Do Dogs Really Need Coats in Winter Months?

Our dogs certainly need warm clothing to deal with the cold. Dogs aren’t just animals; they have been domesticated to cohabitate with humans. Most Dog Breeds barring the ones, that were bred to sustain winter months definitely need extra protection during winters. Pets that are used to living indoors have accustomed themselves to an environment of comfort and being catered to.

Domesticated dogs don’t hunt for food and live in a regulated temperature setting with us in our homes. Image:glamourmutt.com

Over the years through selective breeding, dogs have evolved as a species that has needs similar to ours and have become increasingly dependent upon their humans. Here are pointers that’ll help you decide if your dog’s better off in winter clothing.

Age: A senior dog is more likely to feel the chill compared to its younger counterparts. Old age results in a weaker immune system, ailments like arthritis and metabolic disorders that can make your senior pet miserable in the cold weather. It becomes very important you provide it with a jacket/dog coat.

Double coated dog breeds with a thick undercoat may fare better while dealing with low temperatures but you can always provide a sweater to see if it makes them more comfortable. It may really not mind one particularly while touring the outdoors. Image – thegreenhead.com/

Your dog’s coat/fur type: Hairless dogs or ones with short and thin fur need outer clothing in low temperatures. Owners of breeds like poodles tend to keep their pet’s hair pruned to avoid tangles. So if your pooch has thick hair but it has been trimmed you need to provide it with a sweater  for extra insulation.

There are dogs that are especially suited to extreme winter conditions & come with a distinct dense coat like the Malamute, Siberian-Husky and Saint Bernard, hence do not require warm clothing. In fact forcing them to wear a warm jacket will only cause discomfort/over-heating.

Is your pet recovering from an illness or injury? Dogs fighting an illness/injury are weak as their bodies are working constantly to recover. Therefore a winter dog jacket will be very essential for an ailing or injured pet.

Breed-type: Canines with a thin frame and less body weight will enjoy the warmth of outer clothing. Lean breeds such as Grey-hounds with short hair prefer warm clothing in winters. Chihuahuas do not fare well in cold weather making it important for you to provide it with extra layering.

So if your pooch falls in any one of these categories, it’s about time you shop for its winter wardrobe! Pick up washable woolen and cotton blends in the right size.

Measure your dog’s neck, chest and waist to make sure the dog sweater or jacket you pick fits the pet perfectly without being tight. With the dog standing up measure the distance from the base of the neck to the base of the tail, as this is where the length of the garment must end. Dogs don’t wear pants; the part of the body below must be left free of clothing. Lastly go for outer clothes that have no protruding trimmings such as zippers, flaps and buttons as they can be chewed on and swallowed by the pooch.
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