Matching Dog and Owner Swimwear: How to Twin With Your Dog This Summer

The easiest way to twin with your dog this summer is dog matching swimwear in the same print: a sun-protective rash shirt for your dog and swim shorts for you, cut from the same pattern. Pick one bold, classic print (gingham is hard to beat), get both sizes right, and you have a beach look that photographs beautifully and gives your dog's coat some extra cover from the sun.

Why are matching dog and owner outfits so popular?

Because for most of us, the dog is family. Australia's most recent national pet survey from Animal Medicines Australia found that 73% of Australian households now have at least one pet, and 49% have at least one dog, which works out to an estimated 7.4 million dogs nationwide.¹ The same survey found 86% of pet owners say their pet has a positive impact on their life.¹

We also spend on them. Australians are estimated to spend $21.3 billion a year on their pets, including about $1.4 billion on products and accessories, and dog-owning households spend the most of any pet owners at an estimated $2,520 a year on average.¹

Matching outfits are a light-hearted extension of that: fun, a conversation starter at the dog beach, and a photo you will still love in ten years. If you are on the fence about dogs wearing clothes at all, we cover the practical side in should dogs wear clothing? Six reasons why they can.

How to match with your dog (without overdoing it)

There are two ways to approach human and dog matching outfits. Both work; it comes down to how loud you want to be.

Option 1: Same print, head to paw

This is the full twin. You wear swim shorts in exactly the same fabric as your dog's rash shirt. It reads instantly in photos, even from a distance, and it is the look most people mean when they search for matching swim shorts for dog and owner.

Tips for pulling it off:

• Keep everything else plain. A white or navy tee, plain towel, simple hat. Let the print do the work.
• One print per family. If two people are twinning with one dog, all three in the same print looks deliberate. Mixing prints starts to look busy.
• Match the collar or lead in a neutral. Black, white or tan keeps the focus on the outfit.

Option 2: Coordinated colours

Prefer something subtler? Put your dog in the print and pull one colour from it for yourself. A dog in red gingham with an owner in a plain red or cream top is clearly a pair without being identical.

Why gingham is the classic choice

Gingham is one of those prints that never really goes out of style. It is cheerful, it suits almost every coat colour, and the small even check works at both dog scale and human scale, so the match still looks like a match on a Pug and a six-foot owner. Red gingham has a picnic-rug, summer-holiday feel; green gingham is a little more relaxed and looks great against sand and water. If you have been hunting for mens red gingham swim trunks that also come in a dog size, this is the pairing you are after.

Our two gingham sets:

• Red: Red Gingham UPF 50 Dog Rash Shirt ($33.95) with Red Gingham Swim Shorts ($39.95)
• Green: Green Gingham UPF 50 Dog Rash Shirt ($33.95) with Green Gingham Swim Shorts ($39.95)

How to get the sizing right for you and your dog

Sizing your dog's rash shirt

Our dog rash shirts come in XS to XXL. Measure your dog standing up, with a soft tape that is snug but not tight:

• Chest: around the widest part, just behind the front legs. This is the most important number.
• Neck: where the collar naturally sits.
• Back length: from the base of the neck to the base of the tail.

Then compare against our size guide and 60-second size finder. If you do not have a tape handy, the size by breed table is a good starting point. Some typical sizes from that table:

Breed	Typical size	Chest
Pug	S	49–57 cm
Dachshund (standard)	S	49–57 cm
French Bulldog	M	57–67 cm
Cavoodle	M	57–67 cm
Staffy	L	65–75 cm
Kelpie	L	65–75 cm
Labrador	XL	73–83 cm
English Bulldog	XL	73–83 cm

Every dog is built a little differently, so treat breed sizes as a guide. Broad, chunky Frenchies often need a Large, very muscly Staffies may need an XL, and fluffy dogs should be measured over the fur. If your dog sits between sizes, size up. There is a practical reason for this with a sun shirt too: Australia's radiation safety agency, ARPANSA, notes that stretching a knitted fabric normally lowers its UPF rating as the spaces in the fabric open up.² A shirt that fits comfortably, rather than one pulled tight, is better for your dog and for the protection the fabric gives. And if you get it wrong, your first size exchange is free.

Sizing your swim shorts

The matching swim shorts come in Extra Small through to XXL, and each product page links to a swim shorts size guide. Check that chart against your own measurements before you order, rather than guessing from the size you usually wear in other brands. Both pairs are $39.95.

Sun safety: the matching look that also protects your dog

Here is the part we love most about twinning in swimwear. Your dog's half of the outfit is a rash shirt made from UPF 50 rated fabric. Under the Australian/New Zealand standard for sun protective clothing, UPF 50 sits in the top classification, "Excellent".²

Dogs can get sunburnt. RSPCA South Australia warns that many dogs and cats with white, thin or no hair can suffer severe sunburn, and that the nose, belly, groin, ear tips and anywhere the fur is thin are the areas most at risk.³ A rash shirt helps reduce UV exposure on the back and body, which is especially handy for short-coated and light-coloured dogs. It does not cover the nose or ears, so for those spots use a sunscreen made for pets. RSPCA ACT points out that zinc is toxic to dogs, so always read the label and never use your own zinc on your dog.⁴

A few more sun-smart habits for both of you:

