Boston terriers are a breed of dogs that originated from the United States. These small-sized dogs are brilliant, friendly, and easily trained. And for people who like walking with it’s essential a Boston Terriers harness.
Harnesses are specially designed to control your dog. They disperse pressure over an outside part of the dog’s body, reducing the strain on his neck and its back.
They assist with reminding the dog that they are with you and they need to stay as close as possible. The harness can also be used for various purposes. You can use the harness for safety, guiding purposes, among others.
This article will provide you with tips on how to measure your Boston terrier for a harness correctly. Accurate measurements will help you to get the right harness for your dog.
Requirements
- Tape measure/ ruler and a string.
- Somewhere to record the measurements
- A friend to assist if necessary
Step 1: Preparing your Boston terrier dog
Before beginning to measure your dog, you need to prepare your dog first. You can’t get correct measurements when the dog is lying down. Therefore, you’ll need a comfortable place for your dog.
Put your dog in a standing position and let him or her stand straight. The head should also be in a neutral position. This way, you will be able to wrap around the tape measure.
Some dogs don’t stay still, and you will need an assistant to help you with the measurement. They can help with distracting the dog in a way that the dog keeps still. Choose a comfortable place where the dog won’t be distracted easily. You can do this at the back of your yard or anywhere that’s a flat surface.
Step 2: Taking Measurements
When taking measurements, the following areas are the most vital parts to measure:
- Neck Girth
- Chest Girth
- Back
Choose a flexible tape measure and ensure it has all the right units of measurement. The units should be visible. Tape measures give accurate measurements, but you can use a string and a ruler for measurements too if you don’t have a tape measure. You can wrap around a string on the areas to be measured, mark it, and measure on a ruler. Always note down the measurements somewhere.
1. Measuring the neck girth
Make sure your dog is in an upright position. Take the tape measure and loop it around the circumference of the dog’s neck. The tape measure should be placed from the withers of the dog. Wither is the ridge between the blades of the shoulder to the top of the chest. If you are unsure where the withers are, you can use your fingers to locate them.
Hold the tape measure firmly and then measure around the neck of the dog. Apply the “two-finger rule.” When measuring, avoid wrapping the tape measure too tightly. Place two fingers between the tape measure and the dog’s coat. If your two fingers fit without struggling, then the size is okay for your dog. A snuggling or a tight measurement will make the harness rub against the coat and irritate the skin.
2. Measuring the chest girth
Boston Terriers have a very wide chest, and you need to be accurate with the measurements. A dog’s chest is located behind the front legs, around the rib cage. The measurement goes over the shoulders of your Boston dog. To measure the chest girth, let the dog stand straight. Stand over your dog and loop the tape measure all the way round of his chest.
Use one hand to place the tape measure on his or her spine. The other hand should wrap behind the front legs to the widest part. Consider using the “two-finger rule.” Place your hands where the tape measurement begins. Using your thumb, place it where the wrapped around tape measure meets.
While holding to the place they meet, place your finger under it.
If you struggle to put your finger under it, then it’s too tight, and you need to loosen it. If the finger fits loosely under it, then it seems it snugly.
The space under should be able to fit nicely, you should leave space for adjustment. The size you get as the highest number where they meet is the size of the chest girth.
3. The back of the dog
To measure the back of the dog, place the tape measure from the base of its neck down to the base of the tail. Make sure the dog is standing upright to get correct measurements. If the dog doesn’t stand properly or wiggles, the figures will be distorted.
Write down the measurement where the tape measure meets the end of the spine. It’s always advisable adjusting the measurements of male dogs compared to female dogs.
Things to note
The most important measurements for a harness are usually the neck and the chest. A harness that doesn’t fit well will cause discomfort to your dog. Boston terriers have a thin coat on their bodies, which is very sensitive. Anything that rubs against the coat will irritate, that’s why it must fit. The measurement you get together with the weight of the dog should get you the right harness.
Dog harnesses are usually available in a wide range of sizes. One that fits your dog should have measurements that are in the range of the available sizes. Choose the larger size when the size measurement is in between ranges.
Final Verdict
The right measurements will make you find the best harness for your dog. If the measurement you have taken fits between two sizes, always choose the size that is on the bigger size. If you are on the verge of purchasing a harness, the measurements discussed above will help you one that fits properly. When choosing a harness, get one that best suits your Boston terrier. If you are not buying online, it’s advisable to go to the pet store with your dog.
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