Few things are more frustrating than unwrapping new dog gear and finding it gapes or pinches. With neckwear, almost every fit problem comes down to one missing step: a measurement taken at home. It needs about two minutes and a little patience from your dog.
What you’ll need
- A soft sewing tape measure. If you only have a rigid one, use a length of string or a charging cable and lay it flat against a ruler afterwards.
- A treat or two to keep your dog still.
- A helper, if your dog is wriggly.
- Somewhere to note the number.
Step by step
- Find the spot. Feel for where a collar naturally rests, just below the head and above the shoulders.
- Wrap, don’t squeeze. Loop the tape around and slide two fingers underneath, so the reading allows a little room.
- Read in centimetres. Most size charts, including the one below, use centimetres.
- Repeat. Take a second reading. If the two disagree, take a third and go with the middle figure.
- Write it down. You’ll want it again for other gear.
Reading a size chart
Useful size charts give a neck range, not just letters. When your dog’s number sits where two sizes overlap, think about coat and growth: a puppy still filling out, or a dog with a heavy ruff, may suit the larger of the two.
Putting the number to use
Here is how it works with a personalised dog bandana from Little Red Cute. It is buckle-style and sized by neck:
- S: around 35–44 cm
- M: around 39–51 cm
- L: around 42–56 cm
Once you know your size, the rest is the fun part. Upload one photo of your dog and decide on a style, and the illustration of your pet, name included, is made from that picture. The design is put in front of you to approve, and paying follows that approval. Nothing is produced before it, and your bandana is made to order in Singapore, printed by sublimation into 100% polyester fabric. It is made to be washed, too.
Shop-shelf bandanas often come in a single size or with vague labels and a generic print. Measuring takes the guesswork out of fit, and starting from your own dog’s photo takes the guesswork out of whether they will look like themselves in it.
One more tip: while your dog is sitting nicely for the tape measure, take a picture too. Good light, face visible and roughly facing you is all it needs, and a phone camera is fine.
