Dog Hooded Zip-Up Sweater

Dog Hooded Zip-Up Knit Sweater

Wholesale and private label

Overview

This is a knitted dog sweater with a hood and a full-length zip, made for cool weather and for dogs that dislike having a sweater pulled over their head. The knit gives warmth without the stiffness of a woven coat, and it stretches with the dog, so it works for short-haired breeds, small dogs and older dogs that feel the cold. The hood covers the back of the head and the neck when the dog goes outside, and the zip opens the sweater flat, which makes dressing quick and keeps the dog relaxed. The sweater is a good base for branding: a logo can be embroidered on the chest or the back, applied as a woven label, or added to the zip puller, so the same garment can be sold as a plain stock item or as a branded collection piece. Sizes run XS to 3XL, by back length, chest girth and neck girth. MOQ is 100 pieces per colourway.

Product specification

Fabric: soft knit, acrylic or cotton/acrylic blend, warm for cool weather.

Design: hooded, full-length zip, long body.

Closure: zip with an internal guard and a covered top end.

Trim: ribbed cuffs and hem to hold the shape.

Sizes: XS to 3XL, by back length, chest girth and neck girth.

MOQ: 100 pieces per colourway, mixed sizes accepted.

Sample: 7–10 working days per round.

Bulk lead time: 25–40 days after sample approval and deposit.

Branding: chest or back embroidery, woven label, branded zip puller.

Care: wash inside out in a laundry bag, dry flat, do not bleach.

Quality control: inline and final inspection, zip function and pull test, embroidery check, needle detection.

Why buyers choose this style

Dog sweaters sell on warmth and on looks, and this style delivers both. The knit is warm without being heavy, so it suits cool days, cold houses and short-haired breeds, while the hood gives the sweater a finished, sporty look that photographs well in listings and on social media.

The zip is the practical selling point. Many dogs resist having a sweater pulled over their head, especially older dogs, nervous dogs and dogs with a thick coat. A sweater that opens flat and closes with a zip removes that problem entirely, and owners notice the difference in the first week.

For the buyer, the style is easy to build into a range. The same pattern can be produced as a plain stock sweater in several colours, or as a branded piece with embroidery and a woven label. With a 100-piece MOQ, a 7–10 day sample and a 25–40 day bulk lead time, it is a low-risk style to test, and it can be sold as a matching owner-and-dog set if the design is developed that way.

The hood and the zip: easy to wear, warm to walk

The hood is knitted in the same yarn as the body and shaped to cover the back of the head and the neck without covering the eyes. It gives protection when the dog turns into the wind and it keeps light rain and dust off the head and ears. The opening is sized so a collar can be worn underneath, and the hood can be worn up or folded back.

The zip runs the full length of the back, so the sweater opens flat for dressing. A zip on a knitted garment needs proper support: a stabilizing tape is set behind the zip so the knit does not wave or stretch out of shape, and an internal guard behind the teeth keeps the zip away from the coat when the sweater is closed. The top end is covered so the slider does not press against the neck.

The zip puller can be produced in a matching colour, in a contrast colour, or as a branded puller with a logo, which is one of the simplest ways to add brand identity to a plain sweater.

Knit warmth without bulk

The sweater is knitted in a soft yarn with enough weight to be warm in cool weather without looking bulky under a coat. The knit stretches with the dog, which means the sweater goes on easily and moves with the body instead of restricting the shoulders or the chest. The rib at the cuffs and the hem holds the sweater in place and stops it riding up on walks.

Two quality points are controlled before bulk. Pilling: sweater knit pills where it rubs, such as under the front legs, at the chest and where a harness sits, so the yarn is selected and tested for pilling. Shedding and hand feel: the yarn is chosen so the surface stays soft and does not shed loose fibre onto furniture. Colour is dyed on the yarn so the shade is even through the knit and repeat orders match.

Fit: back length, chest and neck measurement

Sizing is based on three measurements: back length from the base of the neck to the base of the tail, chest girth at the widest point behind the front legs, and neck girth. Chest girth is the most important, because a sweater that is tight at the chest will be refused by the dog. Because the knit has natural stretch, a well-cut sweater gives a little tolerance, but the chest measurement should still be checked carefully.

Reference sizes are XS (back 20 cm), S (back 25 cm), M (back 30 cm), L (back 35 cm), XL (back 40 cm), 2XL (back 45 cm) and 3XL (back 50 cm), with chest ranges developed to your own chart. Both centimetres and inches should be printed on the size guide.

Logo and embroidery customization

This sweater is designed to carry a brand. A logo can be embroidered on the chest, on the back or on the sleeve, applied as a woven or printed label at the neck or the side seam, or produced as a branded zip puller. The combination is confirmed on the sample, so the placement, the size and the thread colours are all approved before bulk.

