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How to Measure Your Dog

Dog owners have been outfitting their pets with colorful fashions for years. Pet retailers offer a variety of pet apparel, much of which has practical uses in addition to fashion appeal. For instance, dog clothes can help dogs stay warm in cool weather, protect them from outdoor allergens or shield their skin from sunburn. Measuring a dog for a new T-shirt, sweater or jacket is simple and takes only a few minutes.

Measuring Your Dog for Clothes:

Groom your dog. Remove the dog's collar and use a brush to smooth the fur around his neck. Brush the dog's back from the shoulders to the base of the tail. Smoothing all of the fur allows for an accurate measurement.

• Measure the dog for clothes. Have the dog stand for the measurement. Hold the end of a tape measure at the base of the dog's neck on the top of her back. Start approximately where the collar would fit. Pull the tape measure to the base of the tail. Record the measurement. This length is the measurement size for many brands of dog T-shirts, sweaters and other full-coverage dog clothes.

• Adjust the measurement. Shorten the collar-to-tail length measurement for male dogs. Male-dog clothes that do not have a cutout for the belly and groin area will need a shorter length measurement. This will reduce the chances of the male dog urinating on the underside of the clothes.