Equafleece suit to keep mud off?

[Cluelessasacucumber]

We adopted a gorgeous cocker spaniel early this year and we're heading into our first winter with her. OH MY GOD THE MUD. She's soaks it up like a mop, even just on sniffy road walks.

We're not particularly house proud, but I am not enjoying going through the drying routine multiple times a day. We have piles of towels and noodles and a ruff and tumble coat, but by the time she's dried off it's time to go out and get filthy again.

Does anyone use the equafleece summer suits year round? Do they help keep the worst of the mud off or does it just soak through? I think she'd overheat in the fleece style ones, but a standard coat wouldn't protect the bits that actually get mucky (feathers and undercarriage). How do you get them on to a wriggling dog? What happens if they go in water wearing one?

Or any other reccomendations please and thank you!

Following! Having exactly the same issues with my muck-magnet Cavalier and had been wondering about the same solution.

I've got a cocker and a sprocker and I find that fleeces are horrendous for mud/water - they absorb it and get very heavy. I've got them one each but they have them on after a bath to help keep them warm and keep their wet smell off the furniture.

I've recently tried Ruffwear waterproof jackets and they're no help either (which was v annoying at £75 each). I hate to say that there's no magic answer - just part of walking dogs twice a day.

I'd add that I've got a set of cordless clippers and keep their feet and legs well trimmed all year round - that helps.

Ah that's frustrating @SkyFullofStars1975 dog kit is so expensive!

I bought my friend an Equafleece suit for her shih tzu and she is delighted with it. She said she used to have to brush her after every single walk, not now.

I've got 2 massive baskets in the hallway full of dog crap items that I've thought looked genius and they really weren't lol.

If you live anywhere like us at the moment, the roads are worse than the fields.... and I find myself longing for some decent hard frosts.

I'm sorry I missed the bit about going into the water - as Equafleece are polartec they are far more water resistant than the majority of dog coats.

I would never put any of these really extensive coats on my dog unless I had evidence that it was welfare positive for him. And for any healthy working-type dog with a resilient natural coat I find it hard to imagine that accessorising is in their interests.

I'd bite the bullet, live with the mud, make your hoover your best friend.

I've got an equafleece and it definitely keeps my dog clean. Mine jumps into muddy pools/puddles like a hippo. It doesn't get heavy. I've had mine six or seven years and it gets used daily in the muddy season.

Ours wears an Equafleece suit , I don’t find it gets that heavy unless he actually wallows . They wash really well , we have various styles and some of them are as old as the dog and still look good and the dog is 13 .

I would never put any of these really extensive coats on my dog unless I had evidence that it was welfare positive for him. And for any healthy working-type dog with a resilient natural coat I find it hard to imagine that accessorising is in their interests.

How are you defining a "welfare positive" though?

You're right that dogs have naturally weather-resistant coats but a dog that comes home absolutely covered in mud can be really difficult to clean up afterwards. Yes, you can wash them but actually, too much washing (especially with shampoo) isn't great for them either.

I'd rather use an Equafleece than have a dog come home with matted, filthy fur everyday from October to March. I'm lucky in that I have a beagle so I don't have to worry about mats, but for longer, curly-haired breeds I can definitely see the appeal.

Summer fleece is more like lycra and great for keeping mud off but not waterproof like the thicker fleece.
It does get Sodden but dog stays completely dry.
Both well worth the money from equafleece

We have an equafleece for wet muddy walks for our cavapoo. It means we only need to dry her hear, paws and tail - so much easier as she is not a fan of being towelled down!

They are relatively easy to get on and off once you get the knack.

I have an Equafleece summer suit for mine. I send her to daycare wearing it to stop her getting wet/ muddy. She's been wearing it for the past few weeks. I also put it on her for walks if it's raining or the grass is wet. I only put the fleece one on when it's freezing. The summer suit is a lot more stretchy so it's easier to put on. I'd highly recommend buying one.

Thanks all, really useful to hear your experiences. Sounds like an Equafleece could be a good investment then!

Mine has got a loose fleece jumper from Hugo & Hudson for days when it's been raining to help prevent splash back muddy water soaking her underneath then for rainy days she's got their overall rain jacket which covers the full body like an Equafleece but it's waterproof.

I wanted an Equafleece but I don't think they have a harness attachment hole whereas all of Hugo & Hudson clothes do.

Mine point blank refuses to walk in rain heavier than drizzle though 🙄 and she wipes her own feet on the doormat when we get home which is handy.

We use a Pawsome Suit as it fitted our cockapoo better than the equafleece (ordered both). We slip it over his head and pop his legs through the holes fine. To get him out, we take his back legs out first then he pulls back from us so it pulls off over his head. It makes such a difference, otherwise we were having to bath him everytime he went off lead from now until April which isn’t good for them. We only have to wash his feet now. Somehow, his fur just soaks up any dew or moisture and people ask us if he’s been swimming when he’s just been running in ankle height grass!

I had two equafleece for my dog. It was great at keeping him dry and mud free. His front paws and back legs still got mucky, but much easier to just rinse them off.

Have you thought of getting a Weatherbeeta dry bag for post walk drying? They are supposed to be good for containing the wet until they are dry enough to release.

We also have a summer suit Equafleece for ours and use it a lot at this time of year. I don't let him swim in it as it does really absorb water and gets really heavy, but it's really good if he's going on the beach or getting a bit muddy

I'm like @SkyFullofStars1975 in that it's pit on after a bath or if it's a bit chilly

What we found works is a wash down with a mud daddy. It's insulated so warm water is still warm after a walk then towelling off then the equafleece if needed

@unsync we have a dog bag for the car which is great. I don't think I'd persuade her to get in it in any other circumstances though!

Not sure about Equafleece but we have one of these for our mud-obsessed golden retriever: amzn.eu/d/5OzoINg

It got to the point where she was washed so often that her coat started to smell because she never fully dried before we found this.

Pictures of the wannabe hippo and my lab wearing her similar one

@gingerandsmall she is gorgeous! And yes this is exactly the issue, combination of active breed and long hair means they're just permanently damp!