Quick answer: Dog buttons are decorative buttons with a dog or puppy face on the front, usually as a raised outline on a glossy enamel face set in a metal rim. Ours are 11mm with a shank back, in black with a gold-tone rim, white with a gold-tone rim, and white with a black rim, and they suit cardigans, kidswear, knitwear and craft projects.
Animal buttons have a reputation for being childish, and most of them earn it. The difference is in how the animal is drawn: a photographic puppy printed on plastic reads as a toy, while a dog face reduced to a few raised lines on enamel reads as a detail. That is the version worth sewing onto an adult cardigan. Below is what these buttons are made of, how the three colorways behave against different fabrics, and how to attach and wash them without dulling the finish. If you are still weighing up materials, our guide to the types of buttons sets the options side by side.
At a Glance
- Design: Round face with a puppy outline raised in relief
- Material: Metal base with a glossy enamel face
- Back: Shank loop, not sew-through
- Color: Three combinations, gold and black, gold and white, black and white
- Size: 11mm
- Pack: 6, 15 or 30 buttons; a needle and thread are included
- Good for: Cardigans, kidswear, shirts, denim jackets, bags and craft projects
What Are Dog Buttons?
Dog buttons are buttons whose face carries a dog or puppy motif rather than a plain or geometric surface. They sit in the novelty category alongside cats, bees and other animal buttons, but the styling varies enormously: some are molded into the shape of the animal, some are printed, and some, like ours, keep a conventional round button and put the dog on it as a raised line drawing.
Ours are the round kind. The face is filled with glossy enamel, the puppy outline and its eyes and nose stand above the fill in the rim color, and the back finishes as a shank loop you stitch through. Because no thread crosses the front, the drawing stays clean once the button is sewn on.
What Are Dog Buttons Made Of?
These are made of a metal base with an enamel face, finished with a gold-tone or black rim. The metal gives them the weight and the cool touch you notice as soon as you pick one up, and the enamel gives a depth of color that printed buttons never quite reach. The rim is a surface finish over the metal base rather than solid precious metal.
Enamel is filled piece by piece, so expect small differences: the outline can sit a fraction differently from one button to the next, and the fill level around the edge of the drawing varies slightly. On a row of six, nobody sees it. Under a macro lens, you will.
Why Are Dog Buttons Worth It?
Because they do something plain buttons cannot, which is give a garment a point of view. A gray cardigan with six dog buttons down the front stops being a gray cardigan. It is also the cheapest personalization there is, since the buttons cost a fraction of the garment and can be swapped back later if you change your mind.
There is a practical case too. Dog buttons are an easy gift for anyone who sews and owns a dog, and at 11mm they are small enough to use on a child’s coat without looking heavy or catching on things.
How Do You Choose the Right Dog Buttons?
Color
Gold and black is the dressiest of the three. The deep enamel and the warm rim read well on camel, cream, navy and tweed, where the button looks like a considered finish rather than a novelty. Gold and white is the softest, and sits close in tone to beige, oatmeal and pale knitwear, so the puppy outline reads as a quiet detail you notice up close. Black and white is the graphic option, with the strongest contrast between the outline and the fill, and it suits gray, denim, black and monochrome pieces.
One thing to plan for: on a light garment, the gold and white button almost disappears from a distance. That is charming on a blouse and disappointing on a child’s coat where the whole point was the dog.
Size
There is one size, 11mm, which is the small-to-medium range used by most shirts, blouses, cardigans and lightweight knitwear. Measure the buttonhole before you order rather than the old button, since a shank button needs slightly more clearance than a flat one of the same width. For heavier coats, 11mm will look undersized, and you are better off using them on the cuffs or on an inner placket. Our button size guide covers how to measure properly.
Back and Attachment
These are shank buttons. The loop on the back sits under the fabric, so the stitching stays hidden and the enamel face stays clear, and on knitwear the shank lifts the button slightly off the yarn so it does not sink in. If you are unsure which back suits your project, read shank vs sew-through before ordering.
Quantity
Packs come in 6, 15 and 30. Six covers one cardigan front with nothing to spare, fifteen covers a garment plus cuffs and leaves replacements, and thirty is for craft kits, classroom projects and anyone making multiples. Buy a few spares whichever way you go, since enamel tone can shift slightly between production batches and matching a pack six months later is never exact. A needle and thread are included with every pack.