Embroidery on a knit needs the right support. A cutaway or tear-away stabiliser is used so the stitches do not pucker the front of the sweater, the stitch count is controlled so the fabric keeps its softness and stretch, and the embroidered panel is checked after washing so any distortion appears before bulk rather than after packing. Thread colours are matched to your reference, and a stitch-out is approved before production.

Where a logo is more detailed than embroidery can reproduce, a woven label or a printed patch gives a cleaner result and keeps the knit soft. For a brand collection, the label, the zip puller and the packaging can all carry the same identity.

Colour

The photographed sample is a dark navy colourway, which is one of the easiest colours to sell in pet clothing because it hides dirt on walks and suits both everyday and premium positioning. Colour is dyed on the yarn and matched to your Pantone reference, so the sweater can be produced in navy, black, grey, camel, burgundy or a seasonal shade using the same pattern and yarn.

Comfort and safety details

The inside of the sweater is smooth, with the seam allowances pressed flat so nothing rubs against the dog’s skin. The zip is covered, the cuffs are elasticated but not tight, and there are no loose cords or dangling parts. Owners should check the fit before each walk and remove the sweater if it becomes damaged.

Fabric and care

The yarn is a soft knit in an acrylic or cotton/acrylic blend, chosen for warmth, hand feel and colour clarity. Where the market requires it, the yarn and the finished sweater can be tested for colourfastness, pilling, shrinkage and fibre composition, and certified yarn can be sourced.

Care instructions are written for a knitted sweater with a zip: wash inside out in a laundry bag on a gentle cycle at low temperature, close the zip before washing, dry flat rather than in a tumble dryer, do not bleach, and iron on the reverse at low temperature if needed. The sweater is tested after the same wash cycle the customer will use, so the care label reflects real results.

Customization

Colours: navy as photographed, or matched to your Pantone reference.

Branding: chest or back embroidery, sleeve embroidery, woven or printed label, branded zip puller.

Trims: rib depth, cuff depth and hood shape adjusted to your design.

Sizes: XS–3XL, or developed to your own measurement chart.

Labels and packaging: woven labels, care labels, hangtags, barcodes and patches, plus poly bags, header cards or retail boxes with carton markings.

1. Inquiry. Send a photSampling and production timeline
2. o, a sketch or a tech pack.
3. Yarn. Confirm the yarn, colour and hand feel, 3–7 days.
4. Pattern. Fit, hood shape, zip length and rib depths, 2–3 days.
5. Sample. First sample with hood, zip and embroidery, 7–10 working days per round.
6. Approval. Your sign-off on fit, colour, zip and logo placement.
7. Bulk. Production, 25–40 days after approval and deposit.
8. Shipment. Final inspection and packing, then sea, air or express.

Most pet knitwear styles are approved in two rounds: the first sample confirms the fit, the hood and the zip, and the second confirms the yarn, the colour and the embroidery or label.

Quality control, stage by stage

• Yarn checked before knitting, including shade and hand feel.
• Panels measured during knitting, including the hood.
• Zip function, zip straightness and the internal guard checked on every garment.
• Embroidery checked for density, backing and placement.
• Pilling and colourfastness tested on the finished sweater.
• Measurement, colour and label verification, then needle detection and final inspection.
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Minimum order quantity

The MOQ is 100 pieces per colourway, and mixed sizes within one colour are accepted, so a 100-piece order can cover a full size run. Custom dyed yarn, custom embroidery or a branded zip puller may require a higher quantity, confirmed at quotation stage.

What we need from you

• A clear photo, a sketch, a sample from another market or a full tech pack.
• Your size chart, or we can develop one and send it for approval.
• Colour references, with Pantone numbers.
• Logo artwork for embroidery, in vector or high-resolution format.
• Zip, hood and rib specification.
• Label, hangtag and packaging requirements, plus barcode details.

FAQ

What is the MOQ? 100 pieces per colourway, mixed sizes accepted.

How long does sampling take? 7–10 working days per round.

How long is bulk production? 25–40 days after sample approval and deposit.

Can a logo be added? Yes. Chest or back embroidery, woven labels and branded zip pullers are all available.

Is the sweater warm? It is a soft knit for cool weather, warm without bulk, and it layers under a coat.

Does the zip make dressing easier? Yes. The sweater opens flat, so it does not have to be pulled over the dog’s head.

Have a tech pack or a photo? Send it over.

We will come back with a sample plan, the MOQ and a quotation for your market. For repeat orders we keep your yarn, colour and embroidery file on record, so the next order starts from the approved sample.