How to Measure Dog Height?

How to Measure Dog Height

How to Measure Your Dog’s Height and Why It Matters

Knowing your dog’s height is useful for various reasons:

  • Kennel Size: Ensures you buy a kennel or crate that’s the right size.
  • Collar or Harness Fit: Helps you choose accessories for comfort and security.
  • Show Competitions: Height may be a factor if you plan on showing your dog.
  • Growth Tracking: Can help monitor their development, especially as a puppy.

Measuring Your Dog’s Height

Here’s how to get an accurate measurement using simple tools:

Standing Measurement

  1. Flat Surface: Have your dog stand on a level surface like a floor.
  2. Wall Position: Position your dog with a shoulder against a wall.
  3. Find the Withers: This is the highest point of their shoulder blades.
  4. Level and Mark: Use a ruler or level against the wall, placed on the withers. Mark where it meets the wall.
  5. Measure: Measure the distance from the mark to the ground for your dog’s height.

Lying Down Measurement

  1. Flat Surface: Have your dog lie on their side.
  2. Extend Head: Gently extend their head forward to align with their shoulders.
  3. Measure: Measure from the top of the shoulders down to the ground.

Other Methods

  • Carpenter’s Level: Similar to the wall method, use a level instead of a ruler.
  • Measuring Stick: Get a purpose-built stick with a perpendicular arm for easy height reading.

Predicting Puppy Height

While not foolproof, you can estimate a puppy’s adult height:

  • Breed Growth Patterns: Research typical growth for your dog’s breed.
  • Paw Size: Larger paws can indicate a larger adult dog.
  • Growth Charts: Some vets may have growth charts for common breeds.

Dog Height Chart (Approximate)

Size Height (inches) Example Breeds
Extra Small 6-9 Chihuahua, Teacups
Small 8-12 Pomeranian, Papillon
Medium 14-18 Cocker Spaniel, Corgi
Large 20-24 Golden Retriever, Bulldog
Extra Large 22-26 Labrador Retriever, Doberman
Massive 26+ Great Dane, Irish Wolfhound

Key Takeaways

  • Measuring your dog’s height is simple and helps with essential accessories and care.
  • The withers (top of the shoulder blades) is the standard measuring point.
  • Consider your dog’s breed and individual growth when estimating adult height.

Why is it Important to Keep the Measurement of Your Dog’s Height?

All the dog owners might be aware of the fact how important dog height measuring is. The exact measurement of your dog’s height might be helpful in various aspects.

For example, buying a kennel for your dog needs the proper measurement of the pet. Suppose the owner wants to buy a collar for the pet. In that case, it will also require the measurement of height; measurement of height is also necessary for getting a harness for the pet.

Lastly, if the owner is planning to present his dog in a pup show, then the height measurement will be needed to train the pet in which angle he has to stay on the stage and to determine how tall it stays from the ground.

How to Measure Dog Height? – What Makes the Dog Taller?

We all know that all living organisms possess growth hormones that tend to grow throughout their lives.

The mechanism responsible for a dog’s growth is the secretion of a growth hormone named somatotropin in the case of dogs from the anterior pituitary gland. It is crucial for the dog history key stage.

In biological language, we can say that the growth hormones used to stimulate the synthesis of protein promote the breakdown of fats, which together release the energy responsible for the growth of tissue in the body, which results in the growth of the animal. This is the entire process that makes the dog taller.

How to Measure a Dog’s Height Using a Measuring Tape?

We all know that using a measuring tape is the preferable method for measuring the height of anything; it doesn’t matter if it is for humans or animals. Measuring tape always gives the most accurate results.

Now we are going to discuss how to measure a dog’s height with the help of a measuring tape.

The steps that you can opt for are discussed below

Bring Your Pet to the Correct Posture

At first, the owner has to take the pet to a floor and make the dog standstill on the ground without any movement until the measurement is done.

Insist the Pet Stay Straight

Only keeping him straight on the ground is not enough. The owner has to put a little more effort into making the pet stay straight on the ground. It can be done by giving the dog some treats or telling someone to hold the dog straight until you take the measurement.

Locate the Withers in the Body

After completing the above steps, the owner has to measure dog withers, as that’s the point from where the height should get measured. The withers were located between the shoulder blades at the base of the pet’s neck.

