The short answer: wrap a soft tape measure around the widest part of your dog's chest, just behind her front legs, over her fur. Keep it snug, not tight. That one number, her chest girth, decides her size. Neck and back length help you double-check, but the chest is what decides whether a dress closes.
What you need
- A soft sewing tape measure. No tape? Use a piece of string, then lay it against a ruler.
- A few treats.
- A second pair of hands, if she is a wiggler.
Step 1: Measure her chest (the one that matters)
Have her stand, not sit. Sitting changes the shape of the chest. Find the widest part of her ribcage, just behind the front legs, and wrap the tape all the way around. Rest the tape on top of her coat. Do not squeeze it down into the fur.
You should be able to slide one or two fingers under the tape without it going slack. Write the number down. Then measure again. If the two numbers differ, use the larger one.
Step 2: Measure her neck
Measure around the base of the neck, where a collar naturally sits. This is a secondary check. It matters most for pull-on styles, which go over the head.
Step 3: Measure her back (optional)
Measure from the base of the neck to the base of the tail. Fluffit dresses are designed to sit above the tail, so a long back does not mean you need a bigger size. Size from the chest.
If she is fluffy, read this part
Double-coated and fluffy breeds (Samoyeds, huskies, malamutes, German shepherds, Bernese, chow chows, full-coat poodles and fluffy small breeds) wear their coat inside the dress. So:
- Measure across the fur, not under it. The dress has to fit around what you see, not the dog underneath.
- Between two sizes? Take the larger one. A little room moves better than a dress that pulls.
- Watch the ruff. A big neck ruff needs extra room in anything that goes over the head.
A real example. Ice Bear, our fit model, is a 40 lb Samoyed with a 25.5 in chest and a 15 in neck. On our chart, 25.5 in is an XXL. She wears a 3XL, because her coat and ruff need the room. That is the fluffy-dog rule in action: start with the chart, then size up when the coat asks for it.
Buttoned vs pull-on dresses
Most Fluffit dresses fasten, so the chest measurement does nearly all the work. Fairydew is our only pull-on style. It goes over the head and front legs, so it needs more room at the same chest measurement. If she has a thick coat, a broad head or a full ruff, take one size up in Fairydew.
Why weight is a weak guide
Two dogs of the same weight can be a full size apart. A deep-chested dog and a long, lean dog can both weigh 45 lb. Use weight only as a rough starting point, then let the tape decide.
The Fluffit size chart (chest girth)
| Size | Chest up to | Rough weight |
|---|---|---|
| XXS | 11.8 in / 30 cm | 2 to 3 lb |
| XS | 13.8 in / 35 cm | 3 to 4 lb |
| S | 16.5 in / 42 cm | 4 to 9 lb |
| M | 18.9 in / 48 cm | 9 to 13 lb |
| L | 22 in / 56 cm | 13 to 18 lb |
| XL | 23.6 in / 60 cm | 18 to 22 lb |
| XXL | 26.4 in / 67 cm | 22 to 30 lb |
| 3XL | 29.1 in / 74 cm | 30 to 40 lb |
| 4XL | 32.3 in / 82 cm | 40 to 50 lb |
| 5XL | 34.6 in / 88 cm | 50 to 60 lb |
| 6XL | 37 in / 94 cm | 60 to 70 lb |
Not every style runs through every size. Check the size range on each product page, or use the finder on our Size Guide.
Common measuring mistakes
- Measuring over a harness or collar.
- Pulling the tape tight into the coat.
- Measuring while she sits or lies down.
- Choosing by weight or breed alone.
- Measuring once. Wiggly dogs deserve two tries.
Quick answers
Should the tape be tight?
Snug, not tight. One or two fingers should slide under it.
Do I measure over or under the fur?
Over. Measure across the fur, the way the dress will sit.
She is between two sizes. Which one?
The larger one, especially if she is fluffy.
What if she is bigger than 37 in?
Our largest size fits a chest up to 37 in (94 cm). Email info@thefluffit.com with her measurements. It helps us decide what to make next.
What size is my breed?
See What Size Dog Dress Fits Your Breed for starting points, then confirm with the tape.
Got her number? Find her size, or go straight to Big Dog Dresses, 3XL to 6XL. Every size is the same price.