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We all know how chilly winter mornings and evenings can be as we wrap ourselves up toasty with hats, scarves, and gloves (maybe a dog sweater) to brave the wind and even snow on our daily puppy walks. 

But what about your fur angel? Yes, she has a furry coat to help keep her warm, but a doggy sweater will always help to keep her extra snuggly on cold winter walks.

But how do you measure your pet for a sweater and how should it fit?

In this article, we’ll give you the go-to answer with everything you need to know to make sure your pup is comfortable!

How should a dog sweater fit? Dog sweaters need to be comfortable, of good quality material so as not to stretch or mishaps if washing and should be snug but not constrict movement. Also, they should not be too loose as to cause any potential accidents. Take as much care sizing your dog as you would your own clothing.

Ok so now we’ve got the mini answer, so you can more easily understand how a dog sweater fits. Let’s start by looking at whether your poochie is on the shopping list for an adorable dog sweater!

[caption id="attachment_523686" align="alignnone" width="1000"] Stylish, young woman tenderly kisses her puppy Jack Russell Terrier in the autumn park, mood. Romantic day with a pet. Pet Dog is wearing a sweater, outdoors or outside.[/caption]

Which dogs benefit from a dog jumper?

While dogs with denser coats such as Alaskan Malamutes, Siberian Huskies, and other dogs from northern territories, will most probably be able to brave a chilly winter walk without too much help from a jumper.

Let’s find out many of the varieties that might benefit not only from a fashion hit from a stylish jumper, but are also less able to tolerate colder conditions:

• Short-haired
• Small or miniature
• Light-bodied breeds
• Old or infirm dogs

So before you make your little furry prince or princess warm and cozy in a jumper, let’s find out what kind of sweater styles there are.

What styles of dog sweaters are there?

 

Hoodies

The edge on fashion-forward thinking goes to hoodies when taking your pup out for his daily walk.

Hoodies (obviously) have a hood to help keep your angel warm and cozy and also for an added style statement.

Like any item of clothing for doggies or their humans, hoodies can be of better or poorer quality, depending on the materials.

So for instance a hoodie that is ‘cotton-rich’ would be a great choice!

Hoodies are usually sold in small, medium, and large sizes, but, accurate measuring is essential as sizes vary widely with each manufacturer.

Traditional pull-over style

This kind of style is the sort we think about when we think about a ‘dog sweater’.

Pull-over style sweaters are usually full length and have leg straps. They are usually made of cozy wool, wool, or synthetic blends.

Some of these styles also come with added scarves for an extra layer!

As with human styling, sizes can vary quite drastically from manufacturers.

As with any doggie apparel, it’s important to not constrict his or her movement, so make sure these types of sweaters are a good fit for your pet.

This style will fit as a human sweater, so will have a little ‘give’. 

It might be that although this style might look too small for your pet initially, it will have a certain stretch element depending on the ratio of synthetic/natural fibers.

A sweater with more synthetic fibers will have a little more stretch.

“As with any doggie apparel,  it’s important to not construct his or her, so make sure these types of sweaters are a good fit for your pet.”

 

Fleece sweaters with harnesses

These jumpers are more along the line of a light jacket and will include a harness to keep your poochie safe and secure.

It’s even more important that these types of sweaters fit your angel properly, given the harnesses included.

These kinds of sweaters should be fitted as accurately as you would for any harness.

Choosing the right dog sweater

So when choosing a sweater make sure you give the material some consideration.

Wool is very warm and provides great insulation. However, it may require hand washing or be itchy on some dogs along with the fact it can shrink too which can cause the sweater not to fit well.

There are acrylic and wool-blend dog sweaters that provide plenty of warmth, while still being soft and easy to care for and will keep their shape to ensure a good fit on your poochie.

How do I measure for a dog sweater?

When measuring your dog for any kind of clothing, including sweaters and hoodies, you should take the same care as for sizing garments for yourself!

Measure around:

• His neck,
• The deepest part of his chest (sometimes called girth)
• His length.

You’ll also want to make sure that the leg openings aren’t constrictive and allow for freedom of movement. A dog sweater should be snug, but never too tight.

These three simple measurements should ensure that any puppy’s sweater you buy will fit her perfectly, keeping her warm, snug, comfortable, and safe.

Let’s take a look below at how to measure your dog for a sweater to fit perfectly!

• Length: Measure from the base of the collar to the base of the tail to find the length. This measurement will be the most helpful in measuring a dog coat. Other measurements you may want to consider are girth and neck opening measurements.
• Girth: Measure the widest part around your dog's chest behind the front legs.
• Neck: Measure around the neck, where a collar would normally sit.

“These three simple measurements  should ensure that any puppies sweater you buy will fit her perfectly, keeping her warm, snug, comfortable, and safe.”

How should a dog sweater fit?

In general, your dog's coat should cover your dog's body from his or her neck at the base of the collar to the base of his or her tail. It is okay if the coat is a little short or long.

More specifically, there are two types of dog coats: jacket style and blanket style. 

A jacket style coat should cover your dog's chest, shoulders, stomach, and thighs.

A blanket style sweater does not cover the dog's entire stomach, but rather sits on top of the dog's back and comes down on either side of your dog right around the shoulder.

As mentioned previously, A well-fitted sweater should not impede or constrict freedom of movement, cause any kind of discomfort or rub your dog.

You should be able to run your hand flat along the length of your dog within each jacket opening such as the neck or along each wrap area.

Jumpers that are too small will be tight in these areas and cause pinching on your hand, and just as importantly, sweaters that are too big will gap in these areas and can become tangled or caught.

And finally…

We hope you’ve found all your answers to how a dog sweater should fit and are excited to browse our cuter-than-cute range of doggie sweaters, hoodies, and fleeces.

Check out our Sizing Your Pup blog for the most accurate sizing for your poochie!

With a raft of 5-star customer reviews from review sites such as ShopperApproved and our Etsy store, you can guarantee beautiful quality clothing and other accessories for your favorite little baby doggie at a great price and with confidence!

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