10 Steps to Better-Fitting Dog Wear: Master Measuring Like a Pro

Jill Bartlett Author

Apr 26, 2025 |

Master 10 essential measuring techniques for custom dog wear that fits better and feels better. Grab the free workbook and video guide today.

Because great dog wear starts with great measuring.

When it comes to designing dog wear that actually fits, most people are taught to measure three things: neck circumference, chest circumference, and back length.

In my own work, I use a 4-step measuring process that goes beyond this by including an important fourth measurement — the Withers point — which helps guide coat length and belly band placement.

This simple system works beautifully for basic dog coat patterns like the Cozy Coat, where the fit is straightforward and doesn't require detailed shaping around the chest or legs.

But when you move into more complex designs—ones with structured chest coverage, fitted belly bands, leg openings, or detailed seam shaping—you need even more precision.

If you've ever sewn a more advanced coat and found it rode up in the chest, pulled across the belly, or just looked… wrong—
You already know: basic measurements only get you partway there.

Complex dog wear needs more than a basic measuring system.
It needs a deeper approach—one that’s built for movement, comfort, and the unique structure of each dog.

The good news?
Learning to measure more precisely is easier than you think.
And once you know how, your patterns, your designs, and your customers' satisfaction all change for the better.

The Problem with Standard Measurements

The truth is, every dog’s body is different.
Chest width, chest depth, back curvature — these things aren't captured with three quick measurements.

If you've ever tried to design a more fitted or complex dog coat based on "standard" measurements alone, you might have run into problems like:

• The coat fits around the chest but is way too short or too long along the back.

• The belly band sits awkwardly, rubbing behind the front legs.

• The coat bunches under the chest or shifts when the dog moves.

It’s not your sewing. It’s not your pattern.
It’s the limitations of basic measuring.

Getting it right starts with understanding the full structure of a dog's body — not just the numbers, but what they mean for fit.
If you want to dive deeper into how a dog's chest shape affects fit, I also shared more in this podcast episode on Spotify or on Apple Podcasts.

For a deeper dive into body structure and measuring points, you might also enjoy this article on measuring dogs for better fit and understanding dog chest shapes.

My Story: Why I Stopped Trusting the Basics

In the years I spent sewing custom dog wear, almost every client told me the same thing:

"I can never find a coat that fits my dog properly."

And after working with hundreds of dogs, I kept seeing the same frustrating problem repeat itself:

• The problem was always between the chest circumference and the back length.
• If the coat fit the chest, it was too short or too long in the body.
• If the back length fit, the chest was either too loose or too tight.

No off-the-rack coat (or measurement system) would work.

That’s when I realized the importance of adding clear customization points into my patterns—
things like:

• Cut lines to easily lengthen or shorten the pattern

• Instructions that showed people how to tweak the fit

Designing great dog wear is about more than choosing beautiful fabrics or following a sewing pattern—it's about creating a fit that truly works for the dog wearing it.

If you’re looking for tips on adjusting patterns creatively, I also shared ideas in this guide to hacking your patterns.

What Precise Measuring Unlocks

Here’s what changes when you master better measuring techniques:

• Better fit across all sizes and breeds

• More comfortable coats that don’t restrict movement

• Happier customers (if you’re selling)

• More confidence in adapting patterns to fit real dogs, not just textbook models

You move from “following patterns” to truly designing.

And if you’re creating patterns for sale, being able to guide your customers through customizing the fit makes your patterns stand out—and keeps them coming back.

Your Next Step: The Free 10-Step Measuring Workbook + Video Guide

To make it easier, I put together a complete resource which includes:
✅ A 10-Step Measuring Workbook that walks you through the essential measurements
✅ A Video Guide where I show you exactly how to find each measuring point on the dog

It’s completely free — and it's the same system I teach inside my professional pattern design courses.

If you want to start creating better-fitting, more comfortable, and more customizable dog wear, this is where to start.

✨ Get the Free 10-Step Measuring Workbook and Video Here

Because great design doesn’t start at the sewing machine.
It starts with how you see the dog in front of you.

Categories: : Blog