How to Size Dog Shoes for Small Dogs | Paw-Perfect Fit

Getting the right fit for small dogs starts with one measurement done correctly. The most reliable way to size dog shoes for small dogs is to measure the paw’s width while the dog stands and bears weight. This matters because paws spread when a dog stands. Measuring a paw while the foot is lifted gives a smaller number that leads to a shoe that’s too tight. A roundup of the best dog shoes for small dogs helps once you know the size.

The Weight-Bearing Measurement Method

This is the gold standard for sizing dog shoes for small dogs. It works across brands because it captures the paw at its true, spread-out size.

1. Place a plain sheet of paper on a hard floor.
2. Have the dog stand on the paper with its weight evenly on all four paws.
3. Mark the widest points on both sides of the paw you’re measuring.
4. Lift the dog, then measure the distance between the two marks.
5. Write the number down and repeat for the other front paw.

Hold the pen straight up and down when marking. Ruffwear’s sizing guide emphasizes this detail, because an angled pen shifts the marks and skews the width. Once measured, compare the width to the brand’s chart, not a different manufacturer’s.

Which Measurement Does the Brand Use?

Not every brand sizes by width. Some boot makers measure paw length instead—from the bottom of the heel pad to the tip of the longest toenail. PAWZ’s official sizing chart uses this length method and advises choosing the larger size when a paw falls between two sizes. Other manufacturers, like Canada Pooch, list both paw length and paw width ranges on their charts, and their Suspender Boots also require a leg length measurement.

This variation is a common source of fit problems. A boot sized by width will fit differently than one sized by length, and using the wrong chart gives a shoe that slips or pinches. Always open the specific product’s size chart before ordering, and check whether it asks for width, length, or both.

Another practical point: measure all four paws. Prestige Pet Products advises keeping the largest measurement, since front and back paws often differ in size. Retailer Chewy’s sizing guide says the same and suggests ordering for the bigger pair.

Small-Dog Sizing Considerations

Small breeds don’t fit neatly into one universal size. Charts show this clearly. Chewy’s dog-shoe chart, for example, starts at XS with a paw-width range of 1 1/2 to 1 5/8 inches. Canada Pooch’s chart for Soft Shield Boots begins at size 1 with a paw-length range of 1.5–1.8 inches and a width of 1–1.3 inches. Some brands even offer an XX-Petite size. That means a breed-based guess almost always misses, especially for tiny paws where every fraction of an inch changes the fit.

Small dogs also tend to have lighter, narrower paws relative to their size, so a chart designed for larger breeds may not translate. The only dependable approach is the paper measurement above, checked against the specific brand’s chart.

A few cautions apply to all dogs, but they bite hardest for small breeds. First, never size by weight or age alone. Two Chihuahuas of the same age can have noticeably different paw widths. Second, always check the chart before assuming a size, since some models fit differently even within the same brand. Third, the boot’s interior width should be slightly larger than the paw’s width, so there’s room for the toes to lie flat without rubbing.

When the dog stands, paws spread to their widest. That spread is the number to measure, and it’s why the weight-bearing method works where others fail. Getting this single step right makes the difference between a boot that stays on through a winter walk and one that comes off in the first hundred feet.