Dog Sweaters for Goldendoodles and Poodles: The Fit Guide

A curly coat looks warm. Often it is not. Poodles and most doodles have a single coat with little or no undercoat, and once it is clipped short for the season, there is not much between the dog and a cold morning.

Dressing them is its own problem. Under the curls, a Poodle is fine-boned and narrow-chested. A Goldendoodle can be almost any size. And a rough knit drags on a curly coat until it mats. This guide covers when these dogs need a sweater, how to measure them, and what a good fit looks like.

Does a curly coat need a sweater?

It depends on the coat, the clip and the dog.

Poodles have a single coat of continuously growing hair, without the dense undercoat of northern breeds. In a full coat they cope well. After a short clip, especially a Toy or Miniature, they feel the cold quickly.

Doodles vary with their coat type:

• Wool coat (tight curls, closest to the Poodle): the same as a Poodle. Warm in full coat, exposed after a short clip.
• Fleece coat (soft waves): a little more protection, but still usually without much undercoat.
• Hair coat (straighter, closer to the Golden Retriever or Labrador): may carry some undercoat and needs a sweater less often.

The signs are the same for every dog: shivering, a tucked tail, lifting paws off cold ground, or reluctance to go out. Small, senior and recently groomed dogs benefit most.

How to measure a Goldendoodle or Poodle

"Goldendoodle" covers dogs from a few kilos to well over thirty, depending on whether the Poodle parent was a Toy, Miniature or Standard. Two dogs with the same name can need sweaters several sizes apart. Weight tells you very little; measurements tell you everything.

1. Back length. From the base of the neck, where the collar sits, to the base of the tail.
2. Chest girth. Around the widest part of the ribcage, just behind the front legs.
3. Neck girth. Around the base of the neck.

Two things are specific to curly coats:

• Measure close to the body. Press the tape through the curls to the skin, then allow a finger's width. Measuring over a full coat gives a size too large.
• Think about the clip. A dog measured in full winter coat and then clipped short will find the sweater looser. If you groom on a regular cycle, measure at the coat length the dog usually wears in cold months.

Poodles in particular are narrow through the chest and long in the neck, so a sweater chosen by weight tends to be too wide and too short at the collar. Paul comes in eight sizes, from 2 to 9, and the size configurator on the product page matches your three measurements to the right one.

Why fine merino suits a curly coat

A coarse or loosely knitted fabric catches on curls and rubs as the dog moves, and over a day that friction can leave tangles and mats under the sweater. A fine, smooth knit sits flat against the coat instead.

Merino also regulates temperature rather than simply insulating, so a dog stays warm outside without overheating once indoors. It breathes, resists odour and gives warmth without bulk. For the full comparison with acrylic, see our guide to merino wool dog sweaters.

Paul is 100% merino, made in Italy and knitted as a single seamless piece, with nothing to rub at the shoulders and a turtleneck collar that folds up in real cold. It comes in Eucalyptus, Chalk and Navy.

Caring for it, and for the coat underneath:

• Brush the coat after a long day in the sweater, paying attention to the armpits and chest, where curls mat first.
• Hand wash cold, or use a wool cycle in a garment bag. Lay flat to dry, away from direct heat. Do not tumble dry.
• Merino resists odour, so airing it between wears is often enough. Light pilling is natural and does not affect performance.

Frequently asked questions

Do Goldendoodles need sweaters?

Many do in cold weather, especially those with a wool or fleece coat that has been clipped short. Doodles with a straighter, denser coat need one less often.

Do Poodles get cold?

Yes, particularly after grooming. Poodles have a single coat with no dense undercoat, so a short clip leaves them exposed. Toy and Miniature Poodles feel the cold fastest.

What size sweater does a Goldendoodle need?

It depends on the individual dog, since doodles range from Toy to Standard. Measure back length, chest girth and neck girth, and match them to the size guide rather than going by weight.

Will a sweater mat my dog's coat?

A coarse knit can. A fine, smooth knit such as merino sits flat and causes far less friction. Brush the coat after long wear, especially around the armpits.

Should I measure before or after grooming?

Measure at the coat length your dog usually wears in winter, pressing the tape close to the skin.