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Whippet clothes: choosing a size and what to wear

Whippet clothes: choosing a size and what to wear

In short: a whippet is built exactly like an Italian greyhound, only a good deal bigger — the FCI standard puts the height at the withers at 47–51 cm for dogs and 44–47 cm for bitches. A deep chest, a tucked-up belly and a narrow waist mean that in whippet clothes the chest girth and the back length pull in opposite directions: the chest asks for a large size, the waist for a small one. We have no measurements of our own for the whippet yet — the breed is not in our size-by-breed table — so go by your own dog's measurements rather than by figures from elsewhere. The standard Feel with Fill size run ends at XL — a chest girth of 45–51 cm — so only the most delicate whippets fit a ready-made size, and most need made-to-measure: pick «Custom size» on any product page, add 15% to the price, allow 3–6 business days. A short single coat with no undercoat holds very little heat, so clothes are not decoration for this breed: an insulated jumpsuit in frost, an anorak or a vest in spring and autumn. The full measurement table is in our size guide, and ready-made L and XL plus made-to-measure for larger dogs are covered on clothes for medium and large dogs.

Whippet clothing size: where the ready-made run ends

Feel with Fill has five standard sizes, and chest girth is what defines them — from 27 cm in XS to 51 cm in XL. There is nothing above XL: anything that does not fit the run, we sew to measure. Here is the whole table so you can compare it with your dog's figures straight away:

XS — chest girth 27–32 cm, back length 21–25 cm, neck girth up to 22 cm.
S — chest girth 31–36 cm, back length 26–30 cm, neck girth up to 26 cm.
M — chest girth 35–41 cm, back length 31–35 cm, neck girth up to 30 cm.
L — chest girth 40–46 cm, back length 36–40 cm, neck girth up to 34 cm.
XL — chest girth 45–51 cm, back length 41–45 cm, neck girth up to 38 cm.

Now compare that with the breed. The rule is simple: if your whippet's chest girth is 51 cm or less, take XL and check the back length; if it is more, we sew to measure. We have no measurements of our own for the breed yet, so we do not quote figures from the standard. The conclusion is clear either way — a typical adult whippet is beyond XL on both the chest and the back, so a ready-made size will not work and the piece needs to be made to measure.

The exception is the smallest bitches and adolescents whose chest has not opened up to 51 cm yet. If your tape reads 50–51 cm around the chest and no more than 45 cm along the back, XL will fit. Even then, check the waist: on a whippet it is much narrower than the chest, and a ready-made piece cut on straight lines can hang loose at the loin. If you are torn between XL and made-to-measure, choose made-to-measure — in a custom piece we work from both measurements separately.

For comparison: in our size-by-breed table we list the Italian greyhound as «made to measure (deep chest, narrow waist)» with a chest girth of 35–45 cm. In other words, even that small dog, which on paper falls into M–L by chest, is better off in a custom piece because of how it is built. The whippet is the same build in a bigger format, so the advice is the same, only more emphatic. The full table of girths by breed is in our guide to dog clothes size by breed.

How to measure a whippet

Use a soft tape measure with the dog standing square on all four legs — not sitting, not lying down. Whippets are reluctant to stand still, so the easiest moment is after a walk, when the dog has run itself out, or with someone holding the collar and offering a treat. Keep the tape against the body but do not pull it tight: a finger should slide under it easily.

Chest girth is the key measurement. Pass the tape right behind the front legs, through the deepest and widest part of the rib cage. On a whippet that spot is easy to find by touch: the breastbone juts forward and the body drops away sharply behind it. That depth is why the number comes out larger than you would guess from looking at a narrow dog head-on.
Back length — from the base of the neck (where the collar sits and the topline begins) to the base of the tail. Measure along the spine without cutting the curve short. A whippet's back arches gently over the loin, so follow the body rather than a straight line.
Neck girth — where the collar sits. A whippet's neck is long and lean, and this is the figure people most often guess at and get wrong: a neckline cut with spare room slips back onto the shoulders, while a tight one presses.
Waist girth — behind the last rib, at the narrowest point. It is not a required measurement: an order needs three — chest girth, back length and neck girth. But a whippet's waist is abruptly narrower than its chest, so it is worth knowing this figure and adding it in the order comment, so the manager can take it into account when confirming the measurements.

