You measured carefully and the number lands right on the boundary. Just too big for one size, just too small for the next. Rounding up feels safe, but a loose sock slides down and then you have nothing anyway. Below are four checks to run in that situation, in this order.

Check 1: did you measure the right width?

Dog Socky works with the width of the spread paw print. Not the ankle, not the length of the foot and not the nails. That differs from brands measuring at the cuff, so a number from another size chart does not transfer.

Let your dog put full weight on the paw before you measure. A paw hanging in the air is narrower than a paw touching the floor. The latter is what you deal with in practice. How to do it exactly is in measuring your dog's paw width.

Check 2: is there fur in your measurement?

For borderline cases this is by far the most common cause. On dogs with dense fur between the toes you easily measure almost a centimetre too much. Poodles, doodles, Bernese Mountain Dogs, Golden Retrievers: all candidates.

The size calculator handles that with a fur correction of 0.7 cm. If you honestly indicate that your dog has thick paw fur, the tool factors it in. Skip that and you unintentionally shift a size up. Trim the fur between the toes and measure again if you are unsure.

Check 3: did you measure all four paws?

On most dogs the front paws are wider than the back paws. Measure only a back paw and you end up too low, so the sock pinches at the front.

Measure at least one front paw and one back paw. If there is a clear difference, go by the wider front paw. The rear socks then sit slightly looser, which you correct with the strap.

Check 4: what will you use the socks for?

If you are still between two sizes after the first three checks, the purpose decides.

• Grip on a smooth floor for a senior dog: take the smaller of the two. The sock has to sit tight enough not to twist while getting up, because that is the moment the slipping happens.
• Over a bandage or a swollen paw: take the larger of the two. You need the room and can tighten the strap.
• A young dog that is still growing: take the smaller one. A puppy will outgrow a sock, but a sock that is too big is useless right now.

The rule of thumb: when in doubt, the smallest size that still closes comfortably. A slightly snug sock stays on and gives a little, while a loose sock slips off at the first sprint. Why that works is explained in dog socks that stay on.

Do you fall outside the size range?

Below 4.3 cm you sit under size S. Above 8.6 cm you sit above XL. There is a waiting list for both: XS for small breeds and XXL for Rottweilers, Bernese Mountain Dogs and Newfoundlands. You can sign up on the size guide.

Still not sure?

Enter your measurement in the size calculator and give an honest answer on fur thickness. That combination resolves most borderline cases. The full table per breed is in the dog sock size chart.

Frequently asked questions

Should I round up or down when in doubt?

In most cases down, so the smallest size that still closes comfortably. A sock that is too loose slides off while walking. The exception is a sock over a bandage: go for the larger size then.

My dog measures 6.3 cm, is that still size M?

Yes, size M runs up to and including 6.3 cm paw width. Just above that you move into the next size. With a borderline value like this, do check first whether fur was included in the measurement.

Can I order different sizes for front and back paws?

A set contains four socks in the same size. With a clear difference between front and back paws, go by the wider front paw and tighten the rear straps a little more.