Measuring for a dog coat; how to get the best fit.
So, have you decided that your dog needs a coat or pajamas? If so, I'll bet you want to be sure they fit right so your dog will like wearing them. To get a good fit, you need to know how to measure your dog for dog clothing.
Dogs have certain basic features; walking on all fours (unless they’ve lost a limb or something), back, head, tail, or tail stump. So measuring for any coat will have similarities across the board. You can check with the company you’re considering for their specifics, but if you’re able to list the measurements as specified in the diagram below, you should be able to get pretty close.
Dogs come in all shapes and sizes. Getting your measurements right can go a long ways towards getting the correct fit.
Steps to measure for a dog coat
Measure according to the diagram above, from the Made by De website. Some makers will use slightly different formulas, but these should be very helpful.
Length of back from the base of the neck (where the neck and body meet) to the base of the tail (where back and tail meet)
Around the base of the neck
Circumference around the rib cage
Groin or “waist.”
Underneath length from a notch above the sternum, between legs to end of the belly just below the ribcage
Circumference of the head in front of ears
Height of your dog from the top of shoulder to ground
Neck length from in front of ears to the base of the neck (where neck and body meet)
Tips for measuring correctly for a dog coat
Use a cloth tape. It’s flexible, so you can measure your dog around the curves and all. Do Not use a ruler or a carpenter’s measuring tape. Your numbers will be inaccurate and probably result in a poorly fitting coat.
Measure your dog while standing. If they’re sitting or lying down or otherwise not straight, your numbers will also be off.
Find out where your coat maker marks the length of the back. For example, if you include the neck, your coat could be several inches too long and out of proportion.
Be sure to let the maker know the age and breed of the dog. A puppy is going to grow. Even a one or two-year-old dog will have measurement changes. And breed affects the amount of growth and proportions. If the coat maker knows these things, they might be able to allow for growth.
Measure to the 1/4 inch, loosely. Put just a little gap (a couple of fingertips) in. This allows for slack. Dogs don’t like their clothes tight any more than we do.
There you have it. To get the right dog clothing, it's important to measure. But it’s not too difficult and well worth the extra effort. If you have any problems, your maker will probably welcome your questions. You want the coat to fit your dog and for you both to like it. For more about dog coats, read my post Dog coat fit; how should they fit?