How to Make a Working Dog Vest

Service dogs are specially trained to assist blind, disabled or elderly individuals around their homes and in public. Often, service dogs are the only pets allowed into grocery stores, malls and public locations like movie theaters or concert venues. These working dogs can be readily identified by small vests they wear. If you like animals, an easy way to help others in need is to make your own service dog vests to donate to service dogs so they look professional while doing their jobs.

Things You'll Need

  • Working vest pattern
  • Fabric measuring tape
  • 1 yard of water-resistant, solid-color pack cloth fabric
  • Fabric scissors
  • 1-inch-thick strapping
  • 2 strapping clips
  • Polyester thread
  • 12/80 universal sewing needle
  • U.S. Service Dog Registry patch
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Instructions

    • 1

      Print out a basic pattern for a working dog vest. Measure the dog's chest and abdomen by placing a fabric measuring tape behind his front legs and around its body beneath the widest part of the rib cage.

    • 2

      Print the pattern and lay the pieces flat on top of one yard of water-resistant, solid-color pack cloth material and cut out the pattern. Allow for a one-inch margin on all sides.

    • 3

      Measure the length of the vest pattern by following the edge of the pattern all the way around. Use this measurement to determine the amount of strapping material you need for the vest. Cut a piece of one-inch-thick strapping slightly longer than that length. Fold the strapping material in half lengthwise.

    • 4

      Insert the vest edge into the middle of the folded strapping material so that the strapping goes over the edge of the vest and folds down onto it a half-inch on either side of the vest. Sew the strapping to the vest edge, all the way around with a 12/80 universal sewing needle and polyester thread.

    • 5

      Use your measurements of the dog's girth to determine the length needed for the strapping clips, adding the width of the vest to the overall length of the strapping clips. Cut the strapping clips and sew them onto the front and back ends of either side of the vest so that when connected, they will hold the vest in place.

    • 6

      Complete the vest by sewing a United States Service Dog Registry patch onto the top side of the vest so that the dog can be clearly and quickly identified as a service dog.