Do you put your dog in a coat?

[sazzle44]

As the title says really, just wondering how many people put their dogs in coats this time of year?
My little terrier seems to be getting very cold at the moment and everyone says put a coat on her, but I dunno what sort to get. Are there any particular brands or makes that are particularly good? She's a madam for pulling them off as well, so I'd be looking for something hard wearing and secure! Any suggestions would be much appreciated

 

[GeeGeeboy]

I do. I have a suit for my Lhasa Apso which has legs, so its only his feet, head and tail that are exposed! Its not really to keep him warm though but because he is in show coat and it keeps him clean.It has been great in this snowy weather to stop the snowballs forming! He does look quite comical in it

 

[slimjim]

This is hard wearing and warm and waterproof. Lots of places stock it.

http://www.millbryhill.co.uk/pet-pr...oats-550/weatherbeeta-landa-dog-rug-36196.htm

 

[Spudlet]

Mine was thick-skinned (and thick-headed) enough to go paddling after some ducks today, despite it being so cold that the frost didn't melt all day So no

BUT he does have a hotterdog fleece jumper for drying him out and warming him up after he goes swimming, and I can't see one of those coming off too easily

Stands up fairly well to this kind of thing, anyway!

 

[Tinkerbee]

My terrier has quite long/thick hair so I've never felt the need to put a coat on her. However these last few winters have been bitter (our high today was -7! -16 on our morning walk...) and she is getting older so I'm in two minds about what to do. She doesn't seem overly cold when we are out, we walk briskly, we don't stand around and I've never seen her shivering or looking unhappy.
Although she is getting a bit stiff once we're back inside so trying to work out if I should get her an equafleece type thing to see how she goes.

 

[Benji1]

I've just got my staffy cross a hi viz coat thats padded as he HATES the cold, to the point where he was getting to the end of my path and crying to go back last week.

 

[Slinkyunicorn]

St Sweep has a lovely fleece he wears in the winter (only the last 2 winters) due to his advancing years. Upto last year you would find him splashing around with the penguins and polar bears

 

[jumbyjack]

Yes, all of them! Husky because he is old, he has an Equafleece nearly as old as he is and still good! The BC because he gets so wet and mucky has an Equafleece tankie and the JRT has a Hotter Dog sweater because he is a wimp! All are in hi viz too.

 

[Brownmare]

Mine are wearing two at the moment, a fleece underneath which they also sleep in) and a waterproof top coat for outside but then they are wussy fine coated beasts the Jack Russell refuses to move if wearing a coat so she goes naked despite the shivering

 

[sazzle44]

Thanks for all the replies
Well had a look at the Weatherbeeta and the Eqaufleece and both look good. I think she's definately going to get an early Christmas present, poor girls still sat on my lap shivering, even having been home, in front of a roaring fire since we got in at six I don't quite understand why she's suddenly feeling it so much, she's only 7 and nothing about her lifestyle has changed.
So now for my next question, how do I measure her for one? Is it just from about where her collar sits to the top of her tail?

 

[Annette4]

Yes.....but I also put them in santa/reindeer outfits, knights steed outfits etc

 

[andraste]

So now for my next question, how do I measure her for one? Is it just from about where her collar sits to the top of her tail?

That's how I've always measured for mine. Look at the website for the brands you're considering - they'll usually have specific measuring instructions. If my boy was a horse I'd get shouted at for over-rugging! He has one of these for walkies:

And one of these for PJs:

 

[sazzle44]

Thanks, just looked properly at the website and realised they have a video for how to measure! Duhh!! Any guesses at my hair colour? lol
That's not over-rugging, thats snug

 

[nicnag]

If you promise not to ever tell any of the shepherds I know I'll admit that my 3 Working Border Collies get rugs on at night. But they do live outside so I think they need it, definately in temperatures like this! They also have a fully insulated kennel ( better insulation than my house!) Hot water bottles and a king size duvet in each bed - ok 1/4 of a king size duvet each but it sounds better when you say it like they have a full sized double bed one!

 

[FestiveSpirit]

LOL the OP has obviously never tried to take greyhounds out in minus 10 without a coat on.... reluctant is not the word

Glad you have found some good websites, we need pics of your girl in her new coat now

 

[RuthnMeg]

You are all going to tell me off for making my WHIPPET X go out naked now!! She has never worn a rug and Iam not planning for her to do so any time soon. If she is cold, I guess she needs to run more!!
She is spoilt here at home though, she has a massive beanbag bed in the sitting room (it was mine, she nicked it!) she can lay by the open fire if she chooses and she has a puffy bed quilt thing in the kitchen within her normal doggy plastic bed.
I am against hairy canines and equines wearing rugs full stop, I doubt I will change much.

 

[Chestnuttymare]

my dobermann won't go out in the rain or this weather without her weatherbeeta (like the one in the link above, but plain coloured)
It is -16 at the moment so she has that on at the yard when we go for a walk. when i am mucking out she has that on plus my padded bodywarmer (legs through the armholes and zipped up the back) and a scarf. It is the only way she is happy, I need a hat for her now as her ears get cold
If she gets freezing she just gets too miserable.

