Harnesses for Shih Tzu and Lhasa Apso

Two dogs with almost identical measurements but totally different coat thickness — that's a genuine fitting puzzle. A Shih Tzu and a Lhasa Apso might measure the same around the chest, but the Lhasa's denser, thicker coat adds real bulk and changes how a harness sits, while the Shih Tzu's silkier coat means a snug fit can shift or rub more easily. Small dog harnesses often get this wrong because they're sized purely by chest circumference and don't account for coat volume at all. To point you toward the right option: what do both dogs weigh, roughly what are their chest measurements, and what's the main thing you're using the harnesses for — daily walks, travel, something else?

Those two problems — riding up on the Lhasa and chafing on the Shih Tzu — both point to the same root cause: most budget harnesses in that size range use stiff webbing with no padding and no real shaping. The straps sit too high on the Lhasa because there's not enough structure to hold position through a thick coat, and they dig in on the Shih Tzu because silky fur doesn't create enough buffer. Before I give you my recommendation, one more thing: does the Shih Tzu's chafing tend to happen on longer walks or even short ones? That'll help me know how much padding priority matters.

That tells me padding is non-negotiable for her, but you also need something structured enough to stay put on the Lhasa's thicker coat. My recommendation for both dogs is the Ruffwear Front Range Harness. It has a padded chest panel and padded belly strap that address exactly the chafing issue your Shih Tzu has, and the four-point adjustment — with separate chest and belly buckles — means you can dial in the fit properly on the Lhasa even with the extra coat bulk. The webbing is firm enough to stay in position without riding up. Both dogs would likely take a size Small, but I'd measure again on the day and check Ruffwear's chart — sometimes the Lhasa will need the Small-Medium depending on exactly how dense the coat is. It's available on Amazon UK and holds up very well to daily use.

Go by the tape measure first, measured directly against the skin under the coat — that's the number that matters for harness fit. If you measure over the coat you'll almost certainly end up too loose, which is what causes the riding-up problem in the first place. Once you have the skin measurement, place it on Ruffwear's size chart. If he lands right in the middle of a size range, stay with that size — the four-point adjustment gives you enough room to fine-tune. Only go up a size if he's at the very top of the range. The Shih Tzu should be straightforward to fit by measurement too, and the padded chest panel will make a noticeable difference for her fairly quickly.

That's exactly the right approach. Measure under the coat, not over it, and you'll get two good fits from the same harness model — which makes walks a lot easier when you're handling both leads at once. The Front Range is also easy to get on and off quickly, which helps when you've got two dogs to sort at the door. Good luck with the walks.