This puppy clothes size chart will take your puppy’s chest, back length and neck measurements and match them to a clothing size, from XXS (the tiniest of toy puppies) to 3XL (for large breed dogs). The size finder below can help you figure out which size of sweater, coat or pajamas will fit your puppy best, as well as indicate how many additional sizes your puppy will most likely grow through.
There is no uniformity in sizing for dog clothes. A medium from one manufacturer may be a small from another; and a label identifying the garment as being for a ‘puppy’ does not provide any useful information. The only means by which a proper fit can be obtained is through measuring the dog and reading the numbers on the size chart. With puppies, however, the trouble is that the measurements are changing approximately every two weeks.
Puppy Clothes Size Finder
Measure your puppy standing up, with a soft tape. Chest girth is the one number you must have.
This is a typical chart drawn from several makers’ size guides. Sizes are not standard between brands, so use the result to find the right row on the brand’s own chart.
Puppy Clothes Size Chart
| Size | Chest girth | Back length | Neck | Weight guide | Typical dogs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| XXS | 9 to 12 in (23 to 30 cm) | 6 to 8 in (15 to 20 cm) | 6 to 8 in (15 to 20 cm) | Under 4 lb | Toy-breed puppies at 8 to 10 weeks, teacup dogs |
| XS | 12 to 14 in (30 to 36 cm) | 8 to 10 in (20 to 25 cm) | 8 to 10 in (20 to 25 cm) | 4 to 7 lb | Chihuahua, Yorkshire Terrier, Pomeranian |
| S | 14 to 17 in (36 to 43 cm) | 10 to 12 in (25 to 30 cm) | 10 to 12 in (25 to 30 cm) | 7 to 12 lb | Maltese, Toy Poodle, small Shih Tzu |
| M | 17 to 21 in (43 to 53 cm) | 12 to 15 in (30 to 38 cm) | 12 to 14 in (30 to 36 cm) | 12 to 20 lb | Pug, Miniature Schnauzer, Cavalier, Boston Terrier |
| L | 21 to 25 in (53 to 64 cm) | 15 to 18 in (38 to 46 cm) | 14 to 17 in (36 to 43 cm) | 20 to 35 lb | Beagle, French Bulldog, Cocker Spaniel |
| XL | 25 to 30 in (64 to 76 cm) | 18 to 22 in (46 to 56 cm) | 17 to 20 in (43 to 51 cm) | 35 to 55 lb | Border Collie, Bulldog, Australian Shepherd |
| XXL | 30 to 35 in (76 to 89 cm) | 22 to 26 in (56 to 66 cm) | 20 to 23 in (51 to 58 cm) | 55 to 80 lb | Labrador, Golden Retriever, Boxer |
| 3XL | 35 to 42 in (89 to 107 cm) | 26 to 31 in (66 to 79 cm) | 23 to 27 in (58 to 69 cm) | Over 80 lb | German Shepherd, Rottweiler, Great Dane |
Read the puppy clothes size chart by the chest measurement first. In cases where your puppy’s chest sits right on the line between two sizes, always choose the larger one. A garment too tight around your pup’s ribcage will limit your pup’s ability to breathe and move properly. One that fits a little loosely may look baggy, but will be perfectly comfortable for your pup. Go by weight last, if at all; there is no way that a ten-pound Dachshund and a ten-pound Pomeranian are the same shape.
How to Measure a Puppy for Clothes
- Stand the puppy up. Measurements taken sitting or lying down come out wrong. A helper with a treat held at nose height keeps the puppy square and still.
- Chest girth: wrap a soft tape around the widest part of the ribcage, just behind the front legs. Snug, not tight.
- Back length: measure along the spine from the base of the neck, where the collar sits, to the base of the tail. Do not include the tail or the neck.
- Neck: measure around the base of the neck where a collar rests, not high up under the jaw.
- Add ease: you should be able to slide two fingers under the tape at the chest and neck. If you measured skin-tight, add about an inch to the chest.
- Measure twice. Puppies wriggle. If the two numbers differ, take a third and use the middle one.
No soft tape? Measure using a piece of string or a phone charger cable, mark the point where the ends meet and lay that against a ruler. Fluffy puppies (such as Pomeranians or Samoyeds) are best measured through their coat with the tape pulled snug around them; otherwise, you’ll end up with a size that is too big. The same chest measurement works for the dog harness size chart, and the neck measurement for the dog collar size chart.
