How to measure your dog

At Happy Muzzle Co, we want every dog to feel safe, comfortable, and confident in their muzzle. That starts with a great fit.

This simple guide will walk you through exactly how to measure your dog.

1) Snout length

📏 How to measure:

  • Place the start of your tape just in front of your dog’s eyes
  • Measure in a straight line to the tip of their nose
  • Make sure the tape runs flat (no curves)

2) Snout width

📏 How to measure:

  • Find the widest part of your dog’s snout (usually near the base)
  • Measure straight across, side to side
  • Keep the tape flat, no bending around the snout
  • DO NOT include the cheeks

3) Pant height

📏 How to measure:

  • Wait until your dog is panting naturally (or gently encourage with a toy or light play)
  • Measure from the tip of their nose down to the bottom of their jaw, in a straight line (include the jowls if your dog has them)
  • Don't worry if you're struggling to get this, we can recommend a pant height based on our experience

4) Head length

📏 How to measure:

  • Measure from the tip of your dog’s nose to just under their ear
  • You measure to just where the ear starts, not behind it.
  • This should be a straight line measurement.

5) Neck circumference

📏 How to measure:

  • Measure around your dog’s neck, just behind the ears
  • The collar of the muzzle will sit slightly higher than a regular collar
  • Keep the tape flat and snug against the fur

Our top measuring tips

1) Start with a soft measuring tape or ruler. Top tip: you can use a string (or similar) and a ruler instead of a soft measuring tape.

2) We prefer you to take your measurements in centimetres (cm). It keeps everything consistent and helps us get the best possible fit for your dog’s muzzle.

3) Take each measurement twice. Dogs move, tails wag, and noses wiggle. Measuring twice gives you peace of mind that your numbers are spot on.

4) Make sure you’re measuring in straight lines, not around curves. It might feel tempting to follow the shape of your dog’s face, but keeping it straight will give us the most accurate fit.

5) Try to keep your dog as calm and still as possible. The more relaxed they are, the quicker and easier the process will be.

If your dog finds it tricky to stay still...

🐾 Focus on one measurement at a time. You do not need to get everything done in a single sitting.

🐾 Spread the process across the day if your dog is restless. Little by little works just as well as doing it all at once.

🐾 Reward your dog with high-value treats such as small pieces of cheese or chicken to keep them motivated and happy.

🐾 Smear a little peanut butter or their favourite safe spread on a plate, spoon or lick mat so they can enjoy a tasty distraction while you measure.

🐾 Ask a friend or family member to lend a hand. One person can gently hold or distract your dog while the other takes the measurements.

With a little patience (and a few tasty bribes), measuring can be smooth, stress-free, and maybe even fun for you and your pup.

We’re always here to help

Not sure how to measure?

If you have questions, aren’t sure if you’ve measured right, or want us to check your measurements, we’re here.

You can also tell us all about your dog and we’ll be happy to recommend sizing based on our experience.

Reach out anytime and we’ll always do our best to help.

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