Dog Pyjamas for Cavoodles, Staffies and Frenchies: Fit and Sizing Guide

Most Cavoodles and French Bulldogs fit a Medium in our dog pyjamas, and most Staffies fit a Large. The only way to be sure is to measure your own dog's chest, neck and back. Pyjamas are worth it for short-coated dogs, older dogs and freshly clipped dogs on cold nights. They're not worth it on warm nights, or for a dog that overheats easily or chews fabric.

Do dogs actually need pyjamas?

Not every dog does, and plenty of dogs sleep happily in their own fur all year. But some dogs really do feel the cold, and Australian winter nights can catch them out, especially in older houses with cold floors. That's why dog pyjamas in Australia have become a winter staple for so many short-coated breeds (or dog pajamas, if you're searching the American spelling).

RSPCA Queensland suggests a winter coat for pets that are small, older or short haired, as long as it fits properly and doesn't restrict movement.¹ A veterinary clinic guide makes the same point. Shorter-haired, small and senior dogs, and dogs with some medical conditions, are the ones most likely to benefit.²

When pyjamas can help

• Short or thin coats. Staffies and Frenchies both have smooth, short, close-lying coats under their breed standards.^6,7 That coat doesn't trap much warm air.
• Senior dogs. RSPCA Queensland notes that cold weather can be harder on older dogs.¹
• After a clip. A Cavoodle straight out of the groomer's has lost much of the coat that was keeping it warm. A light layer can help for the first chilly nights.
• Cold winter nights. Shivering, whining or slowing down are signs a dog is cold.²
• Covering a wound, but only if your vet says so. Cones are still important for preventing self-trauma after surgery. A University of Sydney study found most of the 434 owners surveyed reported a worse quality of life for their pet while it wore one.⁴ The researchers suggested asking about alternatives, including body wraps or clothing.⁴ Whether a soft garment is enough protection for a particular wound is your vet's call, not ours.

When to skip them

• Warm or humid nights. If you're comfortable under a sheet, your dog almost certainly doesn't need an extra layer.
• Dogs that overheat. RSPCA Queensland says coats should come off indoors when your pet is enjoying the heater or fireplace.¹ This matters even more for flat-faced breeds. A large UK study of vet records found French Bulldogs and other brachycephalic dogs were at greater risk of heat-related illness.³ Heatstroke is an emergency, so go straight to a vet.
• Chewers. If your dog chews or swallows fabric, pyjamas aren't safe to leave on unsupervised.²
• Dogs who clearly hate it. If a dog resists after slow, patient introductions, adjust their bedding or room temperature instead of forcing clothes on.² Extra blankets, and a bed off cold hard floors and out of draughts, also help.¹

How to measure your dog for pyjamas

Grab a soft tape measure (a piece of string and a ruler works too), some treats, and a helper if your dog is wriggly. Measure with your dog standing, keeping the tape snug but not tight.

1. Chest girth (the important one). Wrap the tape around the widest part of the chest, just behind the front legs. Measure over the fur. Fluffy coats can add a few centimetres, so don't flatten a Cavoodle's coat to get a smaller number.
2. Neck. Take the collar off and measure around the neck where the collar normally sits.
3. Back length. Measure along the spine from the base of the neck to the base of the tail.
4. Check against the chart. Match the chest first, then make sure the neck and back are in a sensible range. If the chest falls between two sizes, go up. Our fabric has 5% spandex for stretch, but a pyjama that's too tight is never comfortable for sleeping.

Not sure? Our 60-second size finder walks you through it.

Our dog pyjama size guide by breed

The table below comes straight from our dog shirt size by breed page and size chart. Our pyjamas use the same sizing as our shirts. These are starting points. Your tape measure always wins.

Breed	Usual size	Chest	Neck	Back length	Notes
Cavoodle	M	57–67 cm	41–51 cm	34 cm	Toy Cavoodles under 57 cm chest fall in our S band (49–57 cm)
Staffordshire Bull Terrier (Staffy)	L	65–75 cm	46–56 cm	37 cm	Very muscly Staffies may need an XL (73–83 cm chest)
French Bulldog	M	57–67 cm	41–51 cm	34 cm	Broad, chunky Frenchies often need an L (65–75 cm chest)

The full chart covers XS to XXL (39 cm to 91 cm chest). The ranges overlap slightly, so a dog measuring 66 cm could wear either M or L. That's where the breed notes below come in.

Cavoodle pyjamas: fit notes

Cavoodles vary more in size than most breeds. PetSure's breed profile puts toy Cavoodles at about 30 cm tall and up to 5 kg, and miniatures at about 38 cm and up to 10 kg.⁸ Two "Cavoodles" from different litters can easily need different sizes, so measure rather than guess.

Coat matters too. Cavoodle coats are wavy or curly, grow fast and need regular trimming. PetSure suggests a groomer roughly every second month in winter and as often as every six weeks in summer.⁸ In practice that means:

• Full coat: measure over the fluff and expect the upper end of a size, or the next one up.
• Fresh clip: your dog may measure noticeably smaller and feel the cold more. Pyjamas that were snug last month might now be roomy, which is fine for sleeping.
• Matting check: fabric rubbing on a long coat can encourage tangles under the armpits. Give those spots a brush when the pyjamas come off.

Browse prints that suit the breed in our Cavoodle clothes collection.

