Dog Harness and Collar Size Chart – The Ultimate Guide

December 18, 2021September 5, 2023 by Thomas Vandepitte

A dog harness or collar is essential to keep a zesty dog from wandering off during walks. The collar was the most popular choice among dog owners due to its convenience. The biggest downside to this is that it can cause neck injuries. However, whether you want to use a collar or a harness, a dog harness and collar size chart are necessary to guarantee that your neck will not get injuries from using them.

Many people use harnesses because they take the tension off the dog’s neck, spread it across the chest and back, and give them more control.

Looking for a complete dog Size chart by breed and age: check here

Dog Harness and Collar Size Chart

Sizing	Neck Size (in, cm)	Chest Size (in, cm)	Weight (lbs, kg)	Sample Breeds
XS	9-14″ 22.8-35.6cm	12-18″ 30.5-46cm	10-20lbs 4.5-9kg	American Eskimo (miniature), Australian Shepherd (miniature), Basenji, Beagle, Bedlington Terrier, Bichon Frise, Border Terrier, Boston Terrier, French Bulldog (miniature), Cairn Terrier, Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Chihuahua, Chinese Crested, Dachshund (miniature), Fox Terrier, Italian Greyhound, Havanese, Jack Russell Terrier, Lhasa Apso, Maltese, Papillon, Pekingese, Pinschers (miniature), Pomeranian, Poodle (miniature & toy breed), Pug, Puggle, Rat Terrier, Schipperke (miniature), Schnauzer (miniature), Scottish Terrier (miniature), Shetland Sheepdog, Shar Pei, Shiba Inu, Shi chon, Shih Tzu, Silky Terrier, West Highland Terrier, Yorkshire Terrier.
S	12-18″ 30.5-46cm	16-25″ 40.6-63.5cm	20-30lbs 9-13.6kg	American Eskimo (standard), American Indian Dog, American Pit Bull Terrier (miniature), Australian Shepherd (miniature), Basenji (standard), Beagle (standard), Bull Terrier (miniature), Cocker Spaniel, Dachshund (standard), Irish Terrier, Pembroke Welsh Corgi, Puggle (standard), Wheaten Terrier, Whippet
M	14-20” 35.6-50.8cm	20-29” 50.8-73.7cm	30-60lbs 13.6-27kg	African Hound, Airedale Terrier, American Indian Dog, American Pit Bull Terrier, Australian cattle dog, Australian Shepherd, Basset Hound, Britany, English Bulldog, Bull Terrier, Chow, Collie, Dalmatian, German Shepherd, German Shorthair Pointer, Golden Retriever, Golden Doodle, Greyhound, Labradoodle, Labrador, Louisiana Cataula Leopard, Pharoah Hound, Pit Bull Saluki, Siberian Husky, Springer Spaniel, Staffordshire Terrier, Vizsla
L	16-24″ 40.6-61cm	22-33” 56-84cm	60-80lbs 27-36kg	Alaskan Malamute, Australian Shepherd, Belgian Malinois, Black and Tan Coon Hound, Boxer, American Bull Dog, Collie, Doberman Pinschers, English Setter, German Shepherd, Irish Setter, Louisiana Catahoula Leopard, Lurcher, Pit Bull, Portuguese Water Dog, Weimaraner, Akita, Rhodesian Ridgeback.
XL	22-33” 56-84cm	28-39” 71-100cm	80-130lbs 36-60kg	Alaskan Malamute, American Bulldog, German Shepherd, Lurcher, Portuguese Water Dog, Akita, Rhodesian Ridgeback.

How to Measure your Dog for a Collar or Harness

It’s vital to have the correct collar and harness size for your dog so that you may both enjoy relaxing walks. Taking proper measurements before buying a collar or harness is essential to get the suitable collar or harness sizing.

Neck Measurement

Take the soft tape measure around the dog’s neck, leaving enough room for two fingers, and gently move the tape down to the base of the neck to obtain the neck measurements. The collar should not be too tight because it may strangle the animal; but, it may slip off if it is too loose.

