How To Measure Your Dog For A Harness

A harness looks like it might be a difficult piece of gear to get measurements for, but the reality is that you only need two easy measurements in order to make sure that your dog is safely and securely fitted into his or her new Lines & Nines harness. You’ll want to start by measuring your dog’s neck, then move on to your dog’s chest. 

How do you get those measurements? It’s the fastest DIY you’ll ever do and as simple as grabbing a cloth measuring tape and a dog (preferably yours and one that needs a harness). It should only take you a few minutes to get the numbers that you need so start the timer…now!  

First Step To Measuring For A Dog Harness: The Neck

The best way to measure your dog for a harness is to start with his or her neck. You’ll measure just as you would for a dog collar by wrapping your cloth measure around the base of the neck. This will give you a chance to get a better-fitting harness for your dog, but it will help you if you need to get a better-fitting collar in the future. If you have multiple dogs of similar size, do not assume they will fit in the same size harness.  Measure, rinse, repeat for each one.

Second Step To Measuring For A Dog Harness: The Chest

Now that we have the neck size, let’s move on to the chest measurement, also known as the dog’s girth. You’re going to be measuring the area where the strap of the harness will be secured, so you’ll need to know the size of the deepest and lowest part of your dog’s chest (remember, your dog should be standing for this).

While standing over your dog, the area you are looking for is going to be the widest part of the rib cage located right below your dog’s shoulder blades. Start the measurement here, and then wrap the tape down and around your dog’s chest right behind the front legs and back up to the shoulder blades.  The total length you get here will be your dog’s chest measurement.