Help 'Em Up Harness Review: The Lift Harness Vets Keep Naming
A Help 'Em Up harness review covering the hip lift design, the five sizes, the conventional and U-band styles, and who is better served by a simple sling.
A full body harness with a hip lift, built to be worn all day, and the one thing that decides whether it works for your dog.
The verdict: Buy it if you are lifting a medium or large dog several times a day, every day, and you need something that stays on the dog between lifts rather than being wrestled into place each time. Skip it if you only need occasional help getting into a car, or if your dog's problem is a single back leg rather than the whole back end, because a simple rear sling costs a third as much and does that job. This is a serious piece of equipment for a serious situation, and how much of your dog's weight you should be taking, and for how long, is a question for your vet or a canine rehabilitation practitioner.
Help 'Em Up Help 'Em Up Dog Lift Harness, Conventional, Medium 45 to 80 lbs
~$125
A full body harness with a patented hip lift, cushioned breathable padding, and handles front and rear so one person can support a dog through stairs, walks and toilet trips.
Check price on AmazonSpecifications
| Type | Full body harness, front shoulder section plus rear hip lift |
|---|---|
| Sizes | XS 10 to 25 lbs, S 25 to 45 lbs, M 45 to 80 lbs, L 80 to 125 lbs, XL 125 to 225 lbs |
| Styles | Conventional and U-band; U-band suits male dogs with anatomy set further back |
| Padding | Cushioned and breathable padding per the manufacturer |
| Load spreading | Designed to distribute weight away from ligaments, joints, abdomen and bladder |
| Intended use | Stairs, walks and toilet trips for dogs with hind leg weakness from age, injury or arthritis |
| Note | XS is only available in the conventional style |
Specifications above come from Help 'Em Up's published product information. Treat pricing as approximate, since Amazon pricing moves.
What it does well
- It is designed to stay on the dog all day, which is the difference between a harness that gets used and one that lives in a closet.
- Front and rear sections together, so you can steady the shoulders and lift the hips independently instead of hauling on the middle.
- The load is spread away from the abdomen and bladder, which matters for dogs who are already struggling to toilet.
- Five sizes from 10 lbs to 225 lbs, so it covers giant breeds that most lift harnesses simply do not.
- Two styles, so male dogs whose anatomy sits further back get a version that does not press where it should not.
Where it falls short
- It is complicated the first time. Owners consistently need the fitting instructions and a second attempt, and a badly fitted lift harness rubs in the armpits and groin.
- Around $125 buys three simple rear slings, and if you only need to help a dog into a car once a day, a sling is the honest answer.
- Anything worn all day rubs eventually. The skin under the straps needs checking daily, especially on thin or incontinent dogs.
- It does not fix the reason your dog cannot get up, and it can mask decline. If you are lifting more than you were a month ago, that is information for your vet, not just a sign to tighten the straps.
- Amazon stock on individual size and style combinations comes and goes, and buying the wrong style to avoid waiting is a false economy.
What owners report
This harness has an unusual reputation among owners of dogs with degenerative myelopathy, advanced arthritis and post-surgical recovery: reviews repeatedly describe it as the thing that let an owner keep a large dog at home rather than facing a decision earlier. Reports of owners protecting their own backs are almost as common, and that is not a small point when a 90 lb dog needs helping up six times a day.
The consistent criticisms are the fitting learning curve and the price. Owners describe the first fitting as genuinely confusing and the tenth as trivial. Sizing complaints cluster around dogs at the boundary between two sizes and around male dogs fitted with the conventional style when the U-band would have suited them, which is worth reading the sizing note about before ordering.
Before buying at this level, be clear which problem you are solving. Our rear lift harness vs full body harness comparison sets out when the whole dog needs support and when the back end alone does, and our car ramp vs lift harness comparison covers the specific case of getting into a vehicle, where a folding car ramp often beats lifting entirely. For a dog who is mostly steady but slips indoors, nail grips and rugs solve more than a harness does.
Who it suits
- Owners lifting a medium, large or giant dog multiple times a day.
