This One Pet Product Is The Best $27 I’ve Ever Spent On Pet Travel Gear

Today is National Dog Day, but honestly, every day of my life is a dog day. One piece of pet gear that I use is my dogs’ harnesses. For walks, a sturdy, durable harness is essential, especially if you have two dogs. I love taking Ziggy and Zoey everywhere, from walking to school, picking up bagels on Sunday morning, and of course to the vet after someone (Zoey) has eaten too much off the floor.

When it was time to replace their harnesses, I bought two Baby Yoda dog harnesses at Disneyland because of the cute pattern and my kids begged me saying, “it’s so cute!” It barely lasted a month with my two pugs. With one hard yank, Ziggy ripped the velcro off. Apparently, the force is strong within him. Zoey’s harness fell apart shortly after. I regretted spending $80 on pet supplies that I could no longer use. As a pet parent, it’s a complete waste of money.

That’s why I turned to one of my favorite sources for finding high-quality, extensively tested pet products: The New York Times Wirecutter section. If you didn’t know, Wirecutter has a ton of pet gear that they test and price range, so you can find affordable options. When I reviewed the Kurgo Tru-Fit Smart Dog Walking Harness in the New York Times Wire Cutter Dear Dog Harness Guide, It wasn’t my first choice. It only comes in black, blue, and charcoal (purple is offered on the company’s website). But what made me consider this simple harness was a trip to the vet with Ziggy and Zoey.

They hated the comfortable dog car seats I purchased (now discontinued), so every car ride meant wrestling with two wobbly pugs who preferred to sit on my lap rather than in the backseat. After I purchased the Kurgo Tru-Fit Smart Dog Walking Harness, it came with a 10-inch seat belt with a steel carabiner to keep them safely in the backseat. Zoey, who previously bolted for the passenger seat as if calling for a gun, now looked like a furry toddler on her way to the vet. On the company’s website, the brand states that the harness has been tested for dogs up to 75 pounds. The easily adjustable black and charcoal harnesses fit their bodies perfectly.

The open-design style made it more breathable than a full-body harness, which is nice if your dogs have short snouts and you live in warm Southern California. On walks, Ziggy and Zoey were safe and secure — they never came loose, but they were also easy to release. Sure, the Kurgo Tru-Fit Smart Dog Walking Harness isn’t “so cute,” but I wish I had bought it sooner.

Jennifer Chen is a freelance journalist and young adult author who lives in Los Angeles with her TV writer husband, twins, two pugs, and a cat named Gremlin. She is a proud foster kitten mom.