Best Equipment for Shy, Fearful, or Anxious Dogs

Don't take the chance of your pup panicking, slipping out of their collar or harness, and running off. The best equipment for a shy, fearful, or anxious dog can help prevent accidental escapes.

It can happen in an instant, even to the best of us!

Use a secure 2-point connection system that includes a regular connection to a collar or harness, plus a backup system in case that collar or harness fails. Sometimes called a "belt and suspenders" approach.

This can be a double-ended leash or a backup strap connected between the leash and collar, or between a harness and collar, which gives you time to react and secure your dog.

lost dog poster sitting on a wood bench with a leash and empty collar.

Reliable backup systems can prevent accidental escapes and help to keep your dog safe.

I offer a variety of options so that you can select the one that will work best for you and your canine companion.

Help keep your dog Safe and Secure!

Our most popular items:

See All Equipment Recommendations

Harness Add-On

Currently looking for product testers with small and medium size dogs, please apply if you are interested!

Product Testers
Light weight leash coupler for small dogs shown in neon green.

Double Backup Strap

The most adaptable if you foster dogs of all sizes, and great for dogs who like to spin on their walks!

Double Backup
Standard backup straps are shown in a flat lay, highlighting the two different styles and two different hardware options.

Medium Duty Backup Strap

Clip between harness & collar for pups that can slip out of their harness.

Medium Dogs
Heavy duty backup straps are shown in a flat lay, available in two hardware styles and multiple webbing colors.

HD Backup Strap

Heavy Duty security backup for the largest of dogs - available in two styles of clips

Big Dogs

Resources

One of my favorite resources for guardians of Shy & Fearful Dogs is the XO Dog Community.

Check out their website for free resources, and the Facebook group for more support.

Go to External Website
Black and brown dog mannequin with a neon yellow bandana that has text saying I need space.

Vest or Bandana

Keep scary dogs & people at a distance by stating "No Dogs" or that "I Need Space".

Vests + Bandanas
High visibility neon yellow training t shirt with the text we need space in large lettering on the front of the shirt.

Training T Shirt

Make sure your message is seen from far away with large text on both sides.

Apparel

More for Shy - Fearful - Anxious Dogs

Handheld leashes with traffic handle shown in the safety message webbing, including in training in blue with a swivel snap bolt and the ignore me please in yellow with a carabiner.
Three options for customizing your traffic handle location, the 12 inch traffic handle loop ends at 12 inches as measured from the clip, the 24 inch handle similarly measures the end of the loop at 24 inches from the clip.

Safety Message Handheld Leashes

$30.00 USD 
 - $32.00
Heavy duty backup straps are shown in a flat lay, available in two hardware styles and multiple webbing colors.
Two hardware options are available for the heavy duty backup straps. The Snap Bolt has a working load limit of 100 pounds and the Gooseneck clip has a working load limit of 230 pounds. If you need something lighter please see the listing for the standard weight backup strap.

Backup Straps - Heavy Weight

$18.00 USD
Reflective Dog Vest with Custom Message
Reflective Dog Vest with Custom Message

Reflective Dog Vest with Custom Message

$30.00 USD 
 - $52.00
medium duty leash tabs are shown in a flat lay in the colors neon pink, blue, and neon green.
Neon pink medium duty training tab is shown clipped to the end of a dog mannequin's collar.

Training Tabs - Medium Weight

$15.00 USD
heavy duty training tabs are shown in a flat lay in the colors black and neon green.
Neon green heavy duty training tab is shown clipped to the end of a dog mannequin's collar.

Training Tabs - Heavy Weight

$18.00 USD
These hands free leashes with safety messages are shown here in a 6 foot length, including the we need space message on yellow with the auto locking carabiner hardware selection, and the no dogs on red message with the snap bolt hardware option.
All five safety messages are shown here laid flat, including ignore me please on yellow, do not pet on orange, in training on blue, no dogs on red, or we need space on yellow.

Safety Message Hands Free Leashes

$25.00 USD 
 - $30.00
The in training message in blue is shown here in a dog on left configuration with a carabiner hardware selection, positioned on a mannequin with a dog mannequin by the side.
The shop owner is walking down the sidewalk wearing a cross body strap and leash connected to her dog Rowan walking at her side, looking up at her in hopes of getting a treat.

Safety Message Cross Body Strap

$28.00 USD 
 - $30.00
Black and brown dog mannequin with a neon yellow bandana that has text saying I need space.
Image shows the reflective nature of the bandana, image is a black and brown dog mannequin with a neon yellow bandana that has text saying I need space.

Reflective Yellow Bandanas with Safety Messages

$19.00 USD 
 - $29.00
Black and brown dog mannequin with a red bandana that has text saying do not pet.
Reflective Red or Orange Bandanas with Safety Messages

Reflective Red or Orange Bandanas with Safety Messages

$19.00 USD 
 - $29.00
Reflective Dog Vest with Safety Messages
Reflective Dog Vest with Safety Messages

Reflective Dog Vest with Safety Messages

$26.00 USD 
 - $46.00
medium weight double backup strap shown in blue
Heavy duty double backup strap shown in a neon green.

Double Backup Strap

$24.00 USD 
 - $26.00
Braided Drag Line
Braided Drag Line

Braided Drag Line

$50.00 USD
Standard backup straps are shown in a flat lay, highlighting the two different styles and two different hardware options.
The clip clip style of backup strap is recommended when connecting a leash to the dogs harness and connecting the safety strap between the leash and the dogs collar. The clip loop style works best connected between the front of the harness and the dogs collar, this way the backup strap can remain connected to the harness when it is not being worn.

Backup Straps - Medium Weight

$14.00 USD 
 - $16.00
10' Long Leashes for Medium - Large Dogs
10' Long Leashes for Medium - Large Dogs

10' Long Leashes for Medium - Large Dogs

$35.00 USD
High visibility neon yellow training t shirt with the text we need space in large lettering on the front of the shirt.
High visibility neon yellow training t shirt with the text we need space in large lettering on the back of the shirt.

"We Need Space" Neon Training T Shirt

$35.00 USD 
 - $39.00
High visibility neon yellow training t shirt with the text ignore us please in large lettering on the front of the shirt.
High visibility neon yellow training t shirt with the text ignore us please in large lettering on the back of the shirt.

"Ignore Us Please" Neon Training T Shirt

$35.00 USD 
 - $39.00