Getting a harness onto a small dog is usually the least dignified part of the walk, with something dragged over the head while the dog reverses out of it. This one steps in instead: the dog places its front legs through, the panel folds up over the back, and the buckles close at the shoulders. The corduroy sits soft against the coat, and the mesh lining underneath stops it turning into a heat trap.

Corduroy is an unusual choice for walking gear and it earns its place on comfort rather than weather resistance. The ribbed face is soft-edged and holds its shape, so it does not chafe the way stiff nylon webbing can behind the front legs. The lining is breathable mesh, the buckles are gold-tone alloy rather than plastic clips, and the straps adjust properly, so you can set the fit rather than settle for near enough.

• Corduroy outer with a breathable mesh lining
• Gold-tone alloy buckles rather than plastic clips
• Step-in design with adjustable straps
• Sizes S, M and L, in pink or blue
• Sold as a bowed collar alone, a two-piece set or a five-piece set
• A triangle scarf version is also listed

Two things worth knowing. Corduroy is a comfort fabric, not a wet-weather one. It soaks up rain and takes a while to dry, so treat this as a fair-weather harness rather than a January one. And measure the chest girth just behind the front legs before choosing a size, since that is what a harness is fitted on. The same two-finger rule you use on a collar applies here.

Who it's for: Owners of small and medium dogs who want a soft, good-looking step-in harness for dry-weather walks, and who would rather measure once than hope a size works.