Christmas dog outfits: sweaters, hats and bow ties that fit
Updated October 5, 2026
For most dogs, the easiest Christmas outfit is a stretchy knit sweater or a bandana, with a Santa hat or antler headband saved for a few photos. Size a sweater by chest girth and back length, skip outfits with bells or glued-on trim your dog can chew off, and take the sweater off indoors once your dog starts to pant.
How to size a Christmas sweater
Knits stretch, but not evenly. Ribbed necks and cuffs give a little, while the body of a chunky cable knit gives much less. AKC's sweater advice is to measure back length, chest and neck with a soft tape and check each brand's chart, because the same size label fits differently from one brand to the next.
- Chest girth decides whether the sweater goes on, and back length decides whether it covers the back without bunching at the tail.
- A turtleneck should fold down without pressing on the throat.
- Leg holes should leave room for your dog's normal stride.
- On a male dog, the belly panel should end far enough forward to stay dry when he pees.
- Long, fluffy coats tangle where a sweater rubs, so brush before and after wearing.
For the measurements themselves, use the dog clothes size guide, and see the Pomeranian size guide for a fluffy breed's numbers.
Santa hats, antlers and bow ties
Treat hats and antler headbands as photo props. They hold on with a thin elastic band, so put one on for a few pictures and then take it off.
- The elastic sits behind the jaw, snug enough not to slip over the eyes and loose enough to slide a finger under.
- Pick light, soft antlers that stay upright without a tight band.
- A bow tie that slides onto the collar adds a holiday look with nothing on the head. Check that it is stitched or riveted, not glued.
Dressing the cat too? The cat clothes and accessories guide has the collars and bow ties cats wear.
Bells, tinsel and other small parts
Holiday outfits come with the parts vets worry about, such as jingle bells, pom-poms, sequins and glued-on trim. The AVMA notes that tinsel, ribbons and similar decorations can cause choking or an intestinal blockage when swallowed, and the ASPCA warns that swallowed tinsel can end in surgery.
- Pull on every bell and pom-pom before the first wear, and cut off anything loose.
- Keep tinsel and ribbon out of the outfit, and off the low branches of the tree.
- Stay with your dog while it is dressed. AKC warns that a dog left alone in a sweater can get tangled and hurt.
Warm inside, cold outside
A sweater that helps on a cold walk can be too much in a heated living room. VCA suggests waterproof coats outdoors and sweaters for extra warmth indoors, and lists panting and drooling as signs a dog has warmed up too much. A sweater indoors makes sense for small, thin-coated or senior dogs in a cool house; for other dogs, take it off when you come in. For real cold, see the winter coat guide.
Matching outfits and the holiday card photo
Matching works when only the color matches, such as a red knit on the dog and red scarves on the people, so nobody needs a hat for the whole shoot. For the photo itself:
- Shoot by daylight from a window, even with the tree lit, because tree lights alone give dark, grainy pictures.
- Leave empty space beside your dog if the photo will become a card with a greeting.
- Put the hat on last, take a quick burst of shots, then take it off.
- For family shots, sit or kneel at your dog's eye level instead of lifting it.
- Squeak a toy just above the lens to get the ears up and the eyes on the camera.
Picks from the Pawlooks catalog
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IllustrationPrices and sizes change. Check the listing before you order.
Pawlooks can put a knit, a Santa hat or a bow tie on your dog's photo, so you can see which suits the card before buying. You need one photo and no account, and the first look is a free preview with a light watermark. The picture is an AI visualization, so the real sweater may sit and look a little different.
Frequently asked questions
Are jingle bell collars safe for dogs?
A bell that is sewn or riveted on is fine for a supervised photo or walk. Pull on it first, because a loose bell can be chewed off and swallowed, and cut it off or choose a bell-free collar if it moves.
Should a dog sweater be tight or loose?
Snug but not tight. It should lie flat along the back without pulling across the chest, with room for two fingers at the neck and chest. A baggy sweater slides around and catches on things.
Can my dog wear a Christmas sweater all day?
Usually not. Most dogs are warm enough indoors, so keep the sweater for walks and photos, unless your dog is small, thin-coated or a senior in a cool house. Take it off if your dog pants or drools.
What can my dog wear for Christmas if it won't keep a hat on?
A bandana, a bow tie on the collar or a knit scarf gives a holiday look with nothing on the head. Keep scarf ends short so they cannot catch on anything.