Swank Pets Dog Blog

So you love dressing your little dog up in small dog clothing. Who wouldn’t? You’re surfing along the internet, and you finally find a site that has the cutest selection of small dog clothes. You then realize that you can’t really try these pieces of clothing on your dog– so you start stressing and sweating profusely because you absolutely have to order that piece of teacup dog clothing, but you don’t know whether or not it will fit. Don’t worry, this little post will hopefully help in determining the right fitting sizes for small dog clothes from internet websites.

First thing to keep in mind is that not all clothing for small dogs are created equally. Different brands of clothing have their own idea of what they consider Small, XS, XXS, etc. Just because you own a sweater in XS that fits your little dog perfectly, it doesn’t necessarily mean that the dress you love in XS will fit also. Sometimes, clothing from the same brand may even run differently in terms of sizing. The best way to determine sizing is to pay attention to the weight chart or measurement guide often offered on a websites “Product Description” as seen here.

I personally like the weight charts, as they make choosing clothing easier. Simply plop your dog on a scale, and Voila! You’ve got a pretty good idea of what size of clothing to choose. However, I do realize that all dogs are not shaped the same. Some dogs have longer backs than others, or your dog may have a larger neck. If you feel that your dog has an unusual shape then the best thing to do is to grab a tape measure to measure your dog. With these measurements, you can either call up the company and ask for advice (Highly Recommended!) or use a measurement sizing chart on the site if available.

Now, to properly take measurements, please follow these general rules.

1. Chest size : To take this measurement, wrap the tape completely around your dogs chest, directly behind their front legs. This is probably the most pertinent measurement to take, so be accurate. If the small dog clothing you buy is too small, the garment will simply not fit. Too large of a chest may impede your dog’s walking ability and make wearing the clothing uncomfortable.

2. Neck size: Here, simply wrap the tape measure around your dog’s neck. I wouldn’t wrap it tightly, rather I suggest comfortably measuring around the neck. Use this measurement for collars also.

3. Back size: To measure the back, start your measurement from the base of the neck to the start of your dog’s tail. Some people prefer their dog clothing to cover only half the back, while some like their clothing to cover the entire back. So this measurement can be to your preference.

Below is a little model that can help guide you with your measurements.

Hopefully this helps you people with choosing the right size for your little fur baby. Remember, shopping for your dog should not be a stressful experience. And whether you’re buying teacup dog clothes, small dog clothes, or clothing for a little larger dog, make it a fun time.