What is a dog's withers?
In anatomy, a dog's withers is the area of the body located at the junction of its neck (or neckline) and its back, along its spine. The withers is more precisely at the top of his shoulder blades.
This anatomical landmark is traditionally used to measure (or gauge) quadrupeds.
How to measure a dog at the withers?
Professionals in the canine world generally have a measuring rod to measure dogs at the withers. They then place their tool just behind the dog's leg to perform their measurement.
If you don't have a height chart, it is still possible to measure your dog easily and fairly accurately in 4 steps. Just take a tape measure, a spirit level and a pencil.
Step n°1: put your dog in a static position
Start by standing your dog parallel to a wall or other flat surface, making sure your pet is standing straight and looking straight ahead. Its four legs should be placed flat on the ground, straight and spaced out as naturally as possible. This position is called static exposure position.
Step 2: locate the tourniquet
By feeling your pet's back, locate the withers, that is to say the highest part of his shoulder blades at the junction of his neck and his back.
Step 3: make a mark
Then, place a spirit level (or failing that, a piece of wood, ensuring that it is placed as horizontally as possible) at the height of your dog's withers against the wall. Make a mark on your wall where the bottom of the level touches the wall using your pencil.
Step 4: measure!
Using your tape measure, all you have to do is measure from the ground to your landmark to find out the height at the withers of your animal.