Chest Measurement

Wrap the measuring tape around the dog’s stomach to get the chest size. This measurement should be taken behind the armpits of the dog’s front legs, at the widest section of its torso. Remember, always add at least two fingers to every measurement to avoid making your pet uncomfortable and to avoid injury to the neck and chest area

Weight

Getting your dog’s weight could sometimes be tricky, especially if it is a big dog. Your dog should step on the scale and sit for a few seconds in an ideal situation. Except for those who have been adequately trained, not all dogs will do so. So, how do you go about doing it?

Weighing Puppies

Small dogs and puppies are perhaps the easiest to weigh; all you need is a standard bathroom scale and the following steps.

Before you begin, double-check that the scale is set to zero.
Take your puppy and hold it carefully. It may wriggle around, but try not to drop it since it could get wounded.
Climb the scale and wait a few seconds for it to calculate your weight. Check the number and make a note of it.
Reward your dog for being gentle and not attempting to jump.
Climb the scale on your own
Get your weight and note it.
To determine the puppies’ weight, subtract your weight from what you received for yours and the puppy’s weight.

You can also use a baby scale to get your puppy’s weight.

Weighing Large Dogs

Weighing larger dogs is more complicated since you might not have the strength to lift them onto the scale. However, the actions below may be helpful.

The majority of long-distance bus terminals have massive luggage scales. You should be able to get your dog’s weight in no time if you seek permission from the counter employee.
Veterinarians also have large scales for all breeds and will usually give you a free weight check for your dog.

Types of Dog Collars and Harnesses

There are many different dog collars and harnesses on the market, and it’s essential to know which one is best for your dog, depending on its breed and behavior. Here are some of the most common choices for dog owners.

Flat Collars

A flat collar is a traditional around-the-neck collar that frequently includes the dog’s information, such as its name, address, rabies, and other vaccine information. This collar style is best for well-behaved dogs since a conventional leash can be easily linked to the flat collar for a quick walk.

This collar style will not be ideal if your dog pulls or lunges during walks since it might cause significant neck injuries or even snap.

Martingale Collars

Martingale collars include little loops that tighten when the dog tugs on the collar. This tightening motion keeps the collar from falling off when the dog pulls and deter the dog from tugging. This collar style is perfect for dogs with narrow heads, such as greyhounds and whippets, as well as dogs who pull lightly.

However, the Martingale collar is not ideal for aggressive or persistent pullers; instead, a harness may be preferable.

Other collars such as choke chains, electric collars and pinch chains are often used to train strong, large or ill-mannered dogs. Many people, however, frown on these kinds of collars.

Back-Clip Harnesses

Harnesses, on the whole, give you more control over your dog than a collar and lessen the chance of neck injury. For many dog owners, the back-clip harness is the most popular option. The D-ring (where the leash joins the collar) is located on the top of this harness.

The disadvantage of the back-clip harness is that dogs frequently move in the opposite direction of where power is applied, which encourages the dog to pull harder.

Front-Clip Harnesses

A dog who pulls will benefit from a front-clip harness. When the harness is tugged, it increases pressure around the chest area, discouraging tugging. Some front-clip harnesses include Martingale loops to help prevent pulling, and they often provide more movement control than back-clip harnesses.

The main disadvantage of this harness style is that it tangles in the legs of the dog during walks and can cause chafing on the chest.

Conclusion

Hopefully, this article on the dog collar and harness sizing and guide has been helpful. Remember that correct sizing is essential to ensure that the collar or harness is fitted correctly and will not cause neck or chest injuries to your pet.

While harnesses are perceived to be safer, especially recently, both collars and harnesses have advantages and disadvantages depending on the dog’s size, breed and behavior.

We love to read your comments os; please, do not hesitate to drop a comment in the section below and share it with others.

Picture in this post by Dominik Kempf on Unsplash