Choosing one of the best rabbit harnesses provides a way to spend time outdoors with your rabbit, without stressing about them escaping you. While your pet bunny will benefit from time in a warm secure hutch, allowing them time to run and explore is good for their health and mood. If you don't have a secure outdoor area, or they've tried to escape, a harness can alleviate your stress, and ensure they can get some sun without sneaking off unawares.
An ideal solution to this is to create a safe, spacious living area for rabbits or invest in a good quality rabbit run; after all you want your bunny to roam free in safety, however it can be an expensive option and you'll still need to keep an eye on your rabbit. There are many pro and cons of a rabbit harness: it's certainly not suitable for every bunny and you'll need to consider leash training. It's worth also keeping in mind that some pet charities don't recommend the use of harnesses; rabbits who are particularly fearful are liable to chew through strap-style harnesses and could injure themselves if they're easily startled so it's vital to think of your rabbit's disposition before opting for this style of exercise.
We've spoken to Dr. Hannah Godfrey to get details on what pet owners should consider before picking up a harness, along with a collection of options to consider.
Dr. Hannah Godfrey MRCVS graduated from the Royal Veterinary College in 2011. Although she initially worked in mixed practice treating all species, she found a love for small animal work and has worked exclusively with dogs and cats since 2014. She lives in Wales with her partner, son, and two cats (named Poppy and Ashton Kutcher), and writes comedy fiction in her spare time.
Dr. Godfrey says this about choosing to use a harness with your rabbit:
" While rabbit harnesses allow you to keep control of your rabbit while out and about, preventing them from getting into danger when spooked, they can also present their own threat to your rabbit’s health and safety. Firstly, a poorly fitted or insufficiently padded harness can cause rubbing and damage to a rabbit’s fragile skin. Secondly, even when fitted well, many rabbits feel more anxious when wearing a harness and are less likely to show natural behaviors like digging, hopping, jumping, and playing. Other issues come from the fact that the harness is attached to you via a leash. The leash means that they can’t escape – which, of course, is the whole point. However, taking away a rabbit’s ability to flee to a safer place can be very distressing for them. Aside from this emotional distress, a harness and leash also pose a very real risk of physical injury if your rabbit spooks and tangles themself up."
PetsRadar's pick of the best rabbit harnesses
Why you can trust PetsRadar Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test.
Not sure what rabbit harness to buy? Then step right this way and get your hands on a great all-rounder that has everything you need in a harness. For starters the Niteangel is soft, comfortable and sturdy, something that your fur baby will definitely appreciate.
The design of the mesh body means that it is breathable which lets your rabbit lose its heat when it's in the harness. This stops your fur baby from overheating and getting agitated and uncomfortable when in the harness. The more your rabbit enjoys the harness the more they are going to want to wear it. A durable edge structure sees some neat double stitching that gives the harness its strength and helps stop your rabbit from nibbling the edges.
Available in four different sizes - small, medium, large and extra large - you can find a size for your rabbit without any problems. The medium is a good choice for young and dwarf rabbits while the large is ideal for average-sized adult rabbits. If you’ve a furbaby that’s beyond average the XL will fit a 19-27cm neck and a 32-45cm chest. Just remember to measure up properly to get the best fit. And for fine tuning the perfect fit, the harness is fully adjustable with easy to use Velcro straps, but note they are not as strong as expected.
While comfort is key, style shouldn’t be ignored and you can make sure that your rabbit is looking their best with a choice of seven colors. Just make sure that you pick one that makes your fur baby look good.
If you want a rabbit harness that offers comfort and value for money then this harness and leash combo from Kaytee is definitely worth a look. Made from a durable nylon - that can stand a good few washes - the harness is a vest type that sits round the upper body of your pet and has a combination of plastic buckles and velcro to give the right fit for your fur baby.
The thin velcro straps help you get the fit you want but aren’t as wide or as strong as other harnesses. But to compensate it has a couple of adjustable snap-in buckles that go around the neck and chest. These help secure the harness and help make sure it stays in place when you are on the move.
While the harness is available in three sizes - small, medium and large - it's made for small pets so only the large is suitable for small to average sized rabbit breeds. But if you have a small breed or a young rabbit that you want to get outside with, the other sizes may be just what you need. One small annoyance is that the manufacturer doesn’t give more details on the sizes, just recommendations on what pet it should fit.
But one big plus is the elastic leash that comes as part of the set. With the large harness you get a six foot version that neatly clips onto a D-ring that's sewn into the back of the harness. The flexibility of the leash means that you can keep control of your fur baby with less chance of causing an injury. So you're happy and they're happy.
This adjustable rabbit harness leash from Filhome is a standard style vest harness but with added pizazz. You can choose from a smart blue star design or a cute pink flower design with both harnesses having matching bow ties to up the style stakes.
So you know your furbaby is going to look good every time they step out in their stylish vest, but what about the practicalities. Does it have substance to go with its undoubted style?
First it's worth noting that this vest style harness only comes in one size. Made for small rabbits you need to measure to make sure it will fit your floppy eared friend. It can accommodate rabbits with 9.4-11 inch necks, 9.8-12.6 inch chests and has a 3.9 inch back. Made from 100% cotton the vest is comfortable, breathable and washable to keep it looking good and fresh smelling.
Beyond the size and material the vest boasts a lot of the features that you would expect from a standard harness. To get the right fit and keep the vest secure there are a couple of long Velcro strips sitting beneath the bowtie in a strongly stitched loop with a chrome D-ring. This is perfectly placed to ensure that the included four foot leash distributes any pressure evenly across the vest masking sure that your rabbit doesn’t get neck strain.