Pull the Tape Towards the Ground

After getting the wither, keep the tape on the wither of the dog and then start pulling the tape towards the ground within the dog’s leg and at a point between the shoulders.

Note the Measurement

After pulling the tape from the wither to the dog’s leg, as discussed above, now ensure that the tape is straight in position, and after that, note the mark in the tape as per your dog’s height.

As per studies, people throughout the world prefer to use a measuring tape to get an accurate height of their pet. It was suggested to opt for the steps discussed above as it was well researched and the most accurate procedure for determining a dog’s height to get the best results.

What are the Other Tools that Can Be Used for Measuring a Dog’s Height?

There are many other tools available that can get more perfect results than a measuring tape while measuring the height of a dog. The tools available for measuring height include a carpenter’s level, a marking tool like a pencil, a frame, and a measuring stick to measure a dog’s height.

Measuring a Dog’s Height with a Carpenter’s Level

Use of the carpenter’s level might be tricky for a person who is not familiar with it. Still, now we are going to discuss the exact procedure for using a carpenter level to measure a dog’s height which will make everything clear regarding the concept.

The steps that a person can opt for measuring a dog’s height with a carpenter’s level are discussed below.

Make Your Dog Stand Straight in Front of a Wall

Take your dog in front of a wall and make him stay straight without shrinking by maintaining a parallel distance with the wall at an angle of 180 degrees.

Calm the Dog

Some dogs might find it disturbing to stay straight in a position for a few minutes, so the owner has to treat the dog for distracting them while measuring the height or can also ask one person to hold the dog in a straight position.

Discover the Withers in the Body

Wither of a dog is the point from which the height will be measured, and it doesn’t matter what kind of instrument is used. So the person has to first detect the wither of the dog’s body to measure the height.

Placement of the Carpenter’s Level

After completing all the above steps, the person has to place the carpenter’s level across the wither of the dog by noticing if the level is touching the wall.

Measure the Length

Now, after placing the carpenter’s level in a correct position, the person has to mark the point of the carpenter’s level by aligning it with the dog’s height in the wall, then use tape to confirm the exact height.

This process also gives accurate results about the dog’s height, but in the end, a person has to use a tape to confirm the exact length. So we will suggest that using a measuring tape is more beneficial than using a carpenter’s level for measuring the dog’s height.

But eventually, it depends on the person’s choice and what process they want to choose for measuring their dog’s height.

The process of using a measuring stick is the same as the process of using a measuring tape. The difference is that the person doesn’t have to pull the stick as in the case of tape.

Is it Possible to Predict How Tall a Dog Will Be?

Prediction of a dog’s height seems to be quite impossible in normal. Still, it is possible to make an approximate guess about how tall your dog is going to be in the future by carefully noticing the below-mentioned factors of your dog.

The factors that should be noticed are

Genetics

Doing good research on the genetics of your dog’s breed will give you an approximate idea of how tall your dog is going to be in the future. The research will give you an idea about how long the dogs of that particular breed grow in their entire life, by which you can make a proper guess.

Growth Stages

All the things that a person can do to make a proper guess about their dog’s future height are studying the growth stages of the breed from which the dog belongs.

For example, some puppies attain their maximum height in the first six months and almost attain their final height during their 14th month, so studying the growth stages of a particular breed will make the person understand how much a particular breed puppy grows till their 14th month.

Size of the Paw

There is a scientific belief that the size of the paw can help a person make an exact guess of a puppy’s height. The puppies with larger paws were believed to turn into large dogs with maximum height, whereas the puppies with small paws will attain a minimum height in the future.

Dog Height Chart

We all know that different dogs of different breeds possess different types of height as per their body size and breed. Below mentioned is the table that will give you an approx idea about the height of the dogs concerning their breeds and size.

Sure!

