Does my dog need a coat?

elsien

Gitdog is currently doing his hypothermic pooch impression at me. I don't actually think he's that cold, I think he's just making a fuss because I let him on my lap with the blanket last night, and now he wants to be up there all the time. If I was going to get something for indoors I'd probably look at equafleece or similar.

lostinrates

Equafleece ARE brilliant. We used them for the grey until the grey had an injury which make the onsies uncomfortable for her. Thanks for reminding me, they do back leg less ones too.



OP, a further point to consider, with a small male dog, chances are what you put on him will be in his pee line.

archieboy

Thank you all for your advice, you have reassured me that he probably doesn't need a 'woolly jumper' for indoors and I hadn't thought about the safety side of wearing one unsupervised.

Re outside, he doesn't seem to mind going for walks in the rain, just goes a bit mad when we come back rolling around while I'm trying to dry him with a towel.

trolleyrun

All dogs I know do that, Archieboy. Whether I'm towelling Pipsqueak after a soggy walk or a bath, she goes crazy and has a mad 5 minutes where she runs around like she's being chased by the devil. I find it funny to watch
One thing I do, is have a towel ready by the door, so I can start towelling her off as soon as we get indoors. It stops her shaking the worst of it in various rooms

Nebulous2

trolleyrun wrote: »

Pipsqueak has a coat, only to be used in the car in winter if the car doesn't warm up in time (such as doing the shopping before walkies). She hates it. Really really hates it. It's like pressing the pause button on a remote control - hilarious for me, but she does give me evil looks and refuse to move. She's had temper tantrums to put a 2yo child to shame before, throwing herself on the floor - the lot.

I thought that was only us! Muttley does this dog statue thing where he refuses to move with his coat on. I stand laughing at him and he stands glowering. I even found myself trying to drag him up the street one day, but gave up and took him home. Much easier to just dry him when we get home.

Person_one

Caroline_a wrote: »

I'm of the opinion that dogs lived without coats for many years without them, and for the most part think they look a bit daft. Certainly I wouldn't knit him one for wearing inside! Up to you of course, but cross breeds are usually very hardy.

We've selectively bred them so they depend on us to meet their needs though, and often looks have come well before function with pugs being a good example!

Most dogs don't need a coat, some do. It would be wrong to let them suffer in the cold because you were worried about them looking daft.