Custom Dog Shirt: Styles, Colors, Sizes & Personalized Ideas

What is a custom dog shirt?

Often called a dog face shirt, or simply "a shirt with my dog on it," this is a t-shirt printed with artwork made from a photo of your own dog. The classic layout puts the portrait in the center of the chest, the dog's name in bold capitals below and, if you like, a curved headline such as DOG MOM, DOG DAD or BEST FRIEND above.

The artwork isn't simply your photo. For a clean print, your dog is redrawn in an art style, such as a cartoon, a line drawing, a watercolor or a painted portrait, and cut out from the background. That way it sits on the fabric like a proper graphic instead of a rectangle with your living room in it.

The portrait is about 10.5 inches wide, placed about 3 inches below the collar: the flattering chest spot, not up at the neckline and not down on the stomach. The live preview on the product page shows exactly where everything lands before you pay.

Which art style looks best on which shirt color?

Shirt color changes the whole look, so pick the style and the color together. As a rule, bold and colorful art pops on dark shirts, and fine, delicate art needs a pale background so the thin lines don't disappear. Our tee comes in White, Black, Athletic Heather, Natural, Soft Pink, Navy, True Royal and Military Green.

• Not sure? Cartoon face on Athletic Heather is a safe choice that suits almost any dog and any wardrobe.
• Black dog? Avoid a black shirt with dark styles; Athletic Heather, Natural or True Royal give the fur some contrast.
• White or cream dog? Skip the white shirt; Navy, Black or Soft Pink frame a pale coat nicely.

Personalized dog shirts: headline and name ideas

Personalized dog shirts have up to three lines of text. The arched headline above the portrait takes up to 16 characters, the name below takes up to 18, and an optional small second line under the name takes up to 28. Everything prints in capitals, and spaces count as characters.

Some headline ideas that fit:

• DOG MOM and DOG DAD: the classics, and the heart of every dog mom shirt.
• BEST FRIEND or MY BEST FRIEND: perfect for kids' shirts.
• DOG GRANDMA or DOG GRANDPA: for the grandparents who spoil the dog most.
• THE MILLERS or MILLER FAMILY: a family name for matching sets (swap in yours).
• BIG SISTER or BIG BROTHER: for a kid with a new puppy.
• WORLD'S BEST BOY (exactly 16 characters) or GOTCHA DAY.
• CAT MOM or CAT DAD: the same shirt works for cats.
• Name line ideas: MAX, MAX & BELLA for two dogs, or a full nickname like SIR WAFFLES (all within 18 characters).
• Second line ideas: EST. 2019, GOOD BOY SINCE 2019 or RESCUED AND LOVED.

Custom dog shirts for the whole family

Matching family dog shirts are one of the nicest ways to use the same artwork: every shirt gets the same portrait, and each person can have their own headline. Mom wears DOG MOM, dad wears DOG DAD, the kids wear BEST FRIEND, and the dog's name ties them together in the family photo.

A custom pet shirt for cats and multi-pet homes

Nothing about this shirt is dogs-only. A custom pet shirt works the same way for a cat: upload the photo, pick a style (line art and watercolor are lovely for cats) and add CAT MOM or CAT DAD above the name. Our cat lover gifts page has more ideas.

For two or more pets, upload one clear photo of each and they're combined into one design, for $15 per extra pet. Keep the name line short, like MAX & BELLA, so it stays bold at the print size.

What size shirt should I get?

The adult shirt is a Bella+Canvas 3001 in 100% airlume combed cotton, with a unisex retail fit that runs true to size, from S to 3XL. Order your usual size for a classic fit, or go one size up for a relaxed, oversized look you can wear over leggings.

Unisex tees are cut straighter than women's tees, so if you usually wear a fitted women's top and want the shirt closer to the body, compare your favorite tee with the size chart on the product page. For kids between sizes, the youth chart is the best guide, and sizing up gives them room to grow.

How does a DTG print hold up?

Our shirts are printed direct-to-garment (DTG), which means the ink soaks into the cotton fibers instead of sitting on top as a thick plastic layer. The shirt stays soft and breathable, and you don't feel a stiff patch on your chest.

To keep the print looking its best, wash the shirt inside out in cold water and tumble dry on low. That's the whole care routine, and following it is what keeps the colors bright wash after wash.

Photo tips for a clean cut-out

Because the dog is cut out from the background, the photo matters even more on a shirt than on a canvas. The cleaner the edge between your dog and the background, the crisper the outline on the fabric. These tips make the biggest difference:

• Shoot in daylight, ideally near a window, and skip the flash.
• Get down to eye level and fill most of the frame with your dog's head and chest.
• Keep both ears in the frame; cropped ears are the most common problem.
• Choose a background that contrasts with the fur: a black dog on a black sofa makes a fuzzy edge.
• Avoid hands, leashes, toys or another pet overlapping the dog.
• Make sure the eyes are in focus, and skip filters and portrait-mode blur.

Custom dog shirt gift ideas

A shirt with your dog on it is an easy gift under $45 for almost anyone with a dog, and since our packing slips never show prices, you can ship it straight to the recipient by entering their address at checkout. A few ideas:

• For a new dog mom or dad: DOG MOM or DOG DAD with a GOTCHA DAY second line.
• For grandparents: DOG GRANDMA on Athletic Heather, with the grandkids' matching tees.
• For a kid: BEST FRIEND on a youth tee in their favorite color.
• For Christmas: the Santa Paws or Christmas Sweater style; order by December 10 for delivery before Christmas in the continental US.
• Little extras: the cart offers a greeting card ($9.99), stickers ($6.99) or a matching bandana with the same artwork.

How much does a custom dog shirt cost?

Our dog face shirts cost $39.99 in S–XL and $42.99 in 2XL–3XL, with your dog's portrait, name and headline included. Kids' tees are $32.99, and each extra pet in the design is $15. Shipping is a flat $6.99 in the US and free on orders over $75.

Shirts are made in 2–4 business days and shipped in 3–5, printed and sent from the USA. You see a free preview of the artwork in seconds and pay only when you love it, and every order has a 30-day money-back guarantee.

How to order your custom dog shirt

Ordering takes a few minutes. Open the custom pet face shirt, upload your photo, pick a style, type the name and headline, then check the free preview on your shirt color and choose a size. Try a second style if you can't decide; the preview is free.

Looking for more ideas? Our guides to dog mom gifts, dog dad gifts and gifts for dog lovers pair well with a shirt.

Frequently asked questions