• Check the UV. Cancer Council Australia advises sun protection whenever the UV Index is 3 or above, and notes UV can be high even on cool, overcast days. The Bureau of Meteorology issues daily sun protection times, also available in the free SunSmart app.⁵
• Clothing is one layer, not the whole plan. ARPANSA advises never relying on clothing alone and says covering up is especially important at places with little shade, like the beach.² Bring a shade tent or umbrella.
• Go early or late. The RSPCA recommends exercising dogs at the coolest times of day and avoiding the hottest part of the day.⁶ Hot sand can also hurt paws.⁴
• Know the signs of heatstroke. Heatstroke is a life-threatening emergency: if you see heavy panting, drooling, weakness, vomiting or collapse, cool your dog with room-temperature or cool water and get to a vet immediately.⁶ Flat-faced breeds like Frenchies, Pugs and Bulldogs are at higher risk. Our guide to keeping a French Bulldog cool in summer has more.

To be clear, a rash shirt helps reduce UV exposure. It does not prevent sunburn or skin cancer on its own, and if you notice red, scabby or changing skin on your dog, see your vet.

Photo tips for the perfect beach twinning shot

1. Shoot at golden hour. The hour after sunrise or before sunset gives soft, warm light, fewer squints and fewer harsh shadows. It is also cooler and lower UV for your dog, so it is a win on every front.
2. Use burst mode. Dogs do not hold poses. Hold the shutter button and pick the best frame later.
3. Bring high-value treats and a squeaker. A treat held just above the lens gets ears up and eyes on camera. A squeak at the last second earns the head tilt.
4. Photos first, swim second. A dry dog in a neat shirt beats a soggy one on camera. Crouch to their eye level and keep the background simple: sand, water, sky.
5. Keep it short and happy. Five minutes, lots of praise, done. If your dog is stressed or hot, stop.

Check the dog beach rules first

Rules vary a lot between councils and even between beaches, and they can change in summer. In Brisbane, for example, the council has three designated foreshore off-leash areas on Moreton Bay (Manly, Sandgate, and Kedron Brook at Nudgee) and says you must leash your dog outside designated areas; it also advises checking the signage and maps at each entrance.⁷ Wherever you are, look up your local council's dog beach page before you pack the car, keep your dog under control, and pick up after them.

Bring fresh water and a bowl, too. RSPCA ACT notes that a thirsty dog may drink salt water, which can be dangerous, and warns against letting dogs eat seaweed or anything else off the beach.⁴

How to wash matching swimwear

• Rinse straight after the beach. A quick fresh-water rinse of both garments gets out salt and sand before they dry in. Rinse your dog too: RSPCA ACT recommends washing pets down after a salty or chlorinated swim.⁴
• Machine wash cold. That is the care instruction for both the rash shirts and the swim shorts.
• Air dry. Hang it in the shade rather than using the dryer.
• Replace when worn. ARPANSA notes that after numerous washes a garment may fade and wear, reducing its UPF rating.² If the fabric looks thin or stretched out, it is time for a new one.

Our full guide on how to wash dog clothing covers the rest.

Matching dog and owner swimwear as a Christmas gift

Christmas in Australia lands in the middle of beach season, so a matching set is a gift that actually gets worn: Boxing Day, the January long weekend and every beach trip after. A few ideas:

• For the dog-obsessed partner: both pieces, wrapped together, with a note to book a golden-hour beach photo.
• For a family photo: a rash shirt for the dog and swim shorts for everyone else, all in the same gingham for the Christmas card.

Tip: if you are buying for someone else's dog, ask for the dog's breed and chest measurement on the quiet, and remember the first size exchange is free. Order early in December so it arrives in time; we dispatch the next business day from Brisbane. You can browse all our dog swimwear here.

FAQs

What is dog matching swimwear?

It is a set where you and your dog wear swimwear in the same print. Usually that means a rash shirt for the dog and swim shorts for the owner. Ours come in red gingham and green gingham.

Is a dog rash shirt actually sun protective?

Our rash shirts are made from UPF 50 rated fabric, which falls in the "Excellent" category under the Australian standard. It helps reduce UV exposure on the parts of the body it covers, but it does not cover the nose or ear tips, so use a pet-safe sunscreen there and keep up shade and water.

Can my dog swim in a rash shirt?

Yes, it is part of our dog swimwear range, made for beach and pool days. Supervise your dog in the water, though, as not all dogs are strong swimmers: RSPCA ACT notes breeds such as Bulldogs, Pugs, Corgis and Greyhounds can find swimming difficult and suggests a pet life jacket.⁴

Do you have human and dog matching shirts as well as swimwear?

Our matching dog and owner range currently focuses on the gingham swim sets. You can see everything in the matching dog and owner collection.

What if the dog's shirt doesn't fit?

Your first size exchange is free. Measure your dog's chest first, use the size finder, and if your dog is between sizes, size up.

References

1. Animal Medicines Australia, Media release: Australia's most comprehensive pet survey shows nearly three quarters of Australian homes now have a pet (Pets in Australia, September 2025)
2. ARPANSA, Sun protection using clothing
3. RSPCA South Australia, The must-know steps to keeping your white pet safe from dangerous sunburn
4. RSPCA ACT via Region Canberra, RSPCA ACT Summer Tips: Pool and Beach Safety
5. Cancer Council Australia, UV Index
6. RSPCA Knowledgebase, How can I protect my dog from heatstroke?
7. Brisbane City Council, Off-leash dog parks