How To Measure A Dog For A Coat

Dog coats serve two main purposes, keeping your dog dry so you don't have to spend time towel drying them off at home (causing that wet doggy smell) as well as keeping them warm throughout their winter walks. Shorter haired dogs will feel the most benefit from a dog coat, however larger dogs which are beginning to get old will also welcome the extra layer of insulation.

If you're looking to buy your dog's first coat, there's a high chance that you'll be unsure of which size dog coat to go for. In this guide, we'll explain how dog coats are sized as well as how you can measure your own furry friend in order to find the best-fitting coat for your dog.

Measuring Your Dog

All you need to measure your dog for their new coat is a soft tape measure and perhaps a dog treat to keep them on their best behaviour whilst you take their measurements. Dog coats are sized according to two types of measurements, back length and torso circumference. In order to take representative measurements, you'll need to make sure your dog is standing up. If they're sat down, their weight will shift downwards and (depending on the dog) can result in an inaccurate measurement.

Measuring Your Dog's Back

To measure the back of your dog, place the start of your tape measure on the back of your dog's neck and measure all the way down until the base of their tail. Take this measurement in centimetres.

Measuring Your Dog's Torso

To find out your dog's chest size, wrap your tape measure around the widest section of your dogs chest. Take this measurement in centimetres.

What Size Coat Should I Get My Dog?

Back length will be the biggest deciding factor when finding a dog coat that'll fit your pooch. Once you've got your dog's back measurement, you'll be able to gauge whether the corresponding chest size will be appropriate from our table below. All of our dog coats are adjustable, so if if your dog is only an inch inside the next size up of coat, you'll still be able to ensure a good fit.

Dog Coat Sizes

Regatta Great Outdoors provide dog coats from sizes S to XL. Our sizes are measured in centimetres and increase in increments of 10cm. Our dog coats are adjustable around the body but cannot be extended lengthways, so it's important to base your choice off of the correct back length first, before moving on to check if the torso size is appropriate for your dog. If you're thinking about buying a dog harness as opposed to a coat, you'll only need to measure your dog's chest.

In order to ensure a nice, snug fit, we've made sure to design our dog coats with a hook and loop fastening. This also means you'll still be able to fit your dog's coat if they're in-between sizes or allow for some extra padding if you want to put a dog jumper on underneath.

Regatta Matching Dog & Owner Clothes

Want to style your outfit alongside your furry friend? Plenty of our dog coats can be matched with equivalent waterproof jackets!