Pets First Raiders Dog Tee Review: Months of Game Days

I have a 27-pound French Bulldog named Biscuit with a chest like a barrel and a short neck that makes most dog jerseys look like a mistake. On game days in Columbus, he is part of the routine: the backyard watch party, the walks before kickoff, the whole production. So when I ordered the Pets First NFL Raiders dog T-shirt in Medium last summer, I had one question. Would it actually fit him, or would it ride up and pinch like every other jersey I had tried?

This is not a first-impression review. I have owned this tee since late last summer, and it has been through a full season of Sundays, a lot of snacks, and more cold-cycle washes than I can count. I am not going to tell you it is perfect, because it is not. But I can tell you exactly how it fits, how it washes, and who should size up before adding it to the cart.

How I've Used It

Biscuit wears this tee for every Raiders game I host or watch. That means it comes out on Sunday mornings, goes on before the first walk, and stays on through the backyard watch party until the late game is over. He has worn it for regular-season games, a couple of playoff parties, and at least one Thanksgiving where he was the best-dressed guest.

I wash it myself, cold cycle, and hang it to dry. I have never put it in the dryer, because I do not want to risk shrinking a shirt that is already snug across his chest. The tee is light enough that it dries fast, so it is usually ready by the next Sunday.

The routine matters. Biscuit knows the tee means game day, and he gets excited when I pull it out. That is not something I can put in a spec sheet, but it is the reason this review is more than just a list of measurements.

I have worn it with Biscuit to a watch party at a friend's house, and it drew the right kind of attention. Another guest asked where I got it, because most pet jerseys look like costumes. This one looks like a real fan tee.

The tee also survived a few muddy walks. I do not mean he rolled in mud, but he does stop to sniff every bush, and the hem picks up dirt. After a cold wash, it comes out clean with no stains.

Fit and Sizing: The Part That Actually Matters

The first thing you need to know is that the Pets First Raiders tee is a pull-on shirt with a round neck. The listing describes a breathable poly-cotton and satin blend, and the fabric is soft and light. It is not a stiff jersey. It moves like a regular T-shirt, which is exactly what a dog who hates bulky clothes needs.

The sizing is where I have to be honest. The listing says the Medium is for small dog breeds, but it also says all breed sizes, which is confusing. Pets First tells you to measure your pet from the nape of the neck to the base of the tail and compare it to the size chart in the listing photos. That is the right advice, and I wish I had followed it more carefully.

Biscuit is 27 pounds with a broad barrel chest and a short neck. The Medium fits him, but it is snug across the chest. It does not pinch at the armpits the way some jerseys do, but it is not loose either. If your dog is built like Biscuit, I would size up. If your dog has a narrower chest, the Medium may fit exactly as expected.

The minimum weight recommendation in the listing is 6.4 ounces, which is not helpful for a dog Biscuit's size. Ignore the weight number and use a tape measure. The chest measurement matters more than the label.

One more note on the fabric: the poly-cotton and satin blend is not stretchy like a human athletic shirt. It has a little give, but not a lot. That is why the chest measurement matters so much.

How It Held Up Through a Season of Washes

After months of use, the biggest surprise is how well the letter print has held up. The team name, logo, and number are still sharp. There is no peeling, no cracking, and no fraying around the edges. I have washed it in cold water and hung it to dry every time, so I cannot speak for the dryer, but the fabric has softened without losing its shape.

The round neck still snaps back instead of stretching out. The seams around the leg openings have not pulled or twisted. The satin in the blend has not pilled or gone rough. For a shirt that costs what a licensed team tee costs, that is the kind of durability I want to see.

I will say this: it is a summer-weight shirt. The listing lists summer as the season, and that is accurate. It is not a cold-weather layer. On a 40-degree November day, Biscuit wears it under a jacket or stays inside. If you want something for winter, this is not the piece.

I also checked the stitching around the neck label, because that is where cheap shirts fail first. It is still flat and tight. No irritation for Biscuit, and no loose threads.

After a full season of cold washes and hang drying, the letter print still looks like game day.

The Tradeoffs Nobody Puts in the Listing

The biggest tradeoff is the chest fit. Biscuit is broad-chested, and the Medium is snug. I kept it because it fits, but if I ordered again, I would go up a size. That is not a flaw in the shirt. It is a sizing reality for French Bulldogs and other barrel-chested dogs.