Write the numbers down with the date. A whippet keeps developing until roughly eighteen months, and the chest opens up noticeably later than the dog reaches its adult height, so it is worth re-measuring before every season. Step-by-step instructions with photos are in our dog clothes size guide.

How a whippet is built: deep chest, narrow waist, short coat

A whippet is a sighthound in a mid-size format: the same construction as an Italian greyhound or a greyhound, with the same consequences for clothing. Three things are worth understanding.

First, the gap between chest and waist. The rib cage is deep and oval in cross-section, the belly is tucked up, the waist is abruptly narrower. A garment with the same girth along its whole length fits badly in two places at once: either it presses at the chest or it hangs at the loin. So what matters in whippet clothes is not the size label but the cut — a tapered silhouette, elastic or drawstrings at the waist, stretch panels.

Second, the long neck and high shoulders. A standard neckline designed for a short-necked dog either leaves a whippet's neck bare or slides backwards. That is why a turtleneck, which covers the neck along its whole length, works better as a base layer than a T-shirt with a low neckline.

Third, the short single coat. A whippet has no undercoat, which means none of the trapped air that keeps a shepherd or a spitz warm. The skin is thin and there is little fat under it. This is why whippets get cold in weather that thick-coated dogs are perfectly happy in, and why clothing for this breed is a working item rather than an accessory. There is more on who needs clothes and in what weather in our article does my dog need clothes.

What a whippet should wear in different weather

These are the reference points we suggest starting from; after that, watch your own dog. A young, fit whippet feels the cold less than an older or a lean one, and at a flat-out gallop it heats itself.

+10 to +5 °C, dry. A healthy adult dog on an active walk is often fine in its own coat. If your whippet shivers at the start or walks at a calm pace, add a base layer: a turtleneck or a longsleeve.
+5 to 0 °C. A light top layer: a fleece anorak or a vest. They warm the body and leave the legs free, so nothing restricts the stride.
0 to −5 °C. An insulated layer: a fleece jumpsuit or a puffer vest. On a long or a slow walk you can add a turtleneck underneath.
Below −5 °C and in wind. Cover the body and the legs: a jumpsuit. Keep walks short and active; standing around with a whippet in frost is a bad idea even in clothes.
Rain, wet snow, slush. A water-repellent top layer. The point is to keep the dog dry: a wet short coat in wind loses heat fast.

Summer is a separate matter: a whippet needs no clothes for warmth. The linen pieces in the catalogue — the linen duster and the linen «Marti» trousers — are bought more to shield the dog from coarse grass and dust in the countryside or on a trip. For season-by-season breakdowns see our winter dog clothes and dog clothes for autumn guides.

A base layer for a whippet's long neck

The base layer is whatever sits against the body. For a whippet it does two jobs: it covers the long neck and adds warmth where there is almost no coat.

«Charmie» patterned turtleneck — $27. A knitted turtleneck that warms the neck and the back; the product description has it worn on its own indoors or under a vest for walks. For a whippet it is the simplest answer to the long-neck problem. Four colours: black, grey, beige and milk-white.
«Waffle» longsleeve — $25. «Waffle» is the name of the model, not of the fabric. A long-sleeved piece that works as a light indoor and mid-season layer; five colours, pistachio and light blue among them.
Jumper with pompoms — $29. Combed («peigné») knit, 95% cotton with 5% lycra, so the fabric has a light stretch; the pompoms are decorative.

Every base-layer model comes in XS–XL and in a custom size, and for a whippet it is usually the custom size you need. The full choice is in turtlenecks and longsleeves.

The warm layer for frost

This is where a whippet's main need lies, and the choice here is wide. Prices are for a standard size; a custom size adds 15%.

