HOW TO CHOOSE THE CORRECT SIZE:
What the correct size looks like on a dog is largely a matter of personal preference. As long as the fit does not affect the mobility of the dog, just about anything else will work. I’ve seen vests that look huge and the owner raves about the perfect fit and have also seen vests that look perfectly fitted that the owner will say is too large or small. The same size panel will also look different from dog to dog due to things like the length of the torso or how deep the ribcage is.
I provide a size chart for the max suggested panel size (the width of the vest), and the sizes all have the panel lengths listed on them. This is a simple mathematical calculation based on ⅔ of the girth measurement. I can provide additional measurements if requested if you need them in choosing the correct size. I can tell you the measurements of the products I make, but I am not able to tell you which one would fit your dog the best, because of the factors I mentioned.
Here are a few tips to help you choose the correct size:
- If you are between two sizes, unless the dog is still growing, I would recommend sizing down.
- The straps on the vest are adjustable and around the same length as the panel. This allows room for growth and a comfortable fit. Excess strap can be trimmed and resealed with a flame.
VEST STYLE
The shape of the vest affects how much of the dog’s back is covered. If you want something that extends further from the neck towards the tail, then you want to change the style of the vest. These are the shapes in order from the least amount of coverage to the most amount of coverage:
Butterfly
Cape
S&R Short
Straight
S&R
Cape-Long
Straight Long
VEST PANEL SIZE
The best way to ensure the correct size for your vest would be to measure the width of an existing vest that fits well. If you don’t have one, or it is not a correct fit, I recommend positioning something on the dog’s back so that it hangs down to the desired length on the sides (I use a kitchen or hand towel for this) and then measuring that. This will tell you the appropriate panel size you’d want.
FOR CAPES: Please be sure to measure the place where the cape will be sitting behind a harness rather than the ribcage, where your harness will be. This will help to avoid the cape looking too large on the narrower back where it will be located.
If you don’t have this option available, you can measure your dog’s ribcage girth, but keep in mind the limitations mentioned above. DO NOT rely on the name of the size. A size Medium will have different measurements from company to company and can vary depending on things like the cost associated with making each size, which machines are needed to make each size, etc. If you had a size small in another brand that fit well, just measure the vest instead of relying on the idea that your dog wears a small.
SIZING UP FOR A GROWING PUPPY
It is very common for me to receive orders requesting the vest to be made larger to allow room for the dog to grow, and I’m happy to accommodate. Depending on how much larger you request it, the vest may be too large for your puppy to wear immediately. Similarly, if you order a vest based on the current size, it might be too small before long if your puppy is quickly growing. Just takes these factors into consideration when choosing the size you’ll need.