How to Measure Your Dog for a Cooling Vest

A cooling vest only works properly when it fits. Too loose and the fabric hangs away from the body, so it can't draw heat off the coat. Too tight and it rubs under the front legs and restricts movement. The good news is that measuring takes about two minutes.

What you need

• A soft fabric tape measure (or a piece of string and a ruler)
• Your dog standing square on all four legs
• Treats, and ideally a helper to feed them

The three measurements

1. Chest girth. This is the one that matters most. Wrap the tape around the widest part of the ribcage, just behind the front legs. Keep it snug but not tight. You should be able to slide two fingers underneath.
2. Neck. Measure around the base of the neck where a collar would naturally sit. For pullover styles, this tells you whether the neck opening will pass comfortably over the head.
3. Back length. Measure from the base of the neck (between the shoulder blades) to the base of the tail. A cooling vest should cover most of the back without sitting on the tail.

Measure twice. Dogs wriggle, and a tape that slips a few centimetres can put you in the wrong size.

Reading the size chart

Match your dog's chest girth to the chart first, then check that neck and back length fall within the same size. If the measurements disagree, go with the chest. If your dog sits between two sizes, size up: a slightly roomy vest is more comfortable than one that pinches, and deep-chested or fluffy-coated breeds usually need the extra room.

Don't go by weight alone or by the size your dog wears in another brand. A 30 kg Bulldog and a 30 kg Greyhound are completely different shapes.

Check the fit when it arrives

• The fabric lies smoothly against the chest and back with no big gaps.
• Your dog can walk, trot, sit and lie down freely.
• Nothing rubs behind the front legs or at the neck.
• The hem stops before the tail and, for male dogs, clears the belly far enough to stay dry on toilet breaks.

You'll find the full size chart on The ChillVest™ product page. If you're unsure, send us your dog's measurements and breed and we'll help you choose.