How to Measure Your Dog for Clothes (and How a Dog Shirt Should Fit)

To measure a dog for clothes, stand your dog up straight and use a soft tape to take three numbers: neck (where the collar sits), chest girth (around the widest part of the ribcage, just behind the front legs) and back length (from the base of the neck to the base of the tail). Chest girth is the one that decides the size, so match it to the size chart first and use the other two as a cross-check. If your dog lands between two sizes, go up one.

What do you need to measure a dog for clothes?

Very little. Grab:

• A soft tape measure (the fabric kind from a sewing kit). A metal builder's tape is too stiff to wrap around a ribcage and most dogs find it alarming.
• No tape? Use string and a ruler. Wrap a piece of string, ribbon or even a shoelace around your dog, pinch or mark the point where it overlaps, then lay it flat along a ruler. The American Kennel Club suggests exactly this workaround.³
• Treats and a helper. One person keeps the dog standing and distracted, the other measures.

The 3 measurements and exactly where to take them

Get your dog standing square on a flat floor: all four feet under them, head up, weight even. The AKC recommends measuring a standing dog so the spine is straight and the weight is balanced, rather than a dog that is slouching or sitting.³ A sitting dog bunches up through the chest and back, which throws all three numbers out.

1. Chest girth (the one that matters most)

Wrap the tape all the way around the deepest, widest part of the ribcage, just behind the front legs. Run it up behind the elbows, over the back and around under the chest. This is the measurement our size by breed guide is organised around: every size is defined by a chest range.² A shirt that's a bit long or roomy in the neck is fine, but one that's tight around the ribs pulls at the armholes all day.

2. Neck

Measure around the neck where your dog's collar naturally sits.¹ That's lower than you might think on many dogs: closer to the shoulders than to the ears. Our 60-second size finder uses neck and chest together, so take both.¹

3. Back length

Run the tape along the top of the spine from the base of the neck, where the collar sits, to the base of the tail.¹ Back length doesn't usually change the size you pick, but it tells you how much of your dog the shirt will cover. That's handy for long-bodied breeds (more on Dachshunds below).

Tips for getting an accurate measurement

• Use the two-finger rule. When measuring neck and chest, the tape should be snug enough to stay put but loose enough to slip two fingers underneath. This is the AKC's guidance for measuring dogs for clothes and gear, and it builds in the comfort room a garment needs.³
• Measure twice. Take each measurement two or three times. If the numbers disagree, your dog probably shifted, sat or took a big breath; settle them and go again.
• Between sizes? Go up. Our shirts are 190gsm cotton with 5% spandex, so there's plenty of stretch, and our size guide recommends sizing up for comfort if your dog falls between sizes.¹ The AKC gives the same general advice for dog apparel.³

Dog clothes size chart: what size clothes does my dog wear?

Here are our exact size bands, from our size guide, with the breeds we suggest as a starting point for each from our breed guide.^1,2 Some bands overlap slightly at the edges. If your dog's chest sits in that overlap, size up.

Size	Chest (cm)	Neck (cm)	Back length (cm)	Starting size for
XS	39–49	28–38	20	Chihuahua, Chinese Crested, Miniature Dachshund, Maltese, Papillon, Pomeranian, Toy Poodle, Yorkshire Terrier
S	49–57	37–47	31	Boston Terrier, Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Cavapoo, Standard Dachshund, Griffon, Jack Russell Terrier, Miniature Schnauzer, Miniature Poodle, Pug, Shih Tzu
M	57–67	41–51	34	Beagle, Cavoodle, Cocker Spaniel, Corgi, French Bulldog, Miniature Groodle/Labradoodle, Spoodle
L	65–75	46–56	37	Australian Shepherd, Border Collie, Husky, Kelpie, Standard Poodle, Staffordshire Bull Terrier
XL	73–83	50–60	43	American Staffordshire Terrier, Boxer, Bull Terrier, English Bulldog, German Shepherd, Golden Retriever, Standard Groodle/Labradoodle, Labrador Retriever
XXL	81–91	53–63	56	Cane Corso, Doberman Pinscher, Rottweiler

Breed sizes are a starting point because every dog is built a little differently.² Two dogs of the same breed can easily sit in different bands (our own guide notes that very muscly Staffies may need an XL), so let the tape have the final say. If you don't have a tape handy, the size finder can also give you a quick estimate from your dog's breed.¹

Breed-specific fit challenges

What size clothes does a French Bulldog wear?

Most Frenchies start at Medium, but broad, chunky Frenchies often need a Large.² It comes down to their shape: the breed standard describes a "barrel shaped" chest with very well sprung ribs, broad and square from the front, and a belly that tucks up behind it.⁷ That means a big chest number on a fairly short body. Always size a Frenchie by chest, not by weight or length, and don't worry if the shirt looks a touch short. For more Frenchie styling ideas, see our French Bulldog clothes.

Staffies and Bulldogs: deep and muscly

Staffies start at Large, but very muscly Staffies may need an XL.² English Bulldogs and American Staffordshire Terriers start at XL.² With these deep-chested, broad-shouldered dogs, take the chest measurement right at the deepest point behind the elbows, where the ribcage is widest. Measuring too far back towards the waist will give you a number that's too small.

Dachshunds: long backs, small chests

Miniature Dachshunds start at XS and Standard Dachshunds at S.² Sausage dogs are the classic case where chest and back length disagree: the chest fits one size, the back seems to want a bigger one. Go with chest. A shirt sized for the back would be loose around the ribs and armholes, which is where rubbing and tripping start.

