Those of you with small dogs and coats...

[WomensRightsAreContraversial]

How do you decide when they need a coat on or not?

I'm an experienced dog person but with bigger dogs who didn't need coats. Now I've got a tiny creature and I feel a bit CB clueless she has once or twice shivered if she's sat in a cold car or had to sit and wait for me if we stop to talk on a walk, so ive got her a coat. Her own fur coat is quite thin, she doesn't seem to have got the memo about growing a winter one But when we are walking she's presumably quite warm from the movement- she is definitely happy, and would definitely tell me if she wasn't!

So do you put yours in coat for all winter walks? If not, how do you decide when they wear it?

When I had Yorkies they had waterproof coats which they needed in wet weather as rain went straight through to their skin, other than that, I didn't bother. I currently have a toy poodle, and, although she has a waterproof coat, she really doesn't like or need it as water seems to sit on top of her curly coat, so I don't bother unless it's torrential, and then it's more for my convenience at not having a totally soaking dog.
I think the only times I have consistently used wooly jumper type dog clothing is when they get old, especially indoors in the winter. Old dogs seem to be like old people, and feel the cold if they are sitting around.
Depending on your dogs activity level, coats can be a hindrance out walking because they can get sodden with mud and caught on brambles. Apart from really wet weather I think it's better for them to run around and keep warm.

I have two terriers, same breed. One needs and demands to wear a coat the other hateS a coat and I wouldn’t dream of making her wear one.
I know that she needs her coat for a few reasons, firstly she will not leave the house if it’s raining and she hasn’t got a coat on. Secondly she gets her coat and climbs into it if I hold it up, all the time happily wagging her tail. And lastly, if she has her coat on she will work for me (we do agility) if she doesn’t she will hide in the tunnel and refuse to do anything.
I am really not one to pamper my dogs but this one takes the biscuit

@longearedbat thanks I've no idea if she's waterproof, haven't had to test that yet! I can see the convenience reasons. Just not sure if I'm being terribly cruel walking her in November without a coat on if she doesn't seem bothered

@Allycumpooster ha ha that's so funny! Mine might well turn out to be like that I have had proper countryside working dog types all my life and now I've got a diva who gives me reproachful looks if I insist we go out and the ground is wet

My dogs are big, but thin coated and naturally low body fat lurchers. Ddog1 has a coat on pretty much all the time from September to May - fleece ones for indoors, waterproofs or quilted for outdoors. If he's going to be running round off lead he doesn't have one on, but if he'll be on lead getting there he'll have it on during the lead walk then I carry it.
You can tell when he's cold as he curls up tight and generally looks sad.
Ddog2 isn't mad about coats unless he really is cold

I just look at the signs. I got 2 Miniature Pinschers and they are very different. Both have the same fur (very short and naked belly), but one of them doesnt mind the cold at all. She never shivers or anything and loves to walk in any weather. The other one is such a baby and doesnt even join us on walks when its raining or windy. When theres snow i have to put shoes on him, because he screeches at every step and jumps around as if the floor was lava. When its anything u der 10 degrees he just sits down every few meters and shivers and squeeks because of the torture i put him through
So yea, just warch your dog and look out for signs.

Oh god, the reproachful looks and pitiful whimpering under every bush I get if I should forget the coat . She is supposed to be a fierce and tough terrier, able for anything. Not rain or wind apparently.
Anyway I got her one of these [https://www.equafleece.co.uk/dogs/fleece/dog-tankie tankies] and refuse to pander anymore to her princessing (I'm certain she would prefer the full body suit )

link fail tank

We've got a terrier puppy and I've always been a bit re dogs and coats in the past. However I've walked him a couple of times and he has really shivered.

He now has a coat 🤣 infact I might get him another one. He doesn't seem to mind it, we went to the coast over half term and even with the coat on he shivered. At that point i put him inside my coat!!

My dog is 5kg and now from Oct/Nov he wears a waterproof, fleece lined coat for all evening walks
I might take him out in the day without it if I think its unusually warm, but the coat is now the default.

I have a medium-sized dog (a Staffy Cross) and she definitely needs a coat when it is pouring with rain (or she won't go anywhere) and feels the cold on cold days so she gets a fleece coat then. She has short smooth coat of her own like other Staffys- pretty sparse on her undercarriage and certainly not the warmest in cold weather. Previously I had a big sheepdog cross that had a double fur coat so having to buy a dog's wardrobe is a change for me.

If a dog shivers, shakes etc... they need a coat One of my terriers is happy on walks to be coat free (as he runs about) but once in the car and not running about anymore he will then get cold so he wears a fleece or drying coat in the car on the way home. He loves that

My Yorkie has a fleece lined coat which he loves. I'm just worried about his cold head in this weather. Even my head was freezing on our walk so we didn't stay out as long.
Not sure if woolly hats are made that small.

My Yorkies have coats. Although they have long, show coats it’s very fine with no undercoat more like human hair & the rain goes right through it, like on your head in a downpour, & they feel the cold. Also a coat that goes under their tummy helps to keep it dry as they are tiny & very low to the wet ground. My Skyes on the other hand although having coats just as long & being big dogs on very short legs are also close to the ground but love the cold & wet, the windier & colder the better! But their coat is thicker with a dense undercoat so never have a mac or coat.

Another staffy cross here who refuses to walk in rain. I'm in 2 minds about a coat when it's cold but dry. Although I have been putting one on her recently as it's so muddy generally, it keeps her a little bit cleaner if she has one on.

I'm also in two minds about a warm coat - small dog with long hair - she's 8 years old now so not a youngster.

She has a coat for rain, which she doesn't seem to mind.

She also had a lovely warm coat when she was young but she hardly wore it as she seemed to hate it, I think it made her too hot.

Apart from the obvious, cold ear tips, shivering and tail down, how do you tell if your dog is chilly on a walk?

I have a mid sized terrier who has his hair cut really short every 4 weeks so if it’s cold in the winter or remotely wet he wears an equafleece . He has a variety of styles including an all in one suit which is a godsend when it’s wet / muddy as he comes back more or less completely clean . I keep one by the backdoor as he won’t go in the garden in the rain without a coat on .

Our very skinny toy poodle wears a jumper constantly from about mid september to April and a coat over the top to go out for walks. If you try and take his jumper off, he walks round with his neck stuck out to try to get you to put it back on. He can also take it off himself if he wants to, but very rarely does!

One of my dogs has alopecia and virtually hairless on her body. She doesn't like getting rained on and likes sitting by the fire but when out she doesn't seem to mind the cold. But I sometimes think she could do with a coat.
My other dog has very thick curly hair and I don't think he even notices the weather.

I've a shorthaired standard dachshund, he's 12 kg so not tiny but he also has seasonal alopecia. He doesn't like wearing anything when he's walking but if we're likely to be stopping eg on top of a windy hill, we'll carry his equafleece to pop on him while we're stationary.