How to measure your dog in a Lying Down pose, for a customised statue commission

When possible, I enjoy visiting clients to personally measure their dogs for bespoke commissions. However, if you live far away or might want a statue in the future, it’s helpful to take measurements of your own dog. Here’s a guide to measuring them while lying down:

  • Teamwork setup:
    • One person holds the dog while another measures.
    • Take a few photos of your dog in pose. These photos will help make sense of your measurements later.
    • A third person can record measurements with a pencil for convenience.
  • Preparation tips:
    • Some dogs may feel uneasy around measuring tools, especially near their face.
    • Use small treats and desensitize them to the tools beforehand to help them relax.
    • Only take measurements that your dog allows comfortably.
  • Measurement notes:
    • Metric measurements in millimetres (mm) are preferred.
    • For approximate measurements, indicate with “about” (e.g., “about 110 mm”) or a range (e.g., “115-125 mm”).
  • Tools required:
    • Callipers
    • Flexi tape
    • Measuring tape
    • Pencil with eraser
    • Printed measurement list (downloadable below)

    Printable Measuring guide – lying down pose (tanyarussell.com)

    Widest visible width of head just below eyes, (use callipers):

    – measure from the bottom of the ears, near the cheeks, if your dog has pricked ears – don’t lift the ears if your dog has floppy ears, only measure from the widest point you can see. 

    Width between ear tips, (use callipers):

    – measure between the lowest tufts of hair on the ears

     

    Height from highest point of head to ground, (use measuring tape):

     

    Nose to back of head, (use callipers):

    – measure from the bone visible at the back of the head, to the end of the nose

    Nose to front of ear, (use callipers):

    – measure from further point forward that the ear emerges from the head, to the end of the nose

    Around the neck, (use flexi tape):

    – measure above the place the collar would sit all around the neck, under the ears, without pulling tight and distorting the neck

    Nose to closest corner of eye, (use callipers):

    – measure from tip of nose to the inside corner of the eye

    Furthest out tuft of hair on chest to base of tail, (use callipers or flexi tape):

    Tip of front paws to dog’s bottom, (use measuring tape):

    – measure along the ground

    Widest point of eyes, (use callipers):

    – keep fingertips over the sharp points your callipers, many dogs will not let you measurements around the eyes

    Widest point of ears, (use callipers):

    – This will be the widest point of the head

     
    Shoulder where the shoulder scapula meets the humerus to top of tail, (use callipers):
    – You can usually feel the top of the shoulder blade if you can’t see it, then worj 

    Tip of back toe to heel joint, (use callipers):

    Collar to base of the tail, (use flexi tape):

    Widest point of the shoulders, (use callipers):
    – Measure the widest point of the dog’s front quarter, usually the most protruding muscle of each shoulder, or the hair that sticks out in that area on a furry dog

    Length of tail in pose, (use flexi tape):

    Width of head between top of ears, (use callipers):
    – Measure between the base of each ear where it meets the top of the head

    Tuft on chest (sternum notch) to under tail, (use flexi tape):
    – For unusual poses, such as if the dog is being commissioned in a rolled over pose, then this measurement is helpful

    How to use callipers:

    Callipers are useful for measuring distances between two points, especially when something in between would typically block an accurate measurement. For instance, measuring the width of a dog’s shoulders with a tape measure can be challenging because the dog’s body gets in the way. Callipers provide accuracy because, once the distance is set between their arms, they hold their position firmly and don’t move unless you apply intentional pressure.

     

    • Place an open measuring tape on the ground nearby.

    • Use the callipers by pulling the arms apart to approximately match the expected measurement.

    • Slowly bring the callipers toward the dog (rewarding with treats) and adjust the arms to measure the distance, ensuring the points are correctly positioned.

    • Once set, move the callipers to the measuring tape to read the distance between the points, and record this measurement.

    • When measuring near the dog’s face, cover the calliper points with your fingers to avoid accidental contact with their eyes.