Dog Measurement Guide
There are four measurements that designers use in their size charts: Horizontal Length, Neck, Vertical Length, Chest/Girth, and Weight. Each measurement is important.
Horizontal Length: Measure from the base of your dog’s neck (at the collar) to the back of their tail. Just where the back ends and the tail starts.
Neck: Measure where a collar would be. Make sure to give a little slack. A good rule of thumb is to allow 2 fingers to fit inside of the measuring tape.
Vertical Length: Measure from your dog’s neck (at the collar) to the dog's paws/floor.
Chest/Girth: Measure the widest part of your dog’s chest, normally behind the front legs. Again, make sure to give a little slack.
Weight: While body measurement is used, it is the hardest to find a size correctly. (A 10 pound pug has a completely different body shape and size then a 10 pound dachshund)
Use all of these measurements together to find your dog’s size. If your dog is between two sizes, go up a size. Remember, all designers size their products differently. If you purchased a size small on one site your dog may be a size large on another.