How Do You Style Dog Buttons?
- Replace the buttons on a plain cardigan and match the thread to the fabric rather than the button, so the dog is the only thing your eye lands on
- Use them on a child’s coat or pinafore, where a small motif is easier to live with than a printed pattern
- Put one on the flap of a tote or a pencil case and skip the buttonhole entirely, sewing it on as decoration
- Mix colorways down a single placket, alternating gold and black with black and white for a subtle rhythm, or pair them with rose enamel metal buttons in the same finish
- Sew spares onto hair clips, brooches and denim pockets for button craft projects, which is where 11mm buttons earn their keep
Buying for a shop or brand? These dog buttons are also available for wholesale and bulk orders, with trade pricing for boutiques, makers and studios. Get in touch for a wholesale quote.
How Do You Sew On a Shank Button?
- Mark the button position and thread a needle, doubling the thread and knotting the end.
- Bring the needle up from the back of the fabric to the front at the mark.
- Pass the needle through the shank loop, then back down through the fabric close to where it came up.
- Repeat through the loop four or five times, keeping a little slack so the button sits comfortably.
- Wrap the thread a few times under the button to form a neat thread shank, then knot on the back of the fabric.
Ordinary all-purpose thread is enough. On a knitted garment, take the stitches through a stable part of the stitch rather than through the middle of a loose yarn float, or the button will slowly work its way out of line.
How Do You Care for Dog Buttons?
Wipe the face with a soft dry cloth to keep the enamel glossy. If the garment goes in the machine, turn it inside out or use a mesh laundry bag, run a cool cycle, and keep bleach, solvents and abrasive cleaners away, since those dull the rim finish long before they touch the enamel. Do not press a hot iron directly onto the buttons, and press around them instead. Store spares in a small box rather than loose in a tin, where the enamel can chip against harder metal buttons.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are dog buttons made of? Ours are a metal base with a glossy enamel face and a gold-tone or black rim. The rim is a surface finish, not solid precious metal.
Are dog buttons shank or sew-through? These are shank buttons, with a loop on the back so no thread crosses the face.
What size are they? 11mm, which suits shirts, blouses, cardigans and lightweight knitwear.
What colors do they come in? Three combinations: black enamel with a gold-tone rim, white enamel with a gold-tone rim, and white enamel with a black rim.
Are they suitable for children’s clothes? Yes, they are a common choice for kidswear. Sew them on securely and check them the way you would any small fitting on a child’s garment.
Will every button in a pack match? Closely, but not exactly. Enamel is filled piece by piece, so the outline and fill level vary slightly, and tone can shift a little between batches.
Can I order them in bulk? Yes. These buttons are available for wholesale and bulk orders with trade pricing, alongside smaller packs for home sewing.
Rule of Thumb
Pick gold and black if the garment is dressy, black and white if you want the dog to be visible across a room, and buy the 15 piece pack so you have spares.
Where to Buy
Browse our dog buttons in three colorways, in 11mm, and pick the combination and pack size that suit your project. Get in touch using the contact details at the bottom of this page and we will be happy to help.
Can You Buy Dog Buttons Wholesale?
Yes. As a button manufacturer, we offer these dog buttons for wholesale and bulk orders, with trade pricing for boutiques, fashion brands, tailors and craft studios. Whether you are stocking a shop, fitting out a production run or filling craft kits, we ship factory-direct internationally. Tell us the colors and quantities you need, using the contact details below, and we will reply with a wholesale quote and bulk availability.
Get in Touch
Have a question about our dog buttons, or want a wholesale quote? Contact our customer service team and we will be happy to help.
- Email: [email protected]
- Phone: +86 158-8823-7906
- Address: No. 163, Hanbu Road, Qiaoxia Town, Yongjia County, Wenzhou City, Zhejiang Province, China, 325106
Recommended Reading
- The Complete Guide to Buttons: Types, Materials and How to Choose
- Sew-Through vs. Shank Buttons: Which One Should You Use?
- The Complete Buying Guide to Vintage Heart Enamel Buttons with Gold Trim