Harnesses for a Lab and new puppy

A five-year-old Lab and a brand new eight-week-old puppy — that's a fun household, and it makes complete sense to want the same brand across both dogs to keep things simple. Before I point you in a direction: harness fit really is everything. A poorly fitted harness restricts movement, causes chafing, or just doesn't do its job — and what works for a fully grown Lab won't automatically translate to a pup who'll outgrow a harness every few weeks. The right clip type also depends on what you're using it for. Is your Lab already well-behaved on the lead, or do you need some help managing pulling? And is the puppy a Lab too, or a different breed entirely?

Perfect — a 35kg well-behaved Lab is straightforward, and knowing the puppy is also a Lab helps a lot because you can plan ahead for her adult size. For both dogs, I'd point you to the Julius-K9 IDC Powerharness. It's the one brand where you genuinely can run the same harness across very different sizes — they make a Puppy/Mini size that fits from around 23cm chest circumference, and for your Lab you'd be looking at size 2 which covers 68–85cm chest. The fit is secure, padded, and the chest strap keeps everything in place without restricting shoulder movement. The top handle is useful when you need control quickly, and the side D-rings give you back-clip walking for a dog who doesn't pull. The puppy will outgrow the first size in a few months, but at least you're in the same brand ecosystem from day one, and the sizing steps up logically as she grows.

Fair concern — 8 weeks is genuinely small. Measure her chest circumference just behind the front legs before you order. Most 8-week Lab pups sit around 28–32cm chest, which puts them comfortably in the Julius-K9 Puppy/Mini range (23–36cm). The harness has adjustment on both the chest and belly straps, so there's enough range to get a snug fit without it sitting loose. The two-finger rule applies: you should be able to slide two fingers under any strap but no more. If she's on the very small end right now, measure again at 10–11 weeks — she'll grow fast and it's worth ordering when you know she'll get a few weeks' use out of it rather than immediately outgrow it.

Good plan. To summarise: Julius-K9 IDC Powerharness Puppy/Mini for your Lab pup, and size 2 for your 35kg adult Lab. Both are available on Amazon UK. Measure the puppy's chest before ordering and check the fit as she grows — you'll likely move her up a size within three or four months. With the adult, just confirm his chest measurement sits within the size 2 range (68–85cm) and you're set. Consistent brand, reliable fit, and you'll know exactly what you're dealing with next time you need to size up.