 

[sazzle44]

haha not tried getting a Greyhound out without a coat, but I've had to carry my Dad's staffy x from house to truck! The move from London house dog to Scottish farm dog took a little adjusting!! lol
I'll post a photo if someone explains to me how? pleeaseee xx

 

[noodle_]

yeahh cause she has arthritus (shes 4 )

elbow displasia ^

so yeah shes well wrapped up.... she has either a jacket on or a proper fleece lined coa t both cover her shoulders and elbows

 

[galaxy]

Yes he hasn't gone out without a rug on for a while now, and my skinny pointer isn't so skinny now and it must be because of this!! (nothing else has changed)

He has a Weatherbeeta Deluxe (has a belly attachement, so warmer and keeps them cleaner!) for up the yard. He also has a equafleece (the one with 4 legs) for when he wiats for me in the car. I'm a Riding Instructor and he comes around with me but at some places obv has to wait in the car.... On days when it's been below 0 (and I haven't been able to leave him at home) he has actually had the equafleece AND the weatherbeeta and then a hot water bottle too!! lol!! Spoilt? Much?

 

[FestiveSpirit]

haha not tried getting a Greyhound out without a coat, but I've had to carry my Dad's staffy x from house to truck! The move from London house dog to Scottish farm dog took a little adjusting!! lol
I'll post a photo if someone explains to me how? pleeaseee xx

If you upload a photo onto something like photobucket, you can then add the link from photobucket onto a thread? There is a thread which explains it clearly in Picture Gallery

 

[prosefullstop]

The Boston terrier, absolutely. They are like greyhounds in that they're single-coated, with low body fat and very fine hair AND they're on the smaller side. Left uncoated, Stella shivers uncontrollably and hunches her back. She is much more suited to laying out when it's 85 degrees and she can bask in the sun. Currently she is sporting two coatsat once--a thin windbreaker and a duck down parka--and is much happier and less hunched out on walks. Here she is in the snazzy red parka:

The pug's hair is as thick as a Husky's from being neutered too young. He will remain naked all winter

 

[numptynoelle]

The pug's hair is as thick as a Husky's from being neutered too young. He will remain naked all winter

Dear Prince,

I am shocked and appalled by your callous owner. Please pop yourself on the next plane over and Auntie NN will look after you. I have a sledge. (Essential, for I would lose you in the snow)

Lots of love,

NN

(p.s. Stella - you can come too )

 

[Luci07]

I now have a wide selection.. and it does seem that it is the staffies or staffie crosses who are as wimpy as the grayhounds! but in defense of my 2, staffies have no hair on the stomachs, just bare skin and mine are both very thin coated. The younger one also has elbow displaysia so keen to keep him warm anyway.

I have hi viz, waterproofs and thermatex (brilliant when they get really wet and muddy) and my waterproofs have belly pads on them. I only ever used to have a waterproof for my staffie in London (got fed up with her trying to walk between my legs when it rained as she kept tripping me up) but our yard gets really really cold!

 

[soloabe]

Nope.
They have to suck it up or stay home. No one's died yet.

 

[prosefullstop]

Dear Prince,

I am shocked and appalled by your callous owner. Please pop yourself on the next plane over and Auntie NN will look after you. I have a sledge. (Essential, for I would lose you in the snow)

Lots of love,

NN

(p.s. Stella - you can come too )

Very callous, aren't I? In preparation for his drastic life change from Florida to NYC, I went out and bought him a lovely grey fleece; it has since become yet another layer worn by Stella for one reason or another.

If you can provide a roaring fire and plenty of beef bones, Stella said she's game for the trip.

And if you still have snow, NN, she comes equipped with her own boots!

 

[prosefullstop]

I now have a wide selection.. and it does seem that it is the staffies or staffie crosses who are as wimpy as the grayhounds! but in defense of my 2, staffies have no hair on the stomachs, just bare skin and mine are both very thin coated

I swear, the Pit Bulls I see at the parks in NYC are the biggest babies, often clad in more winter garb than my wee Boston terrier. They really do detest the cold!

 

[numptynoelle]

Very callous, aren't I? In preparation for his drastic life change from Florida to NYC, I went out and bought him a lovely grey fleece; it has since become yet another layer worn by Stella for one reason or another.

If you can provide a roaring fire and plenty of beef bones, Stella said she's game for the trip.

And if you still have snow, NN, she comes equipped with her own boots!

Oh my word, I NEED to have a suited and booted Stella in my life

 

[haycroft]

yep my two whippys do esp if they are older..venture coats
i wish they didnt but whippets are very thin coated and some get cold esp standing around..i take coats off if running around
they dont have double layers of hair like some other breeds so some do feel the cold..an athelet wouldnt run if not warmed up..the whippet/greyhound is the athlete of the dog breeds imo

 

[sazzle44]

Okay, if its worked, here's the beast in question:

Feel a bit silly thinking about putting a coat on her! she's a a fair bit hairier than the rest of yours, but I do feel sorry for her shivering :/