Which Measurement Matters Most
| Garment | Size by | Then check | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| T-shirt, hoodie, sweater | Chest | Neck opening | Knits stretch in length but must close around the ribs |
| Coat, jacket, raincoat | Back length | Chest strap reaches | A coat that is too short leaves the hips wet and cold |
| Pajamas or onesie with legs | Back length and chest, whichever is larger | Leg length | Legs pull at the shoulders and hips if the body is short |
| Dress or harness vest | Chest | Neck | Fastens around the ribs like a harness |
| Recovery suit after surgery | Back length | Chest and belly coverage | Has to cover the wound without gaps |
Typical Adult Clothing Size by Breed
| Breed | Typical adult chest | Adult clothing size |
|---|---|---|
| Chihuahua | 11 to 15 in | XXS to S |
| Yorkshire Terrier | 12 to 16 in | XS to S |
| Pomeranian | 12 to 16 in | XS to S |
| Maltese | 12 to 16 in | XS to S |
| Toy Poodle | 12 to 16 in | XS to S |
| Havanese | 14 to 18 in | S to M |
| Shih Tzu | 16 to 20 in | S to M |
| Cavalier King Charles Spaniel | 16 to 21 in | S to M |
| Miniature Schnauzer | 17 to 22 in | M to L |
| Pug | 20 to 24 in | M to L |
| Boston Terrier | 18 to 24 in | M to L |
| French Bulldog | 20 to 26 in | M to XL |
| Dachshund | 20 to 26 in | M to XL |
| Beagle | 20 to 26 in | M to XL |
| Pembroke Welsh Corgi | 22 to 28 in | L to XL |
| Cocker Spaniel | 20 to 26 in | M to XL |
| Border Collie | 24 to 30 in | L to XL |
| Labrador Retriever | 28 to 36 in | XL to 3XL |
| Golden Retriever | 28 to 36 in | XL to 3XL |
| German Shepherd | 28 to 36 in | XL to 3XL |
Use the table above to help you plan ahead, so you don’t make unnecessary purchases; do not use it to buy. The puppy clothes size chart earlier told you what fits your puppy currently, while this table tells you how big he or she will end up (which is how you know whether that tiny hoodie will be worn for a full year or for just a few weeks). When you want to know what size your puppy is now, use the tape measure.
Body Shapes That Do Not Fit the Chart
- Long and low (Dachshund, Corgi, Basset Hound): the back is one or two sizes longer than the chest. Buy by chest for knits and look for brands that offer a long cut.
- Barrel-chested (French Bulldog, Pug, Bulldog): the chest and neck are one or two sizes bigger than the back. Buy by chest and expect extra length, or choose brands cut for bulldog breeds.
- Deep-chested and narrow-waisted (Whippet, Italian Greyhound, Greyhound): standard clothes gape at the belly. Sighthound cuts have a deeper chest and a longer neck.
- Very fluffy (Pomeranian, Samoyed, Keeshond): measure snug through the coat, and remember a thick double coat rarely needs a sweater at all.
- Broad-necked (Staffordshire Bull Terrier, Rottweiler): check the neck opening first. It is often the tightest point.
How Fast Will a Puppy Outgrow Its Clothes?
Quicker than you would prefer. Most toy and small breed puppies complete almost all of their growth during the first six months, and they have reached nearly full adult size by the time they are 8 to 12 months old. Medium-sized dogs will grow for around one year. Large and giant breed puppies will continue to fill out until they reach eighteen (18) months or beyond. During the fastest phase, in the first few months at home, a puppy can outgrow a size within weeks. You can estimate where yours will finish with the puppy weight calculator.
- Buy one size at a time, and no more than one or two pieces in it.
- Choose stretch knits and adjustable straps over fixed, woven fabrics.
- Save your money for the adult size. That is the one your dog will wear for years.
- Measure every two weeks until the numbers stop changing.
Does a Puppy Need Clothes at All?
Some do. The American Kennel Club says small and toy breeds, lean short-haired dogs such as Whippets and Greyhounds, hairless breeds, dogs with shaved fur, young puppies and senior dogs can all benefit from a sweater in cold weather. It also warns that large, healthy dogs with a thick coat generally do not need one and could overheat.
