What size harness does an Alaskan Malamute need?
The breed standard puts a Alaskan Malamute at 32–39kg (71–86lb). Published weight guidance gives a shortlist at 6 of 12 charts, including 3 with only one candidate. Chest girth is still needed at every chart.
Measure your dog’s chest
Enter a tape reading to compare the published girth ranges. Weight only helps choose between sizes that already cover that measurement. See where to put the tape.
Around the chest, just behind the front legs. Measuring guide.
Optional. Each fully grown dog of a named breed adds to that breed’s measured chest range, published on its breed page once twenty are in.
Type the chest girth and the size appears for all 12 harnesses — Julius-K9 · Ruffwear · PetSafe · Kurgo · Blue-9 · Rabbitgoo · Puppia · PetSafe 3 in 1 · Dog Friendly Co · PawSafe · Wonder Walker · Top Paw — with where your dog sits inside each size.
Before you order — the two-finger rule · full measuring guide
- Measure the deepest part of the ribcage, just behind the front legs, with the dog standing.
- Two fingers should slide flat under any strap. A whole hand means it is loose enough to reverse out of.
- Snug against the coat, not pulled tight through it — and re-check after a groom.
Ranges are transcribed from each manufacturer’s own chart. See the full conversion chart or how we check these numbers.
Fitting a harness on an Alaskan Malamute
This breed has a very deep and strong chest designed for pulling, accompanied by a dense, heavy double coat. The shoulders are broad and powerful, requiring complete freedom of movement.
A Y-shaped harness is recommended to ensure the pull point is across the chest bone rather than the throat. Padding is beneficial to prevent the straps from cutting into the dog during active use.
Measured a fully grown Alaskan Malamute? Enter the chest in the tool above and set “Fully grown”. At 20 dogs this page shows a range from owners’ actual tape readings.
The weight shortlist matches Rhodesian Ridgeback. The same weight candidates can cover dogs with different chest measurements. Use your own tape reading to choose from the charts.
Weight guidance: a shortlist to check
These labels come from overlap between the breed’s adult weight standard and each chart’s weight guidance. They do not establish your dog’s chest size or guarantee a fit.
| Brand | Weight candidates | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Julius-K9 Maker’s chart · checked 2026-08-19 | 2 | Only 2 has published weight guidance overlapping the breed standard. A shortlist of one still needs your dog's chest measurement; weight does not confirm a fit. |
| Ruffwear Maker’s chart · checked 2026-10-04 | measure | Ruffwear publishes no weight guidance on this chart. Measure your dog's chest to compare its girth ranges. |
| PetSafe Maker’s chart · checked 2026-08-19 | Large | Only Large has published weight guidance overlapping the breed standard. A shortlist of one still needs your dog's chest measurement; weight does not confirm a fit. |
| Kurgo Maker’s chart · checked 2026-08-19 | Large or X-Large | Published weight guidance overlaps the breed standard at Large, X-Large. Measure your dog's chest to check which girth ranges cover it; weight alone cannot choose a size. |
| Blue-9 Maker’s chart · checked 2026-08-19 | measure | Blue-9 publishes no weight guidance on this chart. Measure your dog's chest to compare its girth ranges. |
| Rabbitgoo Maker’s chart · checked 2026-08-28 | measure | Rabbitgoo publishes no weight guidance on this chart. Measure your dog's chest to compare its girth ranges. |
| Puppia Maker’s chart · checked 2026-08-28 | measure | Puppia publishes no weight guidance on this chart. Measure your dog's chest to compare its girth ranges. |
| PetSafe 3 in 1 Maker’s chart · checked 2026-10-04 | Medium or Large | Published weight guidance overlaps the breed standard at Medium, Large. Measure your dog's chest to check which girth ranges cover it; weight alone cannot choose a size. |
| Dog Friendly Co Maker’s chart · checked 2026-10-04 | measure | Dog Friendly Co publishes no weight guidance on this chart. Measure your dog's chest to compare its girth ranges. |
| PawSafe Maker’s chart · checked 2026-10-04 | XL | Only XL has published weight guidance overlapping the breed standard. A shortlist of one still needs your dog's chest measurement; weight does not confirm a fit. |
| Wonder Walker Maker’s chart · checked 2026-10-04 | Large or X-Large | Published weight guidance overlaps the breed standard at Large, X-Large. Measure your dog's chest to check which girth ranges cover it; weight alone cannot choose a size. |
| Top Paw Maker’s chart · checked 2026-10-04 | measure | Top Paw publishes no weight guidance on this chart. Measure your dog's chest to compare its girth ranges. |
Ruffwear, Blue-9, Rabbitgoo, Puppia, Dog Friendly Co, Top Paw publish no weight guidance on these charts. Their girth ranges are still available in the finder above.
How to measure an Alaskan Malamute
Measure at the deepest point of the ribcage, snug against the thick double coat as it lies, not pulled through to the skin. If the dog is still a puppy, check the fit frequently as the chest broadens quickly.
Take a soft tape right around the deepest part of the ribcage, just behind the front legs. Keep it snug against the coat rather than pulled tight — you should be able to slide two fingers under it. That single number, the chest girth, is what every brand on this page sizes by. Weight is only ever a tie-breaker. The full measuring guide covers the mistakes that send harnesses back.
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Weight range from the breed standard, read 2026-08-25. Weight candidates come from each manufacturer’s published chart. The finder uses your measured chest girth; it does not estimate a chest measurement from the breed.