How to Correctly Measure Your Dog for a Harness | MANMAT Guide
How to Correctly Measure Your Dog for a Harness | MANMAT Guide
V MANMAT we have been developing sporting equipment for dogs for more than 30 years. Over that time we have measured thousands of dogs, tested countless prototypes, and gathered experience from athletes and recreational dog owners around the world.
We know that every dog is different - they vary in body structure, coat type, movement, and working style in pulling. That is why it is not enough to choose a harness by breed or weight alone.
Does the harness not fit your dog? Does it slide to the side or shift during pulling? In most cases the product is not at fault. The problem is the wrong size - and that almost always starts with incorrect measuring.
The right choice starts with the right measurement. We have prepared a procedure that takes five minutes, and all you need is a tailor's measuring tape.
[Download the PDF guide for free]
Why harness size matters more than you think
A harness that does not fit your dog can restrict the movement of the shoulder blades, press into the armpits, or lift the dog's rear during pulling. For a sporting dog this means reduced performance. For everyday movement on walks it means unnecessary strain on the body.
A properly fitting harness is one the dog barely notices. A poorly fitting harness is one it notices all the time.
What will you need?
A tailor's measuring tape and a moment of patience. Measure on a standing, relaxed dog - ideally after a short walk.
Three measurements that determine the right harness size
Chest girth
The most important measurement for choosing the right harness size for your dog. Run the tape just behind the front legs, at the widest part of the chest. Add two fingers as a margin - for shaggy dogs, three.
Back length
Decisive for long harnesses, such as the RUN LONG. Measure from the base of the neck to the root of the tail. If you skip this measurement, the harness may be too short and press on the loins - or too long and slide onto the shoulders.
Neck girth
You need it for harnesses with a fixed collar section. Run the tape around the middle of the neck, not at the head or at the shoulders.
Which harness to choose for your dog - short or long?
For short harnesses such as SMART, GUARD, or RICCO, the chest and neck girth are enough.
For long harnesses you also need the back length. This is where mistakes happen most often. People measure the chest, choose the right size according to the chart, and then wonder why the harness slides during pulling. Back length determines how the harness sits on the body during movement - and that only shows on the first run.
Shaggy dog - what to watch out for
For short-haired breeds you measure directly on the body. For shaggy dogs - husky, malamute, border collie - press the tape lightly through the coat against the body. If you measure only the coat, the harness will be loose and will shift during movement.
General rule: for a dense coat, add 1 to 3 cm to the measured chest girth.
How to tell the harness fits correctly
A correctly fitted harness lies flat, does not reach into the armpits, and does not shift during movement. The shoulder blades must move freely - check this by letting the dog take a few steps and watching whether the harness lifts or turns to the side.
If it does, the problem is most often in the back length, or in the harness being one size larger than it should be.
The most common mistakes when measuring a dog for a harness
Measuring on a lying dog. The chest girth comes out different than when standing - the harness will then be looser than it should be.
Measuring only once. The dog moves during measuring. Measure three times and take the average.
Ignoring the coat. For shaggy breeds the difference in chest girth can be up to 3 cm.
Choosing the size by weight alone. Charts based on kilograms are only a guide. The chest girth always decides.
Not sure about your choice?
Write your measured values to dog@manmat.cz or call +420 603 596 848. We will reply with a specific recommendation for both the model and the size. We do this every day - for customers from the Czech Republic and abroad.
And if you want to save the procedure, we have a concise PDF for you with a measuring diagram and a size chart for all MANMAT harness models.
[Download the PDF guide for free]