How to Measure Your Dog for a Harness

Here's a stat that'll make you feel better about that harness you sent back: sizing is the number one reason harnesses get returned. Not quality. Not colour. Sizing.

Most of us guess. We look at our dog, decide they're "a medium", and order accordingly. Then it turns up too tight across the chest, or loose enough that Houdini could back out of it on a walk. Neither of those is your fault - it's just that "medium" means something different on every dog and every brand.

So let's fix that properly. Grab a soft measuring tape (a sewing one, not the metal kind) and two minutes, and we'll get this right the first time.

The two measurements that actually matter

You need your dog's chest measurement and their neck measurement. That's it. Weight is a rough guide - a stocky 8kg Frenchie and a lean 8kg Cavoodle need completely different sizes.

1. Chest measurement

This is the big one - it's what most harness sizing is based on.

• Wrap the tape around the widest part of your dog's ribcage, right behind their front legs.
• Keep the tape snug but not tight - you should be able to slide two fingers stacked underneath it comfortably.
• Measure while they're standing normally, not sitting or stretched out.

2. Neck measurement

Measure around the base of the neck, where a collar would normally sit - below the ears, above the shoulders. Same two-finger rule applies. Not every style needs this, but it's worth having on hand.

If your dog's head is wider than their neck, measure their head circumference too, so the harness will go over their head (use this as a guide for whether you may need to size up from the neck measurement).

Harness styles and their features

Once you've got your numbers, check out our 3 different styles of harnesses and their main features, then visit the sizing & fit guide below to see what the best fit will be.

Common mistakes we see

• Ordering by breed instead of measuring - two dogs of the same breed can differ significantly.
• Measuring over a thick winter coat and forgetting to account for it in summer, or vice versa.
• Measuring while your dog is sitting, which compresses the chest and gives you a smaller number than reality.

Still unsure?

If your dog measures right between two sizes, or you're still unsure, email us - we'd rather spend a few minutes confirming than you having to deal with a return. Just be sure to include:

• Neck measurement
• Chest measurement
• Weight
• Breed
• Age (so we know if they're still growing)

Looking at the All-Rounder? Also include the chest piece length - measure from where the collar sits under their neck to behind their front legs, so we can make sure it's long enough (too short and it may rub).