To get your dog used to wearing a sweater, go in small steps with lots of treats: let them sniff it, touch it to their back, put it on for a few seconds, then build up time at home before your first walk. Start with a simple style like a sleeveless vest, and leave four-leg onesies for last.
Below is how to get a dog used to wearing clothes with the routine the American Kennel Club recommends, plus how to put on each style. We use our own vest, hoodie, sweaters and onesie as examples because we know exactly how each one goes on.
How to get a dog used to wearing clothes, step by step
Work in a quiet room, keep sessions short, and pair every step with a treat or praise. The AKC's guide to getting your dog comfortable wearing clothes is built on that idea: your dog learns that the sweater coming out means good things. The AKC also suggests introducing winter clothes before the cold weather starts, so nobody is rushed.
- Check the fit before you start. A sweater that pinches or drags makes training harder (fit checks are below).
- Put the sweater on the floor and let your dog sniff it. Treat any interest, even a glance.
- Hold it in your hand and treat when they sniff or nudge it.
- Touch it to their back or shoulder, then treat.
- Put it on, treat, and take it straight off. Repeat until it's no big deal.
- Leave it on a little longer each session while the treats keep coming. Toss a treat to chase, play tug or practice a trick, so your dog learns the sweater doesn't stop them moving.
- When they're relaxed at home, try a short walk and keep rewarding.
If your dog pulls away or tries to wriggle out at any point, take the sweater off calmly and go back a step. There's no set timeline. The AKC's advice is to let your dog get comfortable at their own pace, keeping sessions short and fun rather than testing how long they'll put up with it.
Teach "head through" as a game
Vests, hoodies and sweaters all go on over the head, which is the part many dogs mind most. The AKC suggests teaching it as a trick: bunch the sweater up so only the neck hole shows, hold a treat on the far side, and reward your dog for pushing their head through. Practice a few times without dressing them at all. Add a cue like "get dressed," and your dog may start offering their head when the sweater comes out. For a dog who is especially gear-shy, the AKC suggests choosing a coat that doesn't have to be pulled over the head.
Why does my dog freeze in clothes?
Usually because it's a new feeling. Many dogs stand still, walk stiffly or lift their feet high the first time they wear clothes, and the AKC notes that the sensation of fabric on their back can startle many dogs. The answer is to slow down: shorter sessions, more treats and a step back in the routine.
It can look funny on video, but take it seriously. The AKC's guide to telling if your dog is stressed says a dog that suddenly freezes or becomes rigid is often under significant stress and may be shutting down because the situation feels overwhelming. If your dog locks up, take the sweater off, end the session, and next time start from a step they were happy with.
How to put a sweater on a dog, easiest style first
Start with the style that asks the least of your dog. A sleeveless vest has no sleeves to thread. Hoodies and sweaters add two front sleeves, and a four-leg onesie needs all four legs plus buttons, so it comes last.
| Style | How it goes on | Best for | Lumi example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sleeveless vest | Over the head, paws through armholes | A first outfit | Cloud Bear Sherpa Vest |
| Pullover hoodie | Over the head, two front legs in | Chilly walks | Froggy & Fruit Fleece Hoodie |
| Pullover sweater | Over the head, two front sleeves | Cool mornings, lounging | Teddy Hug, Snow Day |
| Four-leg onesie | Four legs in, buttons up the back | Covering legs and tummy | Cocoa Bear Fleece Onesie |
Vest: Cloud Bear Sherpa Vest
The Cloud Bear Sherpa Vest is a stretchy, sleeveless pull-on with no buttons or closures, so it makes a good first outfit. Slip it over your dog's head, guide one front paw at a time through the armholes, and smooth it down the back. It comes in six sizes from XS to XXL. The metal D-ring on the back is for a light leash only. It isn't a harness, so don't use it for pulling or tying out.
