Dog size comparison: your dog next to a person
Pick a breed or enter your own dog's height, then choose a person: an average US man or woman, or you. Both are drawn to the same scale, and you can add a second dog.
Tim de JongPerson
A breed, or your own dog's height
Optional
Labrador Retriever at the shoulder
33%of the person's height
An average Labrador Retriever stands 1 ft 11 in at the shoulder; the person is 5 ft 9 in tall, about 3.0 times as tall.
- Dog's shoulder height
- 1 ft 11 in
- Person's height
- 5 ft 9 in
- Dog's weight
- 68 lb
Breed heights are midpoints of the breed standard. Silhouettes are generic shapes scaled by shoulder height, so heads and body shapes are approximate.
How does the dog size comparison work?
Every figure is drawn to one scale, based on height. For dogs that's the shoulder height in the breed standard, averaged across males and females; for the person it's standing height. The default person is the average US man, 5 ft 9 in (175 cm), and you can switch to the average US woman, 5 ft 3.5 in (161 cm). Both figures come from the CDC's latest body measurement data for adults aged 20 and over.
The big number is the dog's shoulder height as a share of the person's height. The dog's head sits higher than its shoulder, so in real life a dog looks a little taller next to you than that percentage suggests.
How tall are dogs compared with people?
Shoulder heights by size class across the 162 breeds in our database, and what they come to next to an average man and woman:
| Size | Shoulder height | vs average man | vs average woman |
|---|---|---|---|
| Toy (up to 12 lb) | 5–15 in (13–38 cm) | 7–22% | 8–24% |
| Small (13–20 lb) | 8–18 in (20–46 cm) | 12–26% | 13–28% |
| Medium (21–50 lb) | 8–24.5 in (20–62 cm) | 12–36% | 13–39% |
| Large (51–90 lb) | 12–32 in (30–81 cm) | 17–46% | 19–50% |
| Giant (over 90 lb) | 22–35 in (56–89 cm) | 32–51% | 35–55% |
The ranges overlap because size classes go by weight, not height. A heavy, short-legged breed can weigh as much as a much taller, leaner one. To see where a particular dog falls, use the dog size chart.
The tallest and smallest dog breeds next to a person
| Breed | Average shoulder height | vs average man |
|---|---|---|
| Irish Wolfhound (tallest) | 32.5 in (83 cm) | 47% |
| Mastiff | 30.1 in (77 cm) | 44% |
| Great Dane | 30 in (76 cm) | 44% |
| Kangal Shepherd Dog | 30 in (76 cm) | 44% |
| Anatolian Shepherd Dog | 29.8 in (76 cm) | 43% |
| Miniature Dachshund (smallest) | 5.5 in (14 cm) | 8% |
| Chihuahua | 6.5 in (17 cm) | 9% |
| Pomeranian | 6.5 in (17 cm) | 9% |
| Pekingese | 7.5 in (19 cm) | 11% |
| Yorkshire Terrier | 7.5 in (19 cm) | 11% |
Even the tallest breed, the Irish Wolfhound, reaches about 47% of an average man's height at the shoulder. Want something bigger to compare with? The wolf vs dog size comparison puts any breed next to a gray wolf, and the dog breed comparison lines up two or three breeds.
Why your dog may not match its breed's height
Breed standards give a range, and the drawing uses its midpoint, so a perfectly healthy dog can sit a few inches either side. Sex makes a difference too: males are usually taller than females. In our data the biggest gap is in the Mastiff, where an average male stands about 2.8 in taller than an average female.
Coats fool the eye. A thick double coat or a full show coat can make a dog look much bigger than it is, but height is measured at the bone, so a fluffy dog and a smooth-coated dog of the same height look very different side by side. Puppies are a moving target: large and giant breeds keep growing for longer than small ones, and the puppy growth chart shows the typical curve. Mixed-breed dogs can land anywhere between their parents, which is why the tool lets you enter your own dog's height.
Why does a dog's size matter day to day?
Height decides more than how a dog looks next to you. It sets the size of crate, bed and car space you need, and whether your dog can see over the back seat or reach the kitchen counter. Think too about lifting: a small dog can be carried up stairs or into the car when it is old or injured, a giant one can't.
Travel is the other big one. Airlines that allow dogs in the cabin require them to fit in a carrier under the seat in front of you, so only small dogs qualify. The airline pet carrier size checker compares carrier sizes with airline limits, and our guide to airlines that allow large dogs in cabins covers the few exceptions.
How to measure your dog's height
The AKC defines a dog's height as the vertical measurement from the withers to the ground. The withers are the highest point of the shoulder blades, where the neck meets the back.
- Stand your dog on a hard, level floor with its weight even on all four feet.
- Feel for the top of the shoulder blades.
- Lay a ruler or book flat across that point, level with the floor.
- Measure from the floor straight up to the underside of the ruler.
A treat held just in front of the nose helps keep the head up and still. Measure twice and use the average. You'll need the same measurement for gear such as crates and dog doors; the crate size calculator uses it.
Frequently asked questions
How tall is a Great Dane compared to a person?
An average Great Dane stands about 30 in (76 cm) at the shoulder, 44% of the height of an average US man (5 ft 9 in) and 47% of an average US woman (5 ft 3.5 in). Its head is carried well above the shoulder, so it looks even taller next to you.
How big is a Chihuahua next to a person?
An average Chihuahua stands about 6.5 in (17 cm) at the shoulder, 9% of the height of an average US man (5 ft 9 in) and 10% of an average US woman (5 ft 3.5 in).
Which dog breed is the tallest?
In our breed data, the tallest breed by average shoulder height is the Irish Wolfhound, at about 32.5 in (83 cm). That's about 47% of an average man's height.
Why do breed heights use the shoulder, not the head?
Breed standards measure height at the withers, the top of the shoulder blades, because it's a fixed point on the skeleton. Head height changes with how the dog holds its neck, so it isn't a reliable measure.
Can I compare my own dog?
Yes. Pick 'My own dog' and enter its shoulder height, then choose 'My height' and enter yours. You can also add a breed as a second dog to see how your dog compares with it.
Sources
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