Small dog bandana size: 15–18 in square

How do I measure the neck?

1. Stand the dog square. Use a soft tape where a flat collar sits, on the skin, not over the coat.
2. Snug the tape, then leave room for two fingers. That reading is the neck.
3. Add about 8 inches on the long edge for the knot. Pick the smallest square that covers it.
4. Fold corner to corner. The point rests on the chest, and the knot sits at the side or the back.

What fit notes matter here?

On a small dog, a neck of 8–14 inches is common, running from the extra small 15 in square (long edge about 21.2 in) to the small 18 in square (long edge about 25.5 in). Toy breeds can sit under that, and a thick-necked French Bulldog can sit over it while still looking small in the body.

The failure mode is a square cut for a bigger dog. The long edge wraps the neck with plenty left over, so people keep tightening the knot, and the triangle point lands on the eyes. A smaller square with a flat knot is the fix.

Measure on the skin. A furnished coat on a Yorkie or Shih Tzu adds false inches if the tape rides on top of the hair. Two fingers under the tape, then stop. Do not add a second handful of ease because the dog is small and the fabric looks short.

Measure where a flat collar sits and leave room for two fingers, as in common dog-apparel measuring guidance from theAmerican Kennel Club. Then use this site'ssquare chartrather than a clothing size label.