Hoodie: Froggy & Fruit Fleece Hoodie
The Froggy & Fruit Fleece Hoodie slips over the head and has two front-leg openings, with no buttons or snaps. Do the head first. Then lift one front paw, bend the elbow gently and guide it through its opening before doing the other. Leave the hood down for the first few sessions if your dog is unsure about fabric near their ears. There's a tie cord at the neck (a red bow on the Reindeer style); take it out if your dog likes to chew.
Sweater: Teddy Hug and Snow Day
Pullover sweaters go on the same way as the hoodie. Our Teddy Hug Striped Sweater and Snow Day Cable Knit Turtleneck both have a ribbed turtleneck collar that sits closer to the neck than a hood, so stretch the collar open with your fingers before it goes over the nose. The Teddy Hug carries a plush bear in a back pocket. Let your dog sniff it before the first try, because it's one more new thing on their back. It has small eyes and a nose, so it isn't a chew toy.
Onesie: Cocoa Bear Fleece Onesie
The Cocoa Bear Fleece Onesie covers the legs, back and tummy and fastens with flower buttons along the back. Undo the buttons, guide the front legs into the front sleeves, then the back legs, and button it closed along the back. The AKC notes that some dogs find full-leg snowsuits harder to get used to than coats, and that dogs who already wear a coat often adjust faster, so practice this one after a vest or sweater. The buttons aren't for chewing.
How should a dog sweater fit?
Snug, not tight. According to the AKC, clothes that are too tight are uncomfortable and can restrict movement, and clothes that are too big can trip your dog or catch on things. Measure your dog's chest and back length before you buy. Our guide on how to measure a small dog for a sweater shows you how.
- You can slide two fingers under the neck and chest without forcing them.
- Your dog can walk, sit, lie down and pee without the fabric bunching or getting in the way. On the Cocoa Bear onesie, the belly panel can be trimmed if needed.
- The armholes and sleeves don't rub. Check the armpits after the first few wears.
- The sweater ends around the base of the tail, not past it.
- If your dog is between sizes, size up. The size guides for all of these styles say so, and the Teddy Hug runs small.
Can dogs sleep in sweaters?
Not overnight, and not unsupervised. The AKC says dogs should always be supervised while wearing clothes, and that clothes shouldn't stay on a dog who is crated or left alone, because they can snag or catch and become a choking hazard.
A doze on the couch beside you is different from a night in the crate. Take clothes off at bedtime and before you leave the house. Our onesie's care note also says to take it off if your pet seems too warm. For nights, a warm bed or blanket lets your dog burrow in or wriggle out as they like.
Signs to stop and try again later
Stop if your dog pulls away, tries to wriggle or paw the clothes off, or shows stress signals. The AKC advises removing clothing right away if your dog seems stressed or frustrated, then going back to earlier steps next time. Signs from the AKC's stress guide include:
- Freezing or going stiff
- Lip-licking or yawning
- Whale eye, when the whites of the eyes show
- Ears pinned back or a tucked tail
- Pacing, panting, whining or growling
A growl is a warning worth listening to, not something to correct. Panting can also mean your dog is too warm, which is one more reason to take the sweater off and check.
Quick answers
What is the easiest dog sweater to put on?
A stretchy, sleeveless vest with no buttons, like the Cloud Bear Sherpa Vest, because there are no sleeves to thread.
How long does it take a dog to get used to clothes?
It depends on the dog. The AKC suggests going at your dog's pace and starting before cold weather, so you aren't hurrying a nervous dog out the door in something new.
Does my dog need a sweater at all?
Not every dog does. The AKC says sweaters are especially useful for keeping hairless and short-coated dogs warm in cold weather. If your fluffy dog still hates clothes after patient practice, they may be happier without. Our guide to when small dogs need sweaters covers temperatures and the signs of a cold dog.
Sweaters, hoodies and onesies for small dogs
- Teddy Hug Striped Sweater, pull-on, XS to 2XL
- Snow Day Cable Knit Turtleneck Sweater, pull-on, S to XL
- All pet sweaters, hoodies and onesies
