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?

Labradors already have a water resistant coat!

my dog certainly doesnt wear a coat.... cos hes a prick and either completely wears you out trying to get the bugger on and if you do suceed promptly chews it into rags!
hes got a reindeer outfit that he doesnt seem to mind though

Only when it's raining as he won't entertain being towel dried after his walks. Keeps the dog smell down a bit too.

Mine wears a waterproof one and he’s happy he hates the rain and digs his feet in and won’t walk !
Hes a chihuahua so hates rain and gets cold !
His waterproof coat has been brilliant for this !!! It’s lightweight so he won’t overheat !

I don't really bother with coats on my dogs. They're so active and run so quickly that they don't get cold! However if it's throwing it down I will put a coat on the longer haired one as he takes forever to dry off and it's more for our benefit so we don't have a drenched dog in the house for hours (I don't think he's bothered!)

I have a small double coated dog who hates wearing a coat. He's small enough to wash easily so I don't worry about him getting muddy. He does shiver when it gets really cold so he gets a coat when it reaches zero degrees whether he likes it or not.

Some of it is fashion and human convenience (don't want to deal with the clean up). Some of it is more awareness of animal welfare for the breeds or dogs with health issues who need extra coverage in harsher weather.

I have a double coated breed. He is young and fit. He never wears a warm coat because he doesn't need one. If he gets muddy or wet (most walks), we wipe him down after the walk, it's part of dog ownership. He will wear a cooling jacket if necessary in summer because he is prone to overheating. Though we tend to just not take him out in temps that are too much.

Yes, this - people like spending money on unnecessary stuff.

I live in Sweden and mine wears a warm coat when it's zero degrees or colder outside because he is short haired and really feels the cold. It's a way to get him the exercise he needs as if he's too cold he just cowers down and shakes and we don't get anywhere. It's also made out of refelctive fabric so he can be seen by cars in the dark. He also wears shoes when it's particularly icy as he cuts his paws on the sharp edges otherwise.

I realise that you are looking to label dog owners as snowflakes with your question but there are legitimate and sensible reasons why some dogs should wear a coat. Much like horses do.

Because it reduces the mid on her fur and because she starts shivering and I feel guilty. She looks grumpy when I forget it.

Same reason why she likes wearing a jumper

She's only 5.5kg and does feel the cold

My dog never had one until now. He’s got lymphoma and gets shivery. But, he bloody loves dress up. His cone after biopsy was his favourite collar.

Exactly.

They wear coats now because we have evolved to be more humane.

What a question.

I used to think coats / jumpers on dogs were ridiculous, until we got our boy.

He's a miniature poodle. They are designed to have longer hair in some areas to keep them warm, but he loves mud so much it isn't practical so we keep him clipped relatively short.
He HATES the cold and will shiver or be miserable - he gets actively excited when the winter jumpers come out and shows us when he wants to wear them - Coats are for mine and his benefit, means we can stick to a weekly bath in winter and he doesn't get miserable being dragged around a long walk in the cold and wet - he is much happier with them....

All of this blew my mind when learning it!

I put mine in one of its chucking it down as he's huge and takes forever to fully dry.

Also, when it's been raining and it's super muddy, or if we go to the beach (when it's cold) I'll put a onesie on him as it takes so long to get the mud or sand off him and I struggle with the energy for it after a long walk.

Definitely practical reasons for me.

I put a coat on mine once and his legs wouldn't work. He survives perfectly well without one.

Because it makes him easier to clean after walks.

I think this is clickbait but most dogs don't need clothes imo. Really think dressed up dogs look naff.

My lab wears a coat if its really lashing down,as it stops her being so wet when she is in the house. However her own coat is unusually thin for a lab and shes been having physio for a torn bicep, so we have been advised to keep her warm to promote healing. I dont see it as a fashion thing, i see it as a welfare and ease thing. She loves a coat funnily enough, pushes her head through with masses of tail wags!!

Yes...I had a Lurcher and a Whippet at the same time once, and the Lurcher's ''broken coat'' was three layered and weather proof- the guard hairs acted as gutters to drain off the rain, and she had a linty undercoat they kept her dry and warm.
The Whippet? Soaked to his skin immediately.
Their coats aren't rainproof at all, and their skin is thin, and they have little body fat.
They, like Thoroughbred horses or Arabs need a rug or coat in cold weather.

Very few people have genuine mutts.

All other dogs are designed. Some are designed for outdoor work, they don’t need coats. Some are designed for arbitrary showring standards, some of those may need coats. Some are designed for human companionship, a lot of those will benefit from a coat.

Newmarket wool for fine coated Whippets!

This. Plus if it covers their under tummy too and they go through mud they get a lot less muddy! Practically they’re really good.

My labs don’t wear coats outside, but the do wear bath robes inside when they are wet. They look very stylish.😃

Because I have a greyhound. They are single coated, have little body fat, and often have bald spots - mine is completely bald across her whole belly and some patches on her thighs. The rule we were told from the Retired Greyhound Trust when we got her was if we need a coat, so does she.

I also completely understand others taking their dogs on wet and muddy walks not wishing to bath their dogs after every walk.

Mine wears a coat because he is small and old and hates being cold and wet. His favourite place is snuggled under a fleecy blanket. He also gets cold easily.
I don't bother if we're just on a quick trip round the block, but if we're out for a while e.g. taking the kids to the park, he will wear his fleece jumper, or his fleece lined waterproof coat.