What size harness for a French bulldog?
Short answer: measure your Frenchie's chest girth and match it to the maker's chart. On Ruffwear's chart, 17–22 in is XS, 22–27 in is S and 27–32 in is M (Ruffwear). We couldn't find a published source for typical Frenchie girth, so measure rather than guess.
Ruffwear harness size chart
| Size | Girth (in) |
|---|---|
| XXXS | 9–13 |
| XXS | 13–17 |
| XS | 17–22 |
| S | 22–27 |
| M | 27–32 |
| L | 32–36 |
| XL | 36–42 |
How to measure
Wrap a tailor's tape, or a string you then measure, around the widest part of the rib cage just behind the front legs (Ruffwear).
Frenchie crate and bed, for reference
AKC lists the French Bulldog at up to 28 lb (AKC). That's a 30" crate on MidWest's chart, which names the French Bulldog under that size (MidWest), and a Small rectangle bed on Orvis's chart (Orvis).
See also French bulldog sizes, the size fit tool and crate size by weight.
FAQ
How do I measure a French bulldog for a harness?
Wrap a soft tape around the widest part of the rib cage, just behind the front legs. Ruffwear sizes its harnesses by this chest girth.
What if my Frenchie is between harness sizes?
Ruffwear says a growing puppy that is between sizes should go up to the larger one.
Can I pick a harness size from weight alone?
No. Ruffwear sizes by chest girth, not weight, and AKC doesn't list a girth for the breed. Measure your dog.
Terms used here
- Budget, mid, premium: picks grouped by the maker's own list price, lowest to highest. Budget is everyday basics (a crate, collars, a light harness, boots), mid is padded walking and lift-assist harnesses, premium is specialty gear (a life jacket, a car harness, travel beds). No store prices are shown.
- Chest girth: the distance around the widest part of the rib cage, just behind the front legs. Harnesses are sized by it.
- Back length: base of the neck to base of the tail. A crate should be at least 4 in longer.
- Paw width: the widest part of the front paw while standing. Boots are sized by it.
- Weight band: the weight range a crate or bed size is made for on the maker's chart.