Back length, chest, and neck. The three measurements that decide whether a coat sits on your dachshund the way it should — or the way it usually doesn't.
Most people order dachshund clothing based on weight. A 6 kilo Miniature dachshund fits a size S, they read on the tag. The coat arrives, and it sits too high at the chest, or too short across the back, or the collar rides up under the ear. The chart was wrong. Or rather — the dog was measured wrong.
Weight is a proxy for size. Three actual measurements are not.
The three measurements that matter
1. Back length
From the base of the collar to the base of the tail. This is the most important measurement, and the one most often skipped.
Place the measuring tape at the point where a properly-fitted collar sits — the base of the neck, not up on the throat — and run it flat along the spine to the point where the tail begins. Not to the tip. To the base.
For a Kaninchen dachshund, this is usually 26–32 cm. For a Miniature, 33–40 cm. For a Standard, 41–50 cm. But these ranges are wide, and the individual variation inside them is what makes measuring necessary.
2. Chest
The widest point, just behind the front legs. This is where the coat closes, and where most poorly-fitting clothing pulls or gaps.
Wrap the tape around the deepest part of the ribcage, snug but not tight — you should be able to slip a finger underneath. Record the number in centimetres.
The dachshund has a deeper chest for its body length than nearly any other breed. A coat drafted on a standard proportional pattern will pull here, even when the back length is correct. This is why our teckel patterns grade chest measurement independently of back length.
3. Neck
Where the collar sits. Not where you would put a leash collar — where the neckline of a coat or sweater will actually rest, at the base of the neck just above the shoulders.
Wrap the tape at that natural point, snug enough that a finger can slip underneath. For most dachshunds this measurement is smaller than you would expect — the visual bulk of the neck is fur, not structure.
How to actually take the measurements
The dog needs to be standing on all four legs, on a flat surface, in a neutral position — not stretched, not curled, not sitting. This is harder than it sounds. Most dachshunds will either sit down or try to face you the moment the tape appears.
The easiest method is two people: one holds the dog naturally by the collar or a treat at nose level, the other measures. If you are alone, do it after a walk when the dog is calm, and offer a small treat between each measurement.
Use a soft fabric measuring tape — the kind used for sewing. Not a metal builder's tape. And record everything in centimetres, not inches — European sizing runs on centimetres, and converting introduces errors.
Why weight is a bad proxy
Two dachshunds can weigh the same and be built very differently. A well-muscled 6 kg Miniature has different proportions than a slightly overweight 6 kg Miniature. A working-line Kaninchen will have a longer back than a show-line Kaninchen of the same weight.
Weight-based sizing works for average dogs. Dachshunds are not average dogs. They are the least-average dogs.
Our teckel sizing, briefly
Every teckel piece we make is drafted on a long-bodied frame, sized for Kaninchen, Miniature, and Standard dachshunds — XXS through L, depending on the piece.
- XXS — very small Kaninchen
- XS — Kaninchen
- S — small Miniature dachshunds
- M — Miniature dachshunds
- L — Standard dachshunds
Each product page lists the exact back length, chest, and neck range for that size. If your dachshund falls between two, choose the larger — a coat should sit with ease across the chest, not pull.
When to send us the measurements
If your dog is between sizes, or the individual measurements don't match the same size across all three, send us a message. We answer within the day.
Send the three measurements — back length, chest, neck — along with your dog's approximate weight and their sub-breed (Kaninchen, Miniature, or Standard). We will tell you which size will fit best.
We would rather you order once than twice. Send to bonjour@colettetgaston.com or send us a DM on Instagram.
Explore the teckel range
Our dachshund line is drafted for the long-bodied frame — trench coats, softshell raincoats, hand-loomed baby alpaca sweaters, and cotton essentials, all handmade in Paris or hand-loomed in Peru.