Not keen on a vest style harness? Just want something lightweight, simple to use, easy to put on and offers far more flexibility when it comes to fit? This is exactly what you get with a strap harness. It might not have the frills and fancy addons that a vest harness brings but it still has all the essential ingredients you need to get outside with your bunny.
This lightweight strap harness is made from a strong, durable, quality nylon that has a soft texture to give your rabbit that extra bit of comfort. It is designed so that the neck strap doesn’t reach too close to the neck causing less neck strain when out walking. Something that your fur friend will thank you for.
The easy to fit harness is available in two colors - blue and pink. Luckily, you get both in this set so you won't need to worry about choosing one or the other. That will only happen when it's time for a walk. The beauty of both harnesses is the flexibility you get when it comes to fit. It's not a one size fits all harness, but more one size fits a lot. Both the neck and chest straps are fully adjustable giving you 7-10.2 inches neck girth and 7.8-11.8 chest girth. There’s no Velcro here, just a couple of plastic snap-in buckles for a quick fit and release.
A small metal D-ring not only allows you to attach the included leash - there’s one for each harness , you don't need to share. It also has a bell attached, so if your rabbit ever tries to take off, you'll be able to find them by the sound.
If you want a cute harness to go with your adorable bun then this simple strap harness could just be what you are looking for. The strap harness itself is not much to look at. Made from soft strong nylon there are multiple adjustment points with quick release buckles and a metal ring to add the included leash. There are no color options here for the straps, it's black or nothing, but we're sure that’s not a big deal for many.
What sets the harness apart in the style stakes is its cute carrot design. Attached to the back strap the bright orange carrot is a stark contrast to the black straps and makes the harness almost disappear as the focus is on the carrot that straddles around half the back of your bunny - if you have a small one.
The harness comes in two sizes - small and large. You won’t find a medium or extra large here, but you will find a harness that is suitable for small and young rabbits and average sized breeds.
The small harness starts off at a small neck size of 4.72 inches, but can be extended to a maximum of 7.09 inches. The chest size starts at 6.30 inches and goes out to 9.84 inches. The large harness has a range of 6.30- 9.84 inches for neck sizes and 7.87 - 13.39 inches for chest sizes. There is a crossover here in sizes, so if you’re not sure if you need a small or large size it's generally a good idea to go with the larger.
If you're going to take your handsome rabbit to a special occasion where you can bring your favorite pet, you want them looking their best. And you can do with this stylish formal suit style vest harness.
There is no doubt that the smart grey pinstripe design accompanied by its vintage decor buttons and two pretend pockets will give your rabbit a smart English gentleman look. The suit is made from a cotton cloth fabric which has a soft to the touch texture which is both comfortable and breathable. A soft cotton lining makes it cool in the summer, warm in the winter and ideal for autumn and spring. Available in three sizes - small, medium, large - there is a minimum neck size of 7 inches and a maximum of 11.8 inches. Ideal for most rabbits.
To keep the style looking natural the strong nylon straps line up neatly with the faux pockets and snap into place with the buckles that sit on the front of the vest. The straps are fully adjustable to help get that perfect fit. Note there is no Velcro here, just the straps. But it does mean that the vest won’t come undone once fitted and the quick release buckles mean that you can have the vest off in no time.
But dressing up your furbaby isn’t the only reason you are buying a vest, there’s a small matter of getting out and about for some much needed exercise. You can attach the included leash to a metal D-ring that sits at the neck of the vest. This is great for the style stakes, but can put more pressure on your rabbits neck than a leash placed centrally on a vest. So, you will need to be gentle when out walking to ensure you don't give your pet unwanted neck strain.
How to choose the best rabbit harness
When choosing to opt for a harness for your rabbit, there are a number of things to consider before you click buy on your favorite option. Bunnies can be easily startled, or stressed, and if you have an anxious pet, adding a harness can further their discomfort. Before making a decision, we have a few tips for picking the perfect harness.
Is it right for your rabbit?
Not all rabbits will respond well to leash training, especially fearful or anxious bunnies. If you have the space to set up a secure outdoor run, this may be a better option to ensure they aren't stressed. Some rabbits will also chew at their harness or leash, so if your bunny isn't reacting well to leash training, you may need to opt for a run or large enclosure instead.
What type of harness should you get?
There are two choices when it comes to rabbit harnesses - vest or strap. Both have their pros and cons so it's up to you to decide which you think works best for you and your cute little fur friend.
Vest harnesses are the more popular choice, because they are wide and soft and typically fit around a rabbit's body. This means they offer more support and are generally accepted as being the more comfortable option. Their size also means that they come in a wider variety of good-looking designs. However, if the material isn't mesh, it can become particularly uncomfortable for your rabbit, especially if its particularly hot outside.
A strap harness doesn’t have as much variety in the style stakes, typically you just have a color choice. But they are generally cheaper, easier to fit and are more adjustable so you can get a good fit. You just need to be a little more careful and gentle when using one. This model also has the added drawback of being interesting for your rabbit to much on, which means they might escape and leave you handling their leash while they roam.
Which size harness is right for your rabbit?
Choosing the right size harness is crucial to it working properly. Some options will include a handy size guide, but you'll still need to measure your bunny. Depending on the style of harness, this means measuring the size of your pet's chest, shoulders, shoulders and neck, which can be easier said than done with particularly active rabbits.
Ideally you want a fit that is firm, without digging into the flesh under their soft fur. If you start harness training with your bunny when they're a baby, you'll also need to remember to change sizes as they grow, or you may accidentally injure them by forcing them into a too-small harness.
