Biothane

Ideal for all kinds of outdoor K9 duties, biothane is the brand name for a material made by the Biothane Coated Webbing Corporation. This American-made material (manufactured in Ohio) is made up of a polyester webbing with PVC coating, so it’s both durable and waterproof. We like this material because biothane K9 gear provides many of the same benefits as leather without all of the necessary upkeep.

When it comes to a badass dog harness that can go anywhere and handle anything, check out our Biothane Multifunction Harness. As the name suggests, this harness is ideal for any tkind of outdoor K9 work.

Cordura

Cordura is a nylon material blended with cotton and other natural fibers. You’ll often find it used in military-grade backpacks and K9 handler gear. We should note that all Cordura is the same. Each one has a “denier” rating that tells you the thickness of the fibers used in the fabric. The higher the denier rating, the heavier and more abrasive-resistant it is. The Cordura we carry ranges from 500 to 1000D, so you know it’s high quality! Many of our Cordura products also have a DWR rating, which stands for Durable Water Resistance

Better yet, all of the Cordura we use is made right here in the USA.

Our Modular Ballistic Vest is designed to protect working dogs from gunfire and other hazards. We use Cordura in the design because we trust that it can help keep your dog safe in any situation.

Leather

Leather is the perfect material for many different types of dog harnesses because it’s durable and won’t slip through a trainer’s hands when they have to grab the dog by the harness. Leather has been an industry standard for well over a century, and is excellent for harnesses from tactical K9s to working dogs of all job descriptions. Better yet, leather dog harnesses conform to a working dog’s body as it ages. Leather isn’t the ideal material for all situations, but we use leather in all sorts of our harnesses, collars, leashes, bite training gear, and more.

Leather is graded on its weight, measured in ounces. Most of our handmade leather products are crafted out of tight-grained, 12- to 14-ounce (which you’ll see written as .12 -.14) leather to ensure optimum durability and water resistance for our customers.

The two most popular ways to tan leather are veg tanning and chrome tanning. Veg tanning uses vegetable oil, while chrome tanning uses acid. We typically use veg-tanned leather because (as we touched on above) it breaks in better over time, resulting in a more comfortable fit for working dogs. Rest assured that all of the veg-tanned leather we use is made in America.

Our Quick Release Leather Harness is one of our best selling models. We even wrote a blog post about this harness!

Mesh

While you probably don’t want a hardcore working dog wearing a harness made entirely out of mesh (a strong K9 would pull right through it), we use this lightweight material in several of our models. Mesh is a very breathable material, which helps keep K9s cool and comfortable on hot days. Plus, it doesn't hold water and dries quickly, which reduces the amount of required maintenance.

The next time you and your K9 partner are performing any type of fieldwork, you can be confident knowing that your dog will be very grateful that their tactical harness is made partially out of mesh.

Nylon

Nylon is another harness material you’ve certainly heard of before, and it’s featured in a wide variety of our harnesses, especially in harnesses designed for military and police K9 work. Some K9 trainers prefer nylon harnesses to other materials because it’s 100% water-resistant and great for use in all sorts of settings.

Our MilSpec type 8 and MilSpec type 13 nylon webbing is treated with a resin impregnation that drastically improves its durability while only making the nylon a bit stiffer as a result. Military and police K9 units worldwide trust MilSpec type 8 and MilSpec type 13 nylon webbing for all of their dog gear.

GT Cobra Buckle

When it comes to a badass name, the GT Cobra Buckle is at the top of the list. And true to its name, this is a badass piece of hardware. Designed by AustriAlpin and American-made by ITW, these buckles have a 500-pound load-bearing rating for use with even the strongest K9s. They also offer a “two-eared open” design, preventing an accidental release. In addition to using GT Cobra Buckles on many of our tactical harnesses (like the popular Icon Harness™) they’re perfect for collars and other K9 gear.

Be sure to check out our YouTube video, The Difference in Buckles on Dog Harnesses, Collars, and Other K9 Gear to learn more about your hardware options and for help choosing the right harness hardware for your dog.

Metal Cobra Buckle

True to its name, a metal cobra buckle is just like the GT Cobra Buckle, but it’s made of high-quality metal. Since they’re made of wear-resistant metal, these metal cobra buckles are often stronger than GT Cobra Buckles. The metal cobra buckles we carry are also made by AustriAlpin and have a 2,500-pound load-bearing rating.

