How to Measure Your Dog for Our Dog Harnesses

• Measuring for Nordkyn X-Back & Shoulder Harnesses
• Measuring for Nordkyn Weight Pull & Carting Harnesses
• Measuring for Canadog X-Back & Shoulder Harnesses
• Custom Harness
• Colours & Padding
• Exchanges
• Harness Care
• Size Chart
• Measuring for Dog Boots

Please note this guide is approximate measurements based on our experience and that of our suppliers. Experience has taught us that there are a great deal of body types and sizes which do not fit into the specifics listed. If you have any questions regarding the measurements of your dog, please email us. We'll try to source exactly what you need!

Measuring for X-Back Harness

 

Neck - Measure from just ahead of the withers at the base of the neck to the top of the breastbone, then double this measurement. Work the tape under the fur, pull it snug, but not stretched. Measure the dog, not the fur! Measure only one side of the dog, then double the measurement. Wrapping the tape measure all the way around the neck may distort the measurement.
Neck fit is critical. When properly fitted, where the webbing crosses at the "Y" below the neck , the webbing should cross right on the breastbone. At the same time you are holding the webbing in place on the breastbone, check to see that the webbing in the "Y" at the top of the neck crosses where the neck joins the withers (shoulder blades). The padded neck fits snugly around the dogs shoulders, distributing the force evenly. The basic design is hundreds of years old, but improved by modern materials. Harness neck size must fit correctly. Too large, and the harness will slip, rub, or interfere with movement; too small, and it will cut, bruise, or choke.

Tail - Start tape at top of breastbone. Pass between front legs, then up around rib cage to base of tail. Lift tail to feel join.
Check fit of tail length by pulling on webbing to see if the webbing will come to the base of the tail. Webbing should not come to the base of the tail unless there is tension against it. The more coat the dog has, the more tension is required.

Measuring for a dog shoulder harness requires only one measurement, the neck. This is explained above in measuring your dog for an X-Back harness.

Measuring for Nordkyn Weight Pull & Carting Harnesses

Measuring for Weight Pull or Carting Harness is exactly the same as measuring for an X-Back harness (see above) but we require one more measurement, the Rear:

Rear - Start tape at top of breastbone, pass between front legs, following the line of the center of the ribs, then to back of thigh ( this will be the position of the spreader bar).

Weight Pull and Carting Harnesses are custom made and not held in stock.  Please be sure of your measurements before you place your order as custom harnesses are non-refundable.

Measuring for Canadog X-Back and Shoulder Harnesses

Measuring for the Canadog harnesses is the same to that of the Nordkyn harnesses.  We still require the neck measurement, and the tail measurement as shown in the diagram below:

Neck - (A-B) Breast Bone (B) to Withers (A). Work the tape under the fur, pull it snug, but not stretched. Measure the dog, not the fur! Measure only one side of the dog then double the measurement. Wrapping the tape measure all the way around the neck may distort the measurement.

Tail - (A-C) Withers (A) to base of tail (C), Start tape at top and centre of withers along the spine to the base of the tail. Lift tail to feel join. . Measure the dog, not the fur!

Canadog Shoulder harnesses require the following measurements: A-B Neck Measurement.

Canadog Shoulder Harnesses are custom made and not held in stock.  Please be sure of your measurements before you place your order as custom harnesses are non-refundable.

Custom Harness

If you are ordering custom fit harnesses, please allow 3-4 weeks for them to be made. Custom sizes are not returnable or refundable. Please contact us with your measurements and padding/colour requirements and we will let you know the price and expected delivery. As a guide, custom harnesses are between £25.00 and £40.00 depending on the size and style.

Custom harnesses are available in the Nordkyn X-Back design, Canadog X-Back Design, Nordkyn Shoulder Harness and Nordkyn Weight Pull and Nordkyn Carting Harness

Colours & Padding

Colours

Nordkyn Harness Colours - Medium weight harness webbing available in red, royal, black, navy, light blue, turquoise, green, teal, florescent green, purple, burgundy, florescent pink, florescent orange, yellow, or silver.  Other colours may be available on request. Please see the below image to show Nordkyn webbing colours.

ManMatColours - Medium weight harness webbing available in red, blue, brown, green, paw blue, paw red, reflective blue, m-red and m-blue.  Please see the below image to show ManMat webbing colours.

Canadog Harness Colours - *RIPSTOP FABRIC COMES IN BLACK ONLY* Color option available for webbing only. Available in Blue, Red, Black (not shown), Navy, Green, Purple, Aztec, Chilli, Gecko, Bones

Padding

(Padding option only available on Nordkyn Harnesses). The standard padding on all Nordkyn harnesses, unless otherwise stated or requested is Type F: Polar Fleece.

Harness padding does two things; it keeps the webbing from cutting or chafing your dog, and it provides some cushion to prevent bruising.

• TYPE N: Super Plush-synthetic pile is furry nap with woven backing, good cushion, wears well, doesn't pill, machine washable.
• TYPE F: Polar Fleece (Polar Tec 300) - quick drying Dacron polyester synthetic, good insulator because it holds a lot of air, resists water absorption. Machine washable.
• TYPE P: Neoprene-closed-cell foam, with nylon sheathing, virtually indestructible padding that provides extra cushion for heavy pulling. Resists water absorption, resists freezing to approximately -30 even if wet. Machine washable.
• TYPE S: Sheepskin padding offers extra cushion and protection particularly when the temperature drops below zero. While not guaranteed machine-washable, the thick sheepskin wool retains enough lanolin and other oils to protect it, and to cause it to age by curling around the edge of the webbing. It wears extremely well. Particularly suitable for short-coated dogs.
• TYPE R: Rip stop over Closed Cell foam-closed cell foam encased in rip stop nylon, resists water absorption, resists freezing, lighter than neoprene, machine washable.
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 Exchanges 

We want our products to fit properly. If you need help determining a correct fit, please email us and we will try to help you check the fit. If any standard size product isn't right, send it back to us in a new condition within ten days. Please do not write on the equipment before trying it on your dog. We'll gladly exchange the product. Exchanges of new products are free of charge, but you must include payment for return delivery. PLEASE LET US KNOW IF YOU ARE RETURNING AN ITEM PRIOR TO SENDING IT BACK.

Custom harnesses cannot be returned or exchanged, so please be sure of measurements before ordering.

 

Harness Care

Our harnesses are machine washable, here is a quick care guide:

• Do not store where continually wet.
• Try to prevent freezing.
• Do not dry over a fire to avoid shrinkage.
• Wash in lukewarm or cold water and drip dry.
• Do not tumble dry!

 

Size Guide

This size guide shows how all our harness sizes relate to each other (for x-backs the first number is the neck (A-B) measurement, the 2nd is breast bone to tail (B-C)). If you have any questions, then please do not hesitate in contacting us. "Short" harnesses refer to shoulder harnesses.

 

Measuring for Dog Boots

Boots are built to secure around the ankle, but below the carpal pad. The boot should have room in the paw area, allowing the paw to spread when bearing weight.

Measuring Paw Width

• Have your dog stand on a firm surface (wood, linoleum, or concrete).
• Place a piece of blank paper under a front paw.
• Lift the dog's other front paw so that its weight is placed firmly on the paw being measured.
• Mark the paper at the paw's widest point on the left and right edges of the paw (see graphic).
• 
• Use a ruler to measure the width of the paw (in inches) from the left mark to the right mark.
• Use the chart to determine the proper size.
• If your dog is between sizes, then choose the larger size for comfort and performance.