Does your dog needs a coat?
I am writing this article as I have genuinely been asking myself this question as I was seeing more and more dogs wearing coats on social media.
After a lot of thinking and some research I’ve come to the conclusion that there is no easy answer (as per every question in life!). But I came up with a few guidelines; so, here is what to ask yourself before putting a coat on your dog.
What breed are they?
There is a lot of different type of breed and a lot of different type of coats. Some breeds are more cold sensitive. Breed with short, single coated fur will benefit more from a coat than breed with long, double coated fur.
What is the weather like?
A number on a weather app will give you an idea of how cold it is but there is also a lot of different variables to take into consideration.
If the sun is out, your dog will warm up quickly but if the wind is up or if it’s raining, your dog might feel colder. One of the way dogs use to keep warm is to trap warm air in between their fur. Gust of wind or rain can lead to that warm air escaping and therefore your dog’s temperature will drop.
What is your dog used to?
As per us, humans, dogs are really good at adapting to their surrounding conditions. This means that rescues from Portugal who are used to extreme heat will, within a few months, be able to change their fur and get used to the colder temperature in the UK. On another hand, if you like to keep your home toasty, and your dog is used to that warmth, they may be more sensitive to the cold outside.
What kind of walk are you having?
The type of exercise your dog is having during a walk will be very important for their thermo-regulation. Working muscles produce a lot of heat. So if you know your dog will be running constantly, a coat might not be necessary. Conversely, a dog that will be walking and sniffing most of their walk might get chilly.
What is your dog body score (are they under or overweight)?
Fat is a really good insulator so if your dog is a little overweight, they will get hot quicker than a slim dog. Being a little cold will force them to use some of that energy stored in fat and could help them loose weight. A lean dog with very little fat will loose heat quicker and may benefit from a coat.
How healthy is your dog?
Dogs with restricted mobility won’t be moving as much during the walk and may get cold. Older dogs or puppies might struggle with body regulation and might require a coat.
How is your dog reacting with/without a coat?
If your dog looks very wary of going out in the cold or if they are shivering, it is a very good indicator that they may need a coat.
If your dog is healthy and they spend most of their walk panting with their coat on, they probably don’t need it.
All the above should help you decide if your dog needs a coat or not during the walk. If they do, you now have to find the right coat. Here are the two most important thing to look at when buying a coat in my opinion:
The thickness/material of the coat:
You may have to get a few different coats to adapt to the temperature/weather condition. As an example, a fleece coat in the rain will retain the water and may make your dog colder than if they didn’t have a coat on. And, a thick coat on a sunny winter day may lead to your dog overheating.
So, if the type of coat doesn’t match the weather, a coat can become detrimental to your dog.
How it fits:
I have seen many dogs with coats that restrict their shoulder, tail or hind limb. This will change the way that your dog moves and can with time create skin irritation and musculoskeletal issues. It’s easier to buy a coat online but it might be worth going into a shop, try the coat on and get your dog to walk in the coat to make sure that the coat is well fitted.
In conclusion, all dogs are different and I don’t think we can create a set of rules on when a dog needs a coat. I believe that the need of a coat should be reevaluated each day instead of automatically putting a coat on from November to March. I also believe that choosing the right coat is very important if you don’t want the coat to become detrimental to your dog.