Dog Coats?
Something I get asked about a lot this time of the year is dog coats so I thought I would make a quick little post about it.
The first question is usually How do I know if my dog needs a coat? And my advise is always to look at your dog's body language. Does your dog seem tensed, keeping its head low, tail a bit tucked, and seems less playful or energetic then usual? Your dog might be cold. Obviously you want to note that this change only occurs when the weather changes. If your dog behave similarly regardless of the temperature, your dog might be in pain or have a health issue (have them seen by a vet and a physio). If your dog is as happy and lively as usual there is no need to get them a jacket or a jumper. Rafa (Border Collie) and Otto (Parson Russell Terrier) have great fur and can be out for hours without getting cold. If you have a dog with very short fur (e.g. Staffies and Greyhounds), your dog will probably need a coat when it gets colder. For anxious and stressed dogs, you might see a behaviour difference when giving them a coat. It is as if the cold weather makes their body even more tensed, which in its turn makes them feel less comfortable and more worried. Keeping them slightly warmer so it is easier for their body to stay relaxed seems to help keep them happier and calmer.
The second question that follows is always What coat should I get for my dog? And here I have some great recommendations! Having so many day care dogs with short fur we have gone through a large number of dog coats, and most of them are unfortunately quite useless - they fall off every second, soak up water like sponges, and just do not keep the dogs warm. A few things you want to look for when getting a dog coat are 1. Does it cover the chest and belly? This is usually where your dog's fur is the shortest and where your dog will lose a lot of heat. If your dog gets very cold you also want something that covers the inside of the legs where the veins are close to the skin. 2. How many fastenings does it have? Some coats attach with buttons and velcro and zippers over the chest and belly and under the legs - often suggesting that they fit any size dog. But usually more openings mean they fall off easier and are pretty flimsy. 3. Living in Scotland you obviously want something waterproof or that dries quickly. Needless to say, it should also be warm, so avoid those thin waterproofs without lining.
Out of all the coats we have seen Equafleece dog jumpers (modelled by Fausto the American Bulldog and Bella the Lurcher above) and Danish Design 2-in-1 (modeled by Ida the brindke crossbreed and Wilson the Staffie above) are the best ones out there. Keep warm, rarely fall off, dry quickly, durable and easy to find a good fit for different shaped dogs.