- Good reasons: a small or thin-coated puppy in cold or wet weather, a clipped coat in winter, a recovery suit after surgery, keeping a clean coat dry on a muddy walk.
- Poor reasons: a thick double coat (Husky, Malamute, Samoyed, Bernese), warm rooms, or any puppy that freezes, hides or chews at the fabric.
Safety rules: the AKC advises against leaving a dog unattended in a sweater because of the risk of tangling, so take clothes off before the crate, before unsupervised play with other dogs, and overnight unless your vet has said otherwise. Avoid buttons, bows and drawstrings that a puppy can chew off and swallow, and check under the front legs for rubbing after the first few wears.
Teaching a Puppy to Wear Clothes
Puppies who dislike clothing have mostly been rushed into their first piece of clothing. To a puppy, a sweater that is pulled over its head without warning may feel as if it is being grabbed; and when a puppy learns to dread that, it will fight against each new coat for life. Instead, dress your puppy in a similar manner to how you taught it to accept a collar or harness (i.e., in a few short sessions of about two minutes). Choosing the correct size based off of the puppy clothes size chart is also half of the success, because a garment that pinches will undo the lesson.
- Let the puppy sniff the garment on the floor. Treat for any interest.
- Hold the neck opening up and feed a treat through it, so the puppy pushes its own head through.
- Slip it on for five seconds, feed several treats in a row, and take it off before the puppy fusses.
- Build up the time, then add movement: a short game or a walk across the room.
- First real outing: keep it brief and fun, so that the coat comes to mean a walk is about to start.
If the puppy freezes like a statue, go back a step and make sure the size is right, since stiffness is often a sign that the garment is tight across the shoulders. The method is the same one described in how to train a puppy to accept a collar.
Related Reading
- Dog Harness Size Chart
- Dog Collar Size Chart
- Puppy Weight Calculator
- How to Train a Puppy to Accept a Collar
- How Weather Affects Dog Behavior and Activity Levels
FAQs
What size clothes does my puppy need?
Measure your puppy’s chest by wrapping a flexible tape measure around the widest part of the body, and compare that number to a size chart. A good rule of thumb for sizing is as follows: a chest measurement from 12 to 14 inches equates to an extra small. A chest measurement of 14 to 17 inches corresponds with a small, and a chest measurement of 17 to 21 inches is a medium. Sizes are different from brand to brand, so always check the chart of the brand you are buying.
How do I measure my puppy for clothes?
When the puppy is standing upright, wrap the measuring tape around the widest area of the ribcage (behind the front legs) for the chest, measure along the back (from the base of the neck to the base of the tail), and measure the neck where you would place the collar on your dog. You should be able to fit two fingers underneath the tape.
What if my puppy is between two sizes?
Choose the larger. A puppy grows fast enough to fill it in a couple of weeks, and a slightly too big (but not way too big) fit is better for both safety and comfort than a tight one. The exception is a very loose neck opening, because a puppy can easily slip a leg into that space.
Are dog clothes sizes the same across brands?
No. There is no industry-wide standard for dog clothing sizes, and as such, the same dog is often a different size from one manufacturer to another (a small in one and a large in another). The best way to get the correct size is to ignore the letter on the label and instead use the manufacturer’s own sizing chart to match your puppy’s chest and back measurements.
What size does an 8-week-old puppy wear?
The breed determines this. An 8-week-old Chihuahua or Yorkie would be an XXS, if not smaller; and an 8-week-old Lab is already several sizes larger. Go by your puppy’s chest measurement rather than its age.
Can a puppy sleep in clothes?
It’s best not to. Puppies can easily become overheated or get tangled in their clothing when nobody is watching them. Therefore it would be wise to remove all clothing prior to placing your puppy into its crate and before it goes to sleep for the night. A warm bed (away from drafts) is a safer way to keep a small puppy comfortable through the night.
Is XXS smaller than XS in dog clothes?
Yes. XXS is generally considered the smallest common size and is made for toy breed puppies as well as dogs weighing less than approximately four pounds. The next larger size is XS. Some manufacturers do produce XXXS or “teacup” sizes that fit the extremely tiny puppies.