What's the deal with dog rain coats etc

[anchoviescapers]

Black labrador, coming up to a year old.. likes to roll in fox poo etc.
What's the deal with all the little coats lots of dogs wear when it's wet etc?
I can see the benefit in terms of minimising the clean up after a muddy wet walk.. is that what they're for?
And if you use one and like it, any recommendations?

I have an IT who hates the rain with passion - if it starts raining while we are out she will find a bush and curl up into a pathetic ball under it.
she does love her raincoat though so I cope with the embarrassment for her sake.
best one I have found are made by Pomppa

Most dogs do not roll in fox shit

It's fashion, dressing up your dog as an accessory but usually completely unnecessary.
I also have a labrador , they are water dogs, they have the coat and tail for it. A raincoat on a labrador is a waste of time.
I have a wrap round towel robe to dry her off when I get home she hates it, prefers just a rub down with a normal towel.
On the other hand My springer/ weimaraner Cross isn't waterproof, hates getting wet but still hates wearing a coat more.
My DC would love to dress our dogs up with Xmas jumpers etc and they have attempted to in the past but both dogs really hate wearing clothes, just not in their nature!

I had a dopey JRT years ago.

or how about my old poodle cross breed. This was for a competition though (she won)

Precisely. The vast majority of dogs do not need a coat for normal daily life.

One of mine has a coat for standing around on cold wet days when training or working. She is never exercised in it - she keeps herself plenty warm enough - so it gets used a couple of hours a winter.

By all means get one to keep the mud off your dog, but they're not essential.

There was a thread on here the other day about posters who post really unhelpful replies, rather than scrolling by. You should read it 😂.

My Lab has a coat, he hates the rain we generally only use it if we are at the beach and it’s raining and obviously freezing outise. Keeps him dryer and cleaner if staying in hotels etc.

I have an elderly dog who can't maintain his temperature in the cold. The vet recommended jumpers and coats. 🤷🏼‍♀️

Mine catagorically refuses to go for a walk in the rain. Fine most of the time, but she also has separation anxiety so if I need to go out she needs to come too. She's decided a coat makes it acceptable.

I also find her wearing her coat (we use equafleece) makes a LOT of people we pass by smile which is an extra win in my book.

😂😂
I have to say, this is how I feel too.

Look, they roll in fox poo, you come home and use hose/shampoo. Uncomfortable few minutes all sorted.
Roll in fox poo with a coat on, come home, remove coat, still have to wash dog (because it is never going to be just on the coat) and then have to wash and dry coat as well.
Only thin dogs or those with no coat to speak of need them for warmth.
If it is raining so hard he needs a raincoat, buy a large unbrella as you'll need it too.

My dogs would overheat in a coat when out exercising whatever the season.

They are labs and collies.

Also with a coat with my lot you have a muddy dog and a muddy coat to deal with.

We have a hot and cold outside tap give them a quick spray down if muddy then put on equafleeces to dry off indoors.

My old Labrador had one from about 11, when it was wet, to keep him from getting cold and wet. Spaniel has one as his fur isn't waterproof. Young Labrador doesn't wear a coat.

If it's just for wet/muddy dog minimising inside the house, I swear by Ruff & Tumble drying coats aka 'the dog's dressing gown'. We've got a rough coated large breed hound - ten minutes in this after a bath/wet walk and she's more or less dry. If they did a beard/ear attachment it would be perfect.

She also has a reflective poncho for winter walks, and a selection of festive headbands but she wouldn't thank me for a parka.

Labs don’t need a coat anyway, they have their undercoat as well. I’d be inclined to think they’d get too hot in a coat. I’m sure mine would give it 2 seconds anyway before they roll it off!.

Fox poo is sadly Chanel No 5 for dogs, the best thing we have is a portable dog wash ( like a mini car pressure washer) . It makes washing specific areas quicker than having to wash the whole dog! (Although my lab often needs her whole body washed) . I fill it with warm water and dog shampoo - I use a tea tree one - you pump it up and spray where needed, quick soap, then rinse off with clean water.

And dry off with towel or dog fleece after of course.

Equafleece, look at the website and measure carefully.

Look at rydale for a cheap version of the equifleace.

I use a rain sheet on my dog- really thin just to keep him dry. I struggle to keep the weight on him and if his energy is going on keeping him warm it just exacerbates the problem

DDog absolutely refuses to wear one but luckily is short coated so a quick rub with a towel usually sorts her out.

Mine has one she’s old and skinny, no fat on body

i want her to get home after a wet walk and be comfortable,

Sighthounds have no waterproof base layer of fur so end up soaked to the skin. They are also very thin and get very cold.

Well both of mine do, regularly. Little fuckers.
Anyway, aside from all the revolting things my stupid arse dogs roll in, they also throw themselves in the most vile muddy puddles. If I could find some kind of coat they could wear to not be covered in rancid water and mud I would buy immediately.
Most especially for the dumbest long haired gsd ever born. That one runs to massive puddles, looks at me as if to say "try and stop me" and launches in, then to add insult actually wiggles around in said puddle to more evenly coat the long fur in mud and rancid water.
So yeah raincoats, if I could find one sure, why not.

Mine thinks that Fox and Badger shot us the most divine thing that she could aspire too. She actually tried to roll on the carcass of a maggoty badger the other other day 🤮

My old staffie had a naked belly and very short hair on top that would weave into everything and I'm still finding everywhere 18m later and I'd pop a fleece lined coat on him when it was cold/wet. He looked very smart! He also looked good in his Halloween and Christmas jumpers, he used to get so excited when I got one off his hook! Probably only because it meant a walk and less shouting about him being covered in mud!

Can I hijack this thread and ask for links to your best muddy fleece suits.

I'm not looking forward to mud season with the spaniel, especially as now I have to take him into a shared office.

@fruitstick the equafleece suits are excellent , and they wash beautifully and dry quickly - much easier than washing the dog .