Cute puppy outfits are cute for sure…right up to when you go to put one on the pup and it doesn’t fit. Leg holes cut in, the tummy is exposed or the entire outfit has slid over to one side after taking only ten steps. It’s usually due to choosing the size based off a breed list rather than how big the pup really is.
Use our puppy clothing size guide with those three measurements that most clothing companies use as their base sizes: Back Length, Chest and Neck. Simply enter them into the form below; then refer to the size chart and some additional fitting tips at the bottom of this page.
Puppy Clothes Size Finder
Measure your puppy standing up. Chest matters most for fit, back length matters most for coats.
How to Measure a Puppy for Clothes
- Back length: from the base of the neck (where a collar sits) to the base of the tail. Don’t include the tail.
- Chest: around the widest part of the ribcage, just behind the front legs. This is the measurement that decides whether clothes fit at all.
- Neck: around the base of the neck, where the neck meets the shoulders.
Have your puppy stand (ideally after some fun) and measure your puppy with the measuring tape wrapped snugly but not too tightly. Measure fluffier pups carefully to the skin first. Add roughly 1/2″ if the puppy has a thick coat. The tape should be snug against the puppy’s body.
Puppy Clothes Size Chart
| Size | Back length | Chest | Neck | Typical weight |
| XXS | 6-8 in (15-20 cm) | 9-12 in (23-30 cm) | 6-8 in | 1-3 lb |
| XS | 8-10 in (20-25 cm) | 12-16 in (30-40 cm) | 8-10 in | 3-6 lb |
| S | 10-12 in (25-30 cm) | 15-18 in (38-46 cm) | 10-12 in | 6-12 lb |
| M | 12-16 in (30-40 cm) | 18-22 in (46-56 cm) | 12-15 in | 12-25 lb |
| L | 16-20 in (40-50 cm) | 22-28 in (56-71 cm) | 15-18 in | 25-45 lb |
| XL | 20-24 in (50-60 cm) | 28-32 in (71-81 cm) | 18-21 in | 45-65 lb |
| XXL | 24-28 in (60-70 cm) | 32-38 in (81-97 cm) | 21-25 in | 65 lb + |
Clothes Size by Breed (Puppy and Adult)
| Breed | 8-12 week puppy | Adult |
| Chihuahua | XXS | XS |
| Yorkshire Terrier | XXS | XS |
| Maltipoo | XXS-XS | XS-S |
| Cavapoo | XS | S-M |
| French Bulldog | S | M-L (sized by chest) |
| Dachshund | XS | S-M (long-body cut) |
| Mini Goldendoodle | S | M-L |
| Beagle | S | M |
| Standard Goldendoodle | M | XL-XXL |
| Labrador | M | XL |
Keep in mind that this is simply a rough estimate. Pups grow incredibly fast. Thus, a breed list may have your estimated size wrong by one full size from last month to this month.
Does My Puppy Actually Need Clothes?
From a veterinarian’s perspective, most puppies do not need clothes. Healthy pups that have a full coat will generally stay warm during a winter outing simply because they are active. Clothing for dogs can be useful under these circumstances:
- Toy breeds and small puppies. They lose heat quickly because of their size. Chihuahuas, Yorkies and toy Maltipoos really do feel the cold.
- Short or thin coats. Whippets, Italian Greyhounds, Boxers, French Bulldogs and Chinese Cresteds.
- Very young, elderly or unwell dogs, who can’t regulate body temperature as well.
- Rain and snow, to keep a thick coat from getting soaked or balled with ice.
- After surgery, where a soft recovery suit can protect a wound instead of a cone.
Signs your puppy is cold include shaking, lifting paws off the ground, a hunched posture, or refusal to continue walking.
How Should Puppy Clothes Fit?
- You can slide two fingers under the fabric at the chest and neck
- Leg holes don’t rub or pinch the armpits
- The back ends just before the base of the tail
- On male puppies, the belly is cut short enough that they can pee without soaking it
- Your puppy can walk, sit, lie down and turn their head normally
Puppy Clothes Safety Tips
- Never leave a puppy unattended in clothes, especially in a crate. They can get tangled or chew off buttons and zips.
- Avoid small decorations, pom-poms and loose threads that can be swallowed.
- Watch for overheating. Panting, a red tongue or restlessness means it’s coming off.
- Take clothes off indoors. Wearing a sweater all day can cause matting in long coats, particularly in Doodles.
- Introduce clothes slowly with treats. A puppy who freezes or tries to scratch it off isn’t comfortable yet.
Need a harness to go over the coat? Size it with the coat on using our dog harness size chart.
Frequently Asked Questions
Measure chest, back length and neck, then compare with the brand’s chart. Chest is the most important measurement.
Most toy breed puppies are XXS, small breeds XS, and large breeds S or M at 8 weeks, but measuring is far more reliable.
If your puppy is near the top of a size range and still growing, yes. Avoid going more than one size up, as loose clothes can trip them.
Yes, for short periods and supervised, especially for small or short-coated puppies in the cold. Many thick-coated puppies don’t need them.
Measure from the base of the neck, where the collar sits, to the base of the tail.
A Mini Goldendoodle puppy is usually size S, and a Standard Goldendoodle puppy size M at around 8-12 weeks.
It’s safer not to. Unsupervised puppies can overheat, get tangled or chew the fabric.
Small, short-coated, very young or senior dogs often need a coat below about 45 F (7 C). Most healthy thick-coated dogs are fine without one.
It’s probably too big at the chest or neck. Size by chest and choose a slightly stretchy fabric.
Vet note: Written and reviewed by Dr. Muhammad Usman, DVM. Clothing should be about comfort and warmth, not a substitute for limiting time outdoors in extreme cold or heat.
More tools: Dog Harness Size Chart · Dog Collar Size Chart · Puppy Weight Calculator
