Why is it important to monitor your dog's height at the withers?
Before measuring your dog, you should know what the withers are and how to find them. The withers are a conventional point located between the shoulder blades of a pet, from which the animal begins to be measured to determine its parameters and dimensions. It is one of several important breed characteristics, such as oblique body length and metacarpal girth. It's easy to define. You need to count five vertebrae of the dorsal spine and feel the tubercle.
Why measure your dog?
Note! Grabbing the withers, the whelping bitch moves the offspring from place to place.
Why do you need the height of a dog at the withers?
The height of the dog at the withers is calculated with the following intentions:
- From this point begins the calculation of compliance with the breed standard, as well as various coefficients and indices necessary for an exhibition career: long legs, massiveness, elongation, endurance, etc.
- Calculation of the jump height of an animal to participate in sports competitions on an obstacle course.
- Timely detection of possible developmental disorders in the puppy.
How to take measurements correctly
The height of the animal in the area of the withers is measured directly from the highest point between the shoulder blades to the end of the forelimb. Measurements are taken using a special ruler. If you don’t have a measuring device, you can make such a measuring ruler yourself.
Note! In order to measure the height of your four-legged friend as accurately as possible, you need to bring him onto a hard, flat surface. It is advisable to take measurements at the same time, before eating.
There are rules for uniform measurements for all dog breeds. They are as follows:
- Each measurement must be carried out with a special instrument. Violation of this rule causes different results. Dimensions at the withers are taken by professionals using a special hard measuring stick. At home, dog breeders often use flexible tape or tape measure. This causes the difference in results to be of the order of 1.5 – 3.5 cm (when measured with a tailor’s meter, the height is greater).
- Measurements are taken several times, and the interval between measurements is 1-2 minutes. From the results obtained, an average number is isolated, which is considered the final measurement.
- When taking measurements, the animal must be in a special exhibition stand.
- The device for taking measurements should fit tightly to the animal’s body, pressing the fur. But pressing into the skin is not acceptable. In dog breeds with long hair, the hair is removed from the withers area.
The method of placing a flat object on the withers will help to correctly determine the highest point on the dog’s back A book or any flat object should be positioned parallel to a hard surface. It is noteworthy that the growth of the animal undergoes changes if dogs of different breeds were bred when receiving the puppies. In dogs that do not have a breed, their growth can be large or, on the contrary, small. In purebred dogs, the height at the withers must correspond to the established breed standards.
Growth of dogs of various breeds (examples)
A dog's withers: where it is and how to measure it
Today there are a huge variety of dog breeds in the world. When purchasing a purebred pet, you can predict its size as an adult. Unfortunately, this rule cannot be applied to outbred animals, since height is one of the inherited qualities.
It is customary to classify dogs into:
- dwarf;
- small;
- average;
- large (large);
- gigantic.
Dwarf breeds
A dwarf breed is considered to be if the height at the withers does not exceed 25-30 cm. Usually the weight of such dogs does not exceed 4-5 kg. Miniature dogs are excellent for keeping in small apartments. They do not require long walks and can easily tolerate long stays at home alone.
Dwarf breeds
Despite their ultra-small stature, pets require careful attention and careful care. As a rule, these four-legged friends have a high life expectancy. Among these kids there are real long-livers.
Note! Dwarf breeds include the Yorkshire Terrier, Rabbit Dachshund, Shih Tzu, Chihuahua, Pomeranian Spitz, Prague Rat, Japanese Chin, Toy Terrier, etc.
Small dogs
Small dog breeds are those whose height at the withers ranges from 30 to 40 cm. The weight of these dogs usually does not exceed 5-10 kg. The dogs are friendly and human-oriented. They are excellent companions and will happily go with their owner on a hike, long walk, jog or on a trip abroad.
Both apartments and country houses are suitable for keeping small breed dogs. However, under no circumstances should these pets be kept in open enclosures or outdoor dog houses.
Note! Small breeds include the standard dachshund, French bulldog, Jack Russell terrier, King Charles spaniel, Biewer, Brussels griffon, Scotch terrier, etc.
Medium breeds
Medium breeds of dogs usually have a height at the withers of 40 to 55 cm. Their weight rarely exceeds 25 kg. Medium-sized dogs are the most common breeds because they can live both in a private house and in an apartment. As a rule, representatives of medium breeds are highly trainable, get along well with children and other animals, and can be irreplaceable companions on long walks and travels.
Note! Medium breeds include Basenji, Beagle, Husky, Puli (Hungarian Shepherd), Russian Spaniel, Whippet, Sheltie, Miniature Schnauzer, Shiba Inu, English Bulldog, Welsh Corgi, etc.
Large breeds
Large dog breeds are those whose height at the withers ranges from 55 to 75 cm. The weight of these four-legged friends usually ranges from 25 to 55 kg. These dogs do not feel entirely comfortable in a city apartment, so it is better to keep them in a country house. Most dogs are bred for hunting, guarding or other service needs.
Despite their impressive size and often ferocious appearance, these purebred dogs have a good-natured disposition and a stable psyche. Unfortunately, large dogs do not have a high life expectancy.
Note! Large dog breeds include Doberman, German Shepherd, Dalmatian, Golden Retriever, Akita Inu, Bernese Mountain Dog, Airedale Terrier, etc.
