Mary Allen
Whether dogs need a dog coat or not is often a controversial topic among dog lovers. Buzzwords such as “fashion accessory” or “humanization” often appear. But is that true, is the dog coat really just an optical gimmick? We want to get to the bottom of this question here.
Dog Coat – Why Can it be Useful?
First of all, it should be made clear that we are not dealing with fashionable dog coats here, but with purely functional models. After all, today it’s about the needs of our four-legged companions, not our personal tastes.
The fact is that some dogs freeze in winter. There are various factors for this, such as a lack of undercoat, the climate of the origin, or individual sensitivity to cold. There are also people who get frostbite and people who are never really cold. In winter there is often a temperature difference of up to 20 or even 30°C between the climate in the house and that outside. No wonder some dogs not only suffer from this cold but also develop serious health problems.
The question “dog coat – yes or no?” is therefore about what is best for the dog! If he feels visibly better with a coat in winter, you should studiously ignore comments from the “dogs don’t need a coat” faction.
Which Four-Legged Friends Need a Dog Coat?
It is difficult to pinpoint universal reasons on this subject. But all the points mentioned below are often arguments that dogs need additional thermal protection.
First of all, there is race. Both dogs with a generally short coat and therefore no undercoat, such as Pinschers, Doberman Pinschers, and Weimaraners, and short-legged breeds, such as Dachshunds, are more exposed to the cold than other dogs. Some are all over the body, others mainly on the underside of the abdomen. But even long-haired dogs can have problems with the cold, for example, if they are walking through a freshly clipped coat without a protective topcoat. Even without clipping, these dogs can get very cold if the wet gets all the way down to their skin on long tours.
The next point concerns age. Puppies, for example, do not yet have a fully developed immune system, which is why they should be protected from extreme temperature fluctuations. Older dogs also have increasing problems in winter. Often the immune system doesn’t play along like it used to, and age-related muscle atrophy or diseases such as arthritis mean that the dog can no longer move enough. He then finds it more difficult to keep himself warm.
The origin can also be a reason for using a dog coat. For example, imagine a short-haired dog who spent his first five years in sunny Spain. One can well imagine that he freezes here when he experiences the first winter with sub-zero temperatures.
The penultimate “coat-predestined” group of dogs are sick four-legged friends. On the one hand, of course, we mean those who “only” suffer from a temporary cold or a cold, but on the other hand, above all, the dogs that have to do with joint and bone problems or organ weaknesses. Heat support can work wonders here and visibly contribute to the dog’s well-being.
Last but not least, the use of a coat makes sense for dogs that are actively involved in dog sports. You should not wear the jackets during training, but during breaks in training. This ensures that the warmed-up muscles do not immediately cool down again. As a result, the dog only needs to warm up once and the risk of injury is also minimized.
How Can You Tell if the Dog is Cold?
But how do you know if your dog is freezing outside? In order to be able to answer this question as easily as possible, we have compiled the most common signs that dogs show when they are cold, regardless of breed and age.
It’s best to watch your dog for normal activity on a cool day in wind, snow, or rain; i.e. the weather that makes you think about the use of a dog coat in general. The decisive factor here is how your four-legged friend moves: If he walks tensely, pulls his back up, or his tail under his stomach, he is probably cold. A visible muscle tremor or the atypical behavior that he does not even want to leave the apartment when the weather is cold is even clearer.
Criteria for the Right Dog Coat
But how do you find the right dog coat for your four-legged friend? The first thing to consider is the fit, because what good is the best coat if it doesn’t fit? Legs, neck, and tail must be able to move freely and undisturbed. Stretchy inserts, which compensate for certain deviations from the “dog body norm”, are particularly helpful here.
Of course, it is just as important that the coat fulfills its purpose and particularly covers the dog’s belly, which is not very hairy. This is even more important than protecting the back, which is usually better protected anyway thanks to thicker fur. Another sensitive area that is often underestimated is the dog’s neck and neck area. This body region can be well protected with a coat collar, which is much more than just decoration. However, if you choose a coat with a collar, you should make sure that there is an opening for the collar. Otherwise, putting on and taking off the leash will be unnecessarily difficult. Other useful points that should ideally be taken into account when designing the coat are reflective applications and a protective kidney area. Of course, the material also plays a major role. It should definitely be washable and breathable, and depending on the intended use it should also be waterproof and robust.
With the keyword “purpose of use” we come to the last, but the not unimportant point of the overall criteria. In any case, the dog coat must be adapted to the situation, because a cozy winter coat is not suitable for use in the dog park and a raincoat for the summer cannot keep the dog warm in sub-zero temperatures. It is therefore important that the material and jacket structure are matched to the respective intended use.
Dog Coat in Practice
As a final point, let’s address a few things that are important when using the cloak. Basically, you should put on the coat inside before leaving the house, so that it is easier for the dog to compensate for the drop in temperature and to acclimatize.
The four-legged friend does not have to wear the coat over the entire length of the walk. If he would play, romp and run with dog clothes, then there could quickly be a risk of overheating. After all, dogs don’t sweat and can therefore not regulate their heat balance as easily as we can. So when your dog is warmed up, you can take off the coat and only put it back on when it slowly cools down after increased activity.
This is also positive for our next point because some coats, depending on their texture and “mass”, restrict dog language to a certain extent. After all, such a coat hides much of the dog’s body. This can lead to communication misunderstandings, which can cause fearful or aggressive reactions in strange dogs.
Finally, we come to the subject of dog coats in the car. Generally, your dog doesn’t need the coat if the drive is long enough for the heater to warm up. In this case, the necessary heat is already provided and the dog coat should only be put on immediately before leaving the car so that there is not an even greater temperature difference.