The second tradeoff is the fabric weight. Because it is light and breathable, it is not going to keep a dog warm. That is fine for September and October, but it limits the season. If you want one shirt for the whole football calendar, you will need a second layer.

The third tradeoff is the pull-on design. Some dogs hate having things pulled over their heads. Biscuit tolerates it because the round neck is stretchy and the whole thing is on in one motion. If your dog panics when something goes over their head, this tee will be a battle every single time.

One small thing to know: the listing still says Oakland Raiders, even though the shirt is a Raiders tee. That is the name on the product page, so do not be surprised when it arrives.

Alternatives I Considered

I thought about buying a pet hoodie instead of a tee. A hoodie would be warmer for late-season games, and it would cover more of Biscuit's back. But for the early part of the season, a hoodie is too heavy, and Biscuit runs warm. The tee is the piece he actually wears without complaining.

I also considered a bandana, which is easier to put on and does not go over his legs. But a bandana does not read as game-day gear the way a team tee does. When Biscuit walks down the street in the Raiders tee, people know exactly what he is rooting for.

The officially licensed detail matters to me. The team name, logo, and number are the real thing, not a generic football print. For a fan who takes game day seriously, that is worth the extra thought.

How to Get the Best Fit

Measure your dog before you order. Use a soft tape measure from the nape of the neck to the base of the tail, then compare it to the size chart in the listing photos. That is the measurement Pets First uses, and it is the one that matters.

If your dog is between sizes, go up. The Medium fits Biscuit, but it is snug across his chest. A little extra room is better than a shirt that pulls at the armpits or rides up when he sits.

Think about how your dog moves. Biscuit spends most of the game on the couch, but he also walks before kickoff and runs to the door when someone arrives. The tee needs to move with him, not fight him.

What I'd Tell a Friend

If a friend asked me whether to buy this tee, I would say yes, with two conditions. Measure your dog first, and do not expect a winter layer. This is a warm-weather game-day shirt, and it is very good at that job.

I would also tell them to ignore the breed-size label and trust the chest measurement. Biscuit is a small breed with a big chest, and the Medium works but barely. A Large would give him more room.

And I would tell them to wash it cold and hang it dry. That is the whole maintenance routine. Do that, and the letter print will still look sharp next season.

Who This Is For

This tee is for dog owners who want an officially licensed Raiders shirt that feels like a real piece of fan gear, not a costume. It is for dogs who tolerate wearing clothes and do not mind a pull-on neck. It is for warm-weather game days, backyard parties, and walks before kickoff.

It is also for people who will take the time to measure their dog first. The size chart in the listing is there for a reason. If you measure from the nape of the neck to the base of the tail and compare it to the chart, you will have a much better chance of getting the right size.

And it is for people who wash gear the way I do: cold cycle, hang to dry. If that sounds like you, this tee will hold up.

If you host a watch party like I do, this tee is also a conversation starter. Biscuit wears it, people laugh, and the game feels more like an event. That is worth more than the fabric weight.

Who Should Skip It

Skip it if your dog refuses to wear anything over their head. No shirt is worth a daily fight, and this one will not change a dog's mind about clothes.

Skip it if you need a cold-weather layer. This is a summer-weight tee, and the listing says so. If your game days are in November and December, you will want something heavier.

Skip it if your dog is between sizes and you do not want to deal with returns. The sizing labels are confusing, and the chest fit is the deciding factor. Measure first, or order a size up if your dog is broad-chested.

Skip it if your dog chews fabric. Biscuit does not chew his clothes, so I cannot tell you how this tee survives a determined chewer. If your dog destroys shirts, save your money.

And skip it if you are looking for a shirt that will fit a dog with a very deep chest and narrow waist. The tee is cut like a regular T-shirt, so it will be snug where your dog is widest. A hoodie or a bandana might be easier.

The Bottom Line

The Pets First Raiders dog T-shirt is the tee I reach for first on game days. It is soft, officially licensed, and it has held up through a full season of washes. It is not perfect: the sizing runs snug across broad chests, and it is not built for winter. But for a warm-weather game-day shirt, it does exactly what I need it to do.

If you have a dog who will wear a shirt, measure your dog, size up if needed, and let them represent on the next Raiders Sunday.

I have owned this tee for months, and I would buy it again. It is not the only piece of game-day gear Biscuit owns, but it is the one that comes out first when the Raiders are playing.