Some pet sweaters on the market are drafted by shrinking a human sweater pattern. This produces garments that do not fit, because pet bodies are not shaped like small human bodies.
A dog's chest is deeper and wider relative to its back length than a person's. The legs attach at the chest, not at the sides of the body. A shrunken human pattern places the armholes in the wrong position and restricts the front legs.
Body proportions also vary between breeds. Three examples we work with often:
- Dachshunds have a long back and a deep chest. A standard pattern in their chest size is too short in the back.
- French bulldogs have a broad chest and a short back. A standard pattern in their chest size is too long.
- Greyhounds have a deep chest and a narrow waist. A straight pattern hangs loose at the waist.
When a sweater does not fit, the customer returns it. For a retailer or an online seller, fit problems show up as return rates and one-star reviews.
At our factory we draft patterns from pet body measurements, not from human patterns. We keep 12 base patterns for different body types, including dedicated patterns for dachshunds, French bulldogs, and greyhounds. Dog styles come in five sizes, XS to XL, and cat styles in four sizes, XS to L. Each size is tried on real dogs and cats before bulk production.
If you are planning a pet knitwear line, send us the breeds your customers buy for. We will suggest sizes and patterns before you commit to an order. Our Pet Size & Fit Guide explains how to measure a pet and how to read our size chart.
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