Like the GT model, police and military K9 units often use metal cobra buckles on tactical harnesses because the duel-ear release buckle prevents the piece from popping open when a working dog suddenly pulls or lunges forward.

D-Ring

Also called an “active D-ring,” our D-rings are stainless steel, brass coated rings secured to a harness. D-rings can either lay flat or pop upward, remaining stiff to clasp the end of a leash or line. Generally, the D-ring comes before the buckle in this style. D-rings have one of the most secure designs because dogs must pull against two layers of the harness when they lunge forward.

V-Ring

A V-ring is a triangular or V-shaped ring suitable for efficient and quick deployment. The V-Ring is designed to easily release a K9 during a hostile situation and/or to chase and subdue. V-rings are either cast or machined metal, and ours feature a slot for 1 ¾” and other MilSpec webbings we offer. The V-Ring is possibly our favorite style of ring hardware, and we feature it on all sorts of our K9 gear.

Handle

Handles are typically located near the dog’s neck or around the dog’s back and provide better control over working dogs, which is crucial in intense police or military scenarios.

Most service dog harnesses also include a handle for additional control, ensuring their owners don’t need to rely on just a leash for their dogs to guide them around.

We have a vast selection of harnesses with handles to meet any of your needs, regardless of the work you're doing.

Modular Capabilities

The Ray Allen Modular Harness System includes a variety of different harnesses and ten unique components. These components can be mixed and matched between the different harnesses and accessories, including bodies, frames, pouches, cooling packs, and more.

Modular capabilities aren’t necessary for every working dog, but they really come in handy for military and police K9s.

MOLLE

MOLLE stands for Modular Lightweight Load-carrying Equipment and is commonly used on load-bearing equipment and backpacks used by the armed forces. The panels are rows of heavy-duty nylon fabric stitched onto our harnesses, vests, and other gear so you can easily attach MOLLE pouches and accessories to your equipment or K9’s gear.

Many of our dog backpacks feature MOLLE strips for handlers' convenience.

Hook and Loop VELCRO®

VELCRO® is a key feature on many Ray Allen harnesses. VELCRO® strips stitched along the sides of harnesses allow K9 handlers to attach ID panels, patches, badges, and other accessories directly to the piece. Better yet, handlers can swap out these VELCRO® accessories as they see fit, making each harness versatile and useful in many different scenarios.  

Now that we’ve covered the terms you’ll need to know when shopping for a new harness, let’s dig in to learn what a dog harness is and why you and your K9 need one.

Adventure Dogs

All dogs are adventure dogs deep down in their hearts. Even the little toy breeds are descendants of wolves! But if you have a true adventure dog that loves going on camping trips, hiking along rugged trails, or doing anything else in the great outdoors, you need a harness that’ll hold up in any weather conditions.

Along with a durable material and heavy-duty hardware, you should consider a harness with a handle that’ll allow you to hold your dog back if they get excited and lunge towards wildlife.

The Icon Air Harness™ and Guardian Dog Harness are two models that fit these criteria, so be to consider these models if you enjoy going on adventures with your dog.

Detection Dogs

Labrador Retrievers, Belgian Malinois, German Shepherds, and German Shorthaired Pointers are a few of the breeds renowned for having an incredible sense of smell. When properly trained, these dogs can pick up scents for everything from illicit drugs to bombs.

Because detection dogs lead their handlers while chasing a scent and can pull pretty hard when they’re in the field, you need to ensure their harness has a solid breastplate. The breastplate will help distribute their body weight evenly across their chest, keeping them comfortable while reducing the chance of injury.

Our Handle Leather Tracking Harness is a great option for any working dogs who perform detection or search and rescue work. You can read more about this innovative Ray Allen harness on our Tactical Dog Training Blog.

Hunting Dogs

Hunting dogs, also known as “gun dogs,” “bird dogs,” or “hunting hounds,” are dogs that were initially bred to help their owners hunt in the field. A few common hunting dog breeds include Retrievers, Setters, and Pointers. But, believe it or not, even smaller breeds like Terriers and Dachshunds are also considered hunting dogs because they were bred to hunt small mammals.

Although smaller hunting breeds could benefit from wearing a dog harness, we specialize in dog harnesses for larger hunting breeds.

