How to Size a Dog for Clothes

There are so many practical, cute clothes for your dog, including raincoats with detachable hoods, winter coats, t-shirts, shorts, booties, socks and even life jackets or floats. They all come in a variety of styles and colors. It's important to properly measure your dog before you make your purchase to ensure a proper fit.

Instructions

    • 1

      Make sure your dog is standing when you take your measurements.

    • 2

      Measure the entire length of your dog's back, starting from the bottom of his collar to the end of his back, right up to where it meets his tail.

    • 3

      Take some additional measurements. Measure just behind her front legs, and the circumference of his chest and neck, usually under the collar where it's thickest.

    • 4

      Stretch your measuring tape out between the front legs of his chest to get the measurement for the distance between the two legs.

    • 5

      Determine the circumference around your dog's tummy using the widest area. Also measure the circumference around his front leg, where her leg meets her body.

    • 6

      Allow 1/4 to 1/2-inch variance on all your measurements. If a measurement is a fraction of an inch, it's usually best to round up to the nearest whole number.