Equafleece or drying robe?

[heatseeker14]

I’m trying to decide which one to buy. Our dog loves the rain but takes ages to dry off. I was going to get him an Equafleece bodysuit, but I worry that he will overheat when he is chasing after his ball. The last few weeks I have found myself getting too hot whilst on our walk. I can’t seem to get it right myself, so I worry about the dog getting too hot. I’d prefer to get a coat over a drying robe because he gets filthy on walks and absolutely covered in sticky balls. A coat would reduce the amount of stuff stuck in his fur! It takes me about half an hour each day just to pull the sticky bits out before I can comb him.
Please can you help me to make a decision?

My dog has equafleece suits / jumpers which he wears when it’s cold and he doesn’t get hot running about but he also has a drying robe in the car - to keep the car clean . When it’s not cold enough for coats and we are going straight home he has a dog drying bag ( the original doggy bag) which is excellent for drying .

Can also get rain suits which may or not be insulated to keep dry/mud free, like this.

www.mountaindog.uk/products/hurtta-downpour-suit

My dogs always get way too hot in coats when out and about. It also slightly restricts their movement when running so I prefer them to run free and naked

They have equafleece that I put on them when they get back to dry them.

I also found that when wearing coats I have a muddy coat and also a muddy dog on the bits that is does not cover. But putting the coat on afterwards cleans the dog and then I just have a muddy coat - result

@Scattyhattie, thanks for the link. I will take a look at those.
@Floralnomad, I’ve just had a very quick look at dog drying bags. Are they supposed to stay still in them? How long does it take your dog to dry off?
@PollyRoulson, our dog is very active and loves ball chasing, so he probably would overheat like your dogs. Would you put the Equafleece coats on them if it was frosty or snowing? The vet we use told me that our dog wouldn’t need to wear a coat in the winter, but I’m worried he will get cold.

@heatseeker14 sorry for the late reply . With the bags they do need to stay still but mine loves his he has a 20 minute snooze , I give him a quick rub all over with the bag whilst he’s in it and then he comes out all clean and dry . As I said we have the original doggy bag which is very good quality and IME gives better results and is better made than some of the cheaper alternatives . Dog prefers the bag to the drying robe .

@heatseeker14 No I never ever need to put a coat on mine when exercising. Some are Search and Rescue dogs and we can be working in minus temps in the winter. They do not have a coat on when working but would put one on when they have finished if they have to wait in the car for example

What breed is your dog?

Both my dogs now have Ruff & Tumble drying robes. The small one looks like a hot water bottle and the big one looks as if she's just put her cocoa down somewhere en route to bed. They look very sad when they're dry and I take the robes off.

@PollyRoulson, he is a cockapoo. His fur is wavy not tight curls. Definitely taken on more of the spaniel side. He doesn’t seem cold when he gets really wet. He doesn’t shiver or anything, but he hasn’t experienced the snow yet. Do you think he would need a coat if it was really frosty or snowing?
@Floralnomad, sometimes I wrap our dog in a towel when he gets really soaked, and he is okay with that and falls asleep. Hopefully he would do the same if he was in a drying bag. I just worry he will try to follow us and will fall flat on his face.
@FrightClub, I will take a look at those, thank you. I’ve got to get something sorted because it takes him ages to dry off. He will tolerate the hairdryer to a certain extent, but doesn’t really like me drying his legs and underneath him. He gets all huffy 😄

@heatseeker14 I think he’d only try it once ( probably worth having your phone ready to film that 😀)

I've got a bag that a family member have us when he was a puppy.

He can't move when he is in it, and it is a bit of a struggle to get him in. I have to get him to stand on it, close the collar round his neck while holding it so he doesn't escape (cos the Velcro just pulls loose), try and get his back legs in and zip it up at the same time - while wrestling his impossibly saggy tail into it.

(family members dog just lay down on his and she zipped him up)

But it does do a really good job of drying him off and containing him while he is wet. It is great in the car after a muddy walk cos it contains the mud and he comes out much drier and cleaner, even without washing.

@Chasingsquirrels that looks like the one we’ve got

@heatseeker14 I really doubt he will need a coat to keep him warm when he is exercising. If you are standing around or camping or in a car maybe. His own coat will be fine even in snow.

Biggest problem with snow is it gathering into snow balls on their feet and legs rather than the cold.

A drying coat may be a good idea after this mornings walk

I prefer the drying coats to drying bags .

@Floralnomad 😄
@Chasingsquirrels, aww he looks so snuggly in there.
@PollyRoulson, that’s good to know. I read somewhere that it’s best to clip them short if it’s going to snow to prevent ice balls in their fur. It goes against my instincts to do this though! I think I’d feel guilty walking alongside him dressed like the Michelin Man.

better than him looking like the Michelin Man though

What the heck happened to him?!!😂

I recommend a drying coat for when your dog gets back from a walk, I had one made for my springer, we only use when she is very wet or after a much needed bath but it works well. We tried a drying bag but she wasn't happy in it.I would worry about overheating if out running around with a coat on unless exceptionally cold ie snow and zero.
You could try a fleecy toddler dressing gown for now - cheap and cheerful.