Where to Buy Dog Clothes in Perth That Actually Fit (Before You Buy)

The honest answer: buy dog clothes in Perth where you can actually try them on, because brand sizes vary so wildly that the number on the tag means little until it's on the dog. As a mobile groomer and fitter, I've watched too many owners order three sizes online and wear out the return process. Petbarn and local boutiques let you test the fit, and a few stockists even measure in-store, which is worth the drive across town.

Why Perth fitting matters

Our breeds run the gamut from tiny apartment terriers to big lean greyhounds, and most off-the-shelf sizes are built for neither extreme. A coat that fits a cavoodle can gape on a whippet's narrow chest, and a 'large' from one brand is a 'medium' from another. Trying before buying saves the postage dance.

I keep a measuring tape in the van for exactly this, because the back-length number is what most people get wrong.

Where I send locals

For a first coat, a big-box store with a wide size run is practical, and the staff can usually point you to the belly-strap styles that suit lean WA dogs. Smaller Perth boutiques often carry greyhound-specific cuts you won't find online, and the owners know the local climate.

• Big-box pet stores for range and easy returns.
• Local WA boutiques for sighthound and small-dog cuts.
• Markets and pop-up stalls for custom measuring.
• Mobile fitters who come to you, ideal for nervous dogs.
• Always check the in-store return policy before opening.

How to check the fit in the shop

Measure your dog at home first, back length from withers to tail base, chest around the widest point, and neck. In-store, do the coat up and check it doesn't pinch the armpits or ride up. The dog should take a few steps and shake without the coat shifting. If he freezes or fights it, the fit or feel is wrong.

I tell owners to bring the dog hungry and use treats, because a calm dog shows you the true fit far better than a squirming one.

Avoiding the return loop

Keep the receipt and the tags until you've walked in it once at home, because a coat that fits standing often rubs walking. Snap a photo of the size chart on your phone so the next shop is easier. For a curated start, browse our pet apparel range before you head out.

Reading a size chart like a fitter

When I measure a dog, I take three numbers and ignore the cute name on the tag. Back length sets the body coverage, chest width decides whether the coat gapes or pinches, and neck size keeps the collar from choking. Most returns happen because owners order by weight alone, which tells you almost nothing about shape.

I also photograph the chart on my phone and note which brand ran small, because the same dog can be a medium in one and a large in another. That notebook saves the second guess next season, and it is the habit I wish every owner had before clicking buy.

If a store lets you return an opened coat, use that policy. Walk the dog in it once at home, watch for rub marks at the armpits, and only then keep it. A coat that fits standing but fights walking is a coat you'll replace, so test it properly on a short walk before the return window shuts, because a calm dog in a good coat is worth the extra ten minutes.

Frequently Asked Questions