To think dogs don't need clothes

[Poetrypatty]

I don't have a dog (although I do like them) so maybe I am missing something here, but this morning at least a third of the dogs I've seen are wearing coats or jumpers I know this didn't used to be a thing. Surely they don't need them? One I saw even looked uncomfortable in a badly fitting coat.

Mine has one to keep him clean! Much easier to wash muddy paws than the full dog.

I have a short haired breed who HATES both the rain and the cold.... if I didn't put a coat on him he would refuse to walk.

So yeah, YABU because some dogs DO need coats.

Depends on the dog.

It depends massively on the dog. Dogs that don't have thick coats or much body fat get very, very cold.

I have 2 scrawny Lurchers.. They love a jumper!

My grandparents had a yorkie many moons back who really struggled with the cold so he always has a little coat for winter which I get.

I do think there is a fine line between that and treating them like a fashion accessory though! The dog I saw on the TV last week wearing things including sunglasses was just rediculous

@Santahatesbraisedcabbage

I have 2 scrawny Lurchers.. They love a jumper!

this is amazing

One of mine doesn't need a coat or jumper, the other little scrawny yapper shivers if it gets below 10°c

If it's raining hard I will put their rain"coats" on though just to save drying the whole dog when I get home

No dog needs a coat but some humans will want to dress them in coats and that’s fine.
Mine personally don’t wear them though

Dogs have been domesticated over hundreds (thousands?) of years to live indoors with people, so a lot of them do need coats, not ill-fitting ones of course

My boy is a thin coated sighthound from Spain - believe me, he needs a coat!

Has it become more common to have them clipped so they don't have all the fur they "should".

I'm sure when I was a child it was common to see small terriers in a tartan jacket (as PP) but not other dogs.

Maybe skinny long dogs like greyhounds do. We got our corgi a raincoat but he hated it. His whole body slumped in dejection when you put it on him.

It depends on the dog. An Italian greyhound yes, my hairy old lab - not a chance, the colder the better for her.

YABU some dogs like some people feel the cold more than others. Some have sensory issues and don't like the feel of the rain or health conditions meaning they need to be kept warm and dry.

It does you absolutely no harm so why judge?

Dog coats have been a thing for aaaaages. I remember when I was a child (35 years ago), my neighbour walking her little Yorkie who had a tartan coat. Dog coats may be more instagramable now, but they’re not a new thing.

Depends on the breed. Lurchers and whippet breeds absolutely need them.

I put a fleece on my basset if it's really cold outside, but she'd probably be fine without one. If it's wet and muddy then it's useful as it's easier to wash a fleece than a muddy dog.

The dog I saw on the TV last week wearing things including sunglasses was just rediculous

I wonder about the ones in jumpers if it rains - do you have to quickly take it off?

I hadn't thought about ease of washing. Thanks for the different perspectives. Very cute dogs Santahatesbraisedcabbage !

Of course some dogs need extra warmth when outside in the winter out. We have bred dogs to be breeds that just wouldn't have survived in the wild and we've domesticated them to live inside with temperatures suited to us not them.

Mine has a coat but hates wearing it. I do insist on it when the temp get below zero because he shivers but otherwise I leave it at home and I wash him or dry him off if he gets muddy or wet.

I understand coats to keep dogs warm or dry but I think people who play dress up with their dog (or any pet) are cruel; your pug does not like wearing a tutu and tiara so please stop it.

Mine has a coat but hates wearing it. I do insist on it when the temp get below zero because he shivers but otherwise I leave it at home and I wash him or dry him off if he gets muddy or wet.

That sounds like my son!

My friend's whippet has a fleece. When the heating goes off at the end of the evening, he goes and gets it so she can put it on!

And even with his fleece jumper, he still wriggles under his blanket (or her duvet, if he gets half a chance).

Dogs are like people, some feel the cold more than others. Some breeds would never need a coat, because they come equipped with a very thick and water repellent one of their own, but other breeds need a coat when it's chilly.

I had 2 dogs of the same breed. The male was always warm and hated getting hot, the bitch felt the cold and loved to have her coat on or snuggle under a blanket. She had an amazing amount of downy undercoat beneath her wiry terrier outer layer too, so plenty of fur on her.

The only time I've dressed my dog was when he had surgery as a puppy and could not tolerate the cone at all (it was like some sort of sleep deprivation torture device for him) so instead he had a Matalan babygrow, and looked so cute in it.

My friend's whippet has a fleece. When the heating goes off at the end of the evening, he goes and gets it so she can put it on!

That's cute

I have 2 greyhounds and they need a coat or fleece if it's cold or wet. They're paws and ears feel freezing and you can see their legs shake.