Does my dog need a winter coat?

[pigsinmud]

Dh says no she'll look stupid! We have a springer x. She is the size of a small springer, but has short fur. The other week she was with me watching Saturday morning football training for 2.5/3 hours. I took her for a walk - charge through the woods - for 45 minutes and then we watched the rest. To start with she was fine,but for the last hour she was shaking. It was a very chilly morning, so I'm assuming she was cold.

She is a slim dog, with not much fat on her. Does she need a little coat (I'm embarrassed thinking about it) just for those hanging around in the cold situations? For her normal walks she seemed fine even in the snow last year as she charges around like a mad thing.

Greyhounds wear coats all the time and nothing embarrassing about it . If you are going to be standing in one spot for 3 hours then of course she is going to be cold. Could she wait in the car for part of this time? There are lots of sensible, non dodgy coats for dogs (just do a bit of googling)- sounds like she needs one with a fleece inner and a goretex type outer layer - this will keep the wind at bay, which is what is really chilling.

I thought perhaps she needed one. I can't leave her in the car as we walk to football. I could leave her at home, but she loves to be with us as much as possible.

Her mother's owner thought I was being ridiculous about the coat. However her mother is a proper springer with loads of fur!

I think greyhounds look fine in coats, but sometimes think other dogs look odd.

Any dog coat recommendations? There are quite a lot out there for a variety of prices.

I think equifleece or aquafleece do good non chav coats.

I am considering getting one for Loofa as he has been shaved all round his vital organs and his fur isnt growing back at normal speed due to steroids. He is also super skinny and has no body fat, bless him.

He is fine normally but hanging around in wet/muddy conditions I will put one on him.

It's mad to expect her to stand around for 2 hours in the cold, tbh.

I knew a very hardy dog who died of hypothermia after being tied up and left for a couple of hours on a shoot.

Blimey I feel terrible now Bella. I was cuddling her a lot and she was standing close to her mum. There are always lots of other non-coated dogs there, but mine seems to feel the cold more.

I'll go buy one now....

These aren't cheap but they are good...

here

The very fab ones that Bella linked to are both on offer and have an additional 10% off for the next few days here.

Good work, Wildie.

I forgot to say - the site I linked to give 10% off anything with the code fetch10.

Seems they are doing free delivery over £45 too.

Too much for Bella's little tired head to work out which is cheaper now [hgrin]

Thankyou for links. I like the look of the Hurrta coat, but think dh might collapse at the price. The equafleece also looks great - I like the tankie.

Would she be warm enough in just a fleece layer or would she need more? Why am I so indecisive!

If dh objects ask him to go for a 45 minute run (in running gear) then stand for 2 hours in the cold [hgrin]

Depends how thick the fleece is - and whether you are likely to be stood in the rain.

I like that idea Bella!

lol - seriously though, there are lots of good coats out there. I agree with Scuttle that wind (and water) proofing is the most important factor.

The Retired Greyhound Trust sell coats - not ure if they do them small enough for a springer. Dogs Trust also sell coats.

Happy hunting [hwink]

What about this?

We bought this coat for our king charles earlier in the year - waterproof, fleecy and not a bad price either......does a good job and washes well too:

www.dogcoats.net/catalog/index.php?cPath=22_33

Sorry - here's the link:

www.dogcoats.net/catalog/index.php?cPath=22_33

Thinking I should get a coat for mine - he's slim and thin-coated. Fine as long as we keep moving, its when you stop to eat or to admire the view at the top of a mountain he shivers. I like the look of the Dogs' Trust one but I don't think it'd suit a dachs - he's 46 cm long so that's the biggest size, I think it'd trail on the ground!

Anyone know of coats good for long, short dogs?

I know Equasleece do a Dachsie fit, that might suit.

Seeing as I have spent a shocking amount on collars for my Whippy, I will be making his coats, surprisingly easy if you are handy with a machine (and have one handy).

So far he has a lovely chocolate outer, leopard print inner, double fleece, which I think suits him to the ground and Mr Wild seems to think makes him look like a big ponce .

Expensive collars? Really, Wildie?

Like these maybe?

[hgrin]

Daphne has a coat as she shivers when it is really cold.

Wherethewildthings
You should start a business selling bespoke doggy coats. The ones I have found are either boring or really really naff.

Not quite that expensive, (you are always linking to that site, I am sure you are on commission).

No, slightly less expensive collars like these.

It all adds up though when you realise that he has seven, from various similar sites .

He is just so pretty.

Seven? SEVEN ?????

How many necks does your dog have, Wildie?

They are rather nice though [hgrin]

Oh, Wildie, you bad, bad, bad girl. I had to click on the link.... We've bought collars from there before and now they've got their lovely new Christmas range in. Sigh. And our lovely blonde greyhound has a gorgeous collar from 2 Hounds but I think a Christmas collar would be nice for him.

And Seven seems reasonable to me. But then I'll happily spend more on my dogs than on my own clothes.

I know you have had collars from there before Scuttlebutter, you gave me the link, so it is all your fault.

Lol at 'how many necks', there are seven days in the week Bella, surely that is justification enough?.

I'm not even going to think about your last sentence there, Wildie. I fear you are trying to pull me over to the dark side, and away from my black nylon indigo tag collar which cost a tenner. And stays on all week!!!! [hgrin]

Hmmm, collar porn. The unexpected hazards of sighthound ownership. [hwink] [hgrin]

Like any self respecting pointy, it's important to have a stylish selection of appropriate collars and leads for every social occasion and major festival. Wildie's whippy is a secret agent, you know. You don't see James Bond in a Man at C & A parka - no, it's Brioni tailoring all the way. Mr Whippy is the dog equivalent.