Dog jacket - necessary or fashion item

[MTBMummy]

So we're waiting on the final home check before hopefully getting a long wanted puppy, and I'm trying to draw up a shopping list of all we need, and I've drawn a blank when it comes to dog jackets.

I know some people scoff at the idea, and others say it's cruel to not get them, so for a 16 week old pup (pointer x) with quite short hair (think doberman type coat) but with a slim build, would you get a dog jacket and do you just go for something that is water proof, or something fleece based?

[TotallyBursar]

If we had better differentiated weather it would help.
In consistent areas where a crisp Autumn cools into a long cold winter you see a marked difference in the quality of coat growth.
We have long, wet, but mostly temperate months with some snow or colder temperatures.
We don't have it cold enough for long enough to equip them with the coat needed for a cold snap. They need to be cold when they're getting their winter coat, earlier in the year than it gets properly cold here. So from warm and toasty house out into rain at only a few degrees cooler (house at ? 18ish then outside at 14) then it's cold for a few weeks, then a bit warmer, then cold etc. They are warmer (usually around 38 - 38.5ish but there's a larger normal range) but the drop in temp for a wet dog post exercise still makes them cold, puppies might be colder still.
In the USA we had roasting summers and then freezing, snowy, winters - more than long enough to get a shaggy dog. Also the house insulation was crap so it was colder inside. Our house now will all warm up even if radiators are only on in certain places. Only our whippety thing needed a jacket. Here just isn't the same.

[digerd]

I been googling for breeds with single coats - no undercoat- which could make them not so winter hard as the other dogs.
I have found only a few, but even then it depends of the thickness of the top coat . Here goes then:-
Yorkshire Terrier < did read that they are susceptible to the cold>
Papillons
Maltese
smooth coated chihuaha
Afghan hounds
Poodles - but their top coats are thick as curly.
Cavelier King Charles.

That's as far as I got. Pups do not not have their adult coat so are vulnerable to the cold especially when still.

[NCISaddict]

I think my Border Collie would be embarrassed to wear a coat but he is from working stock and his parents are the thick coated collie types. If I had a greyhound or staffie type bigger dog and only walked on the lead then I would consider it but only ever having had working breeds that are walked off lead I have never invested in one.
Puppies that are still? Where do I find one of these beasts? My 13 week old is only still when he's asleep, generally on the icy cold tiled hearth. Weird animal.

[tulip27]

We have a 15 week old pointer who needs a coat . He runs around like a mad thing for the whole walk but somehow looks like he is shivering at the same time .
He hates early 6 am walks ( too cold) and refuses to go out in the rain.
Off to buy him a coat tomorrow .

[sweetkitty]

I'm thinking of getting one for my Rhodesian Ridgeback, she must have a single coat it's very short akin to a greyhound. She's built for the African plains not a cold damp Scottish winter. Haven't a clue about sizes and can't afford to get 2 really good quality ones as she growing so fast.

[ErrolTheDragon]

Our smooth-haired standard dachshund doesn't have a thick coat (pretty much bald tum and gets seasonal alopecia in winter, weirdly) but the only time he ever seems cold is if we stop walking eg waiting at a bus-stop or stopping to admire the view at the top of a mountain in winter. He's got an Equifleece, which is warm and water-repellent - also good for keeping mud off his tum - easier to wash the fleece than the dog. They do a few breed-specific coats for dachsies and greyhounds etc so if you've got a dog that's hard to fit they're worth looking at.

[CherryLips1980]

I have a weimaraner (he's 15months old now) and despite not being especially thin coated, he really feels the cold and starts shivering as soon as the temp drops below 5 degrees. Fairy. If its raining he DEFINITELY has to wear his coat as well. Last winter I think he wore it from October - March.

He also wore a fleece (Equafleece/Hotter Dog -same company- are AMAZING) when it was really cold. He used to come to work with us and at 18 weeks old really struggled - our office is freezing so wore a fleece and a coat. His waterproof coat is an Outhwaites, doesn't slip, fits well and keeps him dry.

[cathpip]

We have hotter dog fleeces for when our spaniels come in from a wet dog walk, they are not allowed past the utility till they are dry and its not very warm in there. They also wear them when they go in the outside kennel for the day if it is a particularly cold winters day.

[Lonecatwithkitten]

My single coated dog regards the coat as the work of the devil and refuses to wear either of them.

[NEScribe]

I used to think that dogs didn't need coats unless they had a fur problem/were elderly but a neighbour had his spaniel out for a long walk in the snow last year and it collapsed (apparently from the cold). Neighbour is not a spring chicken so I guess they weren't walking very fast and he likes a long walk. He came home with his dog in a towelling coat - a dog owner had rushed out to help and lent him her own dog's drying coat because it was warm and padded. Best of all, they are both widowed (the people not the dogs) and I swear love is in the air :)

[insan1tyscartching]

We have a multitude of coats for Eric who has poodle hair that we have clipped short. If he isn't in the mood he won't wear one out of the house whatever the weather he just sits and refuses to budge. We have a fair few jumpers too that he prefers so resort to those. Trouble is Eric loves to get wet and dirty so I think he sees a coat as spoiling his fun.

[imonaplane]

I have 3 German Shorthaired Pointers. They wear fleeces if it is below freezing or if it is cold and wet.

[TheFlyingFauxPas]

I have a tiny kind of yorkie cross. He shivers like mad and looks soooo pathetic when he's cold. Luckily he's happy to wear a coat. He had a couple of lovely quilted numbers. Sadly he ran into the woods wearing one and came out again without em! He has a lovely trench type coat. It has a polo neck. I think he looks very distinguished ☺

[TheFlyingFauxPas]

Don't agree with dressing up dogs but of they need a coat may as well be a nice one! They keep him a bit cleaner and drier too! He so close to the ground!

[WaitrosePigeon]

My Yorkshire Terrier always has a coat for colder weather. He has hair not fur and will shiver if not wearing it. Couldn't give a shiny shit if people think I'm dressing him up.

[TheFlyingFauxPas]

I always think a pair of glasses would go well with his polo-neck trench

[Lara2]

My lab/collie crosses never wore coats - in fact the more awful the weather, the more they wanted to go out!
My staffieX hates the cold and the rain so has coats. She's even afraid of the dark!

[Wolfiefan]

Zombie thread!

[ImBrian]

To have a papillon (single coated and weighs 5lb) who has to wear a coat or she shivers the whole time. I've just ordered her a equafleece coat to replace the jumpers she's been wearing. My other dog is a hairy beast and won't move if wearing a coat so I leave his fur a bit longer in winter and he has no problems. I am going to buy him a fleecy jumper to try and dry him off quicker though.