Hey you! You got a dog? Maybe a cat? A small horse? And it's getting chilly and you're thinking to yourself "man my poor dog/cat/tiny horse is getting chilly too. I better get them a coat!" Then I am here to tell you to MEASURE YOUR PET for the best fit! And I will tell you how!
Weight is a useless metric and you can't just say "yea big" and estimate. A 40# dog could be a skinny hound or a fat, squat pittie. You'll end up with items that are too big or too small if you try to guesstimate, and you might not be able to exchange them. Measure, write down your pet's numbers, and keep them on hand when you're shopping for them!
(Image credit to Canada Pooch) Sizing Guide
For many coats, back length is the most common and important information. Measure from where the collar sits on your dog's neck (just above the shoulder) to the base of their tail.
Chest girth is also important, especially when you're fitting deep-chested dogs like sighthounds for coats and harnesses. To measure their girth, wrap the measuring tape around the widest part of your dog's chest.
If you also want, you can measure your dog's neck to try to get a more accurate fit. Again you'll find where the collar rests at the base of the neck and wrap the tape around.
Coats should not exceed the back length by more than an inch or two. They should be loose enough for the dog to move comfortably and should not pinch or pull tight around the legs. If you're struggling to get your dog's front legs through, the coat is too small. If the coat shifts around constantly on their body, it is too large. An ill-fitting coat will not keep your pet as warm as a well-fit one. Also make sure the belly of the coat does not go too far down the body if your dog will potentially pee on it! For harnesses, you should be able to comfortably fit two fingers between your dog's body and the harness strap.
If you're reading this far, congratulations! You can now comfortably shop for pet clothes for your nondescript animal!
Now if you've got a dog and live in a particularly cold or hot place, or your dog's paws are sensitive, I'll tell you how to measure for and fit boots next. 👇
Dog boots are a whole other monster and they have a wide range of sizing. Some are specific to the ¼". Some are just loose socks meant to keep the paw off the ground. What you need is up to what you're doing with your dog.
(Image credit to alldogboots.com) Boot Sizing Guide
To measure your dog's paws, get a piece of paper and pencil. Put one of their front paws on the paper and lift the other so they put their full weight on it. Quickly mark where the front of the nails and back of the paw pad are, as well as where the sides of their paw sit. I recommend doing the same for the back paws, as some dogs actually have different sized paws! You can now measure the marks you've made and go forward with finding the right size.
Don't go bigger than the boot's sizing chart recommends.
Dog boots, when they fit properly, should Not come off easily. When putting the boot on, make sure the boot goes up over the dewclaw and their paw is fully inside. Tighten the strap as much as you can. You will not hurt your dog by making the strap tight. Before you go out, EVERY time, give a strong tug on the boots. If you can get them off by pulling, your dog will throw them off instantly.
If your dog does not allow their feet to be touched for long periods but still struggles with ice and snow, musher's secret or max wax are great alternatives to boots, with the risk of being licked off and having to be reapplied.
Thank you for coming to this talk! Please ask questions.