What size harness does a Basset Hound need?
The breed standard puts a Basset Hound at 20–29kg (44–64lb). Published weight guidance gives a shortlist at 6 of 12 charts. 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 a Basset Hound
This breed has an exceptionally deep, low-slung chest and very short, heavy-boned legs. The body is long and the skin is loose, which can cause harnesses to shift or bunch. Because of the heavy bone structure and deep ribcage, the girth is often much larger than the dog's height would suggest.
Look for a harness with long, adjustable straps that can reach around the deep chest without cutting into the armpits. A design with multiple adjustment points is helpful to manage the loose skin and unique proportions.
Measured a fully grown Basset Hound? 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 Australian Shepherd and Samoyed. 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 | 0 or 1 or 2 | Published weight guidance overlaps the breed standard at 0, 1, 2. Measure your dog's chest to check which girth ranges cover it; weight alone cannot choose a size. |
| 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 | Medium or Medium/Large | Published weight guidance overlaps the breed standard at Medium, Medium/Large. Measure your dog's chest to check which girth ranges cover it; weight alone cannot choose a size. |
| Kurgo Maker’s chart · checked 2026-08-19 | 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. |
| 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 | Small or Medium | Published weight guidance overlaps the breed standard at Small, Medium. 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 | M or L | Published weight guidance overlaps the breed standard at M, L. Measure your dog's chest to check which girth ranges cover it; weight alone cannot choose a size. |
| Wonder Walker 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. |
| 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 a Basset Hound
Measure at the lowest point of the chest, keeping in mind that the girth may be significantly larger than other breeds of a similar weight. Check the length of the harness back-piece to ensure it does not interfere with the dog's hips.
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.
Other large breeds
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- What size harness does a German Shepherd need?
- What size harness does a Poodle (Standard) need?
- What size harness does a German Shorthaired Pointer need?
- What size harness does a Australian Shepherd need?
- What size harness does a Boxer need?
- What size harness does a Doberman Pinscher need?
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.