Neck circumference is the only measurement that matters on a bandana, and it is the one most sellers leave out. Four graded sizes here cover 16cm to 53cm, which runs from a kitten of two or three months up to a medium or large dog, and the maker names the weight each size suits rather than leaving you to work it out from a photograph of somebody else's Corgi.

It ties as a triangle at the throat, so it does the same job as a collar cover without being a collar: nothing bears weight and nothing takes a lead. It sits over the top of the everyday collar and comes off in a second. On a dog that drools or a puppy that is teething, a bandana at the throat is also the most practical thing there is, catching what would otherwise soak the chest fur.

• XS: neck 16-21cm, for teacup breeds and kittens of two to three months
• S: neck 21-27cm, for small dogs and toy Teddies of roughly 4-8kg
• M: neck 27-37cm, for medium dogs, standard Teddies and Corgis of roughly 8-15kg
• L: neck 37-53cm, for medium and large dogs
• Cut individually, so expect around 1g of variation between pieces

On sizing: measure the neck where a collar sits and choose the size that puts your figure in the middle of its range rather than at the very top. Two fingers should slide under anything fastened round a dog's neck, a bandana included. If your dog chews fabric this is a supervised item - a bandana that comes off in the garden usually comes back in pieces.

Who it's for: small and medium dogs and cats at Christmas, teething puppies who drool, and owners who would rather buy by neck measurement than by breed name.