Sizing Your Pet

You will need a soft measuring tape - don't have one?  To measure your pet you will need a soft measuring tape. You can likely pick one up at your local dollar store!

If you don't have a soft measuring tape, use your pet's leash, yes leash! Measure starting from handle side and use a piece of tape as a marker. You may now use a ruler, yard stick, or hardware measuring tape to measure from the handle end to the taped marker to determine your pet's measurements.

TIPS AND GUIDELINES FOR MEASURING YOUR PET

**NOT ALL PETS OR PET CLOTHING ARE CREATED EQUALLY!**
MotleyMutt.com carries clothing lines from many different designers that often have very different sizing scales, even one designer often has different size scales for many of their designs. We strongly recommend that you read all sizing information for each piece of clothing VERY carefully to ensure you get the best fit for your pet.

Ordering for a puppy?  Please order based on your puppy's current measurements only - do not attempt to select a size that your puppy may be! A size or two larger than current size may not be in proportion to the size of your puppy once full grown.  If you order now for your puppy, please only expect it to fit for a short time before you have to reorder for proper sizing again.

Measuring Your Pet: 

The best determination can only be made if the actual pet is being measured and manufacturer recommendations are being
followed. Please buy our clothing according to your pet's measurements, not the clothing size.

--> Please make sure that your pet is standing tall, head up, and back straight (not curled or curved from fear of what you are doing to him). You won't get accurate measurements if the dog is sitting or lying down. * For some breeds, such as Greyhounds, the neck base location may be difficult to determine when head is up... tilting the head down a bit is then recommended. 

MEASURE AT LEAST 3 TIMES TO INSURE CORRECT MEASUREMENTS.

Dog Clothing Measurements
In order to find the right size of clothing for your dog, please complete the following measurements with a soft measuring
tape.

1. "Girth/Chest" Size of your dogs chest, all the way round the broadest part of the chest. It is our opinion that this is normally the most important measurement for clothing. If it is too small, it will not fit, if it is too big, your pet may get caught in it and not walk comfortably.

2. "Back" Length from the base of the neck to the base of the tail. This is the most common measurement for clothing, however the back length will not matter if the chest measurement is not appropriate. From the base of the neck (lowest part of neck... not the shoulders!) to base of tail (just before tail starts). If your pet's length falls on the shorter end of the measurements for a size, the clothing will be longer on your pet's back then it would be if your pet's measurements fall on the larger end of the measurements for size. For custom apparel, the back length is used to determine length of garment based on garment design, do not add to this measurement. *For some dogs, the base of the tail may be hard to see, feeling for where the tail begins on your dog's back may be required.

3. "Neck" a comfortable distance around your dog's neck. For collars, the neck size is where the collar will sit on your dog's neck and will be outlined on the product page for you. For clothing, where the clothing would sit naturally, for most clothing, this is the lower part of the neck.  The neck base is the lowest part of the neck... not the shoulders!). * For some breeds, such as Greyhounds, the neck base location may be difficult to determine when head is up... tilting the head down a bit is then recommended.

Collars
Measure a comfortable distance around your dog's neck where your pet's existing collar sits comfortably and add the recommended inches to this measurement as recommended by the product's manufacturer.

Snoods
Measure around your dog's head at the widest point, usually just in front of the ears.

Boots
Follow recommendations for boot sizing as provided by the manufacturer on each boot's product page.  When the maximum width/length is listed, do not exceed this measurement as the boots will be too small. Boots should be snug, but you will want your dog's paws to always be able to spread and relax when in the boot, so it is important to measure your dog's paws with your dog's weight bearing down on paws.  The difference of your dog's paw size and the max measurements of the boot will determine the amount of room in the boot when worn, too much room and the boots will be too big.