Haylo Puggies,
I don’t know about you, but when there is persistent fog until mid-morning at home, I know it’s time to rummage around in the wardrobe for something a little more snuggly for me and my fur-babies. Charles finds getting up a little difficult these days and I have to admit I have similar issues in the morning myself sometimes!
So today we’re adding to the (winter) wardrobe to make sure that no Pug goes cold with my tips and tricks for Pug Jumper shopping….. sorry Hooman’s I don’t have time to help you shop for yourself as well! As alluded in our other shopping guides, when I am shopping, I have a few basic criteria that I use when considering a product for the store or for one of my fur-babies personal wardrobe; size chart measurements, materials, design, and colour options.
Handy Hint: Make sure to confirm the measurements of your little Supermodel, so you have as accurate a guide as possible when choosing your next purchase. If you’re unsure about measuring your Pug correctly, check out our video.
Typically, when I am shopping for any product, I am looking for a snug fit at the torso without causing undue discomfort to the Pug around the chest and neck on dressing or wearing, which takes a little judgement and knowing what to look for on the product page:
Graphic: Questions to ask when shopping for the Pawfect Jumper
Size Chart Measurements – when looking at size charts, unlike “typical dog breed” sizing that uses the (back) length as the primary guiding size, a Pug’s guiding size is its chest, then neck and finally length. I have found that if the only measurement available on the product page is the length, the Jumper will not fit your Pug’s chest (even with fabric stretch).
This may mean that to get the right fit around your Pug’s chest, the back length of the Jumper will cover their tail, which you may need to take into account if your Pug prefers “tail out”. I have found that an average Pug’s length is 35-40cm for a male and 30-35 cm for a female, so I look for fit at the chest with this corresponding length or shorter; this also generally ensures that the front of the Jumper does not get in the way when the Pug is going to the toilet as the Jumper front is usually proportional to the back length.
Materials – Jumpers generally come in materials/fabrics that have a minimum of a 2 cm stretch across the body, such as cotton or polyester blends, and can be referred to as knit or windcheater in the product description. These materials are typically soft on the body, don’t cause irritation for the Pug with sensitive skin, and can be washed in a washing machine with the rest of your household clothes.
Plus, these types of materials mean that you can buy a Jumper for your Pug that just fits into the size chart window and know that it will fit snuggly but not uncomfortably.
Design (neck and sleeve holes) – Be wary of neck holes that are extra wide, they can slide down the shoulders of your Pug and become uncomfortable, so check the product photos that have the Jumper on a dog and see where it sits to determine if it’s going to be a problem for your Pug.
Jumpers can also come with buttons/press studs at the neck or a hood (or Hoodie). Buttons/press studs at the neck can make dressing your Pug so much easier if you have a Pug that loves getting dressed but is a little squirmier or has a little more ruff than the average Pug and you can leave one of the buttons/press studs open for a little extra breathing room.
Hoodies look fabulous on Pugs in my opinion, but they don’t always fit your Pugs head, even with the neck size being right, and generally there won’t be a head measurement in the size chart. So, make sure to check the product photos and see how it looks on the model, and check to see if the hood comes with a drawstring or fastener at the back that can shorten the hood length.
*Note that Jumpers with sleeves can be a problem if your Pug has shorter than average legs because the sleeve will get in the way when walking, even if you roll it up. It is difficult to determine if that is going to be a problem for your Pug but look at the product photos and see how far down the leg the sleeve goes to make a judgement call, you may be able to hand sew the rolled up sleeve to make sure that it doesn’t unravel.
Design (waist band) – Generally Jumpers will have an elastic waistband which will hold the bottom of the Jumper against the body better. If the Jumper does not have an elastic waist band, it will generally hang open a little away from the belly more like a t-shirt which is fine if you do think your Pug will catch their hind legs on the hem when rolling around on their bed or in the grass which we all know is where they love to really roll around in. The best way to judge this is to look at the product photos to see how it sits on the model and make a judgement call; you know your Pug best.
