How to measure your dog for a crate, harness, boots and collar
Four measurements cover almost everything: length, height, girth and paw width.
| Measure | How | Used for | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Length | Nose to base of tail | Crate | PetMD |
| Height | Floor to top of head | Crate | PetMD |
| Girth | Widest part of rib cage, behind front legs | Harness, apparel, packs | Ruffwear |
| Paw width | Widest part of front paw, weight on it | Boots | Ruffwear |
| Collar fit | Two fingers under collar | Collar | Ruffwear |
Tools: a soft tailor’s tape, or string plus a ruler (Ruffwear). Measure front and rear paws; rear are often smaller.
Sources: PetMD; Ruffwear.
Terms used here
- Budget, mid, premium: picks grouped by the maker's own list price, lowest to highest. Budget is everyday basics (a crate, collars, a light harness, boots), mid is padded walking and lift-assist harnesses, premium is specialty gear (a life jacket, a car harness, travel beds). No store prices are shown.
- Chest girth: the distance around the widest part of the rib cage, just behind the front legs. Harnesses are sized by it.
- Back length: base of the neck to base of the tail. A crate should be at least 4 in longer.
- Paw width: the widest part of the front paw while standing. Boots are sized by it.
- Weight band: the weight range a crate or bed size is made for on the maker's chart.