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Measuring your Dog
for a Sledding or Weight-Pull Harness
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Some
Advice about Measuring:
The
measurements you'll need to take will depend on whether you want a sledding
harness or a weight- pull harness.
Please
read the "How to Measure" section and instructions for each
harness type carefully. If you are having difficulty understanding the
instructions or measuring your dog you are welcome to contact us - measuring a
dog correctly is not always easy. We would be happy to help you and can
let you know if the measurements you have taken seem about right for the breed,
weight and age of your dog.
NOTE:
Point D is not at the same position for both harness types.
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IMPORTANT
- How to Measure:
When
measuring a dog for a harness, the tape measure must be held tight against
the dog's skin - this is where the harness sits when the dog is pulling.
Take the measurements a few times until you are getting consistent results.
Your dog
must be in the standing position when he/she is measured, and your dog must be
standing straight - you’ll get some pretty strange measurements from a dog who
has twisted around to see what you are doing!
Neck fit
is critical - take neck measurements on both sides of the dog until they are
equal (if they are not equal your dog was not looking straight ahead).
Do not
swap harnesses between dogs unless you are sure they fit correctly - each dog
has different measurements and what is comfortable for one dog may rub or even
contribute to injury in another.
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X-BACK
SLEDDING HARNESS
If
ordering a Sledding Harness, record your measurements on the Sledding Harness
Measurement
Form and enclose with your Order Form and payment.
The X-back sledding harness is designed so that, when leaning into the harness,
the weight of the load being pulled is transferred through to the neck and chest
area of the dog. The A-D and BDC sections are therefore load-bearing and will be
tight when the dog is pulling. The X-back section over the loin is non-load
bearing and should remain fairly loose so that the dog may arch its back when
pulling. This section is incorporated into the harness to assist with keeping
the harness on the dog and assist in handling the harnessed dog.
What
to Measure:
You
will need to take 5 measurements: MEASURE YOUR DOG'S STRUCTURE - DO NOT
MEASURE FUR!
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1.
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A
- B |
Neck |
From
centre front of the dog’s shoulder blades at the base of the neck (A) to the
point just above the breastbone
(B). Measure one side only, do not measure all the way around. |
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2. |
B
- C |
Breastbone to Base of Tail
Note: this measurement follows
the line of the harness - do NOT measure in a direct line between the 2
points. |
From the point just above the breastbone (B), down between the front legs and up
the side of the rib cage to the base of the
tail (C - to find the base of the tail, hold the tail up). When pulling, the
harness should not fold the tail down. |
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3.
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A
- C |
Shoulder to Base of Tail |
From the centre front of the dog’s shoulder blades at the base of the neck (A) directly along the
spine the the point at the base of the tail (C). This gives us an idea of
the shape of your dog. |
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4.
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A
- D |
Shoulder to Last Rib |
From the centre front of the dog’s shoulder blades at the base of the neck (A) to the point where the
breastbone-to-base-of-tail line (B - C) crosses the last rib (D). |
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5.
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B
- D |
Breastbone to Last Rib
Note: this measurement follows
the line of the harness - do NOT measure in a direct line between the 2
points. |
From the top of the breastbone (B),
down between the front legs and along the
B-C line to the point where you feel the last rib (D). |
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Remember:
The fit of the harness
is only as good as the
measurements you provide.
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Sample
Measurements:
Measurements listed
are in inches
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Size |
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Variation |
Measurement
(Inches)
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7 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
11 |
12 |
13 |
14 |
15 |
Standard
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A-B |
7 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
11 |
12 |
13 |
14 |
15 |
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B-C |
20 |
24 |
27 |
29 |
31 |
33 |
35 |
37 |
39 |
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A-D |
9.5 |
11.5 |
12.5 |
13.5 |
14.5 |
15.5 |
16.5 |
17.5 |
18.5 |
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B-D |
12 |
13.5 |
15 |
16 |
17 |
18.5 |
19.5 |
20.5 |
21.5 |
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Short |
A-B |
7 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
11 |
12 |
13 |
14 |
15 |
|
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B-C |
18 |
22 |
25 |
27 |
29 |
31 |
33 |
35 |
37 |
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A-D |
9 |
10.5 |
11.5 |
12.5 |
13.5 |
14.5 |
15.5 |
16.5 |
17.5 |
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B-D |
10.5 |
12.5 |
13.5 |
15 |
16 |
17 |
18.5 |
19.5 |
20.5 |
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Long |
A-B |
7 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
11 |
12 |
13 |
14 |
15 |
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B-C |
22 |
26 |
29 |
31 |
33 |
35 |
37 |
39 |
41 |
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A-D |
11 |
12.5 |
13.5 |
14.5 |
15.5 |
16.5 |
17.5 |
18.5 |
19..5 |
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B-D |
13 |
15 |
16 |
17 |
18.5 |
19.5 |
20.5 |
21.5 |
22 |
The proportions of your
measurements should be similar to these proportions - if not, please check the
instructions and remeasure.
