?

You will want to find the brand that fits the smallest dogs and look for one that has several adjustment points. Also, one with soft material and padding will help protect your puppy’s skin.

Conclusion

Now that you know what to look for in a dog harness for Yorkshire Terriers and have seven to choose from (plus one for your puppy), our main wish is that you feel confident in purchasing the right harness for her.

We stand by all of our recommendations and believe that any would be a sound purchase for your furry friend.