- Dogs with degenerative myelopathy, advanced hip arthritis or spinal disease where the whole back end is unreliable.
- Dogs recovering from orthopedic surgery under a vet's or rehabilitation practitioner's instructions.
- Anyone whose own back is being damaged by improvised lifting with a towel.
Who should skip it
- Dogs who need occasional help into a car and nothing else. Buy a ramp or a simple sling.
- Dogs with one weak leg rather than a weak back end, where the answer starts with a veterinary diagnosis of that leg.
- Small dogs a person can safely scoop, where a full harness is more equipment than the situation needs.
- Anyone using it to postpone a conversation with their vet about what is actually happening to the dog.
Alternatives worth considering
GingerLead GingerLead K9 Sling Hind Leg Support, M/LG with Cutout
~$70
A padded rear sling with an integrated leash and a cutout so male dogs can toilet in it, for dogs whose front end is fine. Simpler, cheaper and far quicker to put on, but it does nothing for the shoulders and the chest harness is not included.
Check price on AmazonPetSafe PetSafe CareLift Dog Lift Harness, Full Body, Medium
~$60
Front and rear handles, a padded shoulder strap for the human, adjustable sizing and a removable shield for male dogs, at half the price. Less refined and not designed to be worn all day, but a reasonable choice if lifting is occasional.
Check price on AmazonOneTigris OneTigris Dog Lift Harness with Handles, Large
~$70
Three grab handles, detachable rear leg straps with anti-chafing sleeves and a utility strap that doubles as a shoulder sling, with stainless steel hardware. Useful when you want to reconfigure between front, rear and full support rather than commit to one.
Check price on AmazonKeep reading
- Rear lift harness vs full body harness
- Car ramp vs lift harness
- GingerLead rear support sling review
- Walkin' Wheels dog wheelchair review
- Senior dog symptom checker
This review draws on published specifications, manufacturer figures and the consensus of verified owner reviews. We have not tested this product ourselves, and we say so rather than implying otherwise. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How do I size a Help 'Em Up harness?
Help 'Em Up sizes by weight: XS 10 to 25 lbs, small 25 to 45 lbs, medium 45 to 80 lbs, large 80 to 125 lbs and XL 125 to 225 lbs. There is a second choice on top of that, between the conventional style and the U-band style, and the maker recommends U-band for male dogs whose anatomy sits further back. If your dog falls between two weight bands, or has an unusual build, ask your vet or a canine rehabilitation practitioner which way to go before ordering, because the fit is what makes this harness work.
Can my dog wear the harness all day?
It is designed to be left on, and that is most of the reason people buy it, but leaving it on is not the same as never checking it. Take it off at least daily and look at the skin in the armpits, groin and over the hips, more often on a thin or incontinent dog. Any redness means re-fit rather than pad over. Your vet can tell you whether all-day wear is appropriate for your dog's particular condition and skin.
Help 'Em Up harness vs a rear sling: which do I need?
It depends whether the front end is holding. If your dog's shoulders are steady and only the back end fails, a rear sling like the GingerLead is quicker, cheaper and enough. If your dog is unsteady at both ends, or is going to be, a full body harness that supports the shoulders and lifts the hips is the right tool. Our rear lift harness vs full body harness comparison works through the signs that point each way.
Is a lift harness better than a wheelchair?
They do different jobs. A harness is for a dog who can still walk with help, over short distances, with a person attached. A wheelchair is for a dog who cannot bear weight on the back end but wants to move independently and further. Many dogs use both, a harness indoors and around toilet trips and a chair for walks. Our Walkin' Wheels review covers the wheelchair side, including the measuring that decides whether one will fit.
My dog is suddenly struggling to stand. Should I buy a harness?
Buy the vet appointment first. A dog who could stand last week and cannot this week needs examining, because sudden hind end weakness can mean a disc problem, a cruciate rupture, or in the case of both back legs going at once with cold painful feet, a clot, which is an emergency. A harness is the right purchase once you know what you are supporting and for how long. Our senior dog symptom checker is a useful way to organize what you have noticed before you make the call.
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