A high-quality hunting dog harness needs to offer protection from sticks, barbed wire, thorns, and other debris you’ll encounter on a hunting trip. We’ll cover our Nomad Skid Plate Body™ in depth below, but it’s the perfect accessory for keeping K9s safe and secure.

Police K9s

German Shepherds and Belgian Malinois probably come to mind when you first think of a “police dog.” After all, these are the breeds typically used to chase down bad guys who are trying to run from law enforcement.  

If your job as a police K9 officer is to patrol the streets with your partner, you need to ensure your dog has a hardcore tactical harness with modular capabilities. Our Nomad I.H.S.™ line of harnesses (which we’ll cover later) is designed to meet the needs of any police or military K9.

Search and Rescue K9s

Like detection breeds, search and rescue (SAR) K9s serve because of their incredible sense of smell. German Shepherds, Labrador Retrievers, Bloodhounds, and Border Collies are a few of the breeds often used for SAR missions because of their smell and their high energy levels that allow them to work for extended periods.

We recommend using a lightweight and breathable harness that also helps keep your SAR dog’s nose to the ground. This design will help your dog pick up the missing person’s scent without causing discomfort during long tracking sessions.

Additionally, you’ll want to consider using a brightly colored harness while in the field. The chance of a successful SAR mission increases drastically if a missing person can easily see a working dog’s harness.

Service Dogs

A service dog should also wear a brightly colored harness when they’re assisting their handlers. The bright colors and reflective strips often found on service dog harnesses showcase that the dog is a service animal. As an extra precaution, it’s also a good idea to outfit your service dog’s harness with Embroidered Service Dog Patches from Ray Allen Manufacturing.  

Many of these service dog harnesses also feature tall handles that allow handlers to keep a grip on their dogs while their service dogs guide them across busy streets, through stores, or anywhere else their dogs are needed.

Our Activ Dog Harness with Handle is a perfect example of the tall handle feature. But models like our Service Dog Ultimate Harness have multiple stitched-in handles to ensure mobility-impaired dog handlers can always grab ahold of their service dogs.

Schutzhund Training

All of the disciplines above bring us to Schutzhund training. Schutzhund is German for “protection dog,” but this competitive sport is actually composed of three phases: tracking, obedience, and protection.

Since it encompasses such a vast range of skills, you’ll need quite a bit of equipment if you’re training your dog for a Schutzhund competition. But failing to buy a quality dog harness is a huge mistake.

You may need to purchase a few different types of harnesses to ensure complete success in the Schutzhund world. Thankfully, we carry every harness you need (along with every other piece of Schutzhund gear you need).

Nomad Woobie Dog Jacket™

Keep your dog warm and dry while in extreme weather conditions with the Nomad Woobie Dog Jacket™. This waterproof dog harness accessory easily slides onto a Nomad Harness Frame™ and boasts a fleece lining to keep working dogs comfortable during long days in the field.

From hunting hounds to SAR dogs, this is a must-have accessory for any K9 working in winter weather.

Nomad Patrol Body™

The Nomad Patrol Body™ is a dog harness cape that’s ideal for service animals, dogs patrolling in TSA lines, or any other working K9. This cape is constructed of Mil-Spec webbing and has VELCRO® strips along both sides, allowing handlers to attach any type of dog patch to the harness.  

The cape is designed for use with our Nomad Harness Frame™ with GT Cobra Buckles or Nomad Harness Frame™ with Metal Buckles, but we also sell the Nomad Patrol Combo Harness™ for handlers who want the cape and Nomad frame in one piece.

Nomad Swiss Seat™

Per the name, the Nomad Swiss Seat™ functions as a safety seat for K9s by supporting their rear legs as they perform their hardcore duties. If you and your K9 partner do any kind of zip-lining, hoisting, or fast-roping, you’ll want to have this accessory fastened to your dog’s I.H.S.™ harness.  

A few other essential pieces of dog safety gear include the K9 Helm Trident TR-1 Gen2 Tactical Dog Helmet and K9 Helm Lo-Pro Ears 2.0.

Nomad Ballistic Body™

Police K9s need body armor, just like their handlers. And that’s what we provide with the Nomad Ballistic Body™. This dog body armor protects against ballistics, knife attacks, flying debris, or anything else a K9 might experience in the field.

