Which Coat is Best for my Dog

Some of our less than fury friends feel the cold more than others and appreciate being wrapped up on these cold mornings. Some of them really don’t need a coat but actually wrapping them up can be a practical way of keeping them clean and dry.

We thought it would be helpful to look at some different breeds and then which coat gives the most value to both dog and owner. Being the proud owners of a Hungarian Vizsla, a working Cocker Spaniel and a Minature Poodle we have a nice cross section to look at.

The Hungarian Vizsla  is a working dog but having a very short single coat they do feel the cold. They tend to be very active so benefit from a warm but lightweight coat that covers their entire body. We have tested a number of options but have settled on the Ruffwear Climate Changer or the Ruffwear Cloud Chaser.

The Climate Changer is a quick-drying, breathable fleece coat that offers a great balance between full body coverage whilst still allowing a full range of movements. A great choice for those cold and frosty mornings.

The Cloud Chaser offers the same flexibility of movement but with additional benefit of being water-proof. What’s more it’s fleece lined to help maintain the dog’s body temperature. Ideal for taking your best friend out in the rain or snow.

Now the Cocker Spaniel is another working dog but as a breed they generally don’t feel the cold as much as the Vizsla. This is because they benefit from a longer double coat which offers more protection. When considering coat options for our Spaniel we really considered what would keep, at least, some of the muck and mud off her making post walk clean up that bit easier. Key factors were also allowing free movement whilst not causing her to overheat. We settled on the Rukka Hase Raincoat. Lightweight, breathable and great value too.Finally the Poodle. Depending on how you trim your Poodle it can be argued that they really don’t need a coat to keep warm. Their own fur does the job just fine thank you very much. When choosing a coat for this breed we really looked at what would keep her own coat clean thus avoiding too may trips to the grooming salon. Again we have tried a number of options and settled on the Hurtta Downpour Suit. Whilst practical your Poodle will lose some of their credibility with their doggy friends.

There are literally hundreds of dog coats on the market so choosing which coat is best for my dog can be a minefield. We hope you found this shortlist helpful when choosing a coat for your best friend.