Fleece jumpsuit — $52, made to measure $60. Covers the back, the belly and the legs. A zip along the back makes it quick to put on, a hidden velcro tab adjusts the neck opening and keeps the coat from catching, and elasticated drawstrings let you fine-tune the fit — which on a whippet is exactly the mechanism that takes up the slack at the narrow waist. Seven colours.
«Puffy» puffer vest — $46, made to measure $53. Made from waterproof fabric with a warm filling; it fastens with snaps and has a harness opening. It warms the back and chest without restricting the front legs — the answer for a dog that refuses to run in a full jumpsuit.
Fleece vest — $38. A lighter insulated layer for mid-season: lined with natural viscose that prevents matting, and fitted with a harness opening; eight colours.
Fleece anorak — $35, made to measure $41. A light top layer for autumn and spring: it holds warmth, has a moisture-resistant finish and a binding around the zip so the coat does not catch. Eight colours.
«Gossip-coat» fleece coat — $66. The warm option, with a fur collar against the wind, a harness opening and an adjustable strap. A coat goes on over the back, so it suits dogs that dislike having their legs pushed through sleeves.
«Hugme» brushed hoodie — $38. An indoor and mid-season piece, brushed on the inside; seven colours.

There are more warm models in jumpsuits, vests, anoraks, hoodies and coats. We wrote separately about how fleece behaves in different weather — see fleece dog clothes.

Protection from rain, wet snow and mud

A whippet's short coat dries quickly, but it also soaks through quickly, and wet fur in wind holds no heat. So in slush the logic is simple: keep the water away from the skin.

«Heaven» membrane jumpsuit — $71. Water-repellent; it covers the back, the belly and the legs, and has a detachable hood and a hidden harness opening. Available in khaki and in brown polka dot.
«Brooklyn Jacket» — $52, made to measure $60. Water-repellent raincoat fabric with a viscose lining inside and a collar opening for the dog's own collar.
«Vivienne» raincoat-fabric vest — $45. The light option for days when a jumpsuit is too much for the weather but getting wet is not an option.
Drying robe — $39, made to measure $45. Made from 100% cotton terry: it soaks up water after a bath, a swim or grooming, and has a belt and an extra snap under the tail so it stays put. For a whippet it doubles as the after-a-wet-walk piece — the dog dries off in it instead of on a cold floor.

Dark colours — khaki, anthracite, brown — are more practical after a walk across a wet field or a forest trail, because mud shows less on them. You can browse the whole top layer in jackets and jumpsuits.

Six models to choose for a whippet

A short list, in case you would rather not read everything. Prices are for a standard size; an adult whippet almost always needs a custom one, which is 15% more.

For frost: fleece jumpsuit — $52 (made to measure $60).
For rain and slush: «Heaven» jumpsuit — $71.
For mid-season: fleece anorak — $35 (made to measure $41).
For a dog that dislikes sleeves: «Puffy» puffer vest — $46 (made to measure $53).
Under the top layer and indoors: «Charmie» turtleneck — $27.
After baths and wet walks: drying robe — $39 (made to measure $45).

If you are after light rather than warm clothing, have a look at T-shirts and polos (from $19), shirts and dresses. Among the accessories there are bandanas — note that these are cut in one size rather than the XS–XL run, so for a whippet's neck girth a bandana is worth ordering in a custom size. The same applies to the women's shirt in our matching sets: the dog's shirt comes in XS–XL, the woman's in one size.

Clothes for a whippet puppy

A whippet puppy grows fast and passes through several sizes of our run in its first year. While the dog is still developing, ready-made sizes make sense: they cost less, and the piece will only be worn for one season anyway. Check the chest girth every month — in sighthounds the chest keeps opening up after the dog has reached its adult height, so a piece that fitted at six months can be tight across the chest at nine with the same back length.

Made-to-measure is better left until the dog has finished developing: a custom piece cannot be exchanged or returned, so paying for an exact fit on a growing puppy is poor value. There is more about a first wardrobe in our article on puppy clothes.

One more breed-specific note: a whippet puppy feels the cold more than an adult, because it has no reserves of its own yet. So a base layer — a turtleneck or a longsleeve — will earn its keep in the first months even in weather an adult dog handles with no clothes at all.

How to order made-to-measure whippet clothes

The process is straightforward. On the product page, choose «Custom size» from the size list and place the order — a manager will contact you to confirm the measurements. Three measurements are required: chest girth, back length and neck girth — there is no extra fee for complexity, breed or additional measurements. Waist girth is not asked for in an order, but for a whippet it is worth adding in the comment: because of the breed's narrow loin, that figure helps the manager fine-tune the fit.