Cavoodles and other fluffy dogs

Cavoodles start at Medium, Cavapoos at Small, and Miniature Groodles at Medium.² Fluffy coats can add a few centimetres, so our guide says to measure over the fur.² In practice that means you don't need to part the coat down to the skin, but do pull the tape snug enough that it compresses the fluff against the body rather than floating on top of it. A tape resting lightly on a freshly groomed teddy-bear coat can read noticeably bigger than the dog underneath.

How should a dog shirt fit?

Measuring gets you close. The real test is what happens when the shirt goes on. Pop it on, let your dog shake, then watch them walk, sit, lie down and get up again. Run through these checks:

• Armpits: Slide a finger under the fabric just behind each front leg. It should sit smoothly without digging in or bunching into a ridge. This is where a too-small or too-big shirt usually shows up first.
• Neck: The neckline should sit flat around the base of the neck, with room for two fingers. It shouldn't ride up towards the ears or gape open so a paw can get caught in it.
• Chest: Snug and smooth, no straining across the ribs when your dog takes a big breath or pants.
• Length: The back should end somewhere before the base of the tail. Shorter is fine; longer than the dog is not.
• Toilet clearance: Our shirts are cut with the front hem higher than the back, to keep it out of the way on toilet stops. Check the underside sits well forward of where it needs to be when your dog lifts a leg or squats.
• Movement: Your dog should walk, trot, sit and lie down exactly as they do without it. The AKC notes that tight clothing can restrict movement, while overly baggy clothing can cause dogs to trip or get caught on things.⁴

Signs the size is wrong

Too small: fabric strains across the chest, the armholes cut into the armpits, red marks or flattened fur when you take it off, the neckline rides up, or your dog walks stiffly or keeps trying to reach the shirt.

Too big: the neck gapes, fabric bunches or swings under the belly, a front leg can slip out of an armhole, the shirt twists sideways, or the hem drags near the back legs.

Not happy either way: RSPCA Australia lists difficulty moving normally (including "freezing"), struggling to get the outfit off and signs of anxiety such as panting as signs a dog isn't comfortable, and advises taking clothing off at the first sign of distress.⁵ Both the RSPCA and the AKC say dogs in clothing should be supervised, and the RSPCA warns against outfits that cause overheating, so skip anything non-essential on hot days.^4,5 If you notice redness, hair loss or sore spots where a shirt has sat, take it off and check in with your vet.

Measuring a growing puppy

Puppies change shape fast, so measure fresh before every purchase rather than relying on last month's numbers. PetMD's vet-reviewed guide puts the typical age for being fully grown at around 8–12 months for toy breeds, 9–12 months for small breeds, 12–15 months for medium breeds, 15–18 months for large breeds and 18–24 months for giant breeds.⁶ Until then:

• If your puppy is near the top of a size band, size up. They'll fill it soon.
• Re-check fit every few weeks, especially around the armpits and chest.
• Avoid sizing up by two to "grow into it". A shirt that's far too big now can twist, snag or trip a clumsy puppy.⁴

What if the size is wrong? (First exchange free)

It happens, even with a careful tape. Your first size exchange is free: email info@vibranthound.com within 30 days of your first purchase with your order number and the size you need, and we'll swap it for the same style in a different size.² Our pyjamas use the same fabric and XS–XXL sizing as our shirts, so once you've found your dog's size it carries across. Our guide to dog pyjamas for Cavoodles, Staffies and Frenchies covers sleepwear fit for those breeds in more detail.

FAQs

Which measurement matters most for dog clothes?

Chest girth. Our breed guide defines each size by its chest range, and our size finder works from chest and neck, and the chest is where a poorly sized shirt causes the most trouble, around the armpits and ribs.^1,2 Use the neck as a cross-check and back length to understand coverage.

Should I measure my dog's chest tight or loose?

Snug, with room for two fingers under the tape.³ Pulled tight, you'll get a number that's too small. Left loose and floating, especially on a fluffy dog, you'll get one that's too big.

My dog is between sizes. Should I size up or down?

Size up. Our shirts have 5% spandex for stretch, and our size guide recommends going up for comfort when your dog is between sizes.¹ A little room is far more comfortable than a shirt pulling at the armholes.

Can I just choose a size by my dog's breed?

You can use breed as a quick starting point, and our size finder can estimate from breed if you don't have a tape.¹ But breed sizes are only a starting point. Chunky Frenchies often need a Large and very muscly Staffies may need an XL, so a 60-second tape measurement is always more reliable.²

Is it OK if the shirt is a bit short on my dog?

Usually, yes. Long-bodied dogs like Dachshunds and compact, deep-chested dogs like Frenchies often wear a shirt that ends short of the tail, and that's fine as long as the chest, neck and armpits fit well. A shirt that's longer than your dog is the bigger problem.

References

1. Vibrant Hound, Size Guide
2. Vibrant Hound, Dog Shirt Size by Breed
3. American Kennel Club, How to Measure Your Dog for Clothes and Gear
4. American Kennel Club, How to Get Your Dog Comfortable Wearing Clothes for Hot and Cold Weather
5. RSPCA Australia Knowledgebase, What are the animal welfare issues with pets wearing costumes?
6. PetMD (reviewed by Sandra C. Mitchell, DVM), When Do Dogs Stop Growing?
7. Dogs New Zealand, French Bulldog: Information and NZ Breed Standards