How to Measure a Dog for Clothing | Chewtorials

Описание: Whether you’re dressing your dog for a special event or just a walk around the block, knowing how to measure a them for clothing is key. Find out how to take your dog's clothing measurements.

How to Measure a Dog’s Body: Step by Step
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.

1. Measure Your Dog’s Neck
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.

2. Measure Your Dog’s Chest
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.

3. Measure Your Dog’s Length
The final measurement you need when measuring a dog for clothing is their length. This one’s the most straightforward and probably the easiest.

While your dog stands, stretch the tape measure in a straight line from the base of the tail (aka where the tail connects to their body) to the bottom of their collar. That measurement is your dog's length.

Note: Some dog clothing manufacturers prefer that you measure from the base of the tail to your dog's withers, aka that small indent between their shoulder blades where their neck and shoulders connect. Check the instructions on the packaging to make sure you get the correct measurement.

4. Order and Check the Fit
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.

Pro Tip: If your dog is in-between sizes, always size up.

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.

Now that you’ve learned how to measure a dog, we anticipate many adorable dog outfits and photo-worthy costumes in your future!

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