Ruffwear's diverse range of harnesses offer solutions for a variety of purposes - from everyday use for a domestic pet, to lift-and-assist for rescue dogs.
With such a wide range of colours, designs and uses, it's no wonder Ruffwear is one of our best selling brands! However, what makes these harnesses truly stand out is their adjustability, meaning the vast majority of dog breeds will get a great fit.
Getting Accurate Measurements
Ruffwear's sizing charts are 100% accurate and factual. They have high adjustability, so the size ranges are based on the harness size at the loosest and tightest settings.
The most important step to getting the best size for your dog is establishing the girth measurement. You can do this by looping a tape measure just behind the dog's front legs. Please ensure that this is measured at the widest point of your dog's chest.
Once you have this measurement, compare this to the size chart on the next page to establish the likely size. All Ruffwear harnesses have the same size banding. For example, if you measure the girth at 75cm, you can expect a Medium to be the size you should try first.
If your dog is on a sizing border, general advice is to choose the larger of the two sizes, or buying both and returning the harness that doesn't fit for a refund.
For puppies, we advise waiting until the pup is near fully grown before investing in a harness. The best time to buy is when your pup is near the bottom of the sizing bracket.
Sizing Chart
Familiarising Yourself With Your New Harness
The harness will come adjusted so that it fits on the backing card. This will usually mean that the neck is set quite wide and the girth straps are on a small setting and fully doubled over.
If this is your first harness, it is important to familiarise yourself with the webbing straps and how they adjust before attempting the fitting.
Adjusting the Neck Straps
The Web Master is unique in that it features a Martingale chest pad. Adjusting the straps surrounding this means that the harness can be positioned comfortably on a deep-chested dog like a greyhound, keeping the girth straps away from the dog's armpits.
Top Tip for Neck Straps: you can quickly loosen the neck straps on this harness by moving the three nearby sliders towards the Martingale chest pad. To tighten, move the sliders away from the Martingale chest pad.
^ chest pad at loosest
^ chest pad at tightest
^ neck at loosest
^ neck at tightest
Adjusting the Girth & Belly Straps
Begin by unbuckling both and then finding the webbing tail on each. Please note that these may be tucked away in the pad of the strap. Slide the tail through the pad and all the way out to the other end. Then, work the tail's end to the adjuster, before loosening the strap by sliding the adjuster towards the buckle. You can then pull the buckle to take out the slack created by this process.
^ girth strap at loosest
^ girth strap at tightest
Fitting Your Web Master Harness
Step One: Loosen all of the straps
As with all Ruffwear harnesses, we would recommend loosening all of the straps, as detailed above.
Step Two: Place the harness over the dog's head
After fully loosening off the harness, place this over the dog's head. This should be positioned onto the dog with the restraint handle on the dog's back, and the chest pad on the chest. Then, guide the dog's right leg through the opening, before buckling both belly straps.
Step Three: Tightening the straps
Starting with the belly strap, pull down on the webbing tail until this is fitted comfortably. If done correctly, you should be able to fit about two fingers between the dog and the strap. Then, pull down on the adjuster to take out the slack. You can repeat this step with the girth strap.
Ideally, the belly strap will be positioned just behind the ribcage.
Step Four: Final Martingale adjustments
If you feel the harness is not positioned correctly on the dog, this can be remedied by making some adjustments to the neck and chest straps around the Martingale pad. Hold onto the Martingale pad, and move the sliders away from the Ruffwear logo to tighten the harness. Try and keep these as even as possible on both sides.
Step Five: Ensure your dog is comfortable
The harness should be a snug fit, but with enough room to fit one to two fingers between the dog and the straps. Both loose straps or tight straps can cause discomfort to your pooch, so ensuring a good fit is key.