Staffy pyjamas: fit notes

The Staffordshire Bull Terrier breed standard describes a smooth-coated dog "of great strength for his size". It calls for a muscular, rather short neck that widens towards the shoulders, and a wide front with a deep brisket and well-sprung ribs.⁶ For pyjamas, that build means three things:

• Chest first. A Staffy's chest is big relative to its back length. Size by chest girth even if the back length looks generous.
• Watch the neck. That thick, muscular neck needs a neck opening with real stretch. If the pyjamas go over the head but leave a red line, size up.
• Muscly dogs go XL. Our size-by-breed page suggests L for most Staffies but notes that very muscly ones may need an XL.

The short, close Staffy coat gives little insulation, which makes them good candidates for pyjamas on cold nights. See our Staffy clothes range for prints made with their build in mind.

French Bulldog pyjamas: fit notes

The French Bulldog standard describes a "sturdy, compact, solid" small dog with a muscular, well-rounded chest, a deep, wide brisket and well-sprung ribs.⁷ In plain English, that's a barrel chest on a short body.

• Short back, wide chest. A Frenchie often has the chest of a Medium or Large but a shorter back than the chart suggests. A slightly long back hem is fine. A tight chest isn't.
• Chunky Frenchies size up. Our breed guide says broad, chunky Frenchies often need a Large.
• Overheating risk. Frenchies are among the breeds at higher risk of heat-related illness.³ Keep their pyjamas for genuinely cool nights, and take them off if your dog is panting or warm to touch.

We've written a separate, deeper guide on choosing pyjamas for French Bulldogs if you'd like more Frenchie-specific detail.

Fabric and safety: what to look for in dog pyjamas

• Soft stretch fabric. Our pyjamas are 190gsm stretch cotton with 5% spandex. They're breathable, they give a little when your dog stretches, and they recover their shape.
• Nothing to chew off. Skip zips, buttons, ties and dangly tags. A vet guide warns that these can be chewed off and swallowed.²
• A higher front hem. Our front hem sits higher than the back, so toilet stops don't mean a wet pyjama.
• Freedom to move. Your dog should be able to walk, sit, lie down and curl up normally. RSPCA Queensland stresses that a coat shouldn't restrict movement.¹
• Check for rubbing. After the first few nights, look under the front legs and around the neck for redness or hair loss. If you see any, try the next size up, or stop and talk to your vet if the skin looks sore. Dogs with sensitive skin or allergies are best checked by a vet before they start wearing clothes regularly.
• Supervise first wears. Don't leave a dog alone in new pyjamas until you know they won't chew them or get tangled.

How do I get my dog used to wearing pyjamas?

The RSPCA supports reward-based training, where you set your dog up to succeed and reward the behaviour you want with a food treat, a favourite toy or praise.⁵ It's the most humane and effective approach, according to the RSPCA, and it works nicely for getting a dog used to clothes.⁵

1. Let them sniff. Put the pyjamas on the floor and reward your dog for investigating.
2. Touch, then treat. Lay the pyjamas over their back for a second, then reward. Repeat until your dog is relaxed about it.
3. Head through the neck. Hold the neck opening wide with a treat on the other side so your dog pops their head through. Reward straight away.
4. Legs in, one at a time. Gently guide each front leg through and keep rewarding.
5. Short sessions. Start with a few minutes on, followed by something fun like dinner or a game. Slowly build up to wearing them on the couch, then overnight.

Go at your dog's pace. If they freeze, scratch at the fabric or try to back out, take a step back and make the next session shorter. Never tell a dog off for struggling with clothes. That just teaches them pyjamas are bad news.

How to wash dog pyjamas

Machine wash cold and air dry. Two pairs make life easier, so one can be in the wash while the other is on the dog. Our full guide to washing dog clothing has more tips, including how to deal with dog hair.

FAQs

What size pyjamas does a Cavoodle need?

Most Cavoodles take a Medium in our range, which fits a 57–67 cm chest. Smaller toy Cavoodles may measure into our Small band (49–57 cm), so measure the chest over the fur before you buy.

What size pyjamas does a Staffy need?

Most Staffies fit a Large (65–75 cm chest). Very muscly Staffies with big chests and thick necks may need an XL (73–83 cm chest).

What size pyjamas does a French Bulldog need?

Most Frenchies fit a Medium (57–67 cm chest), but broad, chunky Frenchies often need a Large. Because Frenchies have short backs, always size by chest girth, not length.

Is it safe for my dog to sleep in pyjamas?

It can be, for a dog that's used to them, on a cool night, in pyjamas that fit well and have nothing to chew off. Take them off if your dog seems hot or is near a heater, and supervise the first few wears.

My dog is between sizes. Which should I choose?

Size up. Our fabric stretches, but a slightly roomy pyjama is more comfortable to sleep in than a tight one. If it's still not right, your first size exchange is free.

Can pyjamas replace a cone after surgery?

Only if your vet says so. Some wounds need the protection of a cone or a purpose-made recovery suit, so ask your vet what suits your dog's wound before swapping anything.

References

1. RSPCA Queensland, Providing the best care for all pets in winter
2. Small Door Veterinary, Does My Dog Need a Coat in Winter?
3. Hall, E. J., Carter, A. J. & O'Neill, D. G. (2020), Incidence and risk factors for heat-related illness (heatstroke) in UK dogs under primary veterinary care in 2016, Scientific Reports
4. The University of Sydney, The Cone of Shame makes pets miserable
5. RSPCA Australia Knowledgebase, What is reward-based dog training and why does the RSPCA support it?
6. The Royal Kennel Club, Staffordshire Bull Terrier breed standard
7. The Royal Kennel Club, French Bulldog breed standard
8. PetSure, Cavoodle breed profile