Dog Hats

Dog hats sit somewhere between accessory and outfit, a cowboy hat for photos, a sun hat for long walks in bright weather, a knitted one for cold mornings. This collection covers styles for small breeds through to large dogs, most with adjustable straps to hold them in place. Fit matters more with headwear than with anything else your dog wears, since a hat that slips over the eyes or presses anywhere will come off within a minute. Check the size chart on each product and measure your dog's head before ordering.

Dog Hats for Every Style and Occasion

Style is where most people start, and the options split into a few recognizable groups.

Cowboy and western hats are the most popular novelty style, with a shaped brim and usually a chin cord to keep them on. Birthday hats are the go-to for occasions and photos, light, simple, and designed to be worn for a few minutes rather than all afternoon. Baseball caps have ear openings and a strap, sitting closer to the head than a brimmed hat and staying put better on an active dog. Bucket hats give more all-round coverage with a softer, more casual shape.

Pair any of these with a printed shirt or a full outfit from our dog clothing range if you're dressing up for an event.

Dog Sun Hats and Winter Hats

Weather-focused headwear is the other half of this category, and the two ends of it call for quite different things.

Sun hats use a wider brim or a visor to give the face and eyes some additional coverage on bright days. Owners often consider them for dogs with short or pale fur around the nose and ears. Treat a hat as one part of an outdoor routine rather than a solution in itself, shade, water and avoiding the hottest hours matter far more, and hot ground is a separate problem that dog shoes address.

Winter hats are usually knitted or lined and cover the ears, which is where dogs with thin fur feel the cold first. They work best as part of a cold-weather setup alongside a dog coat or a knitted sweater, depending on conditions.

Choose the Right Hat for Your Dog

• Adjustability. Straps that adjust at the chin and around the head give you a far better chance of a workable fit than a fixed size.
• Ear openings. Check the hat suits your dog's ear shape — upright and floppy ears need different things.
• Weight. Lighter is better. Anything heavy shifts as your dog moves and gets shaken off.
• Breathability. Hats worn in warm weather should let air through rather than trap heat.
• Coverage vs visibility. A wide brim gives more shade but catches wind and blocks peripheral vision more than a cap.
• Ease of fitting. One strap rather than three is the difference between a hat you use and one that stays in a drawer.

Small Dog Hats

Smaller breeds need genuinely lightweight construction, a hat that would sit comfortably on a labrador becomes top-heavy on a chihuahua. Look for soft materials, a secure chin strap and a brim in proportion to the head. Oversized styles slide forward over the eyes, which is the quickest way to make a dog dislike wearing anything.

Dog Hats for Large Dogs

Larger dogs vary widely in head shape, so measuring matters more than picking by breed. Check the upper end of each product's size range before ordering, since some styles top out smaller than you'd expect. Adjustable straps with a decent length of travel are worth prioritizing.

How to Measure Your Dog for a Hat

Use a soft measuring tape and work with your dog calm and standing. Most size charts ask for head circumference, measured around the widest part of the skull above the ears and below the eyes. Some also ask for the distance between the ears.

Sizing methods vary between products, so follow the instructions on the specific item rather than assuming a size carries across. Keep the tape snug without compressing the fur, and if your dog falls between sizes, an adjustable style takes the guesswork out.

Shop Dog Hats at Pawtons

Browse the collection above and choose based on your dog's head measurements, the style you're after, and where the hat will be worn. The rest of our dog accessories cover the collars, leashes and everyday extras that go alongside.