How to Measure Your Dog for Clothes (Because You Know You Want to Dress Up Your Pup)

There are three key areas to measure when fitting your dog for garments: their neck, their chest, and their body length. Here’s how to measure a dog for each.

To measure your dog’s neck for clothing—including dog coats, jackets, shirts, sweaters, and dresses—gently wrap your soft tape measure around the very base of the neck (right above where the neck meets their shoulders) to determine the circumference.

Hold the tape measure close to their fur so that about two fingers can slip underneath. Anything tighter than that will be uncomfortable, but you also don’t want the garment to fit too loosely. Garments that are too loose aren’t comfortable or functional for your dog.

The chest girth measures the widest part of your dog’s body, including their rib cage. This girth measurement is arguably the most important when fitting your pup for garments. After all, if you can’t get the clothing past your dog’s chest then there’s zero chance of a good fit!

Wrap the measuring tape behind your dog’s armpits underneath their body, then wrap it around the rib cage and over your dog’s shoulder blades. Remember to ensure the tape wraps around the widest part of their chest, and to leave enough room for two fingers to fit underneath comfortably.

Now that you’ve got your dog’s measurements, it’s time for the fun part: shopping! Many dog apparel brands and retailers offer a size chart similar to what you’d find for human clothing. Use the measurements you took—including body length, neck girth, and chest girth—and find the appropriate size.

Once you have the garment in hand, it’s time to try it on your dog. There are a few things to consider when making sure your dog’s clothes fit well. Signs of a good fit include:

• The clothing isn’t too tight or too loose. If the clothing looks like it’s falling off or is supper baggy or loose, it’s not functional for your dog.
• The neck meets the “two finger” rule. If you cannot fit two fingers underneath the neckline of the garment, it’s too tight.
• The arm holes aren’t too tight: When applicable, use the “two finger” rule for the arm/leg holes, as well.
• The back of the garment sits just above the tail. When checking the fit, the length should sit one to three inches above their tail. This is the most comfortable length for your dog (who’s free to wag their tail unencumbered) and also it just looks the sharpest! Some dresses, jackets, coats or costumes may extend lower, but this is the general rule.

How to Measure a Dog for Accessories

Some dog outfits just look better with an accessory or two! And in some cases, your dog might feel like wearing an accessory and nothing else at all. Here’s how to measure a dog for commonly worn dog accessories:

Hats and Headbands

Many dog hats and headbands feature stretchy material that allow for a “one size fits all” approach. Others may require you to measure your dog’s head circumference to determine the best size.

To measure the head circumference, wrap a soft measuring tape underneath your dog’s chin and up and around their head (above their eyes and in front of their ears.)

Bandanas and Bowties

A dog bandana or bowtie sits loosely around the neck, so you’ll need to use their neck measurement to determine the best fit. Follow the instructions above, which include gently wrapping your soft tape measure around the base of the neck.

Shoes and Boots

Dog shoes and boots look adorable on your pup, but they often serve a utilitarian purpose, too This is particularly true in extreme climates, where shoes can help protect your dog’s feet from hot pavement or cold weather. They can also come in handy when hiking with your dog on rough terrain.

To find your dog’s shoe size, you need to measure the length and width of their paws.

• Length: Measure from the base of your dog’s heel pad to the tip of their longest toe, including the nail.
• Width: Moving from left to right (or vice versa), measure from the furthest point of their heel pad to the other furthest point.

Socks

Dog socks can be worn on their own or paired with shoes or boots. Some are more robust compared to standard socks, which may allow you to forego the shoe altogether. Since dog socks are typically stretchy, you have a bit more leeway in terms of getting the best fit. To determine the appropriate size, use your dog’s paw-width measurement.

Q:Where do you measure a dog’s height?

A:A dog’s height isn’t considered an important measurement when determining the best clothing size. Even dogs of similar heights can have widely varying chest girth and length measurements and therefore wear different sizes. For example, Bulldogs and Dachshunds are somewhat similar in height, but the former dog breed has a much thicker neck and chest while Dachshunds are generally small dogs.

The only exception would be if you’re measuring your dog for a front-walking costume. To measure your dog’s height, you’d measure from their withers (the notch between their shoulder blades, remember?) down their front legs and stop at the paw.

Q:What is the difference between a dog’s height and length?

A:Knowing how to measure dogs can get a bit confusing simply because they operate horizontally versus vertically like us humans! The height is the distance from their withers to their paw, while their length is the distance between their withers to the base of their tail. The former measures how far they are off the ground while the other measures how long their bodies are.

Q:Can you use your dog’s weight to find their clothing size?

A:While your dog’s weight might help inform the fit, it’s often not the best way to determine an accurate size. For example, some dog breeds may not weigh much but have a girthy neck or chest that requires a larger size than you’d expect. And some dogs may weigh more because of their height but have a smaller chest (like Greyhounds).