As a rough guide, some
fairly average measurements are:
Adult
Alaskan Malamute - Size 11 - 13 Standard
Measurement 1.
A-B:
11 - 13 inches
Measurement 2.
B-C:
31 - 37 inches
Measurement 3. A-C:
22 - 26 inches
Measurement 4. A-D: 13 - 16 inches
Measurement 5.
B-D: 18 - 21 inches |
Adult
Siberian Husky - Size 9 - 11 Standard
Measurement 1.
A-B: 9 - 11 inches
Measurement 2.
B-C:
26 - 31 inches
Measurement 3.
A-C:
18 - 21 inches
Measurement 4.
A-D:
12 - 15 inches
Measurement 5.
B-D: 16 - 19 inches
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Remember:
THIS IS A ROUGH GUIDE ONLY. If your dog is larger or smaller than the average
adult Malamute or Husky, or if your dog is a different breed, your measurements
could well be outside the ranges indicated above. If your measurements are considerably
different from these, please measure again.
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OF PAGE
WEIGHT-PULL
HARNESS
If ordering a Weight-Pull
Harness, record your measurements on the Weight-Pull Harness
Measurement
Form and enclose with your order form and payment.
The weight-pull harness is designed so that, when
leaning into the harness, the weight of the load being pulled is transferred
through to the neck and chest area of the dog. The A-D and B-G sections are
therefore load-bearing and will be tight when the dog is pulling.
The X section over the loin is non-load bearing and should remain
firm without placing excessive pressure on the dog's back. This
section is adjustable, and is incorporated into the harness to assist with
keeping the harness sitting straight on the dog and to assist with holding the
dog.
The weight pull harness incorporates a rear
spreader bar to prevent lateral compression of the hind legs during pulls.
When not under load the spreader bar should rest against the dog's hind legs.
The hitching loop can
side-slip and the X-section is not fixed to compensate for dogs that pull
off-centre or weave during pulling.
What
to Measure:
You will need to take 6 measurements: MEASURE
YOUR DOG'S STRUCTURE - DO NOT MEASURE FUR!
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1.
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A
- B |
Neck |
From
centre front of the dog’s shoulder blades at the base of the neck (A) to the
point just above the breastbone
(B). Measure one side only, do not measure all the way around. |
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2. |
B-G |
Breastbone to Hindleg |
From the
point just above the breastbone (B), between the front legs to back of
the hind leg
(G) |
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3.
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A-D |
Shoulder to last rib |
From the front of the dog’s shoulder
blades (A) to the point on the breastbone-to hind leg line (B - G) in line with
the last rib (D) |
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4.
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B-D |
Breastbone to last rib |
From the top of the breastbone (B), between the front legs and along the
B-G line to the point in line with the last rib (D). |
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5. |
A-C |
Shoulder to base of tail |
From the front of the dog’s shoulder blades (A) to the base of the
dog's tail. To find the base of the tail hold your dogs tail up vertically.
This gives us an idea of the shape of your dog. |
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6. |
G-G |
Width across hindlegs |
Width for the spreader bar from point
G on the left of the dog to point G
on the right of the dog. Allow a bit extra so the spreader bar is slightly wider
than the rear of your dog to accommodate the normal spread of the
dog’s hindlegs during pulling. |
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Remember:
The fit of the harness is only as good as the measurements you provide.
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Sample
Measurements:
As a rough
guide, some fairly average measurements are as
follows:
Alaskan Malamute
1.
A-B:
11 - 13 inches
2. B-G:
25 - 30 inches
3. A-D:
15 - 20 inches
4. B-D:
16
- 22 inches
5.
A-C:
20 - 26 inches
6. G-G:
11 - 13 inches |
Siberian Husky
1.
A-B:
9 - 11 inches
2. B-G:
23 - 28 inches
3. A-D:
13 - 18 inches
4. B-D:
15 - 21 inches
5.
A-C:
18 - 24 inches
6. G-G:
9 - 12 inches |
American Bulldog
1.
A-B:
11 - 14 inches
2. B-G:
24 - 29 inches
3. A-D:
14 - 19 inches
4. B-D:
16 - 22 inches
5.
A-C:
20 - 26 inches
6.
G-G:
11 - 13 inches |
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