If you're an owner that wants to bring the family pet along on a family vacation and you're heading somewhere cold, warm dog coats can help your dog enjoy the trip with you.
Coats for Dogs
Dog coats and jackets come in an endless supply of designs and colors. Some for aesthetic appeal, others for specific purposes such as keeping your dog warm, dry, warm and dry, or for designated use in snow and/or rain. Because the selections are so wide, it's good to know what to look for depending on what elements your dog will be exposed to.
Coats come in several shapes, from "top coats" that cover your dog's sides, back and chest, but leave the rest exposed, to bodysuits which cover more of the dog, from the neck, body and all four legs. Some coats even have hoods, and others resemble standard human raincoats.
Dog Coats for Cold, Rain, and Snow
Depending on the severity of the elements your dog will be exposed to, as well as the natural coat your dog has (short versus a longer-haired breed), you'll want to take into consideration the "weight" of the coat. Coats come from light-weight to heavy-weight.
- For cold weather, you'll want something thick, heavy and insulated. Both the outside material and the material the coat is lined with (such as fleece) should be windproof to keep your dog toasty warm.
- For rainy cold weather, you'll have to go a step further. Find a coat with a waterproof outside. If you get a jacket not designed for the rain, the water could not only damage your jacket, but be absorbed and all that wetness against your dog's skin is not good.
- For snow, warmth and padding is exceptionally important. Snow can cake up and 'snowball' in your dog's fur, from between their toes all the way up their legs and abdomens. A full-body coat that covers these areas can help with this. You might also consider some kind of boots or feet covers for their paws; dogs are susceptible to frost bite on their pads.
Other Features of Dog Coats
You might also look into a jacket that is odor-proof, so you aren't stuck with a foul-smelling coat after a few months of use. Some coats you can find are also hypoallergenic. That is, they were created for dogs with allergies in mind.
You'll also notice some coats are thicker and quite bulky, while other 'heavy' coats are much slimmer. These slimmer designs, while usually more expensive by a hefty $40 to $50, are ideal if you have an athletic dog who is going to want to run and play in the cold. Most bulky jackets are very uncomfortable for dogs. If they aren't used to wearing such things, they may stand there and refuse to move—or even try to bite and tear off their jacket.
Thicker coats, especially the full-bodysuits, are also beneficial if your pet is suffering from a healing injury, or has had recent surgery. Rather than resorting to the stiff and uncomfortable collars that keep your dog from biting and chewing, simply put him into his jacket so that the wound is covered and can heal without interference.