Dog height is measured at the withers --- the highest peak of the dog's shoulder blades. The American Kennel Club sets standard heights for dogs: for Great Danes the male must be at least 30 inches at the shoulders and preferably should be 32 inches or more; the female should be at least 28 inches, but it's preferred that her height be 30 inches or taller. In a dog show, Danes under minimum height are disqualified. A special tool called a wicket is used to measure dogs for the show ring, to get uniform and accurate measurements on all the dogs. Wickets cost a couple hundred dollars, though. If you are curious about the height of your Great Dane but don't require exact show measurements, you can easily measure the dog at home with a few simple tools.
Step 1
Position the dog in on a level surface with one side against a blank wall. Have a helper hold the dog in position if it won't stand still in a stay position.
Step 2
Place a carpenter's level across the dog's withers. Lay the level at the highest point on the dog's shoulders.
Step 3
Rest the level across the dog so it's touching the wall. Adjust the level position until the bubble is directly in the center.
Step 4
Mark the wall at the bottom of the level with a pencil.
Step 5
Move the dog away and use a metal measuring tape to measure from the floor to the pencil mark to get the dog's height.
Items You Will Need
- Pencil
- Carpenter's level
- Metal measuring tape
- Helper