Where is the dog's withers? How to measure your dog's height

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

Determining the place where the dog has withers is not difficult. This is the area between the shoulder blades on top. The highest place on the back. The height of the withers measures the height of the animal. The size of the dog is important for some calculations.

Why does a dog need withers

The withers are a set of muscles and joints of the neck, front paws and back of the dog. These muscles coordinate the motor functions of the animal. The stronger the withers, the better the pet is physically developed. Some service breeds are trained withers, forcing them to carry weights (as, for example, bull terriers and Staffordshire terriers: heavy car tires are hung around their necks). The strength of the withers depends on the strength of the back and legs.

How to measure an animal

In order to measure the height of a pet at the withers at home, you can make a simple device yourself. You will need two wooden blocks, one twenty-five centimeters in size, the other five centimeters. The wooden parts are glued together in the shape of the letter "L". To a bar of shorter length, along it, you need to glue a centimeter tape. For ease of measurement, you can stick a weight on the bottom. Now you have to calldog (it is better to manipulate with an assistant), put the pet in a calm position and put a device on the withers for measuring the long part. It is important that the measuring instrument is positioned strictly vertically.

You can measure the height without special devices. To do this, a centimeter is applied to the pet standing on a flat surface, to the highest point of the shoulder blade, where the withers of the dog are, and the lower part of the measuring tape is lowered to the floor. The result obtained is the height of the animal. If the dog is long-haired, part the hairline to the skin and then apply a measuring tape.

It's even easier to measure your pet's height with a measuring board.

Why do you need to know the height of the dog

Why do you need to know where the dog's withers are? What is the size of the dog for? There are breeds in which height is the main difference. For example, the king poodle, small and toy poodles.

First of all, the parameters of the animal are taken into account at exhibitions, where the height at the withers is the basis for determining many coefficients. For example, the ratio of a dog's length to height (stretch index) is calculated. Massiveness, long-leggedness, long-headedness and other parameters of animals are also calculated. To calculate these values, you need to know the height at the withers. Then, comparing these sizes, the judging panel will find out whether this specimen meets the standard of the required breed. The required dimensions, according to the exterior, can be found in the clubdog breeding or on the Internet.

The exact place on the body where the withers of the dog, the photo below shows quite clearly.

Size matters

If you can determine where the dog's withers are, you can calculate the size of clothing for the pet. Overalls for animals are sewn taking into account their growth and other parameters. A pet carrier is also chosen according to the size of the dog at the withers. The dimensions of the pet are also important for calculating the construction of a booth or aviary. According to the height of the withers and the width of the animal, the entrance to the booth is made.

The withers of a dog, where the shoulder blades are, is the area by which the animal can be grabbed and moved to another place in case of emergency. For example, if you want to put the pet on the table of the veterinarian.

Knowing where the dog has withers is necessary in order to, if necessary, give injections to this area of the body. Some drugs are administered intramuscularly for better absorption and absorption. The subcutaneous tissue in the withers area of a dog is the most inaccessible place for an animal. It cannot be reached with a paw or teeth. Therefore, drops from ticks and fleas are most often applied to the withers. The withers are also a vulnerable area into which blood-sucking insects stick. During competitions of service and hunting dogs, the dimensions of the test animal also matter. The height of the dog for hunting dogs in conformity with the exterior is an important value. Knowing the size at the withers, the judges will find out whether this dog is suitable for training on an animal or not, whether it is worth sending it totests.

Knowing the height of your pet at the withers, the dog breeder will be able to easily care for the pet.