Dog size guide: chart by breed and weight

The FARA 961 size chart (from S to 3XL)

Our sizes are based on two measurements: chest girth (the widest part of the chest, behind the front legs) and back length (from the neck to the base of the tail). These are the reference values:

How to read it: chest girth is the referee. If your dog's chest fits one size but the length falls in another, the chest rules. And if it's right on the number, between two sizes? Size up: a garment with a finger of margin is comfortable; a tight one isn't. Looking for the sweatshirt? Its sizing, with the sherpa-lining details, in what sweatshirt size does my dog need.

Dog clothing size chart by breed and weight

This is the section you were after: a guideline dog clothing size chart by breed and weight. It gives you the starting point, but remember —and this matters— that within the same breed there are small and large dogs. That's why many breeds span two or three sizes. Use it as a guide, not as gospel. And if your dog is a puppy, its size will change as it grows: measure it often and choose with a margin, as we explain in how to measure a puppy.

Small breeds (S–L)

Medium breeds (M–2XL)

Large breeds (XL–3XL)

👉 This chart is the starting point. To nail it, measure your dog and compare it with the chart in our interactive size guide: you enter the chest and back and it returns the exact size for each garment.

Why weight is misleading (and the tape isn't)

Here's the most honest tip in this guide: don't buy by kilos. The by-breed chart orients, but body type rules —in breeds like the french bulldog, with a broad chest, deciding by the chest is even more critical. Three real examples that prove it:

• A 20 kg border collie is size 3XL, while a 20 kg beagle is 2XL. Same weight, one size apart. Why? The border is longer and has more chest; the beagle is more compact.
• A border collie spans three sizes (XL, 2XL and 3XL) depending on the dog. Weight alone won't tell you which.
• A French bulldog jumps from M to XL: wide chest relative to its size, typical of brachycephalic breeds.

The takeaway: use the breed to orient yourself, the weight to confirm and the tape measure to decide. And before buying, review what measurements to note down.

Special cases worth watching

• Deep chest (greyhound, dobermann, podenco): don't trust the lean silhouette; the chest is wider than it looks. Prioritise chest girth, not weight.
• Brachycephalic (bulldog, pug): make sure the neck isn't tight.
• Long (dachshund, basset): back length rules.
• Dense coat (husky, samoyed): add margin so you don't flatten the coat.

How to measure your dog in 2 steps

The chart only works if you measure well. Quick recap (the full version is in our How to measure your dog guide):

• Chest girth: wrap around the widest part of the chest, behind the front legs. Tape snug, with a finger of slack.
• Back length: from the neck (where the collar would sit) to the base of the tail, with the dog standing.

With those two figures and the chart above, you've got the size. And if your dog falls between two sizes, we solve it in our dedicated guide: the general rule is to size up.

Conclusion: from the chart to the perfect size

This dog size guide gives you everything you need: the S-3XL chart, the by-breed and by-weight orientation, and the key reminder that the tape measure rules over the scales. Find your breed, measure the chest and back, and confirm. That way you get it right first time and give your dog a genuinely comfortable garment. Got a toy breed? In breeds like the chihuahua (size S) the margin is minimal: fine-tune the chest measurement with our chihuahua clothes guide. And to avoid the most common buying traps, have a look at the most common mistakes when buying clothes.

Ready to find their exact size? Take your measurements and use them in our size guide. Then pick their next garment in the shop. Comfort first, attitude second.