We carry both the Nomad Ballistic Body™ - Complete Set for full protection of the torso and belly and the Nomad Ballistic Body™ - Top Only, which doesn’t cover the belly. Both pieces are available in either NIJ Compliance Level 2A and Level 3A ballistics protection.

Nomad Skid Plate Body™

From thorns and sticks to barbed wire, there’s no telling what kinds of debris can injure your dog’s chest or belly while you’re in the field. That’s why we developed the Nomad Skid Plate Body™. This harness accessory is made of ballistic nylon for durability and attaches to your I.H.S.™ harness with VELCRO® straps on the front, allowing for easy on/off action.

Along with hunting, we recommend this harness accessory for any K9 doing tracking or SAR work through dense forest or tall grass, but the Nomad Skid Plate Body™ is a good piece to have in your gear bag for any working dog.

Nylon Harness Extension

We developed our Nylon Harness Extension to help prevent owners from buying a brand new harness every time their dog gets a bit bigger. This harness extension adds five inches of girth to your existing nylon harness, preventing the need to buy a new harness for at least a few extra months (depending on how old your dog is).

Our Nylon Harness Extension offers GT Cobra Buckles for durability, and it works with any Ray Allen harness that uses plastic GT Cobra Buckles.

G-Hook Backpacks

Let your dog carry some of your K9 handler equipment or dog gear with our G-Hook Backpacks. This harness accessory is a set of two backpacks that clip onto one of our G-Hook-compatible harnesses. The two backpacks are connected via a nylon strap that runs under your dog’s belly, ensuring your dog retains full mobility while on the job.

If you prefer a slightly smaller bag to carry your equipment, consider the General Purpose Pouch XSM. This tactical harness pouch has a VELCRO® backing, so it attaches to any harness featuring VELCRO®.

High Visibility 3 G-Hook Orange Side Panels

Earlier, we mentioned that service dogs should wear bright, highly-visible harnesses while they’re working with their handlers. If you don’t already have a brightly-colored harness, look no further than our High Visibility 3 G-Hook Orange Side Panels.

Along with being visible from far distances, this bright-orange harness accessory includes two strips of 2” VELCRO® on each side of the piece. These strips are great for service dog patches, reflective strips, or anything else you can think of.

Dog Cooling Packs

Just like how the Nomad Woobie Dog Jacket™ keeps your dog warm on cold days, our Dog Cooling Packs are designed to keep your K9 cool and comfortable during the “dog days of summer.”  

Each of our Dog Cooling Packs contains TechKewl Cool Pax instead of ice. This material is non-toxic and non-flammable, and unlike ice, TechKewl Cool Pax are reusable since they don’t melt.

Easily attach these cooling packs to your dog’s harness with the G-Hooks, and let theTechKewl Cool Pax work its magic as it rests on your dog’s belly.

Safety Flashers

Safety flashers like the Pelican Mini Flasher Infrared and TAG-IT Dual Function Lights easily clip onto your dog’s harness and ensure everyone can see your K9 when visibility is low. Because K9 units don’t always work 9 to 5 and don’t take days off when the weather is less than ideal, we recommend that every handler buy a set of safety flashers.

You’ll find that our safety flashers are even great for late-night walks with your adventure dog, and they even clip to any backpack or dog collar for your convenience.  

Dog Harness Patches and ID Panels

The general public doesn’t always understand that working dogs are actually working when they’re on the clock. That’s why we sell a variety of dog harness patches and ID panels. For example, the Embroidered Square Medical Patch informs everyone that a medic dog is coming through, while our PVC K-9 Tabs tell strangers to stay away from your police or sheriff K9.

We also have a variety of novelty patches, like the Canis Fidelis Patch, that adds a bit of flair to your dog's harness or collar. Plus, these patches make your badass dog look even more badass when they’re in the field.

Dog Harness Mount Camera System

Seamlessly record your dog’s movements with the Dog Harness Mount Camera System. This harness accessory features a rail mounting system that’s secured using PALS MOLLE webbing for security and stability while recording. Handlers have the option of a basic tripod mount, a mount with a Garmin adapter, and a mount with a GoPro adapter.

From reviewing tracking missions to assessing your dog’s performance after bite training or just getting cool videos on a hike, there’s no shortage of uses for this harness camera mount.