Should you dress your dog in winter?
Down jacket, hat, scarf... You are ready to face the winter temperatures. And your dog? Should it also be equipped for outings in the cold of winter?
Dogs are covered with a layer of hair and fat on the skin which protects them from the cold. However, sometimes the coat may not be enough to keep them warm; this is the case of breeds with short hairs. The shorter your dog's hair, the more sensitive he can be to the cold. Some dog breeds are also more sensitive than others. Small breeds are generally more cautious. A puppy and an old dog are also more sensitive to the cold, as well as a sick or very thin dog. For them, it is better to plan a dog coat for face the winter cold hassle-free.
Some of our hairy ones are naturally equipped to face low temperatures. This is the case of breeds with long hair or very thick fur such as the Pyrenean Shepherd, the Husky… The lucky ones! No need to dog sweaters nor of dog coats for them.
Your dog is cold?
How to know if your dog is cold ? Just watch him carefully: if he's shaking, he hesitates to take a few more steps, if he walks slowly as if to save himself or if his breathing is slow, cover him up and go get warm! Don't wait for him to catch a cold and get sick. Its resistance to cold should not be overestimated. Dogs live less and less outside. They are part of the family and therefore live, like everyone else, inside the house, which has the effect of making them less resistant to the cold.
Musher is not very afraid of the cold, she bathes in all weathers! Even in full winter, my dog bathes. But during an outing in Aubrac where the wind was blowing a lot, the temperatures felt were around -10°C and I saw him getting cold! At the start of the ride and during playtime, she obviously wasn't cold at all. At the time of the picnic break and with the fatigue of the end of the walk, I felt that it was limited for her. That's why this year, I tested several dog coats in order to bring him a little heat when it is necessary and only when it is necessary. No question of putting on a coat for the look!
Fashion dog? Nope !
Before telling you about my tests, I want to make an important clarification in my opinion. Covering a cold dog is justified. Covering a dog that doesn't need it makes him cold and therefore sensitive to the cold. The day when you have nothing to cover it, it will surely catch cold. Do not cover your dog because you fell for a too cute coat that will give him a cute look! Cover him because he's cold.
My tests
There are very many dog coats! I chose 2 that offer large sizes (which is far from common!) to test them on my dog. You go skiing with your dog in a few days and your dog is not at all used to extreme cold? A dog coat can be useful to bring him some comfort.
The “Orleans” coat – Trixie
Very easy to put on, the “Orleans” coat by Trixie attaches around the neck and belly with Velcro. You have to pass each back leg through a small elastic to finish installing the coat. This prevents him from slipping on the dog's back when he walks. The material is water-repellent and the interior is made of fleece. The edge of the coat is reflective. there is also a reflective “paw” pattern on the dog's hips. This dog coat machine wash; and it is better! Musher loves to roll on his back, coat or no coat!
I tested this dog coat during a walk in high winds, it must have been -10°C in felt temperature. Musher didn't seem to be cold, excited as she was to finally see snow again. I gave it to her during our little picnic break so that she wouldn't get cold doing nothing. She adopted it immediately. The material of the coat is reminiscent of the K-way, so it makes a little noise but she didn't even pay attention to it. Coat at the top: it covers the whole back and goes down on the legs; much like a horse blanket. I also use this coat for car rides. After a good walk in the fresh air in a humid setting, it's more on the way back, when it's still cold in the car, that Musher can catch a cold. After having wiped her paws and belly, I cover her with her coat and she is no longer afraid of anything. Last positive point of this coat: its price!
The “Paris” coat – Trixie
This dog coat is a two in one. It consists of a water-repellent layer that protects against wind and rain and a second removable flannel layer. the Trixie brand Paris coat can therefore be used to protect your dog from the rain and to protect him from the cold if you install the liner. It clings to the neck and stomach with a Velcro strip. Small particularity for this model: it also protects the chest of the dog.
This coat is also very easy to put on. It does not have the same shape as the previous one. It has a closer fit that follows the curves of the dog. I found it less suited to the morphology of Musher. It goes down less low on the sides. The removable diaper is very easy to take off or put back on. The imitation leather material with the checkered collar gives a very stylish look to the dog! A good point for Paris model from Trixie.
The Liegi Camon dog raincoat
This coat is a coat suitable for rainy and windy weather. It slips on simply and closes with press studs that go from the neck to under the dog's belly. It comes in two colors; Musher tested the raincoat tresko ! I tested it in the snow to see if it could be suitable. It does not bring heat to the dog but as it protects him from the wind, it helps him to maintain his body temperature. Raincoat for dogs covers the legs and belly; it looks like a combination except that the private parts of the dog are in the open air to allow him to do his business. The hood of the coat protects the head on rainy days. It can be handy on days when the snow is wet, when it has just rained or it is starting to melt. It will prevent your dog from getting wet and catching cold. All you have to do is dry his paws when you get back from a walk.
You can also read or re-read the article How to keep your dog dry when it rains : you will learn lots of tips and advice for wet days!
To conclude
To discover other models of dog coat, I advise you to browse the Wanimo shop. You will find them in all colors, with pretty patterns or sober. I tested coats with a warmth index of 2 out of 3 in the Trixie range. You can therefore choose lighter coats for mid-season or even warmer coats for your companions. Unfortunately, there are not many choices for large dogs…
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