Alaskan Malamute…in a coat

[Trainarmrestfairy]

Why?!

It’s going to be sixteen where I am today. It’s sunny. I’m already sweaty on my morning hike. Dogs have had to stop once for a drink.

Why do people get dogs - particularly working type breeds (spaniels, collies, retrievers, huskys, GsDs) and put them in bloody coats?! These dogs were literally designed to run around getting dirty in the cold.

I almost get the mud aspect - but tbh if you hate mud why even have a dog?! Part of the beauty of dog ownership is getting outside in all weather!

But when it’s not muddy or cold?! Someone who does this please explain it?!

I get genuinely happy for my dog when she rolls in wet mud. She enjoys it so much! 🤭

I agree with you. There is no need.

I saw a big lab this morning looking thoroughly embarrassed to be wearing a multicoloured fair isle jumper. To be fair the sunshine showed off the colours beautifully 😆

Totally agree, seems so stupid! I have a hardy terrier and he's never worn anything except one summer when he had had an operation and we opted for a t-shirt rather than the cone of shame

My pug doesn't wear a coat even in very cold weather it's just a marketing tool. Unless you have a teeny chihuahua, Italian greyhound or somesuch dog it's not necessary

that said my daughter has a golden retriever and he's made to wear a mud suit which always makes me laugh!

sometimes little dogs get cold or elderly but they tend to be shivery anyway
big dogs like Huskies do not like to be hot they will lie in snow for hours so to me putting coats on them is tantamount to being cruel

I have a Klee Kai (mini husky) and there's no way I'd put him in a coat!! And the mud just falls off his fur really quickly (double coat).

I have a coat for my little dog because for various reasons it’s much better for him to have a short clip rather than his natural long and furry one. But we really only use it in the depths of winter. Dogs bred for the cold should not ever need one!

It’s a fashion accessory not an animal that’s why

Our cocker* won't go out in the rain without a coat, and I think if she had her way she'd have a hat and wellies as well, but there's absolutely no need for it on a Husky.

(*Ours is only like this because she spent the first four-ish years of her life on a puppy farm and I don't think she'd ever really been outdoors until she was rescued - she was also completely discombobulated by grass, wind, leaves, birds etc. when she first came to us, and so urine-stained that I think she'd been cooped up pretty much permanently).

Maybe partly shaved due to surgery?

Otherwise, no idea and WTAF?

Our beagle wears a coat in winter (minus temperatures) otherwise he sits and shivers, but there's never any need or a malamute to wear one!

Our double coated border collie, when he got older, used to refuse to go out in winter without his coat on. He'd stop in the doorway until it was on him. When he was younger, he was very hardy, but an old boy feels the cold 🩷