Dog Harness Size Guide: XS, S, M, L, XL Explained
Dog harness sizing is confusing because there's no industry standard. An "M" from one brand may be a "L" from another. The only reliable way to find the right size is to measure your dog and match to the specific brand's chest girth chart. Here's a comprehensive guide.
The Golden Rule: Measure Chest Girth
Chest girth — the circumference of your dog's chest at its widest point, just behind the front legs — is the single measurement that determines harness size. Weight is unreliable. Height is unreliable. Chest girth is the measurement.
General Size Ranges by Chest Girth
- XS: 10-14 inches — Chihuahua, Yorkshire Terrier, Maltese, Toy Poodle
- S: 14-20 inches — Bichon Frise, Shih Tzu, Miniature Schnauzer, Pug, French Bulldog
- M: 20-26 inches — Beagle, Corgi, Cocker Spaniel, Border Collie, Australian Shepherd
- L: 26-32 inches — Labrador, Golden Retriever, German Shepherd, Boxer
- XL: 32+ inches — Great Dane, Rottweiler, Mastiff, large Huskies, Malamutes
Breeds That Don't Fit Standard Charts
- French Bulldog / English Bulldog — measure chest girth; usually sizes up significantly from what weight suggests
- Greyhound / Whippet — deep chest, narrow waist; measure carefully, often sizes up
- Dachshund — long body, short legs; standard charts often don't reflect their proportions
- Pit Bull / Bully breeds — barrel chest means sizing by weight is always wrong
When Between Sizes
Always size up. Adjustable straps on a larger harness can be tightened. A harness that's too small cannot be made larger and will cause discomfort.
The Big Paw Baby's No-Pull Harness is available in XS through XL with a fully adjustable 4-point fit system. Use the chest girth guide above and size up if between measurements.
Fully adjustable 4-point fit. Use the chest girth chart above to find your size.
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