Comfort and fit are key when it comes to choosing the right harness for your dog. So here is some help for getting the size right.
Here at Hindquarters, we make 4 core harness sizes: Small, Medium, Medium Wide and Large. We also do made-to-measure, for no extra.
All the harnesses we make are adjustable around the neck and girth which helps you get an exact and comfy fit for your dog.
Detailed below are the measurements for each Hindquarters harness size. If you can't find the right size or are unsure, please get in touch and we will be happy to help.
The key measurements when it comes to fitting a harness are your dog's girth and their lower neck. The harness will sit on your dog's lower neck, the top of their shoulders, taking most of the pressure if they happen to pull whilst out for a walk.
Here are instructions for how to measure your dog for a Hindquarters harness.
For Hindquarters harnesses, we use a strong cotton weave. It is comfy because it is woven from soft natural fibres, has flex and give, moves as your dog moves, and is less abrasive on fur than plastics. The strapping on our Small harnesses is 2.5cm wide and 3cm wide on the larger harnesses.
Hindquarters harnesses suit all types of dogs. Dogs come in all shapes and sizes and there's often a big difference within breed or type.
In terms of a quick overview: Our Small size harnesses are good for Puggles and Terriers and similarly sized dogs. For example, here is Travis - a JRT - trying on some harnesses
Our Medium size harness suits Cockapoos and smaller Spaniels. For example, here is Twix - a Cockapoo - trying out his khaki harness
The Large size harness is good for Labs and Boxers. For example, here is Argo - a chocolate Labrador - wearing his green harness
The harness fits around your dog's upper chest and girth, allowing free shoulder movement.
These are the harnesses we make in terms of measurements and size:
Small size harness : We use 2.5cm wide cotton weave. The S size harness fits dogs with a lower neck between 30cm and 40cm (12-16 inches) and a girth between 40cm and 50cm (16-20 inches), usually a good size harness for a JRT or other Terrier or Puggle.
Medium size harness slim version : We use a 2.5cm wide cotton weave for our Medium slim harness. This size fits dogs with lower necks between 35cm and 55cm (14-21 inches) and girths between 50cm to 65cm (20-25 inches), a good size for a small Lurcher or a Cockapoo.
Medium size harness Wide version : We use 3cm wide cotton weave. The Medium Wide harness fits dogs with lower necks between 35cm and 55cm (14-21 inches) and girths between 50cm to 65cm (20-25 inches), a good size for a small but chunky Spaniel.
Large size harness : We user a 3cm wide cotton weave. the Large size harness fits dogs with a lower neck between 45cm and 65cm, and girths between 60cm and 85cm (24-33 inches), a good size for a Lab or big dog.
Our harnesses are available in a range of colours across these 4 sizes. If you can't find something right or are unsure, please get in touch and we will be happy to help or advise. If you have a young dog who will grow or have a dog with unusual proportions, we can always make you a harness to your dog's measurements and spec.
Below is a rough breed list that details what a size harness is likely to be best for your dog.
Airedale - as always it is best to measure up and double check but an Airedale Terrier would likely fit a M size harness
Basset Hound - might be best to go with a Large size harness, although small in stature Basset Hounds have chunky necks and a wide girth. Please get in touch with measurements and we will be happy to help or advise and make to measurements if needed.
Beagle - a Medium size harness would fit a Beagle
Bichon Frise - a Small size harness
Border Collie - a Large size harness would be best
Border Terrier - a Small size harness would fit a BT
Boston Terrier - Small size would work for a Boston
Boxer - a Large size would fit a Boxer dog
Cairn Terrier - a Small harness would fit a Cairn
Cockapoo - a Medium size harness would fit a Cockapoo
Cocker Spaniel - a Medium sized harness would likely be best for a Cocker Spaniel
Corgi - a Medium sized harness would be the right fit for a Corgi
Dalmation - a Large size harness would be best for a Dalmatian
English Setter - would fit a Large size harness
Fox Terrier - would likely fit a Medium sized harness
French Bulldog - small size should work but double check measurements and let us know and we can make so fits perfectly and can be adjusted over time
Golden Retriever - Large size harness would best suit a Golden
Greyhound - a L size harness would be good for a greyhound, maybe double check measurements and let us know, in case we need to make a girth a little larger than usual
Irish Terrier - either a Small or Medium sized harness would work for an Irish Terrier
Jack Russell Terrier - Small size harness would work for a JRT
Labrador - L size would be best for a Lab
Labradoodle - depending on their size, might suit either a M or L size harness, best to measure up and check, and send through details if you'd like
Pointer - a Large size harness would be good for a Pointer
Poodle Standard - a Standard Poodle would suit a Large size harness
Pug - a Small size harness would a suit a Pug
Schnauzer - a Medium sized harness would fit a Schnauzer, although sensible to double check measurements and send them through for a made to measure harness if needs be
Schnauzer mini - a Small size harness would suit a mini Schnauzer
Scottish Terrier - a Small size harness would fit a Scottie
Springer Spaniel - a Medium size harness would suit a Springer Spaniel
Saluki - a Large size harness would a suit a Saluki
Staffie - double check your Staffie's measurements, they'll require either a Medium or Large size harness or might need something made to their particular measurements, please send them through if so
Vizsla - a Large size harness would suit a Vizsla
Weimaraner - would fit a Large size harness
West Highland Terrier - either a Small size or a Medium size harness would fit a Westie, measure them up and let us know if you'd like a harness made to their measurements
Wheaten Terrier - a Medium size harness would suit a Wheaten Terrier best but worth double checking their measurements
Yorkshire Terrier - a Small size harness would suit a Yorkie
If you can't find something right or are unsure about sizing, please get in touch and we will be happy to help.