Things You'll Need
- Measuring tape
Instructions
Coax your dog to stand up as straight as possible. You will not achieve an accurate measurement if your dog is laying down, sitting, sniffing the ground or doing anything other than standing straight.
Place the tip of your tape measure on your dog's spine at the point on its neck where its collar rests. Hold the tip in place with one hand.
Lay the measuring tape straight across your dog's back, following its spine, until you reach the point where its tail meets its body.
Read the measurement on the tape where your dog's tail begins. This measurement -- which is significantly less than the nose-to-tail-tip measurement would be -- is your dog's length.