Best harness for Leonberger hiking

The essentials for hiking with a dog are a well-fitting harness, a collapsible water bowl, and — depending on the terrain — boots, because paw protection on rocky or hot ground matters more than most people expect. For a Leonberger specifically, harness choice becomes even more critical: that heavy double coat traps heat fast, so you need something with good ventilation and minimal coverage across the chest and back. What size is your dog, what kind of terrain are you hiking on, and how long are your typical outings?

That makes complete sense — a harness that sits like a blanket across a Leonberger's back is basically an insulating layer on top of fur that already doesn't breathe. At 65kg on forest and hillside terrain, you also need something genuinely robust and adjustable enough to fit a giant breed properly. Can I ask what harness he's in currently, and does he pull much on the lead?

For a dog like yours, I'd go with the Ruffwear Front Range Harness. It's one of the few designs that genuinely works on a Leonberger-sized dog — the padding is minimal and targeted rather than covering the whole back, which keeps airflow around the coat. It has two aluminium clip points (chest and back), so you have control without relying on one attachment, and the fit is secure even on a powerful dog. The webbing construction means there's no solid panel sitting on his back trapping heat. Ruffwear sizing goes up to XXL which fits most Leonbergers well, but measure his girth behind the front legs before ordering — giant breed chests vary a lot. It's widely available on Amazon UK and holds up well on rough terrain.

Yes — a few practical things make a real difference. Carry more water than you think you need; a dog his size needs roughly 60ml per kg on active exercise, so you're looking at nearly 4 litres on a 3-hour hike in warm weather. A collapsible silicone bowl means he can drink properly rather than from your hand. Start hikes in the cooler part of the day if you can, and build in shaded rest stops rather than pushing through. Watch for early signs of overheating — excessive panting, slowing down, or seeking shade unprompted. Leonbergers tend to push on even when they shouldn't, so you have to read them rather than wait for them to stop. Wetting the paws and belly at stream crossings also helps cool them faster than wetting the back.

Good plan — get the tape measure behind his front legs and check the Ruffwear size guide rather than going by weight alone, as the chest measurement is what matters most. He sounds like a brilliant hiking companion. Enjoy the trails.