How to Measure Your Dog for Clothes: 7 Simple Steps for the Perfect Fit

A sweater that pinches under the front legs, or a pair of pajamas that stops halfway down the back, are a common reason dog clothes get sent back. The fix takes about five minutes and a soft tape measure. you through every step.

What You Need Before You Start

Get these ready before you call your dog over:

• a soft fabric tape measure, not a metal one
• a few small treats to keep your dog standing still

• your phone or a notepad for the numbers

No tape at home? Fitwarm's size guide says you can use a leash and a ruler instead. Wrap the leash where the tape would go, pinch the spot where it overlaps, then lay it flat next to the ruler.

Step 1: Get Your Dog Standing Straight

Measure while your dog stands on all four paws on a flat floor. If your dog sits or leans into you, the back gets shorter and the chest reading changes. Fitwarm recommend re-measuring growing puppy every 2-4 weeks, so it is worth turning this into a quick, calm routine, as explained on Fitwarm's blog on petlife.

Step 2: Measure the Chest Girth

Find the widest part of the ribcage

Wrap the tape around the widest part of the ribcage, just behind the front legs. Keep it level and slide two fingers under the tape so the number leaves room to breathe. The AKC's guide to measuring your dog says "chest girth is the typically most important measurement for dog clothing and harnesses", but it still asks for all three numbers: back length, chest girth, and neck girth. so if you only have time for one number, make it this one. If the tape slips or twists, start again instead of guessing.

Step 3: Measure the Back Length

Run the tape along the spine from the base of the neck, where a collar sits, to the base of the tail. Leave the tail itself out, and keep the tape lying flat against the back instead of following every curve of the coat. Back length matters most for pajamas and other full-coverage pieces, which need to reach the base of the tail without bunching at the hips.

Step 4: Measure The Neck Girth

For turtlenecks, hoodies and pullovers, also wrap the tape around the base of the neck. Our 2 Pack Fleece Sweater is made of double-face fleece in 100% polyester with ribbed cuffs.

Step 5: Compare Your Numbers With the Size Chart

Open the Fitwarm size chart and start with chest girth (it decides whether the garment goes on at all), then check back length. The same letter does not always mean the same size. On Fitwarm's chart, a size S dress has a 12-inch back length, while a size S in pajamas, shirts and cold-weather clothes has a 10-inch back length.

Step 6: Decide When Your Dog Is Between Sizes

If your dog falls between two sizes, choose the larger one. Dogs with extra fluff can sometimes require a size up as well, because a thick coat adds bulk that the tape does not fully capture. We explain this in more detail in our guide to measuring fluffy dogs.

Step 7: Check the Fit at Home

When the order arrives, put it on and watch your dog walk, sit and lie down. You should still be able to slide two fingers under the neckline and around the chest. Once you have your numbers, browse our dog sweaters or the full dog clothes collection. Save the three numbers on your phone with the date next to them. Puppies and dogs whose weight goes up or down will need a fresh set before the next order, and having the old numbers makes it easy to see what changed.