All about the size of dogs: varieties and methods of measurement

Depending on the size, there are several varieties of dogs in the world: dwarf, small, medium, large and giant. Each of the dog breeds is characterized by individual dimensions in terms of height at the withers, weight, chest depth. In this article, you will learn all about the size of dogs, as well as how to measure these pets.

Before moving on to the rules for determining the size of your pet, it is necessary to understand in more detail the reasons why this procedure is not only useful, but also necessary.

• Regularly measuring your dog's size will allow you to easily monitor your pet's health: for his physical development and his current state of health. This will allow you to quickly determine the treatment and form the diet with the development of, for example, obesity.

• Each purebred individual must obey the classification and foundations of its standard. It is the breed standard of the International Cynological Federation (or ICF) that determines the suitability of an individual for a particular breed of dog. With this knowledge, you can be sure whether your individual fits the standard or not - this will determine its future as a show or working breed.

• If you intend to represent your pet in competitions in the future, using sizing you can roughly find out possible indicators of his jump. In particular, this applies to competitions with overcoming an obstacle course on a specially built site.

• Often inexperienced owners and breeders come to pet stores behind carriers for their animals and cannot find the right size and dimensions solely because of an elementary ignorance of the size of his dog. Such a thing as a carrier is simply necessary for hairless and small breeds, as well as when moving a pet in public transport.

• Many of the dog breeds have too short coatwhich cannot protect them from extreme cold and moisture while walking. In the cold season, such dogs should be dressed up in special blankets or clothes, for the correct selection of which it is also necessary to know the approximate size of your dog.

Some breeders believe that the size of the dog is this is only the height at the withers and weight, however, this includes some other indicators:

• chest depth - the distance from the withers to the lowest point of the sternum;
• body length - the distance from the beginning of the sternum to the very croup;
• back length - distance from the withers to the beginning of the tail;
• neck length - vertical distance from withers to crown.

Even the owners who had more than 2 or 3 dogs sometimes have no idea what the withers are and where they are in the pet. In addition to the fact that the withers are a reference point and starting point for measuring the height of a dog, knowing its location will be useful in other cases.

• Some time after the birth of a purebred individual, all puppies are exposed to compulsory vaccination, as well as treatment with insecticidal agents. This helps to protect the young growing body from parasites, infections and serious diseases. The fact is that all such vaccinations are carried out precisely in the area near the withers. The withers are considered the most suitable place for vaccinations - in this area the skin is the least sensitive, and there is also a kind of skin pocket in which the entire dose of the drug is placed.

• When choosing a collar and other accessories for your dog, it is the withers that are decisive in determining the right accessory.

• When puppies are born, bitches take them by the withers for transfer to another place (in everyday language this place is called "scruff"). This place is the least painful for dogs, so even owners are advised to transfer puppies exclusively in this way. It is believed that when carried by the withers, puppies feel as safe as possible.

The next task that will stand in front of you is to find this very withers.

Instructions for detecting the withers will be located below:

• place your hands, palms down, on your pet's shoulders and press them firmly against the pet's body;
• with slow but gradual movements, slide your hands (without breaking away or releasing the pressure) over the skin of the animal until one or several folds form in front;
• move your hands forward until they stop in the area of ​​the shoulder blades;
• the fold that is formed by such manipulations with the skin is the nape, and this, in turn, is the skin surface just above the withers.

Also, to find the withers, you can use any object that is flat and heavy enough (to put pressure on the coat). Most often, this role is played by a small book.

The growth of the dog at the withers - this is the perpendicular distance from the place of support (surface - floor, ground) to the point of convergence of the animal's neck and shoulder blades. In simple terms, the withers are the highest place on the body of the animal.

When measuring the size of any dog, there are a number of rules to follow to make this process easier.

• The best tool for measuring a dog is a regular measuring stick (wood, plastic, or metal). She gives the most correct results, while the same tape measure or "meter" usually downsizes the dog by a few centimeters.
• The measurement is carried out not once, but 3 or 4. This is necessary to compare the results, as well as to determine the average between them. Measurements are taken in an interval of 1-2 minutes, the result obtained (summed up and divided by the number of measurements) is the height of your dog.
• All show breeds of show-class dogs must be trained in a special command, which involves the adoption of a certain static posture by the dog in order to correctly determine the size.
• For the measurements to be determined correctly, keep the dog busy for the duration of the measurements (give a treat or a new toy). Ideally, two people should participate in the measurements - one of them will fix the dog in the desired position and make sure that it is not distracted, and the other will take the measurement itself.
• Make sure your pet stands on a perfectly level surface while measuring. For small and medium-sized breeds of dogs, it is worth choosing a way to measure growth with a tape measure or a measuring stick. To make such a measurement more objective, it is worth using two long and rigid rulers for it. One of them is placed horizontally on the back of the dog, and the second is measured strictly perpendicular distance from the withers to the floor.

In the ICF standard the main characteristics of appearance for each popular breed are indicated.

Often, dog breeders wonder what size their pet will be when it grows up. To determine the approximate size of a future dog, you should pay attention to the following factors.

• If we are talking about a puppy of a purebred dog, it is enough to look into the breed standard to find out the approximate indicators of its growth in the future. Some standards determine the indicators of the norm for individuals at a certain age.

• When considering your breed standard, keep in mind that adult bitches are generally smaller than males.

• If you are buying a pet from private hands or from a nursery, be sure to inquire about the sizes of your pet's parents. Dogs usually grow up to be about the same size as their parents.

• Determining the size of an animal, when it comes to mestizo, mongrel or so-called yard dogs, is much more difficult. This is often determined by examining the individual's chest, paws, skull and muzzle. You should not be guided by the weight of yard puppies when determining future sizes - it happens that street dogs are often malnourished, and therefore the indicators will be, to put it mildly, incorrect.

• Keep in mind that the body of any dog ​​is fully formed by the year of life.Already by 8-10 months, you have a full-fledged dog in front of you, the dimensions of which in relation to height and length are unlikely to change naturally (withers subsidence, for example, can occur due to some serious diseases).

• The surest way to find out the future size of your pet is to visit an experienced veterinarian. This will almost certainly tell you how your dog will grow up.

For how to measure a dog at the withers, see the next video.