The surcharge is 15% of the model price. A made-to-measure fleece jumpsuit is $60 instead of $52, an anorak $41 instead of $35, the «Puffy» puffer vest $53 instead of $46, the drying robe $45 instead of $39. There is no separate «large size» fee: the price is always calculated from the model price.
Production time is 3–6 business days from payment. Standard sizes that are in stock ship sooner.
Where we sew — in the Feel with Fill workshop in Kyiv; the brand has been running since March 2023.
Shipping — free within Ukraine on orders from ₴4,000 (after discount); below that, at the carrier's rates. International shipping is arranged with the manager and usually takes one to two weeks. Details are on the shipping and payment page.
Exchange and returns — made-to-measure pieces and pieces in a non-standard colour cannot be exchanged or returned, so take the measurements carefully and ask the manager if anything is unclear.

If you are unsure about the figures, place the order and note in the comment that you would like advice: the manager will go through each measurement before cutting. The general terms for custom work are on the custom dog clothes page.

Looking after a whippet's clothes

A whippet wears clothes often, so the pieces are washed more frequently than those of a thick-coated dog that only needs a coat in frost. A few rules that extend the life of a garment.

Light and dark separately. We suggest washing light pieces at 30 °C away from dark ones, and washing dark pieces on their own before first wear to keep the colour deep.
Fleece dislikes heat. A cool wash and drying away from radiators and tumble dryers preserve the pile: flattened fleece keeps less warmth.
Wash the terry robe before first use. According to the product description, terry absorbs water better after the first wash.
Close zips and velcro before washing. Open velcro collects lint and hair in the drum and then grips less well.
Dry flat. A made-to-measure piece is cut precisely to your dog, and a waist seam stretched over a hanger is the quickest way to lose the very fit you paid extra for.

Two sets per season help more than you would expect: while one dries, the dog walks in the other. For a whippet that matters most in slush, when the top layer comes home wet after every walk.

Frequently asked questions

What size clothes does a whippet wear?
We do not quote exact figures for the breed: the whippet is not in our size-by-breed table yet, and builds vary noticeably within the breed. Measure your own dog. The largest ready-made Feel with Fill size is XL, a chest girth of 45–51 cm, so most adult whippets need made-to-measure: +15% on the model price. Only the smallest dogs, with a chest up to 51 cm and a back no longer than 45 cm, fit XL.

Do whippets get cold in winter?
Yes. A whippet's coat is short and has no undercoat, so there is no trapped layer of air to hold heat. From 0 to −5 °C it needs an insulated layer — a fleece jumpsuit or a puffer vest; below −5 °C and in wind, a jumpsuit that covers the body and legs, with walks kept short and active. In spring and autumn an anorak or a vest is enough.

Will clothes cut for an Italian greyhound fit a whippet?
The build really is the same — deep chest, narrow waist, long neck — but the format is not: our size-by-breed table gives the Italian greyhound a chest girth of 35–45 cm, while a whippet is a noticeably bigger dog and usually does not fit our ready sizes. So the cut suits the breed and the size does not. In practice: order the same models, in a custom size.

How much do made-to-measure whippet clothes cost?
A custom size costs 15% more than a standard one. A made-to-measure fleece jumpsuit is $60 instead of $52, a fleece anorak $41 instead of $35, the «Puffy» puffer vest $53 instead of $46 and the drying robe $45 instead of $39. Production takes 3–6 business days from payment.

Which jumpsuit should I choose for a whippet in rain and wet snow?
The water-repellent «Heaven» jumpsuit at $71: it covers the back, belly and legs and has a detachable hood and a hidden harness opening. If you want something that leaves the legs free, the «Brooklyn Jacket» in raincoat fabric at $52 has a collar opening at the neck.

Can I exchange or return whippet clothes?
You can exchange or return a standard-size item within 14 days of receiving it; the buyer pays for return shipping, and the shop pays if the item is faulty or the wrong one was sent. Made-to-measure pieces and pieces in a non-standard colour cannot be exchanged or returned. See exchange and returns.