AIBU to wonder why so many dogs wear coats these days?

[DogCoat]

I am quite old, so in my day, you never saw dogs wearing coats. These days, a high percentage of dogs are dressed in coats to go out. What is this all about? Why did dogs not used to need coats, but now they do?

My dog lives in a centrally heated house like me. When I go out I put a coat on, so put one on my dog too.

Mine have never had coats, but I do stick a waterproof on my labrador if it's peeing down, it saves having wet dog smell all though the house.

It's a bit like why do we wear coats.

I was going to agree with OP but actually this makes sense.

My nan used to put a coat on her dog and I'm near 50 I guess it depends on the area you live in?

Because we treat them like one of the family now! Dogs used to just roam the streets which you no longer see.

Also I guess houses are much warmer now and dogs are used to be curled up on sofas with blankets rather than out in gardens and freezing kitchen floors. Mine actaully stands and shivers outside when it’s cold.

To stop them being coated with mud.

Looking forward to the “dogs being treated like children” rants though.

Because they look cute 🤷🏽‍♀️😂

I don't know, my mum in her 80s lives in a hot country and she's always put jumpers and jackets on her dogs in winter.

Just because they didn't wear jackets before doesn't mean they didn't need them.

Our elderly dog was able to walk in winter with his padded coat when perhaps years ago before coats he would have had to stay inside.

A lot of dogs would have been too cold to go out without a jacket so now they can.

I also only remember big dogs and hardly little terriers when I was a kid. Dogs that didn't need coats. I can understand putting one on a little dog.

Also the wet dog reason.

I assume it’s probably down to a few factors such as:
Higher thought for animal welfare - some breeds do struggle with the cold
The availability of more breeds within the U.K some of which may struggle with the cold
Fashion
You just being aware so noticing it

People have certainly put coats on greyhounds etc for at least decades.

Because dungarees don't suit a cocker spaniel?

That’s when I put coats on my dogs too. Or reflective rugs if it’s dark.

so many more people have dogs washed and clipped nowadays, therefore taking their natural protection from the cold. There weren’t many groomers when I was young. You just brushed your dog and let it be natural. It’s become a huge industry nowadays.

I have a dachshund. He doesn’t give a crap
how cold it is but he hates baths and a coat stops his chest and tummy getting muddy.

Designer toy dogs or normal ones?

Um except dogs have natural fur coats.

They can also overheat quite easily. I’ll only put a coat on my lab if it’s very very cold however living in the south of England it rarely is.

I get why certain breeds such as Greyhounds and Whippets might wear one though.

I have dogs and if it's raining they wear a coat as it's easier to dry them off afterwards. They also wear jumpers when it's really cold as they go to the groomers regularly so their hair is kept short.

A lot if it is to encourage owners to spend money on cute looking jumpers. Years ago people didn't even have pet insurance or give their dogs vaccinations and would probably just give their dog a trim at home.

I have chihuahuas so they're tiny and get cold easily.

They're also used to living in a nice warm house so when it's cold outside and I wear a coat, I'm going to make sure they're comfortable as well. They only wear lightweight ones.

Occasionally they wear a little fleece jumper inside too when it's really cold.

Well yes, but the hair on an Italian greyhound is more like a thin t shirt.

Hence my follow up post to say I agree with certain breeds wearing them! 😊

I don't put coats on either of my dogs, doubt they would like it.

Mine wears a coat for several reasons:

1. Stops her getting so covered in mud/fox poo/whatever when she decides to roll around in something. I'd have to give her a wash after every walk otherwise.
2. She shivers if she doesn't when it's under about 10 degrees, because she is used to being curled up on my heated blanket with me while I work from home.
3. It's a bright colour, so makes her easier to spot (both for me and passing motorists)

Because we all have pedigree dogs now rather than mongrels which are often more robust. We have fewer children so the dog is another child. We pick breeds with less fur so the house isn't covered in dog hair and to reduce allergies.
So dog will be less happy in the cold

Except lots of them don't have their natural fur, because we take them to the groomers and get them clipped off.