A collar puts the full force of a lead pull directly against a puppy's windpipe, at exactly the age when the cartilage ring around it is still soft - most puppies' growth plates don't fully harden until roughly 12-18 months, later still in giant breeds. A harness moves that pressure off the neck entirely.

This one is a step-in design with a scalloped chest pad, made from neoprene padding with reflective elements woven in, and it fastens with a lead attachment on the back rather than the front. Four separate adjustment points let it be let out as a puppy grows, and it's fitted using a size guide based on measuring the puppy's own neck and chest.

• Step-in design with a scalloped chest pad for a contoured fit
• Neoprene padding with reflective elements for visibility
• Four adjustment points to grow with the puppy
• Back lead attachment
• Growth plates in most puppies stay soft until roughly 12-18 months, up to 24 months in giant breeds

On sizing. This XS is one point on a size guide fitted by measuring neck and chest, not an age or breed band - measure first rather than guessing from your puppy's current age, since a harness bought too big will still let a determined puppy back out of it. It's hand-wash only; it isn't rated for a washing machine.

Who it's for: owners of a new puppy who want the pull kept off the neck from day one. Company of Animals also recommend it as a gentler, non-restrictive harness for adult miniature breeds.