Doxies come in a multitude of sizes

Dachshunds are not simply mini or standard.  One look at the participants in any sausage dog walk will tell you that!  They come in all sizes.  Some are technically mini dachshunds but have grown a little too big for that category (like my first dachshund Max).  Some dogs are a little overweight, and other dachshunds are a bit of a mix with another breed, which has the effect of altering their proportions.  Some reports note that British dachshunds are bred with shorter legs and longer backs than their East European counterparts.  In northern Italy we’ve just seen a lot of very slinky minis that are quite slimline compared to the British mini. 

This wide variety of dachshund sizes and proportions is reflected in the Barkmatic client size log.  After one year of trading, no one furry client of ours is the same size as another.  This is why, after careful deliberation in the start-up phase of Barkmatic, we decided to go down the custom-fit route for all our dachshund coats, even our new Superstretch teckel base layer. 

Professional shoppers

How do we know that standard sizing just doesn’t work for dachshunds?  Because we’ve crawled all over the web looking for the right fit since we got our own sausage dog.  As professional shoppers (well, we would be if someone paid us) we’ve done our homework.  

Sunny happens to be a Kennel Club registered dog within the breed size guidelines, so has about as regular proportions as you can get, but unfortunately we found no brand of good quality dachshund dog coats that would fit him.  If the back length is correct, the neck measurement is too big, or the chest is too tight.  

Not all dachshunds have this problem, but it’s clearly something of a lottery trying to find a dog coat for doxies, as our lovely clients tell us all the time. 

Custom-fit is the solution

When the sewing machine came out in an attempt to alter yet another a dog coat that was really stylish but didn’t fit Sunny well enough, that was the final straw.  It was clear that the solution is not to keep wasting money on coats for your dachshund that don’t really fit, but to go down the custom-made route.

Our aim at Barkmatic is to provide stylish technical clothing that really fits your dachshund, so you and your dog can spend more time outside together doing the active things you love.  We’ve kept it simple, and we think that our prices are reasonable for the work involved in crafting a coat that will give a perfect fit for your favourite furry. 

An easy way to get a bespoke dog coat

To order a bespoke dog coat online with Barkmatic you only need to give us just four measurements for your dachshund: the neck circumference, the chest circumference, the shoulder measurement, and the all-important neck to tail measurement.  We’ll take inches or centimetres, whichever you prefer.

 When it comes to measuring your dachshund, you need a flexible plastic or cloth tape measure - a dressmaking tape measure - to accurately measure the rounded shape of your dog.  A straight school ruler or a metal retractable builder’s measure just won’t give you the accuracy you need.  If you don’t have a flexible tape measure then use a piece of string or a shoelace and then carefully measure the string with a ruler.  You should be able to run a finger between the measuring tape or string and your dog's body.  

We’ll add some ease to the sizing during the pattern drafting process.  The velcro fastenings or sliding buckles on our coats provide some more flexibility for sizing, for example if you are layering the coat with a fleece snuggler underneath, or if your dog has put on or lost weight. 

Just send us a message or use our chat function if you need any help!

If you haven’t been able to find a dachshund dog coat that fits until now, welcome to the world of Barkmatic :)