Size Guide
Two minutes with a tape measure saves a return and a fortnight of your dog sleeping on the floor. Everything on this page is measured the same way, in cm first, with lbs and inches in brackets. If you're between two sizes on anything, size up — and if you'd rather just ask me, the email at the bottom comes straight to me.
How to measure your dog
Length, nose to tail
Wait until they're lying stretched out on their side. Measure from the tip of the nose to the base of the tail — not the tail tip. Add 15cm.
Chest girth
Round the deepest part of the chest, just behind the front legs. Two fingers should slide under the tape. This is the one that decides harness size.
Back length
Standing up, from the base of the neck where a collar sits to the base of the tail. Coats and the Dorset Explorer are cut to this figure.
| Size | External (cm) | Sleeping area (cm) | Suits | Typical breeds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Small | 62 × 46 × 20 | 48 × 34 | Up to 7kg | Chihuahua, Yorkshire Terrier, Dachshund |
| Medium | 76 × 54 × 26 | 60 × 42 | 7 – 14kg | Cocker Spaniel, Beagle, Shih Tzu |
| Large | 90 × 62 × 34 | 72 × 48 | 14 – 20kg | Border Collie, Springer, French Bulldog |
| X-Large | 112 × 74 × 38 | 92 × 58 | 20 – 45kg | Labrador, Retriever, German Shepherd |
| Size | Chest girth (cm) | Neck (cm) | Weight | Typical breeds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| XS | 34 – 43 | 26 – 32 | Up to 6kg | Chihuahua, Toy Poodle |
| S | 43 – 54 | 30 – 38 | 6 – 11kg | Dachshund, Jack Russell, Pug |
| M | 54 – 68 | 36 – 46 | 11 – 20kg | Spaniel, Beagle, Border Collie |
| L | 68 – 84 | 42 – 54 | 20 – 32kg | Labrador, Boxer, Husky |
| XL | 84 – 102 | 48 – 62 | 32kg + | German Shepherd, Rottweiler, Great Dane |
| Size | Back length (cm) | Chest girth (cm) | Neck (cm) | Typical breeds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25cm | 25 | 38 – 46 | 26 – 32 | Chihuahua, Yorkshire Terrier |
| 35cm | 35 | 46 – 58 | 32 – 40 | Dachshund, Pug, Cavalier |
| 45cm | 45 | 58 – 70 | 38 – 48 | Cocker Spaniel, Border Collie |
| 55cm | 55 | 70 – 84 | 44 – 54 | Labrador, Golden Retriever |
| 65cm | 65 | 84 – 100 | 50 – 62 | German Shepherd, Rottweiler |
All measurements are the product's own dimensions, taken flat, with a ±1cm tolerance on soft goods.
Between two sizes?
Beds and coats — go up. Harnesses and collars — go down, then let the adjusters out. A harness that's too big is the one that comes off.
Got it wrong anyway?
30 days to send it back, and I'll swap the size rather than refund if you'd rather. Unused and in the original packaging, that's all I ask.
Just ask me
Send me your dog's breed, weight and the two measurements above and I'll tell you which size I'd order. It comes to my inbox, not a call centre.
Email JosephAdvanced FAQ
My dog is between two bed sizes — which do I order?
Go up. Nobody has ever emailed me to say a bed was too big, and dogs sprawl more as they settle in. The only exception is anxious dogs who like the walls close — then a bolstered bed in the smaller size can genuinely be better.
The harness sizes overlap. Which do I pick?
Go down, then let the adjusters out. A harness that starts at the top of its range has nowhere to go, and a harness that's too loose is the one that comes off over the head.
How do I measure a puppy who won't sit still?
Measure them asleep. Failing that, measure their length while they're eating, and buy for their adult size rather than today's — with a bed you'll only be buying twice otherwise.
Do the coats fit deep-chested breeds like Greyhounds?
The Dorset Explorer is cut with extra chest girth for a given back length, which is why it works on Greyhounds and Whippets where most coats gape. Measure back length first, then check the girth column.
Are the measurements the product or the dog?
Every table on this page lists the product's own dimensions, measured flat, ±1cm on soft goods. The "Suits" and "Typical breeds" columns are the dog.
— Joseph, The Big Pet Shop, Bacup, Lancashire 🐾