Measuring large dogs
Giant breeds
There are a number of dog breeds whose height at the withers can reach 75 cm and weight exceed 55 kg. Such breeds are grouped into the “giant” category. Such a dog should be kept exclusively on private property, where the pet will not be restricted in its movements. Since extra-large dogs often have health problems, in particular with joints, they usually live no more than 10 years.
Note! Giant dog breeds include the St. Bernard, Great Dane, Tibetan Mastiff, Leonberger, Irish Wolfhound, Alabai, Caucasian Shepherd, Pakistani Bulldog, etc.
Universal measurement rules
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To avoid mistakes, you need to understand how to measure a dog's height. There are rules that exclude the possibility of error:
- The dog should be measured on an empty stomach.
- The dog should not be stressed. To do this, the dog must be given time to sniff the instrument.
- The pet must be on a flat, stable surface.
To obtain the most accurate results, it is better to use the help of a person who is familiar to the dog. In this case, one holds the dog motionless, and the other takes the measurement.
How to correctly measure a dog's height at the withers
How is a dog's height measured and with what tools? For this purpose, the canine service recommends using a special tool - a height meter, rulers and a pencil.
Height meter
To measure a small dog, it is enough to place one ruler on the withers area so that it is perpendicular to the back, and attach the second ruler to the first so that it is located at right angles to the floor and to the ruler on the back.
A large pet can be measured in two ways. The first is that a stadiometer is used - a special device that is a vertically standing plastic ruler and a measuring slider. In this case, the furry friend is placed next to the device and his height at the withers is measured using a slider.
The second method is also called “childish”. It involves placing the dog near the door frame on which, using a long pencil, a mark is placed at the level of the withers. After this, all that remains is to measure the height from the floor to the mark.
Dog withers: what is it and how to find it
The withers are a section of the spine located between the shoulder blades of four-legged animals. As a rule, for many animal species this is the highest point of the body. It is from the withers that height is measured in dogs and horses. The withers in dogs are formed from five vertebrae of the spine.
Why does a pet owner need to know where the animal’s withers are? The answer is quite simple: any measurements of an animal are usually taken from this point. In addition, many medications are applied specifically to this area of the back. The fact is that this area of the back is literally penetrated by a network of small vessels, and this allows medications to be well absorbed. Most often, injections are given in the withers area or anti-flea and tick medications are applied. The photo below gives a detailed explanation of how to determine the position of the withers.
Taking measurements to purchase a baby carrier
Every pet breeder sooner or later faces the question of purchasing a carrier.
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Important! In order for the dog to feel comfortable on the road, it is necessary to select a shipping container in accordance with the dimensions of the tailed pet.
The main criterion that a carrier must meet is the ability for the dog to stand inside it at full height and turn 360 degrees. To make the right choice, you should measure your pet not only in height, but also in length, excluding the tail.
Necessary parameters for selecting accessories
When choosing clothes for your pet, you need to correctly determine its size. A mistake can lead to the fact that the chosen clothing will restrict the dog’s movements or dangle on it, causing irritation. This may cause the dog to completely refuse to wear the carefully chosen warm overalls.
To select dog accessories, you may need to not only measure the dog's height at the withers, but also chest circumference, neck circumference, head circumference and waist circumference. If you purchase socks or shoes, you will also need the circumference of the pastern and the size of the paw. In the production of dog accessories, there are a number of size tables that make the choice much easier for the owner. These tables are organized by breed and category.
Dog measurements for choosing accessories
When choosing accessories and clothing for miniature pets, you should focus on a separate size chart. The most commonly used table is provided by the famous brand ForMyDogs. The size range in it ranges from 8 to 20. At the same time, there are 2 additional sub-sizes - 10/chh and 12/chh. They assume the presence of two additional centimeters in chest volume with a standard back length.
Measurements when purchasing a harness
It is best to take measurements using a meter used for sewing clothes. Such a measuring object is convenient because it can be used to take measurements of the dog’s neck and other parts of the body. Measurements for purchasing a special dog harness should be taken so that the sewing meter does not sag.
Harnesses for non-sled dogs have 3 measurements:
- from the point of the withers to the tail;
- measurement of the sternum at the widest point behind the forelimbs;
- neck volume.
Harnesses used for riding purposes have 2 main points:
- length from the highest point on the withers to the base of the sternum between the forelimbs;
- length from the very base of the sternum to the base of the tail.
Taking measurements to purchase a riding harness must be very accurate. This is due to the fact that during the ride, the dog should not be disturbed or rubbed by anything. A human palm must pass between the harness and the animal's body . This is a necessary measure to prevent restriction of movement.
If the measurements are taken incorrectly, the harness may begin to press and the dog will feel discomfort. As a result, prolonged use of an incorrectly selected harness leads to spinal disorders in the dog, and its spine will begin to deform. The components of the harness should not cause discomfort to the dog; the rivets and fasteners must be very strong, since during active movements they can come off, digging into the animal’s skin.
Why do you need to measure your dog several times?
How to measure a dog at the withers to get the most accurate result? To do this, you will need to measure your four-legged friend at least three times. This is due to the fact that even a slight deflection of the dog’s pasterns can significantly distort the results. Therefore, it is advisable to carry out several measurements with an interval of 2-4 minutes.
Determining the exact size of a dog at the withers is like writing your beloved pet a pass to the world of high canine fashion, breed shows and sporting competitions.
