How a dog coat should fit

How should a dog coat fit?

You’ve decided your dog needs a coat or other clothing. But how do you get the right fit? No matter what the product, sizing is important. The dog coat has to feel good for your dog or you're going to have problems. A comfortable dog will be able to work better.

How do you get a good fit?

The most important thing is that the coat is proportionate to your dog. That means you'll have to measure them in several different spots, depending on the garment. You’ll want to use the specific standards of your intended maker to get the proportions right.

Length

A good place to start is back length (A in the diagram below) since the coat proportions generally are based on length. A coat that is too short or too long is likely to have fastenings or other features in the wrong place.

Neck

The neck (B in the diagram) needs to have enough room but not too much to feel good. A couple of fingers should fit between your dog and the neck of the coat. If the neck is too big, the coat will hang low over the shoulders and get in the way of movement.

Chest or girth

Chest or girth (C in diagram) is the third measurement that is important. If the coat won’t fit over the ribcage or just barely closes, your dog won’t want to move (remember tight jeans?) if you can even get the coat to stay on. Again, you should allow at least a couple of fingers between your dog and the coat for movement.

Other considerations

The shoulders should have enough clearance that your dog can walk, run, jump, etc., with ease. Measurements for special features like a hood, pajamas, etc., need to be considered on a case by case basis. The key is to make sure that the garment, whatever it is, does not restrict your dog.

There are lots of options for dog coats out there. You may be able to find a great fitting coat that is readily available. Or you might need to consider having a custom dog coat made for your dog. Whatever you decide to do, you will have more success in helping your dog if you watch fit carefully. Observe your dog. Their nonverbal communication will tell you quite a bit about what they think and how they feel.

A dog coat should cover all the parts it’s supposed to and none of the parts it isn’t. I make custom dog coats. If you’re looking for a quality dog coat for your canine friend, go to my website, Made by De, to find out more.