What Size Harness for Staffordshire Bull Terrier?

As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.

Are you looking for a harness for your Staffordshire that fits him well? Well, then don’t forget to check out my master guide on what size harness for Staffordshire Bull terrier should you use for training.

What Size Harness for Staffordshire Bull Terrier?

A staffy harness makes it possible for your dog to stroll comfortably without choking. It’s also more secure than a collar because the dog can’t get out of it, which can aid training.

Graphic image of a Staffordshire Bull Terrier with a text explaining how tight Staffy harnesses should be

It’s a simple design with extra loops that wrap around the torso and join with connecting straps.

This prevents the dog from choking and ensures that the remainder of the animal’s body is supported equally.

There are more traditional collars, yet they pose a severe risk of damage, such as:

  • Collars
  • Harnesses Collars

Choke collars have been phased out, and dog collars are no exception. Thus, you should consider the thought of getting a harness before you buy one for your Staffordshire.

Continue reading to learn how to measure your dog for the best fit.

Steps in Measuring Harness Size for Staffordshire Bull Terriers

StepsActions
Step 1Command your dog to stand still
Step 2Measure all around the chest, behind the front legs, and the broadest area of the chest
Step 3Measure around the base of the neck, where a regular collar would be
Step 4For the topline, measure your dog’s spine up to the end of its tail
Step 5Weigh your dog using a weighing scale
Step 6Check the brand’s appropriate size for your dog’s measurements and weight

Measuring the Size of a Staffy Dog Harness

You can take your Staffordshire to a place like a pet’s home, where the person will measure your dog for free. If you’re buying a dog harness online, make sure you size your dog first. Use an adjustable fabric measuring tape. Stand your dog on flat ground and measure the dimensions with the help of a friend or relative.

To accurately measure your dog, follow the quick and straightforward guidelines below.

Staffordshire bull terrier dog swimming in the water

How to Measure the Chest of Your Dog

The circumference around the most comprehensive section of your dog’s chest is the chest measurement.

To get an exact chest measurement on a dog, follow these steps:

  1. Command your dog to remain silent. If he’s nervous or jumps around a lot, use some goodies to reward him for standing still for a few seconds before moving on to the next phase.
  2. Measure all around the chest, behind the front legs, and the broadest area of the chest, with the tape measure or string. The ribbon or tape should be flat but not too tight against the dog.
  3. If you’re using a string, measure the distance between the start of a string and the end of the string with a flat scale.

Note: A chest measurement obtained while your dog is lying down would not be accurate.

Measure the Length of a Dog’s Neck

You can get quite varied answers depending on where you measure around the neck. To achieve an exact neck measurement, measure your dog’s neck roughly where a standard collar would fall.

To get an accurate neck reading on a dog, follow these steps:

American Staffordshire wearing a collar
  1. Command your dog to stand calmly. Reward this calm behavior later with a good treat.
  2. Take a tape measure or a string and wrap it around the base of the neck, where a regular collar would be.
  3. If you’re using a string, measure the distance between the end of the string and the remainder of the string with a flat measuring scale.
  4. Keep track of your measurements in both centimeters and inches.

Measure Your Dog’s Topline

The topline or rear measurement of your dog is also called the length of your dog.

The top line measurement isn’t a must. Moreover, most manufacturers hardly ask for the topline measurement for delivering the respective harness. However, a few of them still take the length of the staffy, so it is better to have the dimension on paper beforehand.

Topline refers to the length of the dog from the end of its tail to the lower end of the neck (the area where you put the collar).

To have an accurate measurement, make your doggo stand on flat ground with its features lined up properly (make sure it is not stooping sideways.)

Staffordshire bull Terrier dog wearing a party hat

How to measure a dog’s topline with accuracy? The steps are as follows:

  1. Command your dog to stand still in its place. If your staffy is being non-cooperative, then use positive reinforcement to make things work.
  2. Next, using a measuring tape, follow your dog’s spine till the end of its tail. For better accuracy, take multiple readings and take the average of all of them.

How to Weigh Your Dog

When it comes to weighing a dog, you can use several methods.

Generally, a rough estimation is taken in pounds to find the right size of the harness. However, if you know your staffy’s current weight or remember it from the previous vet appointment, then it will help you land the right sized harness quickly.

Here are the ways to find out how much your dog weighs:

  1. To find the weight of your dog, use a bathroom scale and place it on the floor.
  2. Make your dog stand on the bathroom scale and take the value.
  3. Next, round up this value to its nearest pound.
  4. Pick up your dog and re-enter the weighing room. Repeat the same process in step 3.
  5. To determine how much your dog weighs, subtract your weight from your combined weight (from step 3).

Here is a detailed video on how you can measure your dog for the harness.

How to Measure Your Dog for a Harness

Related Questions

Are Staffordshire Bull Terriers Small or Medium Dogs?

A Staffordshire Bull Terrier is generally a medium-sized dog. You can use this to check if a brand’s harness would suit your pet.

How to Pick the Best Harness for Staffordshire Bull Terriers?

You must measure your Staffordshire Bull Terrier’s girth to ensure that the harness fits properly. You should also consider the material and adjustability.

What Are the Benefits of Putting on a Harness on a Staffy?

Among the benefits of putting on a harness on a Staffy are preventing your dog from slipping out and avoiding injury when it pulls the leash. A harness can also help control your pet as you teach commands or tricks.

Conclusion

Harnesses are a perfect fit for short-term training, however; you might know that the pet business lacks a sizing standard. One manufacturer considers “medium” maybe “small” by another. 

Take measurements and observe how it fits the dog as it walks and runs.

To avoid choking the dog, the D-ring must be tight and centered. The pressure from the leash can be concentrated at the harness’s neck if the D-ring is positioned incorrectly.