Picture: Pug Supermodel Mia in a Pink Hoodie
Potential stretch – Typically, if the product description does not describe the material/fabric stretch or it is not in the product title, such as ‘stretch denim’, then assume there is little to no give in the fabric to be safe.
We have provided a guide on the different types of fabric used in dog clothing below and their typical stretch profile to help you when reading product descriptions; this is a guide only, fabric has many different varieties and each has their own characteristics, I’m calling out the commonly used.
Handy Hint: The important thing to remember is that if the material has any give, or stretch, it will typically have the stretch across the chest.
Product Model - Do the product photos have the Jumper on a Pug or even a Frenchie so you can judge how it fits and sits on the body? If it is a small dog (i.e. chihuahua) or a large dog (i.e. Golden Retriever) there is a chance that the Jumper won’t fit your Pug properly because it has been designed and manufactured to fit the “typical” dog size; it may require you to make a judgement call when purchasing.
Handy hint: Don't forget to check the return policy on the website to be sure that you can return the Jumper if you find the fit is wrong, and what you have to do to be eligible for another size to be delivered. At Pug Parties we understand your frustration when you realise that you ordered the wrong size which is why we’re always happy to sort it out with you, and you can see our return policy here.
Other questions I ask myself as I am browsing -
- Does the title description of the product include a size description of ‘medium sized dog’? Small dog description usually means Chihuahua sized
- Does the product description tell you about the material and its give?
- How high is the neck? A Jumper with a high or narrow neck hole can be too small for your Pugs neck; double check the size chart and product description
- Is it harness friendly? Can I put a harness over the top and still be comfortable for your Pug, or is there a collar hole or harness hole that allows you to put the Jumper over the top?
Picture: Pug Supermodel Benny in a Blue Smiley face Jumper
Even with all of the above shopping tips, I still find at times that the pawsome Jumper I have found will fit at the chest and neck but is a little long down the back and little Puggie tails are covered by their Jumper. In this instance, I use the following fitting systems to make the Jumper look like I always intended on styling it that way:
- Hair clip or scrunchie – if the Jumper tail is too short for a knot but you’d like to tighten it up a little, grab a hair clip or a scrunchie in a complimentary or contrasting colour and tie up the bottom
- Scarf slide – similar to the hair clip or scrunchie, and you want the gathering material to lie flat down your Pugs back, use a large scarf slide in a complimentary or contrasting colour
- Sewing (hand or machine) – Still a little baggy around the body, create a couple of darts down the length of the Jumper, preferably on the underside, to remove the excess around the chest evenly and make it a snug fit
But don’t forget if all else fails and the Jumper just doesn’t fit properly and it can’t be returned, consider giving it to a fellow dog at play group or to a Rescue Organisation who can add it to their care packages when a they find their fur-ever home.
Sometimes trial and error is the only way to find the right outfit for your little Supermodel, but hopefully our tips and tricks make that process less hit and miss. Plus, if you’ve missed our other shopping guides, I’ve provided the links below to make it easy to find them.
I’d love to hear from other Pug-parents on their shopping experiences, tell us a tip or trick that you use to shop for your Pug that has or hasn’t worked.
Share with the rest of the Grumble below we'd love to chat with you and we always respond.
Until next time Puggies, have a wonderful week and look forward to snuffling with you soon.
From Donna, Charles and Rosie
Founder of Pug Parties and Pug Supermodel
P.S. wanna browse our collection? Then CLICK HERE!
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Other articles in the Pug Shopping series:
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Nothing beats the feeling of a fresh new T-shirt - Read it HERE
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How to shop for your Puggie when you're looking for that pawfect Dress - Read it HERE
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How to shop for your Pug when you’re looking for that pawfect Jacket - Read it HERE
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How to shop for your Pug when you’re looking for that pawfect Jumper - Read it HERE
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How to shop for your Pug when you’re looking for that pawfect Shirt -Read it HERE