Anyone who has tried to put a standard costume on a dachshund knows exactly how it goes. Get the chest right and the body finishes halfway down the back; get the length right and the chest is a tent. Long-backed dogs are a different shape, not a smaller or larger version of the usual one, and almost nothing on the high street is cut for them. This is, which is the entire reason it is worth looking at.

There are two designs: a white captain and a blue pilot, each available from small through to extra large. The sizing is worked out from the chest rather than from weight, because chest girth is what decides whether a costume closes comfortably and whether a dog can move and breathe normally in it. Two dogs of identical weight can need different sizes, and weight-based sizing is where most costume returns come from.

• Cut long in the body for dachshunds and other long-backed dogs
• Two designs: white captain or blue pilot
• Four sizes: S, M, L and XL
• Fit decided by chest measurement, not weight
• Eight design and size combinations in total
• Shipped tracked to the UK, typically 7 to 12 days

Costumes are for short supervised periods. Never leave one on an unattended dog, overnight, or during rough play, and take it off the moment your dog looks uncomfortable. We do not have the manufacturer's measurement chart for this one, so send us your dog's chest girth and back length and we will tell you honestly which size to take rather than guessing on your behalf.

Who it's for: Dachshund owners who want a costume that actually fits the dog's shape, worn briefly and supervised.