The handle on the back is the part that earns this harness its place. There are moments on a walk when you need your dog close and steady right now, at a kerb, on a narrow bridge, next to a nervous stranger, and a handle over the shoulders gives you that in a way that shortening the lead never quite does. It also helps getting an older dog up into a car boot or over a stile, with your hand where the dog is strongest rather than pulling on their collar.

The rest is a well-padded vest, which spreads the load of a pull across the chest and shoulders instead of the throat. Reflective trim runs on the outside, and on a dark morning that is the difference between a driver seeing a shape and seeing a dog. It fastens quickly, so a dog who dislikes being dressed does not have to stand still for long, and it comes in orange, green or red across four sizes. Depending on size it weighs between 200 and 260 grams.

• Padded vest design spreads pressure off the neck
• Sturdy handle across the shoulders
• Reflective trim for low light
• Sizes S, M, L and XL
• Orange, green or red
• 200g to 260g depending on size

On fit and on the handle. The handle is for steadying and short assistance, not for carrying a dog's full weight any distance.

What the options mean. Sizes run from S to XL — £24.99 for the smallest, £27.99 for the largest.

Who it's for: Medium and large dogs who need close control at times, and owners who walk in traffic or before it gets light.