Size of the dog Height Breed
Extra small dogs Six to nine inches Chihuahua; Teacup Breeds
Small dogs Eight to twelve inches Miniature Pinscher, Papillon, Pomeranian, Toy Poodle, Yorkshire Terrier, Boston Terrier, Brussels Griffon, Chihuahua, Maltese, Miniature Dachshund,
Medium-sized dogs Fourteen to eighteen inches Lhasa Apso, Miniature Poodle, Pekingese, Pug, Scottish Terrier, Shih Tzu, Welsh Corgi, Cocker Spaniel, Corgi, Dachshund, French Bulldog, Jack Russell Terrier,
Large dogs Twenty to twenty-four inches French Bulldog, Golden Retriever, Smaller Bulldog, Cocker Spaniel, Corgi,
Extra-large dogs Twenty-two to twenty-six inches Greyhound, Labrador Retriever, Pitbull, Siberian Husky, Airedale Terrier, American Foxhound, Australian Shepherd, Basset Hound, Boxer, Doberman Pinscher
Massive sized dogs Twentysix-plus inches Weimaraner, Doberman Pinscher. German Shepherd, Golden Retriever, Great Dane, Akita, Bernese Mountain Dog, Greyhound, Labrador Retriever, Pitbull, Rottweiler, Standard Poodle, Vizsla,

I hope this table is helpful!

This dog height chart was made after doing a lot of scientific research on the genetics of the

breeds of dogs. So a person can easily guess the height of a dog as per its breed by just looking at the chart.

Height of Dogs

The height of a dog can vary greatly depending on the breed, size, and individual characteristics of the dog. Some small dog breeds, such as Chihuahuas and Toy Poodles, can be as short as 6 inches (15 cm) at the shoulder, while larger breeds, such as Great Danes and Irish Wolfhounds, can be up to 3 feet (91 cm) tall at the shoulder.

The height of a dog is typically measured from the ground to the top of their shoulder blades, also known as the withers.

This measurement is important for determining the size and weight of a dog, as well as for choosing the right size of collar, harness, or other accessories.

To accurately measure the height of a dog, you will need to use a tape measure or a ruler, and have the dog stand on a flat, level surface.

How Do You Measure the Length of a Dog’s Body?

Measuring the length of a dog is quite an easy process and doesn’t need much effort. For this, the owner has to make the dog stand straight, take a measuring tape, place one of the ends in the dog’s neck, take it to the shoulders and back up to the base of the tail, and then note the marking.

Are dogs taller when sitting?

No, dogs are not typically taller when they are sitting. The height of a dog is generally measured from the top of their head to the ground while they are standing on all four legs.

When a dog is sitting, their hind legs may be bent and their tail may be lowered, which can make them appear shorter than they actually are. Additionally, the angle at which the measuring tape is held can affect the measured height,

so it is important to hold the tape level and straight when measuring a dog’s height. In general, a dog’s height will remain the same whether they are standing or sitting.

Importance of Height in a Dog’s Medical Reports

As per the studies done, the sources get to know that the record of a dog’s height plays a very important role in the medical reports of the pet. It is necessary to include the data like height, weight, length, vaccination reports, vet visits, and prescriptions in the medical report.

If your dog is missing the record of his height in its medical report, it means that the dog lacks very important medical data.

Although the height of a dog has a very light effect on vulnerable leg conditions like weakness in the hind leg and dysplasia, it is still necessary to take a record of a dog’s height.

Can We Make a Difference in the Behavior and Abilities of a Dog Based on Their Height?

As we know that till now, there is no scientific evidence available by basing upon which we can make a behavioral difference between the dogs of different breeds. It’s almost impossible to predict the behavior of a canine by basing on their height.

After researching small and large dogs, we have come up with some generalizations that can be made based on a dog’s height. The large and tall dogs were more active in sports and many other tasks.

They were more calm and composed and fit the best for the role of the guard at home as they have the strength and capability to fear a person. The dogs of large breeds require more food and water to stay fit and healthy and have a shorter lifespan than the smaller ones.

Whereas the small pups probably possess a longer lifespan than the larger ones, they love to run and don’t require much exercise and food resources to stay healthy in the outdoors parks and gardens. The smaller pups were easier for the owners to carry during a trip.

Aapt Dubey
Aapt Dubey

Aapt Dubey, a devoted canine enthusiast and experienced dog Owner, brings boundless passion to our team. With a heart full of love for our four-legged friends, Aapt is dedicated to sharing insights on dog care, behavior, and training to make every pup's life happier and healthier at ItsAboutDog.com.

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